Chương 35: Book 1; Chapter 34; The sweetest person in a world

The next morning, Anniet woke up on a couch alone. Rainee was nowhere around. After getting ready for the day, Anniet grabbed the black jacket that she had carefully placed on the back of a chair yesterday and dashed to the town. Anthony wasn't there. Despite this place getting busier and busier, Anthony had more free time than ever before as a few new cooks had arrived, a few new dining places had been opened, and he didn't have to be at work every day.

Before going to see if he was in his cottage, Anniet checked the information board to see if Rainee was having any classes today, and good thing she did! There was a new class starting this afternoon. Martial arts! Held at the Cliffside field next to King's Seat. That was a funny way to call it, but at least the directions were clear. And she had enough time to get there! Half running, half walking, she had reached Anthony's cottage to find him waiting for her at the breakfast table.

At first, she opened her mouth to refuse it and to say that she didn't have time for it, but then closed it without saying a word and obediently walked to the table. Wasn't she the one who just yesterday morning, while eating the last pieces from the lunch box, promised herself never to argue with Anthony again…

"Thank you for this," – she said, handing him his jacket and somehow feeling a bit sorry to let it go – "and for all you did." She added, remembering Rainee's words that her time while on the cliff wasn't that bad, only because of the help of her powerful friend." Just how powerful? …" – she thought to herself while sitting on a chair. That's right! So far, this understanding somehow eluded her.

"Who are you?" She asked while looking at him partially with awe but also with some fear. He could do things that others could not, and again, this strange force not allowing anyone to remember him started to bother her slightly.

"There is nothing more that I want but to tell you," – Anthony answered while looking directly into her eyes.

"Have you done something bad?" – She asked again.

"Bad is a concept of perspective. I can tell you only if you define bad."

"Have you killed someone?" Anthony kept silent for a few seconds before answering, and it was obvious that he was choosing his words.

"Many people who would recognise me from my past would laugh at this question, as they believe that death and I are inseparable. However, the truth is, I have never taken anybody's life. My question to you is this: would it make any difference in how you see me if I did?" Anniet was looking at him while thinking about this question. Would it truly make any difference? Well, she didn't know. She already thought about dozens of horrible things he could have done to receive such a punishment he was bearing right now.

None of her thoughts got in the way of how she was feeling about him.

"Probably not," – she said, picking up a fork and digging into her plate. – "How have you become so powerful?" – She asked again.

"By willing and by training," – Anthony's answer was short and straight as usual.

"What did you do with Marcus yesterday?"

"Tucked him in his bed," – Anthony smiled. That was it! Anniet could not think any more about any bad or horrible things that Anthony might have done in the past. He was the sweetest person she had met in her life, and she could not bring herself to think any other way any longer. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. She relaxed, and the fear was gone.

"You are so sweet," – she said honestly.

"Am I?" – Anthony was still looking at her with his questioning eyes – "What would you have done with him?"

"Probably the same, if I had had the strength to carry him. But because I don't, I would have to leave him in the woods under a bush," – Anniet giggled. Anthony could do nothing but laugh at it too.

"Where did you learn to fight so well?" – Anniet asked again, but this time in a completely different manner.

"In many places," – Anthony said – "it didn't come at once. Old John gave me the basics and showed me the right direction."

"I see, so he has trained you, too! Rainee speaks so highly of him. Do you agree with her?"

"There is nothing to disagree with."

"So why, instead of cooking, wouldn't you teach what you know to people?"

"I didn't come here to teach."

"Did you come here to cook?"

"No."

"But you do. Why did you come here?"

"I thought I came here after my friend, but there must be more to it," – Anthony said after a short pause.

"Why did you help to train Marcus if you didn't come here to teach?"

"Because there was no one else who could do it."

"True," – Anniet agreed – "I didn't think that there could be anyone stronger than Rainee."

"Why do you think there is?"

"Because you defended against her so easily! And she herself said that you are very powerful."

"Can she remember me?" – Anthony asked with rising curiosity.

"She tries very hard, but no, she cannot. Sometimes I think she can, but she says that she cannot think about you, and the more she does, the more everything disappears. Who is your friend that you have followed? I never asked you this." Anthony looked at her for a while, then was going to say something, but then changed his mind.

"I would rather not say," – he replied honestly.

"You cannot?"

"I think I can, but I will not."

"Why?" – Anniet was curious.

"Because I am a little bit afraid," – Anthony smiled. – "Afraid that if by accident I tell you more than I am supposed to say, you will forget about me too." Such a thought never crossed Anniet's mind, and it was so terrifying that she even closed her mouth with her hands. No, no, no, she definitely doesn't want it to happen.

"Don't, please don't say it," – she said firmly – "I don't want to know. Are you coming to Rainee's new class today?"

"Why not."

"Good, is that why you are not working today?"

"I knew my favourite customer would be heading this way, so I chose to stay here," – Anthony smiled.

"Yes," – Anniet looked half guilty at her empty plate. – "Thank you for this. And for a lunch box, and for a jacket, and for keeping the rain away from me, and for… Thank you for all."

"Pleasure," – Anthony smiled again – "just remember that I am not the only friend you have, so not all can be attributed to me. Ready to go?" Anniet happily nodded her head in reply. All her worries and suspicions were gone, and Anthony looked just the same as before, much stronger, much more skilful than she could ever think, but still just the same lovely person she had known for the past few months.

Today's lesson was not what Anniet expected. Many people arrived, and all were given the same bands as Marcus the other day. Not those blacks that bound him to Anthony, but those that Marcus kept dropping at the beginning. So everyone had a try at what it feels like. And it felt awesome! It felt not too different to Rainee's hands guiding them directly, and it was so easy to follow it. At first, it felt like Rainee was guiding her by hands, by legs, by her whole body.

Then at some point she realised that there are actually two forms of guidance she is receiving. One was guiding directly her body as she felt at first, another was something like a message before it, like a knowing of what she would do and when she would do it in advance, and how Anniet should do it. Once Anniet realised it, there was no way to go wrong. The direct guiding of the body was slowly disappearing as it was no longer needed.

For some reason, people around her were dropping these bands in the same way as Marcus did yesterday." How strange," Anniet thought, closing her eyes not to be distracted by it. This way she couldn't see Rainee, but in reality, it wasn't needed, as she knew very well what Rainee was going to do, how she was going to do it, so why look?

She opened her eyes a few times just to be sure that she wasn't just following her imagination, but every time she looked, Rainee was doing precisely what she expected her to do, so after a while, she didn't look any more. What to look for? She could do it all day long. At least it felt like this at the beginning. With time, the rhythm was getting faster, moves were getting more complicated, and eventually Anniet thought that she would not be able to keep up much longer.

Not because of not knowing what and how to do, but because she got tired, her own body, which at some point was so obedient, stopped listening that well, and the moves were so advanced that she had never done before, and she simply couldn't keep up with it. Shame, as she would have loved to stay in this training to the end, but maybe next time she will do better. And with that thought, the lesson was over.

Anniet opened her eyes just to see that out of the long rows that had joined the training at the beginning, it was only she alone who was still wearing these bands and was still performing. Everyone else had already abandoned their place and now was simply watching her and Rainee. She was about to get all embarrassed, but seeing Rainee's happy and smiling face looking at her with pride, all other thoughts left immediately.

Apparently, there was a limit for everyone to how long they could keep up after the body guidance was at first weakened and then removed, and she was the one who stayed the longest. Anthony didn't attend this training. Well, he attended, but while snoozing under the tree. Marcus attended. He didn't look that bad, as Anniet would expect him to look after two days of training. She didn't know how well he did today, but not as well as she did. It was already early evening when class was over.

After it was finished, she returned to Anthony, who was happy and impressed by how well she did. Rainee was about to leave when Marcus came to her to talk, but she just waved her hand to stop him.

"Not today," – she said – "tomorrow morning. And only if you are well rested. If you come in the same state as today, we will train how to rest instead." Other people were squashing around her too, asking for this, asking for that, but after saying "class is over," Rainee didn't speak or answer anyone else and was making her way out. Anniet jumped to her feet. No way she will let Rainee go on her own, as something was not right, something made her angry.

Was it all these people bothering her with all these problems of their own? As if answering her thoughts, Rainee turned towards her instead of walking by.

"I have to go," – Anniet said to Anthony – "you'd better go home."

"That's right! You'd better go home, you fool!" – Rainee said in a firm voice, looking at Anthony with a look that Anniet hadn't seen on her before.