Chương 46: Book 2; Chapter 45; In a grip of fear (3)

"She is gone," – Anniet said, trying to be brave and wipe her tears away, but to no success. – "There is no Rainee, and I don't know if there ever was!"

"Don't you think that it is a bit of a strange way to describe somebody's life and the impact of the past year?" – the headmaster asked, not trying to stop Anniet's tears, but not offering any consolation either. – "Do you genuinely think that the way she lived the past year and her influence, her teachings, don't count?" Anniet violently shook her head, quickly wiping away these treacherous tears that just kept rolling down. No, no, no, no, no, she doesn't think that way! She thinks completely the opposite!

What was she even saying?

"I think the same," – the headmaster said, as if answering her thoughts, and helping Anniet to clean her tears. Somehow, her hand was much better at it, and soon the tears stopped rolling down.

"Now tell me what happened that made you think that Rainee doesn't exist any more?"

"But she is not Rainee! She is a general!"

"Well, every general has a name. A general is just a position for a person with a name. What is wrong with Rainee's name?"

"It is not real!"

"Even if it wouldn't be, what difference would it make for the person behind it? My name is Aqila. Did you know it before? No. Well, now you know. Did it make any difference to you how you see me? I think so too. So even if Rainee would not have a name or would have forgotten it through the long years, she was called just a General by many, and after coming to this place where she wasn't a general any more, would choose this name for herself. Would it be very bad? I think it is a beautiful name."

"Me too," – Anniet agreed, thinking that if Rainee had chosen this name for herself, it really suits her well.

"But she didn't," – the headmaster said. – "She was given this name when she was born by the King himself."

"How do you know?"

"The King told me not that long ago to clear up the confusion."

"Then how come no one knows it? I have never heard about General Rainee. Have you?"

"No," – the headmaster agreed, – "that's why I asked the King. And he said that at her inauguration, she was called General Rainee, but it was forgotten for two reasons. One was that her inauguration was so different from anything anyone had seen before. The uniform she had wasn't given to her or chosen by her, the same as her position. The King didn't appoint her to be a general.

This position came to her naturally, or should it be said as an evaluation of what she was, as soon as she joined the King's army; she wasn't given a chance to assume any other position."

"And as soon as she was inaugurated, her body was clad in a uniform that no one had ever seen before, and a general's cape was cast over her shoulders by some unseen power in a way that it could never be removed, as it had become a part of her, just as her uniform. Nobody has ever seen anything like this before, nor have they seen such colours radiating out of a person; every step she took left a trace of rainbow behind.

Thereafter, she was called a Rainbow General by people, or the General by the army, one part astonished by her looks, the other party astonished by her entrance." Anniet was smiling again, while telling aloud one of her favourite stories.

"So you see, you know all the answers yourself," – the headmaster smiled too.

"So her true name was forgotten?"

"Her true name wasn't forgotten at that time, but eventually, just very few people would call her by it, as even before her inauguration, most of the people were calling her Ren, a name given by her little brother."

"I didn't know Rainee had a brother."

"Me neither," – the headmaster said, – "but it does not surprise me, as we all know very little about her. People think they know her inside out, but in reality, they know only what she has done, what she has taught, what she has achieved, or even when she has failed. But that is not who a person is; it is just what that person has done. If there is anyone around who knows her personality at least a little bit, then it is you.

But even then, she has lived for many years; you have known her for a very short time, so even if you had tried to learn about her all this time, you wouldn't be able to succeed."" And I didn't even try to know anything about her…" Anniet thought to herself, as most of the time they were discussing either Anniet, Marcus, or someone else, or were just spending time together… Thinking about that, a tear again rolled down her cheek, but at least now she understood why she was truly crying.

It was very selfish, but she couldn't help it. She just couldn't bear to think that these times are in the past, never to be repeated.

"Have you ever thought that she is an extraordinary person?" – the headmaster asked.

"All the time." – Anniet said, truly meaning it.

"Me too. Then I wonder to myself how we both were still surprised when it was disclosed that she is the same person who is considered to be most extraordinary by many."

"I don't know," – Anniet said, thinking how correct this statement was. The Rainbow General was always so special. And when with Rainee, she could not think about anyone more special than she was. Wouldn't it mean that she had to be more special than the Rainbow General? To tell the truth, she always thought that way. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. So why was she surprised to find out that it was the same person…

"The thought of losing her is unbearable…" – Anniet said openly. – "I don't understand how people can celebrate it."

"Why do you think you have lost her?"

"Because from now on, she will be someone unapproachable who lives only in stories, pictures, and a faraway land."

"Did she ever strike you as being unapproachable?" – the headmaster wondered.

"No," – Anniet agreed, thinking that she had never met anyone as open to everyone as Rainee was.

"Then why do you think she will be now? Isn't it again just somebody else's opinion that you have taken for granted?"

"No," – Anniet said in a small voice. – "She doesn't want anyone around any more. Now this unfriendly dragon guards her house, and no one can reach her."

"Silly girl," – the headmaster said. – "Did you ever think what it means to be famous? Someone who everyone wants to talk to, to see, to touch, to be close to. If they haven't put that dragon out, then all her house would be plagued by all sorts of visitors, not caring if she wants them to be around or not. But it is so insincere. She was living here, among the same people for many months now, and until they found out that she was someone famous, they didn't bother to seek to be close to her.

On the contrary, they would dispute her teachings; they would want her only for their own gain. They didn't want then to come and visit her. Have you had many visitors while you were staying with her?"

"Only you," – Anniet said. – "Marcus wanted to come a few times, but Rainee said no."

"Because he wasn't interested in her, nor in spending time with her. All he wanted was to gain something from her. There is a limited amount of time you can give to others without getting drained. But at least you can call Marcus genuine and capable of seeing true value in someone, even if this value is only about what you can get from them. Now, imagine if Marcus thought that he had the right to be with Rainee all the time and would ignore her telling him not to come, how would it feel?

Or imagine that Marcus would not ask, but simply come whenever he felt like it. Wouldn't it be a bit troublesome? Shouldn't you be at least locking your door? Let me tell you that now nearly everyone feels like this, that she belongs to them and they are entitled to come and speak and congratulate, and to express their joy or even bring their worries. Does it look strange that they have put a guard around their house?" Anniet shook her head again. She never even thought that way.

"On top of that, she is not alone now, is she?" – the headmaster continued. – "She hasn't seen Prince Angus in a very long time and must have missed him a lot."

"I know she has missed him a lot," – Anniet said. – "She did tell me once herself. And she loves him so much. She said that if he came, she would want to stay alone with him, at least for some time, as all her attention would be given only to him."

"See? Here you go, you know all the answers again. Just pain sometimes doesn't allow us to think clearly. They have been given time only until tomorrow's midday. It is not that much to share with others. What has she told you before leaving? I did see her speaking to you."

"She told me that nothing has changed, that it is only names, and that she will see me tomorrow." The headmaster stayed quietly for a little while, letting these words sink in to the one who had just spoken them.

"Didn't these words say everything that you needed to know?" – she asked after a while. But Anniet already understood it herself. She was still not understanding the part that nothing had changed. But maybe Rainee was talking about herself. In that case, she was right, and the headmaster was right. People don't change only because they're called by a different name. But things will change for her…

"Thank you for your warm hospitality," – Anniet said, standing up and walking towards the door, – "and for all your advice. It has helped me a lot."

"Where do you think you are going?" – the headmaster asked in a indisputable voice.

"I will go to my room," – Anniet said, thinking that there are not that many places left where she could go.

"To do what?"

"….. I don't know," – Anniet was caught off guard by this question. Truly, what is she going to do there?

"To sleep?" – she suggested.

"That's an excellent plan, as you do look tired. But there is no need to go all the way back just for that. Wait right here." The headmaster stood up and walked to the other room. Shortly, she came out bringing a couple of pillows and a duvet. Without a word, she walked to the sofa next to the window and quickly made a bed. Anniet was watching her, not knowing what to say. This kind gesture really touched her, but on the other hand, she really wanted to go and stay alone.

She will not be able to sleep anyway, and she said it only because nothing else popped into her head.

"Thank you very much," – she said, not knowing what to do, – "but I'd better keep going."

"You, young lady, will stay right here where you are," – the headmaster said in a firm voice. – "Take your clothes off and get into bed; if you want to shower, it is in the next room." Seeing that Anniet was still not obeying, she added:"Don't make me call Rainee back here just to put you to bed. As a headmaster, I do have access to every place, guarded by a dragon or not.

I believe she would be worried enough to come if I were to tell her that you have exhausted yourself to the brink of collapsing, but still are not willing to take a rest." That was enough! In no time, Anniet was in bed with her clothes neatly placed on a chair next to her, peeking at the headmaster from under the duvet with her wide-open eyes. Only the thought of Rainee being summoned to put her to bed was unacceptable. And what was worse, it was obvious that the headmaster would do it without a doubt.

And on top of that, Rainee will definitely come! At least that Rainee that she knew. But what is she talking about? There was no other Rainee, just the one she knew. She missed her really badly, but to disturb her without a proper need was not an option. Thinking about how happy Rainee was today… She has never seen her so happy before… Didn't she tell herself that she missed her boyfriend a lot and if he came, she would like to spend time with him alone?

There is no way Anniet is going to be a reason that this time would be disturbed.

"Besides, if you want to see Rainee before the inauguration, then you might be able to meet her in a hall on the ground floor of this building. The King requested permission to use it and said he would leave the uniform for Rainee there." Now, that was news! Anniet sank into bed, thinking that she was definitely not going anywhere.

"I thought she didn't need a uniform?" – Anniet asked.

"I thought the same," – the headmaster agreed, – "but maybe things have changed since then. Nobody knows what has happened, but whatever it was, it must be big. People don't change in their appearance for no reason."

"What are the reasons that make people change their appearance?"

"I don't know that either, as I haven't seen it before. But I would say pain, if I had to guess."

"Do you think she was in a lot of pain?"

"It would be very rare that people change their lives so drastically out of joy. Sleep now." Anniet obediently closed her eyes, thinking that sleep was not going to happen. But just by doing so, she realised that she truly was utterly exhausted. How strange… She didn't even know it. Anniet opened her eyes again, this time certain that sleep would come. She looked at the headmaster, who was sitting again at the table and watching her. She was so pretty! How could she have never noticed it before?

She must be truly blind to miss it just because the headmaster was older before.

"I am glad you are young again," – Anniet managed to say before falling asleep. – "I am sorry I didn't see how beautiful you are before. Old age must have blinded me. Hope it will never happen again."