It was a quick change of pace. After they had breakfast, Alastor dragged Caroline to an open field. Apparently, Alastor had this idea to teach Caroline close-quarter combat. Ever since the enemies nearly laid a hand on her, he thought that it would be right that she learned how to fend off the enemies when if it happens she’d be cornered.

    They started with the basics.

    Alastor thought Caroline how to throw a punch.

    Her arms stretched back with her hips tilting to the right. Like a loose cannon, her fist snapped. Alastor blocked her with his palm.

    “Not bad, but don’t forget, the power also relies on your hips.”

    “The fortitude of stance and the position of the enemy.”

    Alastor responded. “Good.”

    “Why are we doing this?” Caroline asked.

    “Because you nearly got caught by the enemies and given that we’re just visitors here, well, it’s better not to take any chances. You agreed to train too. Don’t forget that as well.”

    Caroline’s shoulders shrugged.

    Her fist was unexpectedly flung. If Alastor had blinked, he would miss her fist streak and whiz past him, but Alastor’s reflexes are fast and he easily avoided her. They continued their session.

    “By the way, when will we get out of here? Is there any backup plan for this?”

    Alastor waves his hand dismissively.

    “All of your questions will soon be answered. Don’t worry. We just have to sneak and enter the rendezvous point.”

    “Then?”

    “That’s it. We’ll patiently wait for them.”

    Her nose burrowed down. Caroline’s sweat dripped.

    “Hey,” Alastor called out. “Don’t worry. Tactical espionage is my forte too.”

    Caroline lifted her face and smiled.

    And she charged. She threw up her forearms like a soldier using the butt of a rifle to stun the enemy, but Alastor slipped to the side. He countered with a slap of his palm straight into her face.

    Caroline stumbled back but stabilizes. Her eyes were still determined. She marches forward with quick footwork.

    Alastor made a stance.

    Caroline went in with her right fist, but Alastor use his forearm to block and she made a quick turn, throwing her arm aiming at his head. Alastor read the situation calmly and with proper force, he block and shoved it.

    Caroline turn around again and delivered a roundhouse kick. Alastor leaps backward in order to evade.

    “If you turn around once more, I swear you’re going all over the places,” Alastor said.

    Caroline clicked her tongue.

    She hissed and sprint. She made a huge leap and her right heel pierce forward.

    Alastor did not move and waited for the right timing. With quick timing, his hands cross and caught her feet, leading her to jump behind him.

    Caroline’s fist quickly whizzed past him. Alastor gently lifted his left hand to lead her fist away. His palm slapped down to her face and he kneeled, his palm striking to her guts.

    A bolt of pain made her tremble and lose her strength.

    Caroline coughed and puke saliva.

    “I just want to ask. How or where did you learn those moves?”

    Caroline wiped her mouth and looked up.

    “I learned those from the movies I’ve watched.”

    “Oh. I never thought movies can be a good source for learning combat.”

    Caroline made a jump and Alastor reflexively slid his foot backward to gain a distance away from her ax kick.

    Alastor stifled a laughed before gutting her with his palm and she stumbled backward.

    “You sure you can still go on? We can take a break.”

    Caroline looks on the ground.

    Her memory dragged her to the moment when she nearly got killed by a stray beninghol. She was 7 at that time. It was early in the morning when they snuck out in the kingdom. The idea came from her sister, Mola. She put ‘medicine’ on their maid’s food and because of that, she got a stomach ache and excuses herself to the bathroom.

    It was perfect timing for both of the sisters and they sneak out of the palace through the backyard, where they accidentally found a hole that is covered in bushes. The size of the hole is big enough for an adult to crawl and convenient for the two of them.

    Mola crawled out first and helped the young Caroline from being fully covered in mud.

    Their dress stifled their movements but it was not enough to be inconvenient for them to go out.

    “Hurry up, Carol.”

    Mola called out to her little sister. Caroline struggled to keep up with the pace and nearly stumbled on the ground. She lifted her dress and rushed to Mola.

    “Wait for me, please. Let’s not go too far. We talked about this. Mommy’s going to scold us.”

    “Blah blah blah. It’s not like there are monsters here. We can go still further. Let’s see the flower field that mother had told us about.”

    Mola has always been like this. She’s never the one who stops and listens.

    “I don’t think mommy will be happy about this. She’s sick, we should behave well. I think going out is a mistake.”

    “I know she’s gonna be mad, but if we get a flower from there, I think she would be happy and healthy again.” Mola remark. “Do you want her to be happy again?”

    Caroline fell in silence and nodded.

    “Then stop whining, you little wuss.”

    “Hey!” Caroline shouted. “Don’t call me that. Mommy said it’s bad to call strangers nickname.”

    “Really? I heard last time she called daddy by nickname too.”

    “What?” Apparently, it was news for her. “She did?”

    Mola nodded and stopped in her tracks.

    “I think it was old cox.” Finally, Mola responded.

    “I don’t think that’s nice at all.”

    “I don’t know what it means, but it sounds dope.”

    “Maybe I should ask mommy what it means later,” Caroline murmured to herself.

    And the duo continued their venture.

    The next thing she remembered was the cry of her sister, mourning in pain.

    Caroline woke up by the lightning. The clouds had gathered and swirled eerily. She looked around and saw Mola brimming with white light.

    “Sister?” Caroline raspingly said.

    “Don’t move, Caroline,” Mola spoke softly.

    She heard a howl. She manages to peek and saw an awfully big dog snarling and growling.

    Caroline was sure of it, the big bad wolf is staring at her and she stared back at it.

    The moment after, the monster had leaped and she too freaked out and crawl back, but something blocked its fangs.. A white light emanated the moment it made contact with it and sling the monster away from them.