One of the guys (3)
Lia watched as the men bustled around her. They were either busy planning or training. Scouts kept on going in and out to give reports and receive orders. While everyone focused on their work, Lia was left to sit on the side and contemplate her life choices. Being alert and on the run tired her out. But waiting on sidelines bore her to death. She felt like she needed to do something, anything to stop her from being so antsy.

Eldric told her not to leave the camp. She knew he had a point and she also knew that she was not making any sense with their discussion last night. But she really meant about bringing danger to them. And it was not just with the Unseen.

The plot had gone wayward since Lia arrived. She had no idea what other changes she might have caused. But she feared that her appearance here might bring more danger to Eldric’s life. According to the plot, Eldric would be heavily injured by an attack. He would be ambushed by bandits who happened to come across the general’s caravan. What if instead of regular bandits, the Unseen would attack them? With this handful of men, Lia was not sure they could survive.

‘I shouldn’t worry about him. He’s got to have a cheat. He has the protagonist halo. He will survive.’

Even thinking like that, Lia was not comforted. Her fear of what was to come intensified.

She caught sight of Eldric as he instructed his men. He even indulged them to be his sparring partner. This guy did not seem to be sleeping at all. Even back when they were in town, except when he was injured, Eldric seemed to be awake all day every day. He was hands-on with his team. Even now, at this camp, he was awake before Lia fell asleep and he was still awake when she woke up.

Eldric glanced at her direction, perhaps feeling Lia’s gaze. She immediately looked elsewhere but he was already walking towards her.

“How was your sleep?”

“It’s fine,” Lia said. “Hey…”

Eldric held up his hand. “If this is still about you leaving, my answer is the same: no.”

Lia sighed, expecting this response. “If that is the case, then I need your help.”

“Anything,” Eldric said fixing his eager eyes at her.

“Train me to fight. Please.” She was practically begging but she wanted to stop playing the damsel-in-distress role. She did not have any delusions to be the mightiest warrior or course. Even if she learned, she knew that she would not be as good as these men. But at the very least, if someone attacked them, she would not go down without a fight. She had some pride too.

Eldric regarded her. “You want to know how to fight.” It was not a question but a statement. He was probably thinking whether or not she had gone mad. Lia could not blame him.

Lia nodded. She had thought about this last night and this was the only answer she could come up with. “If you want me to stay with your group,” she gestured around the camp, “I need to at least know how to protect myself. I don’t want to be a liability to you.”

It took Eldric awhile before he replied that Lia prepared herself for her idea to be shot down again. She was surprised when he answered.

“Alright. Come.”