Their reactions were almost the same as the others, they were emotional and all. But since seeing their wife and fiance, cry like that when they first toured her around, the two were able to prepare their hearts even more.
After that day, Eureka haven't met Raven, her neighbor. She had been going around the kingdom to become much more familiar to it. She had seen different eyes since Feena and Azusa were with her.
Envy, jealousy, amazement, wonder and many more. Despite all of that she ignored everything.
Right now she just wanted to know, why does she always feel nostalgic. But she couldn't bring herself to ask them, she tried to brush unto the topic but their eyes always stops her.
"Hey, I know this is a bit too abrupt but. My wedding is coming up but Azusa should also be there," Feena said on one of their walks, they have been together for five days already. Another week and her wedding would be coming up.
"Oh, then should I stay inside the house or I would have another guard for that day?" Eureka replied as they stopped walking, they are currently by the lake where they usually stays.
"Ah no, but you see... there is one person who has no partner during the ceremony. And since we are still watching you, maybe you could fill up the spot?" Feena answered.
In reality she was nervous, she wants her to accept it as the person she was now. And despite that she wanted Eureka to be there, among all of them, their wedding was the last.
Of course all of them wanted her to be there, to actually attend the wedding itself. But each were disappointed, so now that there is a chance, Feena wanted to grab it. Even if it sounded quite abrupt.
Shock obviously appeared in Eureka's face as she looked back at Feena, she then look at Azusa who could only smile at her, a bit unsure.
"Very well, if I can be of help. Then I shall accept your invitation to be at the wedding. But as you know I am a suspicious person and I also found out that you two were actually heroes of this world. I maybe am unworthy of such privilege."
"No it's fine. That would be killing two birds with one stone, we can watch you while we can attend my wedding. Don't think too much about the t.i.tles and such," Feena replied in relief.
Eureka looked back to the lake, her heart in turmoil. She didn't know if she was happy or not. She felt conflicted of what was going on, she can tell that they are trying to get close to her and she was happy about that. But she didn't know why they would want to.
She looked down at the lake and at her reflection, the lady in there looks calm and serene just like the lake itself. Nothing could be read from her eyes, soon her brows furrowed as she looked more at her eyes.
'How can you look so calm in the surface?' she asked herself before straightening up and leaving the lake behind.
"Are you sure?" Azusa asked.
After going to the lake, Eureka told them that she will be staying inside her house for the rest of the day, that they should do things they wanted to do. And that she wouldn't even dream of leaving the house to a.s.sure them.
"Uhmm if this is because of my invitation, you know, you can-"
"Feena," Eureka interrupted with a warm smile on her face.
"Congratulations on your wedding and I will make sure to appear there for you. As a thank you for accompanying me all this time. Even if it was just you watching me closely."
After saying this she bowed down towards them and entered the house.
"Do you think I was too abrupt in inviting her?" Feena couldn't help but ask as she looked at Azusa.
The two of them started walking away from Eureka's house.
"No, I think what changed her mood was after she looked at the lake," Azusa replied.
"The lake? What would make her change there?"
Azusa could only shrug and the two of them could only go on with their day.
Meanwhile, Eureka was standing infront of her mirror. Somehow the person infront of her, scares her. She couldn't see through her, whether it's her eyes or her facial features. Everything was hidden.
This had been bothering her for the past few days and todays event made it more visible.
She touched the surface of the mirror where her face was reflected, "Who... are you?"
She started trembling after asking the question and her mind started whirling, it was blank but it felt like there's so many things inside.
She slowly knelt down as she held unto her head, grabbing her hair, "Aaa... Ahhh..."
Her breathing became erratic as she tried her best to understand why she looks that way in her reflection.
'Monster.'
A word that scares her so much suddenly appeared in her mind.
"No... No... NOOOOOO!!!!!"
She kept shouting No, as she grabbed her hair and struggles on her knees.
"Eureka!!"
That was the last thing she heard before collapsing on the floor falling unconscious.
*****
"You're here?" Raven asked upon seeing Feena and Azusa in the way back from where he lived.
"She went back home and told us that she will be staying in her house for the rest of the day," Feena replied.
Raven just nodded to this before continuing on his way back home. Even up to now, he still really couldn't bring himself to actually interact with her.
"NOOOOO!!"
Just as he was getting close, he heard the shout coming from her place. His body moved before his mind could register what had just happened.
The door was locked, so he could only move at the back to check the window upstairs. Seeing as it was open he used the tree close to it, to jump inside.
What he saw upon entry instantly broke his heart, she was hunched over as she held her head, grabbing her hair. She looks to be so much in pain.
"Eureka!!"
He pulled her body up and saw that she had fallen unconscious. Sweat drenched her face and her brows were furrowed as if she was in pain. He could only carry her to her bed before going down and looking around.
Seeing as there were still so many things missing in her house he could only go to his to get what he needed. But before doing so,
"Sir Dai," he called.
"Raven," Dai appeared just outside the balcony.
"You didn't hear her shout?"
"I have but I have seen you coming as well, the moment I heard her shout, so I left it to you to check on her," Dai replied, politeness or what not.
There's no such thing in between them, but it was not because they were at odds but because they were just like that.
"Then please ask Feena and Azusa of what they have done for the day," he tasked before he left for his house.
Dai went his way as well.
Upon returning, Raven saw Eureka clutching tightly her blanket and her face have contorted.
"What is it?"
He whispered as he started wiping her face, he also did his best to remove her hands from the blanket.
"If you don't let go you might get hurt," he added as he slowly unclutched her hands.
"Mons... ter...?"
His movements stopped upon hearing her speak. He looked at her and saw that she was still unconscious.
~"I am nothing but a monster after all."~
For some odd reason, her words back when he confronted her about the presence of consciousness in their abilities way back. When she cried in front of him saying that she was also a human, came to his mind.
After this flashed in his mind, he picked her up and hugged her tensed body and it hurts him to feel that she was also trembling, "Shhh, it's fine. You're not a monster. It's fine now, just rest."
He also carressed her back as he tried his best to sooth her emotions. After who knows how long, he felt her relax finally letting go of the blanket.
He then carefully layed her back before he took the basin who's water have already turned cold. He warmed it up and started wiping her face and arms. Trying his best to do it as softly as possible in order not to wake her up.
He went downstairs to prepare some light meal for her and even if he didn't want to, he could only wake her up. She needs to eat and she needs to get changed.
He could only coax himself that he was her neighbor after all. So since he heard that something was wrong he could only help her.
"Eureka... wake up now... you need to eat and get change."
She slowly opened her eyes and looked at Raven, she looked around and was still disoriented.
"You have collapsed maybe due to the fact that you are not yet well. So you should eat," Raven said as he helped her sit down and handed her a bowl of porridge.
'It feels like I was once woken up by such words and voice,' Eureka thought as she started eating.