Chapter 10: Lessons

Marien's POV

When he said 'honorable,' I was surprised. It was a bit of an old-fashioned word to use, but I understood it was because his culture was different. I liked it. I didn't know how they handled nudity, but I was starting to understand him.

Although... Why? Why had the evolved man followed him to get revenge? As if it were a simple game to distract himself. Why did he ask Anthony that question? Didn't everyone fight like that?

While I was getting dressed, I stared for a couple of seconds at his perfect back, broad shoulders, and narrow hips, but I snapped out of my little daydream when I noticed some very slight marks on his skin. They looked like old wounds.

I shook my head and continued with my business.

***

I felt a mild heat on my skin and heard some voices.

"She's only asleep," Anthony was talking to someone. "She's part of an investigation and must reach the capital."

"We need your identification."

The other voice made me wake up completely. It was the daytime; the sun was warming my body. I raised my head to discover that Anthony still carried me on his back.

"You woke up," he said with a sweet smile. He had his sunglasses on, although broken, but repaired with the rubber band. I tried not to laugh; I really did. At least they were still doing the job.

"Ma'am, your identification so I can let you pass," the guard insisted, carrying a weapon.

I got off Anthony's back and rummaged in my backpack. I showed my ID, the guard signaled, and an enormous blast door opened. It dawned on me that Anthony had carried me on his back all night until reaching the other city, so the first thing I did was find a motel for him to rest. Maybe he was strong, but that had been too much.

"Okay, you can shower, take something from the freezer, and rest as much as you want. I'm going to buy some things," I said as he looked at the room.

There was a shower, but its walls were glass so that people could look out over the beds. Oh, my goodness, these people! At least it had curtains that I could draw to cover the view. There were also neon lights on the ceiling, and Anthony kept looking at them curiously.

He turned to see me, confused. He wanted to say something, but I left, closing the door.

I went through the stores for around two hours, looking for food. Besides, I got clothes for each of us and other useful things, including razors, soap, and toothpaste. Maybe I was paranoid about cleaning. I used the debit card since, at least, all that saved money was useful.

"I hope your boyfriend likes these shirts," the cashier murmured and smiled at me.

I smiled at that idea. Unfortunately, that boy didn't seem to know what it was like to be married, which meant he most likely didn't know anything about romance.

When I returned, I opened the door slowly. The light was low, and he lay asleep on the bed, only wearing pants. His face turned to his right with his hair wet and tousled because of the shower. I was tempted to watch him. He had a very calm expression.

I could spend hours admiring him. He was exotic.

I went up to him to fix the hair that covered his forehead, and then I caressed him gently. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be here anymore. I wanted to know if he could feel something...

He let out a soft purr because of my caresses, the purr worthy of a big cat, and I melted; I didn't know they could do that.

"Thank you," I whispered.

I observed his wounds that would soon heal and disappear, except those he already had. Although we first believed they had no scars, I have now questioned my studies. I got up reluctantly and took clean clothes from my backpack. I should also take a shower.

"You came back," he mumbled under his breath.

Wow, I had woken him up with my clumsiness.

"Rest. I'm going to shower," I whispered.

I saw him smile barely and settle back down to continue sleeping. I smiled also. He was like a sweet cat now but like a wild lion when he attacked.

I found him digging into the bags when I exited the bathroom.

"Hey!"

"Hi. You brought milk."

I chuckled.

"Yes, but I brought more things." I went to bed and emptied my bag's contents into it; he walked over to look. "I hope you like what I brought you."

I spread the clothes, and he took a T-shirt and put it on.

"Great, thanks," he offered me his dreamy smile.

I took out the food, and we started eating; I also brought him a milk bottle he liked. I had to know about him, so I didn't take long to start asking.

"I thought your skin could heal completely..."

He looked at me briefly and seemed to know why I had asked that question.

"I guess nothing is perfect. There may be a slight mark later if the wound is severe."

Something shrank back inside me. What did it mean? And I was afraid to find out. I decided it was better to change the subject.

"How do you organize? I mean, by families, large groups, or... couples?"

He sniffed a meat sandwich I had gotten him, and I couldn't help smiling, forgetting my slight concern.

"We train hard from childhood. After finishing studies and having been trained to fight more, well... If you are not going to do more, you decide with your family which young person you could join to form a new nucleus." I was suddenly surprised. "Then they teach us new things about it."

"So... they don't discuss it until you've started it."

"Yes, that happens with everything in general. The elderly are not allowed to talk about the knowledge they are given when they are... older, redundancy worth it." I smiled, opening the package with the sandwich. "I got out earlier. One must be what his father was. Each family group is responsible for doing one task. For example, some make clothes; others make food, artifacts, and I..." His expression suddenly changed to a serious one, and he sighed. "Sorry, I lied. I didn't escape. I was banished, as were the evolved men we found out there. And it's a shame for me to have to admit it."

"Sorry. But don't worry, you didn't need to lie. You don't have to feel ashamed."

"It's a disgrace not to obey. Punishments are not pleasant at all."

"I imagine so," I said, puzzled.

I could tell it pained him to disappoint his mother.

We continued eating, but I was frustrated. The society he had grown up in seemed very strict, forbidding them to even talk about things. They trained them harshly and taught them to do their stuff early on. But that was why he seemed more mature than a human boy at that age. How was all that possible?

"What if you come back?"

He showed a sad smile.

"If you choose to be banished, you leave without honor because the other option is to die."

My stomach contracted.

"So..."

"If I return, I would regain the honor my family lost because of me, letting the leaders kill me. Well, unless I do something very, very important to my people. So, I wanted to make you guys desist from using the toxin, but now it is far away... And, yes, I have thought about going back."

"No!" He looked at me in surprise. "No. I am going to help you. We'll go to the capital and prevent them from using the toxin, understood?"

He smiled slightly.

"Thank you."

I took a deep breath. Those evolved people were crazy. I denied it in silence and kept eating.

"We have something called marriage," I commented.

"I see," he said with a smile. "And they can sleep together, right?"

I smiled.

"Yes."

"Maybe my people could say I committed a fault by sleeping in the same bed with you, but you are not an evolved girl, and we are not in my city, so I did nothing illegal." He winked at me.

I blushed and tried to hide it by looking at my food. No wonder he had been so reluctant to sleep with me. I took out one more bottle of milk and gave it to him.

"Thanks, but... why is it brown?"

"It's chocolate. If you don't like it, don't worry..." He tried it and smiled. "Do you like it?"

"Yes. I had already tried it. We call it cocoa sweet. Although, of course, I never tried it with milk, and this one is sweeter."

Suddenly, he turned to look at the wall, and I frowned, confused.

"What?"

"Can't you listen?" Pointing to it.

I got up to put my ear against the wall, and my eyes widened. It was a woman's groans, and he could hear it! I blushed and looked at Anthony, who raised an eyebrow.

"What is happening?"

"NOTHING!"

He smiled mischievously.

"Hey. I answer all your questions."

"Yes, yes, but it's nothing serious. She's happy!"

"She is happy," he mumbled strangely, studying it.

"Hey, uh... I want you to teach me how to fight!" He looked at me incredulously. "I want to be useful instead of always running to hide."

He raised an eyebrow and stood up.

"Do you think you have a chance in a fight against an evolved?"

"Somehow, I could do something, right? Please, there are so many options: dodge them, hit a weak spot, whatever," I insisted.

"Well, let's see how fast you dodge."

I stood in front of him, nervous. He was fast and strong now. I didn't know where I had gotten the stupid idea that I could fight one of them, but I couldn't back down anymore. He was about three steps from me and smiled.

"Ready?"

I nodded with a quick movement.

He lunged at me so fast I could only duck and walk away on pure instinct. Luckily, I managed to dodge him. He looked surprised, and I knew it had only been a stroke of luck, but I smirked at him, waggling my eyebrows.

He smiled and made another swift movement. I backed away quickly, avoiding him again, and wanted to run, but he put his arms around me and held me firmly against his chest. I looked up to meet his slight smile, and one eyebrow raised.

"If you get caught like this, they could break some of your ribs."

He let me touch the floor with my feet. He was tall. I realized that running at any sign of movement on his part gave me more chances to dodge him. It was more a matter of luck. He lunged again. I made another quick move at that exact moment, hoping to escape, and I did it, but he was faster and caught me with his next move, taking me by the back.

He squeezed me, leaned in a little, and brushed his nose lightly over my neck, triggering my heartbeats and making me blush.

"If an evolved reaches your neck, you are dead," he whispered, releasing me.

I'd have wanted him not to, as I enjoyed his warmth and scent.

"Well, maybe I don't have a chance if I'm very close, but could I hit him?" I suggested.

He smirked.

"Go ahead."

I pursed my lips and punched the hardest I could, but he effortlessly stopped me with the palm of his hand. He closed his hand on my fist and smiled, coming closer. I tried to get it free but couldn't. Even if I pushed or backed away, I couldn't free myself.

"Okay! It is useless. I already realized," I said, resigned, and he released me. "But what if I could hit him by sheer luck?" I insisted again.

"Well, hit me in the stomach to see how hard you can do it."

"Are you sure? I will use all my strength," I warned.

"I can handle it."

I hit him, and it felt like blowing a punching bag. I barely moved him a millimeter, making him laugh slightly. My hand hurt a little.

"Don't be cruel to me," I asked. "Once you said you could hit them on the head and stun them."

He took my hand and started rubbing gently, accelerating my heartbeats again.

"Very well. I thought you didn't remember, but you must grab something tough and have the strength, and in your case, luck, to be able to hit them."

"Good! I finally made a breakthrough."

He smiled.

"Now you know we depend on our senses, so a good blow in the head can give you a few minutes advantage." I nodded, satisfied with myself. "You must try to pick up some large and heavy object. If an EH comes for you, the first thing you can do is bend down, turn, and hit him with all your strength on the head."

"What do I do next?" I wanted to know.

"Then you run away for your life," he said, smiling.

"Haha," I laughed wryly.

I realized that he still had my hand in his and stroked it occasionally. I smiled and looked up into his feline eyes again. He returned a sweet smile and slightly tilted his face.

"What?"

"N-nothing." I reluctantly walked away.

After this city, there were some ruins of a small town emptied after a fight. It was close. After that one, another city like this one would come. I sighed and looked at Anthony, who still had his beautiful eyes on me.

Innocent yet dangerous.