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"Why are you here, Travis?" I ask to a childhood playmate? I can't say I'm his friend because I don't trust anyone except my parents and my nanny.

Travis Jewel is my childhood acquaintance, that's the right term I guess. We've known each other since we are young, when his parents personally visit our kingdom to ask for help. Well, about how we meet. Maybe I can say he is having a quarrel to one of the children from the castle. I saw him crying over a small scratch in his knees and arms, which I help him treated. Then he came here quite some time to bully me, which I didn't get affected and I just gain things from him.

He is bullying me in a funny way, like he gives me a chocolate and will say 'You will not taste something expensive like that. It's only from our country. ' or he will bring flowers and said the same thing in a different manner. Actually, it's really hilarious every time I remember it. He mistreating me so childishly that you can't be hurt by his word. I still like him though for being honest enough

"I brought- "
"Chocolates or flowers?" Cutting his word because mostly that's what he brings every time he visits. It's not new anymore and something I'm quite used to.
"Um..." Why is he having a hard time speaking? Or maybe I guess it right? "Actually yes." I'm actually right. "And I bring another thing with me. But right now, I want to speak more about ideas. If you don't mind?" I saw him fidgeting his fingers.

Ideas? Oh, this is the first time he is asking me for my ideas. I smile and offer him a seat in one of the couch in the living room. Which he gladly accepts and we sit opposite to each other.

"So what's with the ideas?" While preparing the chess board in front of us. "Let's play a game while we are talking, so you will be comfortable." I notice it for awhile now he was nervous and I want him to relax. Nodding in what I said. "Then what kind of ideas do you want to discuss with me?" I asked.

I move the pawn at the front which he copies and it continues until I take out my horse at the left side.

"I really want to ask you regarding a strategy in a war." He said.
My eyes twinkle. "So you want my opinion! " I pointed out and I move one of my pawns again.
"It's idea actually, my father plans to attack a dominion and he is actually ready to sacrifice some people." I didn't notice that I put down the bishop hardly making him flinch.

I really hate it when royalties decide to sacrifice people for their success. As a tactician for my father, I always plan ahead and treat all my father's people as an important piece. We don't do war but they are the one who come to us. I always say this to my father.

The best way to win a war is to act weak.

Mostly enemies think that if you are weak, they will try to attack you for a couple of times. And that's where my strategy comes from. While they are preparing for an attack, we are also preparing to practice the most basic defense for our castle.

Archers.

Archers are seen as one of the weakest warriors in castles but it's not true. If your archer dies defending your castle, enemies will easily infiltrate your kingdom and royal guards will have a hard time protecting the kingdom on their own. That's why archers are one of the important assets in our defense.

"Your father didn't have to sacrifice people for the victory. " I eat the horse in the chess board. "Let's example this pawn as a militia." I hold the pawn in my hand. "The militia is one of the weakest in the kingdom but if you train them enough. They can be the most suitable knights." Putting the eaten pawn at one side.
"You mean to say as long as I train our militia to death then we will become successful in the battle? "

Can't he understand what am I saying? I did explain it really well though. I checkmate the king with my queen.

"Checkmate!" I captured his queen making him grumpy and I chuckle.
"How did you do that?" He said.
"That's what you call strategy... Well just a good tip, maybe I can share it with you." I said meaningfully.
"What is that? " he asked.
"Make your weapons and shield stronger and train your people as hard as you can but don't punish them. Always think that the best defense is the offense. If they are fast and strong enough, victory is in your hands." I stand up and fix my dress.

He immediately stands up and walks towards me. When he stands up in front of me, he looks at me seriously. His whole demeanor today is so quiet and aloof like he wants to said something. But I know he is brave enough to speak.

"Thanks for the tip, Zelene." I smile at him.
"Don't worry about that, you must learn the in's and out's of strategies immediately. Especially you are the future king of your kingdom." I pat his head and he close his eyes in what I did.

I'm glad that he was so defenseless everytime he is so close to me. I take my white Ragdoll cat under the table after that.

He open his eyes. "I want to give you something, different from all the things I have given you." He said restlessly.

Is he nervous? I put down my cat above the couch where I sat awhile ago and hold his hand for him to calm down. Even though, I do not trust him with my whole heart. There is a bit of light I see in him. That makes me want to talk to him, especially he makes me happy most of his visit.

"It's okay, you can talk, so calm yourself down." I smile making him sigh in relief.
"I really want to give you this..." He pulls out something in his side pocket.

A box. It's wrapped really well by an expensive cover and a ribbon on the top. I just look at him and the box in his hands alternately.

"What is that?" Being curious at the box with the same size as my hand.

He gave me the box and commanded me to open it. I have this feeling that the item inside of this box is expensive so I'm thinking if I want to open this. But I still unwrap it though because I don't want him to feel bad.

When I unwrap the box and open it, I saw a rose quartz bracelet inside with some bit of gold beads included. I'm not fond of accessories but in the looks in this one, I'm sure for real that this item is much more expensive than those chocolates and flowers.

"Travis..." I said quietly but he just grabs my hand and put the bracelet on my wrist. Gently without hurting me.
"Please accept this as an apology because I always treated you badly, and also as thanks for always listening to my non-sense." He smile boyishly to me.

I take one of his hand and pinch the center of it with both of my thumbs. He looks at me weirdly but I just gave him a natural smile.

"Thank you for this wonderful gift, Travis. I really appreciate it. Thank you." Still holding his hand.

This smile he is showing me is really contagious. It's like a set of a warm sunlight every morning. I didn't know why he is always on my side but I'm really thankful I have a friend like him.

A friend did I really say that? I feel he is really a friend but it scares me, I don't want to get betrayed anymore.

I look at him and I have those guts feeling that he will not do, what that guy did to me.

Trust.

I need to trust and love myself again without that guy. To recover and find my own self in this new place I'm living with.

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