Voyage Of The Villainess

"Finally, the most awaited race is about to begin! Do you now have any bets on our contestant? It looks like all of them are so fast and strong."

"Yes, I totally agree with you, and look at our audience they are so wild. I can't decide who will be our champion for this race. They all deserve the but there is only one chosen who will get the award."

The two hosts for this game start talking to each other located on the right side to make the whole event exciting. After almost half an hour, the energy becomes much wilder and noisy. Some audience members were wearing some number on their shirt for their favorite and some of them have trumpets that made the whole place look and sound wild.

More time passed...

"All the contestants are finally on the last sixth lap! The two riders who are contending on the finish lines are the second and tenth riders! Who will finally be the new winner of this race after the fall of the eighth favorite and the long-time contending champion!"  The host said with full of energy!

The whole arena was filled with cheers.

"Go! Go! You can do it! We will win this race. Whooo." Malaya screamed at the top of her lungs and raised her hands with her two fingers to support her chosen horse while Kayden remained quiet just watching the scene.

While Lila was sobbing with imaginary tears. Everything was going well with her bet on the first halves of the race. But then when the eighth horse suddenly collapsed on the ground on the fourth lap, that was the end for her in the race.

'I'm confident that my chosen horse will win but because of that 8 horses, everything is falling apart. Ugh.' She thought and looked at Kayden and Malaya 'Either way, whoever is gonna win this game I think it will be fun.' she looks at Malaya now who is now standing while raising her two hands with the peace sign on her fingers. Lila just moves her head sideways while smiling because of Malaya's behavior. 

"Go! You can win this!" Malaya continued to scream and cheer along with the other crowd from everywhere. 

Only just a half a kilometer left and the two horses along with the riders were neck to neck to each other. Then just one turn now and finally the final sprint towards the finish line.

The riders and horses release all the remaining strength they conserve for this final sprint. And everyone remained silent as the white ribbon for the finish line had been broken.

"No," Malaya said in dismay when the one pulling the white ribbon was the tenth horse. "Why did you lose?!" She screamed in frustration along with the other crowd who cheered with the second horse. "I think I was wasting all my energy and voice for this hays." 

"I win." 

Malaya stopped wailing when she realized something that she had almost forgotten. 'Oh! Gosh, the bet, the winner of the bet was Kayden.' She suddenly felt nervous. 'Crap, I know the way he thinks is beyond this world. Hmmm  let's see, what kind of things he will make us do?'

Kayden stood up without saying anything. "Let's go to the next place." He said as he walked past Lila.

"Ah right!" Lila, who was still in the trance of the defeat of his chosen rider, was awakened by Kayden's cold voice. "For our next destination now is another popular place here in the city. I know you guys are going to love it!" She grinned widely.

Then she looked at Malaya who seemed completely defeated. 'They were so close, how come I'm the one who lost. It really looks like that second was the one who will win. I never lost in bets.' She kept muttering which Lila heard completely.

"It's alright," Lila laughed as she patted Malaya's back. "It's not like Mr. Kayden would ask us to do some ridiculous things. He doesn't look that type to me since he looks like a decent and gentlemanly person. And besides, I'm sure both of you are going to enjoy our next destination."

"Just make sure of it," Malaya said with a pout. "I'm never going back to watch that race again. Hmph."

Lila laughed more at the childishness Malaya was showing to her. "Yes, yes." 

---⚓⚓⚓---

And true to her words, the next place that Lila showed her was beyond breathtaking. The Garden of Glowing Flowers.

As the name implied it was a garden, a very huge garden that was filled with endless glowing flowers of different colors of the rainbow. 

"Wow, this is," Malaya couldn't find the right words to describe the scenery in front of her. They were currently standing at the top of a bridge.

"Like living in the dream," Lila said with a smile.

"Yes, this completely looks like paradise." Malaya nodded her head. "It's just like you've said, I feel like I'm dreaming right now. Now tell me, am I still alive?" 

Lila laughs at her reactions "Well, even if the abyss is a place within the darkness, we can still enjoy the beauty of the light in these things." Lila said with a genuine smile on her face. "It reminds me that there is always light and beauty in the dark."

"Beauty of Light," A small smile escaped Malaya's lips as well. "It was indeed captivating and a pleasure in our eyes."

The wind suddenly blew out of nowhere, and Malaya couldn't help but tucked back her hair that got disheveled.

"Malaya,"

Her eyes widened as she turned to her left side. Red ruby eyes stared at her with seriousness. "Can I call you with your name as well? That is my request."

Malaya smiled more naturally this time which made Kayden a bit surprised. There was a strange tingling sensation inside him. 

"Of course, the truth is I'm happy that you finally call my name now, Kayden," Malaya said. "And now that I think of it, you really don't need to ask for permission since I have been calling your name casually as always."

'The winds blew along with the glowing petals that flew with it. With the glowing flowers surrounding them at every side. The two leads locked themselves in each other's gazes and the one extra such as I was completely forgotten.' Lila shook her head at the two people in front of her with a knowing smile. Then she moved a few steps away from them to give them space. 'It must be nice being young.' She returned her gaze within the field of flowers. 'It will be the best time to give the two some private space.'

---⚓⚓⚓---

They visited a lot more places but there was nothing more captivating other than the Garden of Glowing Flowers. When they were finally done with their tour, they went back to the city library to get the book that Malaya borrowed. And to her surprise, Kayden borrowed some books too. 

After that, they went back to the place they went back to Lila's mansion since repairs have been finished now. And Kayden, he went back to the dwarves after the whole day tour without saying much. Malaya watched his back as he disappeared.

"How's the tour?" Lila said that made Malaya back on her senses.

"Oh, the tour? That was so memorable and I truly enjoy spending time with you." Malaya said with a grateful tone in her voice.

"Aw I enjoy it too, it's truly a pleasure for me to serve you, Malaya."

"Thank you, Lila. You've done so much for me since I came to this city." 

After eating their dinner, Lila prepared and took a nice warm bath. Malaya found herself staring at the ceiling of her room. 

Everything that transpired the whole day kept replaying in her mind especially the scene in the Garden of Glowing Flowers.

"Malaya,"

"Can I call you with your name as well? That is my request."

That strange tingling sensation emerged again inside her. She jolted from her bed and leaned her head at the headboard of the bed. She released a deep sigh, "Though my body is tired. but my mind is rampaging with silly thoughts."

"It looks like, I will not be able to sleep early tonight." Malaya picked up a book that she borrowed and started reading the title, it was entitled "Tale of the Lost Love". 'I wonder why I chose this one since I'm more on something deep and mysterious not in a romantic novel but anyway I know I will enjoy it.' She thought and began to open the book. Then another hour passed and she picked another one, then more time passed and the books that she had read had already piled up on the table beside her.

She closed the book she was currently holding. "Ah, this is bad. I'm still not sleepy at all. Rather reading these books only makes my mind more active." Malaya decided to lay back on her bed.. And hope that soon sleep would visit her soon.