Beheading chapter - 3

"What in the world..?"

"That's right, what in the world..?"

"We should hurry and grab some water buckets. We can still stop the fire," Mary spoke hurriedly.

"It's too late," Jenna spoke in a final tone.

"But.."

"It's too late, Mary. There is nothing left to save here. All the grains for this year are already burnt," Natalia explained.

"That means we will go hungry.." Mary thought.

"We will die.. Nat!" Mary exclaimed.

It was not that far from the truth; it was actually a very real possibility. Amarat was a country which didn't have very much fertile land. Most of the landmass included rocky mountains, steep cliffs, thousand-year-old rock and granite caves. 

The country had many mountains and suffered from frequent volcanic eruptions over a long period of time. The forests and farming lands developed, but still they were only about 17% of the whole surface area. That's the reason why food cultivation and collection are taken very seriously in this country.

They have enhanced their skills of farming and developed new technologies for bettering agriculture. There were five central granaries in the country. There were smaller ones too, but these five were the main source of putting food in the majority of the people's bellies.

And after the partition of the two countries, when the Great Master of the Souls took charge of Amarat and united them as a country. Farmers used to farm independently for their own needs, but that didn't lasted long. Many wealthy landlords manipulated these skillful farmers and made them their scapegoats. That was the time the prices of grains went so high they literally rivaled gold.

The current system stops that from happening. All the harvest is bought by the government at a set rate, then stored in these granaries and supplied to people at affordable prices. This system stops theft and burglary from taking place since the government provides it security. Loss to any of these granaries puts the country at risk of food shortages. 

'That's one of our foundational weaknesses as a country, and of course our enemies want to exploit it. Good game, but it's just the beginning. Every country has its own weaknesses, and if ours can make us go hungry, theirs can make them bleed..' Jenna thought in her head.

"Was my instruction not clear to you?" A voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She flinched because she knew to whom this voice belonged. She could recognize that voice anywhere.. they got caught by their master again!

The three girls turned around with a look on their faces that said whatever was going to come out of their mouths would be complete and utter bullshit, so the man in front of them stopped them from saying anything by just holding his hand up in their direction.

"Follow me."

They did so quietly. When they were a bit away from people and their prying eyes, he turned towards them and said,

"Do you remember what I said?"

"That we are not allowed out of campus." 

"Hm, so you do remember, just choose to ignore it," he spoke ominously.

Jenna looked up at that, the corners of her eyes filled with tears, but her mouth was seething.

"Master, you saw what happened.. how can we sit inside peacefully while they do this? I cannot sit and see everything we've worked for burning," she raged.

"And whose fault do you think it is?"

"Mast—" Natalia started.

"It was your provocation, something I didn't allow you to do, but you did it anyway, ignoring all rules and regulations."

"But we just wanted to do something for our country.." Mary spoke in a small voice.

"We wanted to help you.."

"I know...! But the plans of wars and revolution aren't your domain yet. The Chamber of Masters and our Great Master are still here.. he makes all the decisions and calls us all to action," he explained.

"I think we have them where we want them, and if we'd really disturbed your plans of revolution, you would have us hanged," Jenna spoke in a way she usually did, with conviction and inner knowing.

"Jenna.. you have everything, you are perfect, but why do you insist on doing everything alone? You don't come to me, you don't discuss, just make these random plans in your head and jump into action with your friends, who will never oppose you.. What is the rush? You don't trust me?" he asked, frustrated.

"Of course I trust you, Master!" Jenna exclaimed. "I trust you more than anyone."

"Then why do you insist on this? It's a recurring theme with you," he asked.

"Master, my mind is not a quiet place.. I remember things.. and I want to do better. I want to make you proud. I get these bursts of energy, and I feel like I could do it all alone. I could go out in their streets, challenge their king, and win the throne.." Jenna blabbered too many words. Usually that never happened with her, but her master asking if she trusted him made her lose it. He was the person she trusted the most, the closest thing to family she had. How could he ask her that..?

It was obvious, even with their differences, that their master clearly loved his favorite students. He put a hand over her head and said, "It's not the ability you lack, it's the control over these abilities.. you've to learn it, and that's why there is training."

"Girls.." he spoke to all of them, "next time you cross that border, it will be under my supervision. If you are caught doing that without my permission, you'll be expelled from the academy immediately."

He finished. Everybody understood it was not a threat; it was a promise.

But they didn't really mind it because now they didn't have to sneak out, if their master would allow them.. which would work out perfectly because none of them were going to give up on their mission. The fire burning behind them was the proof of it. There's no going back now.

The four of them hugged each other. It was more like a group hug in which they dragged their master involuntarily.. then Mary spoke up.

"So, what's the plan?"

Ruining the moment because she could remain silent for a total of three seconds.

At night, the chatter of the academy died down and a hushed silence enclosed it, mostly because the girls were confined to their bed chambers. It was a big hall with windows on both sides. It was on the second floor and opened up to a big balcony. When Jenna saw it for the first time, she instantly decided the bed next to it would be hers. Currently, the three of them were perched onto their beds, which they had joined together to make one big bed. Strong winds were blowing from the open balcony doors. Instructions were to keep them closed at night, but everybody knew how Jenna felt about those.

The night was still young, and the girls were milling around, talking about the day's events, and today especially there was so much to talk about.. Jenna was watching them too, with a slight glare on her face and an upturned lip that was a telltale sign that she was up to no good.

"Natalia, do you remember in the morning when we were following Master to his study? I was sure I heard some laughter behind me.. Did you hear it too?" Jenna asked with fake curiosity.

"Of course I did. For a moment it felt like we had done a heinous crime and were going to receive capital punishment," Natalia said with exaggeration. "I almost bowed my head in shame."

Natalia's sharp eyes did a once-over of the room as she finished her sentence, relishing the obvious fear in everyone's gazes.

"Oh, I was so nervous.." Mary said, joining the conversation. "I thought I would throw up—"

Mary started, oblivious to her friends' intentions, but one look from their heated eyes and she understood where this was going, so she changed her tone fast.

"I heard it too, but I thought I must be hallucinating. After all, we are friends.." At that, she let her gaze sweep through the room. "And friends are supposed to support each other."

"Right," Natalia agreed.

"Right.." Jenna repeated, giving the word a whole different meaning.

Now they had the attention of every single girl in that room, and by the look on their faces it was obvious that they would rather be anywhere else than here.

The three girls were not exactly famous for being bullies, but it was made known to everyone that they made certain adjustments around the campus that best suited their interests, mostly for their revolutionary efforts.

Jenna didn't like to be seen or heard, and all the girls there knew when to look the other way. That's why whenever they went on one of their spontaneous trips, it appeared as if they had disappeared off the surface of the earth, because no one ever saw them coming or going, and they liked it that way.

But today's event had shaken that belief that they had it all under control.

In the midst of her quiet observation of the horrified faces, Jenna's gaze narrowed at Shanon, the girl sitting a few beds over. Her fingers were fidgeting with her nightgown, but there was no fear in her eyes, just a slight defiance which she hid well, but not well enough for Jenna's observant eyes to not notice and prey upon.

"What do you say, Shanon? We are friends, right?" Jenna asked with a sweet smile.

Shanon only half-smiled.

Jenna opened her arms, beckoning her to come closer. When Shanon hesitantly and reluctantly reached her, she pulled her by her hands and made her sit beside her.

"Shanon, my dear friend, I have always been a fan of that perfume of yours."

She leaned in, smelling her hair.

"Smells good, doesn't it?" She threw the question at Natalia, who smirked in return.

"Smells like jasmine and argan oil," Natalia replied.

"I wonder where you got those from? Our masters are so overbearing that they banned any cosmetics and perfumes on campus! Who would tell them that oils and perfumes are a necessity for a woman?" Mary said, frowning, then added curiously, "Where did you get those?"

"Don't you know, Mary? Our dear Shanon here is the assistant of Master Davin, the finance and accommodations manager. She frequents the marketplace a lot for his errands and sometimes collects the donations as well.. it's not hard for her to get her hands on costly perfumes and ointments, right Shanon?" Natalia asked in a mocking tone.

It was a show of domineering influence. Shanon was stuck, knowing they knew all her secrets.

"What are you insinuating?" Shanon frowned.

"Nothing—" Mary started.

"That you take advantage of your position as Mr. Davin's assistant and frequent the marketplace for personal reasons with the townie boy Charlie," Natalia spoke without stopping to take a breath.

All the girls were stunned except Shanon and the friends who took part in the deed.

Shanon was raging now. There were beads of sweat forming on her temple. She was furious.

"Everything we've ever done pales in comparison to what you three do on a regular basis."

"True that," Natalia agreed, not a bit ashamed.

"Nat.." Mary reprimanded her.

Jenna only smirked at their antics and leaned towards Shanon and whispered in her ear,

"Here is what you have gotten wrong, Shanon. We are not the same.. you and I."

Shanon scoffed.

"Why? Just because you are the headmaster's favorite?"

"No, because we are more than just students here.. we are warriors. We've permission to execute our missions and eliminate any threat to our country."

Everyone was shocked. Even the winds seemed to be surprised by her exclamation. Jenna felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. It felt so good to say it out loud. Now that they finally had permission, Master would be back with their letter of acceptance into the Nation's Young Warriors ranks.

"Next time I hear any of you laughing at us, I will pluck out your tongues and feed them to the crows."

She finished and proceeded to pull over her covers, ready for a good night's sleep.

Natalia and Mary joined her with smirking faces. The girls were shocked and scared, but soon everyone went to bed. 

Jenna had closed her eyes, but sleep was not something she could get easily. Twisting and turning, she dreamed about the moment her master would tell the cabinet about their latest adventure.

Would they be impressed, or would they frown upon them? Would they even allow them to do all this? Master said he would get permission for them. But it could not be this easy. Nothing was simple when it came to the Council of the Great Master of the Soul. It would be his name that they could tarnish. Why would he allow such a thing?

But Master said the Great Master sees everything. His reason is the most sound one. He is our overseer; all his actions have deep meaning. He must know us. He must know that we can do it and we won't disappoint him..

That was her last thought when sleep finally overcame her.