You know, I really can't imagine how dad could send such an irresponsible man to give us protection. The attack in the forest was my carelessness, I agree, but he shouldn't leave when we have recently received a major attack, should he? And on top of that Millia had to go for her herbs right now for the medicines Elliot needed.

I am sitting on the living room couch right now, ticking my fingers on the wooden table. Should I go look for them? But that would leave Elliot alone here and that could be dangerous, specifically in his condition. But what if Millia and Nathan were attacked? Neither of them is good at self defence. A picture of Millia injured flashed in front of my eyes and I suddenly felt tense. Millia and Dad were everything to me and I can't bear to lose any of them. 'I need to look for them.' I thought as I stood up and put on an overcoat to get out. But then I heard some rattling sound from Elliot's room. But Elliot wasn't awake. Wait, is someone else here? I instantly became cautious. I tip-toed down the hall to peek into Elliot's room. To be honest, I hadn't visited Elliot after our last meeting. I don't know why but it's like I don't want Elliot to get very close to me, probably because I am afraid I might hurt him again.

Elliot was not on his bed. Instead, I saw him crawling on the floor, reaching out for the table filled with a glass of water.

"Elliot !!" I exclaimed as I went on to help him up.

"Here..." I said as I passed the glass of water to him.

"I don't exactly remember what caused me this injury." He said after having one sips, pointing to his shoulder.

"Can you fill me in.."

"We were attacked." I declared.

"But how? ..And why?" He said, tilting his head to one side. I almost smiled, almost..

"Well, we don't have any specific clues but probably it has to do something with my father being the new Clan Leader." I explained and he nodded his head lightly.

"Wait, what about you, you hurt anywhere?" He asked shortly after. He had a worrying and hurt expression on his face. 

"Yes, my heart hurts but you are the reason" - This is what I wanted to say but it came out as a simple- no.

"Where are Nathan and Millia?" He asked. 

"Out for some herbs she needed." I told him. He just nodded in response. 

"Are you hungry?" I questioned.

"A little bit."

"Then wait here. I am going to cook something." I said. 

"Wait! You can cook too?" He said in surprise.

"Of course.." I lied. In reality, I haven't even boiled an egg in my life. But better today than never....

I stood up from the bed, Elliot's big catty eyes still locked on me. 

"Don't leave this room. And if you need something. Just call me." I said and left the room.

Then I entered my new battle zone- the kitchen. Usually, I was here either to grab something to eat or to torment Millia but today....today I had a new job. And strangely, it didn't even feel like I ever knew this room of my house. I was struggling to get hold of what was kept where. I decided that I would make just a simple porridge, but here I was, turning the kitchen upside down to just look for a cup of rice.

After I had won the battle of recruiting my soldiers, some way or the other, I finally stepped into the real battle - cooking.

I took a pot, added water and rice into it and put it on the flame. That's what Millia used to do, if I am not wrong. But What did she do after this?? She added salt or chilly or pepper or all of them. Ahh!! Why don't I remember anything??

'I will just try to add all of them in less quantity to prevent over taste of a flavour which shouldn't be there' I thought. And that is how my brilliant solution goes.

But after about ten minutes, when I tasted it myself, it seemed a little more than water and a little less than food. What the hell did I make! I added more of the ingredients in the porridge and in the end, I think I made a little of everything in this pot. Well that's a good way to present the mess I have created here. Ahh!! What should I do now? Maybe if I could let this get cooked a little longer, it might taste better. Or so I thought? When I entered the kitchen after picking up a few strawberries from our garden, I knew Elliot would love these, a cloud of black smoke was hovering over the pot.

"Shit !!" I cried as got hold of the burning pot.

"Ahh! So damn hot! " I cried at the burning skin in my fingers and the pot left my hand into the vastness of the floor.

'There goes the food....' I thought but maybe it would be an overstatement to call that even a food.

"Will I have to eat that?" I heard a voice say. I turned around to meet Elliot's eyes.

He had a funny and amused look on his face. My face reddened with shame and embarrassment. This was the moment I can declare, 

' I fucked up! I really, really fucked up! ' 

"Wait, let me clean this up. Then I will make a new one.." I said feebly. I took a piece of cloth for myself and got down to clean this shit.

"You don't need to make another one. I am not that hungry. These will do just fine. " He declared, pointing at the strawberries.

"But-.." I started but couldn't think of any reason. I know what are the odds that the next food I prepare would be something edible but still... 

"It's okay. I am not that hungry." He told me as if knowing what I was thinking about. And since I didn't have any reasonable thoughts, I let it through...

"You shouldn't have got out of your bed, you know." I scolded Elliot.

He pouted and I cannot help but smile. 

Why the hell am I never able to get angry on this guy??