9.

9

Evelyn

It had been a whole week since the boxing incident with Gabriel, and my legs were still aching. I shouldn't have joined them in the first place. Gabriel purposefully knocked me down, taking advantage of my unfamiliarity with the oversized gloves. They both laughed hysterically, unable to contain their amusement. Meanwhile, I cursed at them with all my heart. However, that didn't deter me from trying. Every morning, I would sneak out, practice my punches on the carved wood, and teach myself self-defense since Gabriel and Hunter refused to teach me.

Despite our playful rivalry, they still made sure I had enough to eat. I had to admit, Gabriel was an excellent cook. His meals were incredibly delicious. But I wasn't going to let him know that. Besides Gabriel and Hunter, there were a few other people living in the small village. I learned about this when I pestered Gabriel to fetch me some grapes. Eventually, I followed him and discovered that the village was named Daekin, after