They glowed, tendrils of red wrapping around me. I would’ve screamed, but I felt calm. A detached feeling between my mind and body. I watched in awe as the tentacles ebbed and flowed around my hands and arms. Filling me with their light.
She dropped my hand, panting. It was the first time I had seen her out of breath. She leaned her head against the wall, a single drop of sweat rolling down her forehead onto her cheek. I looked to my hand again, expecting to see the red glow, but it had gone. Not a single trace left.
“I feel… different,” I said. I could feel the flurry of panic in the back of my mind, but it was buried by a new sense of calm.
“I thought I’d help you out. I must admit it was a slight gamble. I don’t normally have such success on the first try.” She spoke through heavy breaths.
“Magick,” I said, turning my hand before me. “How?”
“Empath, and not a very good one. I haven’t had that much practice, so I can only do the bare minimal like alter an emotion and read an aura. Sense a lie.” She gave me a side-eye look. “And when you left the hall you were a walking flame of worry.”
“You’re part Alorian? Part high elf?”
Such magick came from the blood of a high elf; it was not something Niraen elves could do. It was the one main difference between us. The Alorian power came from their blood.
“My Mum was high elf. I haven’t seen her since I was born though, she left and never returned.” Nyah didn’t look at me as she spoke. “Papa said I gained the ability from her, but I never learned how to use it. There was no one back home who had a clue what it was. The other Alorian elves in the village had different abilities, not one was an Empath though. I’m self-taught.”
“I know an Empath.” I said, “Well, I knew one, I think. I’m not sure if he is here anymore.”
Nyah perked up, “Really?”
“I’m not. I … can’t remember his name but my Fa and I stayed with him here many moons ago. I remember him and Fa talking about it when they thought I was asleep.” The memories were coming back to me the more I spoke of it, still in black and white but there none the less.
Nyah jumped up, “Do you think we could find him? I mean, it’d be amazing to learn.”
“We could try. I don’t… remember where he lives or anything. But he must be easy to find, right? We just ask for the local Empath,” I replied, patting her arm.
Nyah giggled. “I suppose!”
The door opened to the head chef who looked between me, Nyah and the puddle of sick. His face awash with disapproval.
“I thought I heard some shouting out ‘ere. What do you think you two are playing at?” His eyes were blood shot. “Get your sorry arses back in ‘ere before I drag you in myself.”
Nyah looked at me with wide eyes, biting her lip to stop a laugh. After the subtle look, she nodded at the head chef, walking silently back to the kitchen. I followed quickly after her, certain Commander Alina was going to hear about it.
IT WAS HADRIAN’S idea to train outside, swapping the cramped dark room for the open air and uneven lush ground. The cool sea mist blew across my damp neck giving instant relief. We were in a courtyard of sorts, in the middle of the palace grounds. Many guards and staff walked past us, some even hesitating to stop the training when they noticed who was fighting. Hadrian had to call out countless times to tell them he was fine and not under attack.
It still didn’t stop their wary glances.
I was beginning to take pleasure in sparring with Hadrian. It’d been a few days since our first session and I could already feel my body and mind evolving. I’d begun studying him, watching and learning every slight movement he made. It was working, for each day I picked up my pace and even Hadrian noticed my improvement.
“Aim here,” he said, gesturing to a soft spot to the side of his torso between his ribs and hip. “If you strike hard enough, it will give you a few extra seconds to get in another attack before your opponent has a chance to regain composer to retaliate.”
I nodded, readying myself to try.
We’d swapped the wooden swords for fists, a decision I was thankful for. I’d woken up with friction blisters on my palms that Nyah had to help me pop in the kitchens before training.
I swung, hard and fast, following his guidance. My fist passed through the air, missing its mark. Hadrian side stepped out the way, grabbed my arm and twisted it behind my back.
“AHH!”
“Nice try,” he whispered into my ear before thrusting me forward.
I stumbled, but didn’t waste time in regaining my balance. “You can’t tell me what move to try, then use it against me.”
Hadrian was about to respond when I surprised him with my next move.
He’d fallen for my diversion.
While he was distracted, I kicked my leg out, turning my body back to face him.
He tried to cross his arms to block his stomach, but was too slow.
My foot connected hard, sending him backwards.
I kept up my momentum and swung my left hand, palm open, up at his neck. The slap caused a passing guard to shout.
I stepped back and stopped my next move as Hadrian gestured with his hands to please the guard. He was covering his stomach with one hand and the other to his neck.
Not quick enough for me to miss the mark I made. Shit.
“King Dalior is going to have me killed when he sees that bruise. And I bet it’s Commander Alina who’ll volunteer to do it!” I said.
With a light finger, I reached for his neck and brushed over the dark mark.
“I have had worse, believe me,” Hadrian replied, flinching under my touch. “There is no denying your improvement. You never know, you might even have a chance at this rate.”
“I suppose.” I also didn’t want him to up his gear in training and attack harder because I knew he had the ability to do it. I saw it behind his eyes every time we trained, he was still holding back.
“Does it hurt?”
“If it didn’t, I would not be as impressed.” He chuckled. “There was a reason for me bringing you out here today.” He grabbed a water pouch from the ground, tipping the contents of it into his mouth. “I may have brought something for you, call it a gift of congratulations for your improvement.”
I caught the water pouch Hadrian threw to me. “What do you mean a gift?”
Hadrian moved towards a deep green sack that’d been propped against the wall of the palace. I hadn’t noticed it, for its shade blended in with the thick vines that covered the wall. He bent down and pulled at the two ends of tasselled rope. I watched in awe as Hadrian pulled a bow and set of arrows from within. It was familiar. The sun caught the large green stone that sat in the middle of its frame. Deep purple designs etched into the frame, still as mesmerizing as before.
“Recognize it?” Hadrian asked, walking over to me and passed it into my hands.
“The shop, it was in the shop you took me to!” I replied, almost reluctant to take it.
“I saw you goggling over it, thought it would be a nice present.”
I looked up at him, shocked. “Are you serious?”