e a prob

rough the thick fog in my mind. I blinked

up like she didn't have time for nonsense. She wasn't tall, but the confidence she ca

riors s

-" the sneeri

ed, not giving him t

scattered like roaches

softening slightly. "You, okay?"

t was still sprinting li

tudying me. "You must

head was smug. "I

her eyes, "don't let idiots like that get to y

, unsure ho

ked. "You've got Luna written all over you

"Okay, I offici

t standing in the middle of my personal nightmare. "Tell you what, come f

n a long time, I felt so

sadness but so

we

*

encounter. Mira was humming softly, stirring something that smelled l

d, wiping her hands on he

ut. My chest felt tight again, like th

pies thought they were funny. Tried to me

Handled it?" She glanced at me, scanning fo

my head

; arms crossed. "Didn't even get

ously like a curse. Then she took a deep breath, grabbed my h

stening on the side, with crispy fried plantains that smelled like

he owned the place, grabbing a fork. "Don't

e. "Didn't realize I

uth full. "Five st

ay, I officially like her.

me, her expression s

my food. The warmth h

ronger than she thinks. Just needs to tap into it." She sho

Luna, but you'll need proper clothes for that." She disappeared into a small room a

acred. "Wore them when I thought I could take on the world but t

omething tighten in my chest

*

sending me off to war. "Stand tall. Shoulders back. And if anyone t

"Or aim higher.

, tying my hair bac

adjusting the sleeves. "And if that fails, aim for

ed, "Soli

ace, her warm ha

, Elara. Show th

d and nervous, but I was rea

rms crossed, leaning against a wooden post li

ing stone walls that bear scars of trainings over the years. The dis

ok at her-confidence wrapp

ood." She tossed me a wooden training dagger, starting

"it's not about being the strongest. It's about

d, "Sounds

agger, where to plant my feet, how to dodge.

aid, her grin turnin

ed through my arms, but I didn't drop it. Again. And again. Astrid didn't go

rs stopped t

she think s

she won't last

ven doing here? And in just that brief moment of di

aced, bright red against my p

he sounds of the tr

sharp metallic scent of blood splattered everywhere, and harsh voices,

sharp and desperate. "Elara. Breathe

move. My kn

me before I hit the

er

hing darker. His grip was steady, not gentle, but grounding. His eyes, u

"It's okay, Elara. Just

, "You're safe. You'

lifting just enou

y from me. His thumb grazed my wrist like he was c

pass out. Not in front of him. You'll

ed into every line of her face. She knelt besid

ieran said, his voice

e. I couldn't en

st long," one scoffed and

don't give up.

hold me back, but I shook my head fiercely. My throat burned with words I couldn't s

nd longer before he let go, st

parred again. And again. My arms ached, my legs felt like jelly, but I didn't stop. I co

to. But I felt his gaze, like it had weight.

I f

ard, his shadow swallowi

s tone leaving no room for a

rom my knees. "You did good," she sa

her gaze to say 'thank you', but befo

s no catching myself, I was falling again

lt h

s catching

la

, soft and lac

eran's face, his eyes wide,

ni

ything we