Page 32 of Saints & Sinners

I wrapped my arms tighter around myself, and every bit of negativity swirled across my mind. All I had to show these Celestials were my instincts. My will to fight.

But was that even enough?

“What are you two doing just standing there!” Marnie called out as she jogged over. Brushing a stray copper lock of hair from her face, she added, “Did you see what I did?”

I nodded with a smile.

“Impressive, Lewis,” Lucas admitted. “Hey, whenever I get ill, can you come over and heal me?”

Marnie chuckled, lightly slamming her fist against hisshoulder, but her smile faltered when she glanced at me. “You’re doing that thing again.”

I balked. “What thing?”

“The thing where you compare yourself to everyone else and decide you’re not good enough. I may not read minds, but it’s written all over your face.”

I sighed, kicking at the dirt. “It’s hard not to when... look around, Marnie. Everyone here is extraordinary. It’s technically unfair. Why was I just cursed with endless clumsiness and the inability to sing?”

Marnie threw her head back with a laugh before coming to my side and wrapping an arm around my shoulder. “You have great taste in sweets if that helps.”

I shrugged, not entirely convinced. But before Marnie could say more, a loud clang echoed through the grounds as one of the Warrior’s swords hit the ground.

“Break’s over,” she said, nudging me lightly. “Come on, let’s see what else is happening.” I hesitated, glancing over at Lucas, who simply gave me an encouraging nod as I followed him and Marnie toward the other areas.

I rolled my shoulders, gripping the hilt of my sword tightly as Silas squared off with me again.

A cocky grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I swear, I’ll beat you this time.”

Which is what he always said.

I chuckled as he charged towards me. Our blades collided with a sharp ring, its force reverberating through my arms. He cameat me again, this time energy circling his weapon as he aimed for my ribs. I parried, twisting my wrist and sending his blade off course.

“Huh,” I teased. “Not bad.”

He grunted in response, backing up for another attempt. But my focus wasn’t entirely on Silas anymore.

It was onher.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Grace lingering near Lucas and that Healer girl. Arms crossed, her gaze darted between different groups, looking... lost.

I frowned, nearly missing Silas’s next wing.

“Oi! Eyes on me, pretty boy,” Silas said, puckering his lips in a mock kiss.

I blocked him again, this time with more force, sending him stumbling back. “Maybe if you were quicker, it wouldn’t matter where my eyes are.”

Silas smirked. “Ouch. Someone’s testy today—too soon?”

I ignored him, glancing back toward Grace. She wasn’t moving; she was just standing there like she didn’t know what to do with herself. She always looked like that, no matter where we were.

Silas sighed. “This is no fun when you’re not trying.”

I struggled to look back at him, and when I did, he pouted like a five-year-old. “You should practice using your enhanced strength,” I said, ignoring his previous tantrum. “Maybe then, you might win for once.”

Brandon scoffed, passing us by with thin daggers called Aetherion’s. Its purpose was that it remembered the movements of past wielders and guided the current person in combat. “What enhanced strength? The only thing he has to show for it is that six-pack, nothing else.”

“You fucker—” Silas lunged at him, grabbing Brandon in a headlock. “I won the last competition; what about you, huh? Youhaven’t even competed in any yet.”

Brandon couldn’t stop laughing as he tripped Silas up, and they landed on the ground. They were idiots. Idiots that I was sadly friends with.

---