Page 21 of Detonation
I open my mouth to apologize but she cuts me off. "Honestly, not one part of me is surprised that you fucked up on day one. Typical Oslana—never taking anything seriously."Ouch.I grimace, just staring back at her. "The only reason I'm not kicking you out is because, as annoying as my little brother is, he isn't a liar. So, you're lucky you managed to run into the only person I'd believe right now."
A sigh of relief escapes me, drawing a maniacal cackle from her, making my eyes narrow. She has some form of punishment up her sleeve. It's clear by the joy that radiates from her.
She smirks down at me, long enough to make me shuffle on my feet, which just widens her grin. "Don’t think you’re completely off the hook. Run laps around the yard. It's about a two-mile route. Keep running until I tell you to stop."
She's got to be kidding me. How is running laps going to help me understand my powers?
Once again, I open my mouth and she cuts me off before I can so much as draw a breath to speak. "Don't question me, Oslana. I'm not here to be your friend. I’m here to be your trainer. If you want a friend, leave and go adopt an animal."
If it hadn’t been directed to me, I probably would have laughed at that but damn does it sting.
I nod, accepting that I was the one who asked her for help. It's not my place to question her methods. I lock eyes with her, shocking us both with my next words. "Whatever you tell me to do, I'll do. Thank you for giving me a chance."
Her eyes narrow as she scrutinizes me, dubious that I’d so easily accept her authority. I barely believe it myself.Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?
She takes a step towards me in a snapshot of last night. "Listen to me very closely, Oslana. You have a long way to go to prove yourself to us. Don't expect this to be easy and don't expect to leave this yard any other way than crawling on your hands and knees from pure exhaustion. Every night, you will pray to the goddess for the pain to ease and every morning, you’ll show up here anyway or you’ll leave.
“We've lost too many loved ones to those bastards to not take this seriously. Every moment that we stand in this yard, we dedicate to being the best versions of ourselves for the looming battle. Death plays no favorites. It comes for everyone."
A somber mood settles over me as the carnage of the battle that ended my first life plays in my head like a horror movie. She's right. Death came for many of us that day.
"So, if you aren't prepared to push yourself past the limits your body will tell you that you have, do us all a favor and leave now. But if you want to take a step toward fixing the realm that was once yours to care for, the realm thatyoufailed, then start running."
And so, I begin to run.
* * *
I don’t stop or slow until she calls out to me. My top, soaking wet, is now several shades darker from the nice blue it started out as. My feet groan in protest of the many miles I ran but I pushed myself past the pain. I couldn’t slow down, not on my first day.
I wish I was one of those girls who loved the gym or even physical activity in general. Yes, I enjoy being out in nature but sweating myself to dehydration? Hard pass.Someone, anyone, get me an IV fluid drip. Please!
As I walk over to her, trying to hide the limp from the blister on my heel, she smiles a saccharine smile at me, her pleasure at my pain clearly visible. “We’re moving onto the magic duels. The first half of our day, we spend honing our skills without magic so that, in the event that we ever don’t have our powers, we will be prepared for any scenario.”
My ears perk up at the mention of magic, thrilled at the chance to start stretching my magical muscles.
She throws her hair behind her shoulder and I marvel at how she pulls off her look. With only half a head of hair, the top layers of her hair are tied back in a French braid while the rest just flows down her back. It should look like a mess but it just looks badass. Her eyes are lined with black kohl and I’m shocked at how there’s not a drop of sweat on her. She must have been born in the pits of hell to be used to this heat.
My mood uplifted at my inner monologue, I push my focus back to her, following behind her towards a small cluster of people. It appears to be about half of the group from earlier.
She gestures towards them and explains. “These are the higher-level magic users. You will run through multiple spars with them until we find the level that you’re currently operating at. Then, we will know where to properly start your training.”
She wants me to fighthowmany people?
My eyes widen in stunned disbelief and a few members of the group openly laugh at me.
Oh hell no.Did they expect me to not be intimidated by the possibility of fighting a large group ofhighly skilledpeople? I refuse to be laughed at. Unless my ass is on the ground, I don’t deserve mockery and I won’t stand for it.
My resolve strengthens and I decide that I will prove my worth to them. To myself.
You aren’t broken. You’re enough.
It’s time to glow.
She calls out to the group. “Soren, please approach the circle and prepare to duel.”
A slender man, roughly the same height as me, with shaggy blonde hair and tanned skin walks towards the circle in the ground that I’m assuming will be our fighting ring. He takes up position on the far side of it, gesturing for me to occupy the space in front of him, his movements assured.
Taking a moment to gather myself, I focus on my breathing, allowing all thoughts that aren’t centered on this duel to leave my mind.
