“Because we, my dear, are going swimming.”
“Orion, I don’t know how to swim.”
I stand up to my ankles in the lukewarm water of the river. The azul blue is surreal; translucent ripples reveal my feet beneath the surface.
“Good, today, you’ll learn. I want you to increase your lung capacity by holding your breath underwater.”
Okay, no. That sounds like torture. “Why would I want to do that?”
Orion rolls his eyes. “The same reason I have you do anything else.”
“Orion. There isn’t water on Lunara. I’ve never done this.”
“And before coming to Astralis, you had never star-shot, or run obstacle courses, thrown daggers, rolled through fire, or fallen through the sky. You are Zellie Toro, and you can do anything.”
I inch up to my waist, keeping my gaze fixed on the ground the entire time. The water reflects my face like a polished looking glass. He’s right, I realize. I’ve already conquered fears and unlocked new accomplishments. I refuse to be afraid.
“Start by lying on your back, like this. You will float. Let the water earn your trust.” Orion stretches his arms and legs, letting the water support him. I mimic the movement, flopping about at first before finally perfecting the pose. Giggling, the weightless sensation loosens something that’s hardened deep within me. I let my fingers glide through the water, watching the dark abyss past the glass.
To my delight, Orion lets us float for longer than I thought. He teaches me the basics of how to move my arms through the water and to kick my feet to slip through it. Throughout the lesson, I take in several mouthfuls of water, coughing and sputtering. Orion laughs at my distress, provoking me to splash him. The day feels effortless, easy, fun. Already, I’m thinking of bringing Leo here for him to enjoy.
“Ready to try going under?” Orion’s question snaps me back to reality.
“If we must.”
“Considering this part is the whole point of why we’re here, we must.”
“I like fun Riri better.”
“You wound me.” He flicks water in my direction. “Go under. Plug your nose if you have to, like this, and see how long you can hold your breath.”
I squeeze my nose and submerge myself fully. I open my eyes, finding the water unexpectedly stinging. Blinking rapidly, I allow them to adjustslowly as the light burn subsides. It’s peaceful beneath the surface, with muted sounds that are more calming below than above. The colors are just as beautiful, light casting rays through shades of turquoise. Small pebbles line the sandy bottom in a variety of shades, ranging from cream to black. I’m hungry for more of this hidden tranquility, yet the squeeze in my lungs alerts me that my time is up.
I push off the ground and break through to the surface, smiling with pride at my achievement. I lasted much longer than I thought I could, especially for someone who had never been underwater. Wiping the water from my eyes, I smile as I find Orion.
He chuckles and shakes his head. “Yeah… we’re going to have to work on that.”
Forty-one
One morning, two weeks into the training cycle, Merri and Lenny knock on my door before our day starts. “Do pastries interest you?” Lenny asks as I greet them.
“Do you know me at all?” I feign disappointment.
“We’re about halfway through our time here, and I want to experience and enjoy the city as much as we can. We have a little time before training starts!” Bless Merri and her endless positivity. Has it been two and a half months already? Time has a peculiar way of fooling you.
We walk through the city, over the flower bridge, flarelets twirling through the air around us, the darkened blue cobblestones sparkling beneath their light. Our group finds a delightful bakery nestled into a row of businesses. Stepping inside, we’re greeted with the smell of lavender and browning butter. The walls are velvety mauve, the color more pink than the grass that sways outdoors. The hue is offset with golden-framed mirrors and artwork. Various shades of pastel seating surround marble tables of mismatched shapes and sizes. The marble carries through to the counter placed beside the enchanted open case of baked goods. The line of pastries and muffins floats up and down in a slow, mesmerizing pattern. It’s great marketing—I can’t look away.
Quiet chatter fills the room as individuals sip hot beverages and bite into scones. The barista greets us with a cheerful smile. Beauty and grace personified, she has lilac curls, violet eyes, and a small birthmark on her cheekbone. She’s petite but emits enough positive energy to warm the entire bakery. As we place our order, she turns her attention to me. “Zellie, right? Iloved your performance in the last game!” I stare blankly at her as the words register.
“Performance?” My voice is unnaturally calm as a chilling anger takes hold of me. The bright smile disintegrates on her face. “You realize that this is myreallife, right? And my participation exists solely because the Kosmos backed me into a corner?”
“No, I didn’t realize,” she all but whispers, that positive energy shrinking rapidly.
Merri places her hand on the back of my arm. “Zellie…” I put my arm up to silence her, my need for vengeance taking over my senses.
“Do you know what it’s like to live as a human? To have magic that’s freely given held over our heads? To be won, to be earned? Do you know what we have tosacrificeof ourselves to be ‘blessed’ with the Kosmos’ approval?” I lean forward with each word until I’m practically falling over the counter.
“Zell, that’s enough.” Lenny tugs me back against him and into reality. How are they so blind to how we are treated? Are they so unaware? Or has the Kosmos deceived them? My knowledge of the Order leads me to assume the latter is the answer. An icy rage burns through me, and I shake off his touch. The entire store has gone quiet, all eyes on me.
