Hope and strength…I’ve always viewed Telfi as those things. But imagining Telfi’s face every time I think of Nyxa feels wrong. Maybe I should picture something Telfi loved. Plants. Or the scruffy stray cat from the alley.
“A stray cat?”Nyxa scoffs, sounding more than a little offended.“I remind you of a mangy feline?”
I can’t help the laughter that bubbles out of me.
“That cat’s resilient. Resourceful,”I tell her, and now I don’t know how to picture anythingotherthan that cat, and I hope he’s okay. I hope he’s still alive and my mother has been able to take care of him while also taking care of herself.
“Fine,”she seethes.“Picture the damn cat in your mind when you think of me.”
Grinning, I close my eyes and do exactly as she says.
The image comes easily. A wiry black cat with a mangled tail that’s hooked at the end and patches of fur missing from countless scuffles.
“I hate you.”Nyxa’s words slither into my mind, but my smile only widens.
“Okay. What do I do next?”
“Build up your walls, brick by brick. Don’t leave a single hole, but let the…cat…stay inside.”
Another laugh escapes me, but I focus and do as she says.
I picture the bricks forming a circle, laying each one individually, and applying the cement that will lock them in place. Minutes pass and sweat drips from my forehead.
“Stay focused, Serafina. You’re almost there.”
Biting my lip, I keep going. Another brick, followed by another, until finally, the circle is complete.
“You did it!”Nyxa squeals, and I let out a choked laugh because by the gods, that was far more strenuous than I expected it to be.“The greatest challenge is building it. Which you’ve already accomplished. Now, you’ll just need to do maintenance. Check in on things to ensure there are no holes in your shield, no weak spots.But this?”
I watch as the little cat in my mind pads around the perimeter of the wall, almost as if it’s inspecting it, as ifshe’sinspecting it.
“This should hold for at least a few days.”
“Thank you, Nyxa, for taking the time to teach me.”
“Of course.”Her voice is warm and sweet, like she’s proud of me, which makes me feel proud of myself.
Stretching my limbs, I move to sit at the desk, running my hand along its smooth surface before flipping open my journal.
I insisted Ryjax bring me books on plants, each one filled with intricate illustrations and detailed notes about their medicinal properties. My plan is to document every flower I saw in the garden, list out their uses, and then convince Jax to let me take as much as I can back to Village 28.
If I’m careful, if I learn enough, I should be able to keep most of them alive with proper care, allowing me to treat ailments that I never before dreamed of treating.
The corners of my mouth tug up, and I lean over my journal with the quill settled between my fingers.
This would give me purpose. It would allow me to make a small difference in this brutal world we live in.
I think this is what Telfi would have done. Become a healer, and I’d love nothing more than to follow the path she would have chosen.
A knock at my door forces me to drop the quill. It could be one of three people. Ishla, Theo, or Jax. My gut twists, and for reasons I refuse to dive into, I hope it’s the latter.
“Come in,” I say, standing from the chair.
The door creaks open, and there he is—Jax. Things haven’t been exactly the same since our little sparring match the other night. He’s been a bit more distant, still visiting every day but distant, nonetheless.
I’ve not so secretly been hating every second of it, but my pride is too big to actually say that out loud.
His frame fills the doorway, the muted light from the hallway casting shadows across his face. The way his hair falls over his forehead, unruly and careless, coupled with the faint crease of exhaustion between his brows, sends my heart into overdrive.
