"And what were you going to eat there, huh? Miriam's fluffcakes? Do you know how much sugar she adds to those things? I'm sure I'll be doing your body a favour by preventingyou from eating those. The last time, some idiot even had the idea of adding chocolate chips to them," Ezra exclaimed.
"Well, not everyone wants to follow your diet of healthy depression," I answered and couldn’t help but blush harshly knowing I was the one to always add the chocolate chips in. Without a thought, I pinched his arm hard. He jumped away in shock and rubbed the spot, feigning hurt.
“Ouch—“
"Shut up, will you? And just take me to the training tent like you intended," I said, already exhausted from his antics. He smirked in triumph, leading us to the enormous tent, its entrance held up under huge oak trees, creating a wide opening.
“So, red today, huh?” He smirked and looked at my hair covered under thediok.
I touched the material lightly. “I was feeling fiery today.” He snorted at the sentiment.
I took in Ezra's appearance in front of me and then realised something was missing, or shall I rather say,someone.
"Where is my little baby, Rhey?" I asked and softly smiled waiting for him to appear. And just then I saw something from the inside of Ezra's shirt, slither up his back and fling a big green apple towards me. I caught it swiftly and stared into the reptilian yellow-gold eyes looking directly into mine.
The ragnor snake.
Chapter 3
Creatures of darkness
Ezra and I had found him during the last winter solstice, an egg nestled in a lake within the Corat Forest, just beyond the outskirts of Merlanis. He was the last of his kind, the others perishing in wars or hunted for their valuable skins. We always wondered how he ended up in Corat, considering his species had only been found in the Kingdom of Darkness. But, then again, even the most dangerous creatures had been forced to flee from there.
Rhey had stunning black scales that shimmered with a subtle blue hue under the sunlight. To most onlookers and spectators, he was just another serpent, but the ragnor snake could take the shape of any size it wished, whether it chose to be as small asa worm or as big as a mountain, but Rhey was still young and we had never allowed him to shift bigger than what was deemed normal. Ezra and I would never risk putting Rhey in the arena, there were too many cunning eyes who would seek him out and capture him for their own benefit. Rhey was ours and we were his, however he was always with Ezra, they had a bond no one could decipher.
Other than that, we were inseparable, a small family as I would like to call it, along with everyone we worked with in the arena. Rhey clung onto Ezra like a decoration and hissed at the guards who came near.
"Thanks for the apple, you even remembered which colour was my favourite, I seeyoucare, unlike some people." I smile lovingly at him, reaching out to brush his head.
"Kiss ass,"Ezra muttered and fought a smile as I took a bite out of it in smugness. Ezra held the opening of the tent for me, he had always held on to some etiquette from his past life.
I chewed slowly, savouring the sweet tart taste, the juice biting into my cheeks. I scanned the training room, Ezra and I were the only ones present. The targets for archery and blade throwing were all set in place. Beyond them emanated the power from the cages, the real challenge. Monstrous creatures that most soldiers would attempt to kill on sight however we keep them as part of our performances. Fala's one rule was absolute: defeat, never attempt to kill. Coming in all different shapes and sizes, these creatures were forged by darkness itself, creatures that cannot feel pain. To survive against them, you had to break their resolve, not their flesh.
I softly touched the curve of my finger where the creature had wounded me and left a harsh scar- darkening my index finger.
I was only a child when I first snuck into the training tent, curious and positive that I could help these creatures. My heart had once felt guilt that these creatures were to remainin captivity and not taste freedom. Every living being dreamt of being free, no one could possibly want to be contained. I remembered the day so vividly.
I had reached my hand through the magic shield covering the area, and to my bewilderment, it wasn’t zapped away. The barrier seemed to part effortlessly, as if it had never been there. I had felt a subtle coolness until I realized I had stepped all the way in, entering the shield.
The creatures in the cages were oddly quiet. None had been snarling or growling like they had when fought in the arena. I went to the one closest, its illuminating eyes bore into mine. I noticed how this dark creature almost resembled a sloth, seemingly made of shadows with only its eyes and claws gleaming. I reached to open the cage, and in a flash, I felt a sharp slicing pain on the tip of my index finger. I had let out a shrill scream, not in pain but in shock as I fought to scramble away, it was then that all the dark creatures started howling and snarling—making everything in the compound sound as ferocious as I had imagined them to be.
A hand grabbed me and pulled me away swiftly, startling the darkness out of me. It had been Fala. Panicked. The only true emotion I had ever seen on her face since meeting her, she was looking for any other injuries as she held my bleeding finger in her palm.
"Why would you go in there and how on Terran did you get in? You know those creatures are dangerous, Morana. Why would you go there? Why?" Fala continued to ask, now angry.
"I don't know, I jus— I just got in. It let me in, I-I just wanted to free them." I sobbed softly.
Fala's face softened, and she caressed my tears away. "Sometimes... one who has witnessed so much destruction and has felt so much death in their lives, prefer not be let out.Sometimes, one can feel safer in one," Fala spoke softly and then looked down at her wrists.
There were marks there, burn marks as if she had been shackled and those shackles had been put on fire.
I returned to the present, slowly turning my gaze away from the force field compound.
"If you're wondering why the training compound is empty, it's because you're late. If you haven't already noticed," Ezra reminded, Rhey coiling around his neck and succumbing to deep slumber. I rolled my eyes at him and took out my fire blades.
"I'm not the arena's best warrior for no reason, you know?" I smirked as I knew this would rile him up.
Ezra lifted up an eyebrow and then asked, "You mean the best female warrior the arena has?"
