I’m certain that isnotwhat is on his mind, but I don’t push the matter. He’s clearly battling his own demons, and I have a damn CNM class to get to.
THIRTEEN
Tilly, Xavier and I made a quick plan to meet after dinner outside of Agate tonight before we split in different directions. Unfortunately, the only class Tilly couldn’t switch around to be with me was CNM. She has Divination class at the same time, and as a Malachite acolyte, that’s not on my class schedule. So, I’m braving CNM alone.
The Training Centre doors are wide open when I reach the building. The sounds of grunts and shouts echo from inside, as well as the soft thuds of bodies hitting the floor.
I amped myself up the entire walk out here, telling myself that today would not be like yesterday. If I’ve learned anything from the few interactions I’ve had with Lillian, it’s that these people value a strong backbone. Weakness is not tolerated, and I amnotweak. I may not have been trained as well as them or for as long, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t trained at all.
Lukas taught me what he could. Hours upon hours I either watched him in the backyard or I was in front of him, defending.
‘Arms up, Aria.’
‘You’re leaving yourself open, Aria.’
‘What kind of defence is that?’
‘Move around, don’t let me corner you.’
‘For the love of Stars, put your bloody arms up!’
That was all I heard. Until I started progressing. Until my defence was as locked down as it could be with only a brother who wouldn’treallyhurt me as my trainer.
It was as if Lukas knew one day I’d have to face this world without him and defend myself against the monsters that lived within these walls. I know if I get into a fighting ring with someone today, all I have to do is defend longer than it takes for them to tire themselves out on the attack. Just keep standing and stay on my feet.
Defence is what I’m good at. It’s being on the offence that I struggle with. Lukas and I never got to that part of our training. Don’t get me wrong, there aresomeoffensive moves I know. I can throw a punch, and I can kick, but my technique is shit, which is probably why Sebastian was able to dodge each of my attacks near the cliff.
I force my shoulders back as I step inside the Training Centre, taking in the scent of perspiration and wood. I know where to look now and quickly spot the first years at the back of the room again. I ignore the eyes on me as I make my way down the side, sticking near to the wall, giving everyone a large berth. Unable to help myself, my eyes shoot across the other side of the room to the door I hid behind when I was listening to Sebastian and Nicks.
As if summoned by my thoughts, Professor Nicks emerges from the now open door of his office and heads straight for the group of first years. I reach the group at the same time he does. Nicks calls over the two students inside the salt ring who are both on the floor grappling for control, though they seem equally matched. They stop and jump to their feet.
‘Make a line, acolytes,’ Nicks instructs as he walks around to the front of the circle and stands with his feet hip width apart, hands clasped behind his back. Quickly, the first years all move until everyone is standing shoulder to shoulder.
‘You too, Nocthare!’
I jerk, finding Nicks looking directly at me. He juts his chin towardthe other students, signalling for me to hurry up and join them. I do, albeit reluctantly.
I stand at the very end of the line next to a burly guy with a deep cleft in his chin. There are twelve of us in total. Moira is, thankfully, at the other end.
‘Listen up,’ Nicks starts, grabbing everyone’s attention. ‘This ismytraining facility, which means you abide bymyrules. I don’t care what you do out there,’ he gestures to the front doors, ‘but when you’re under this roof, it means you’re here to listen and to pour your blood, sweat and tears into becoming something even your darkest monster would run from.
‘Malachite is known as the Warrior Unit for a reason. You are supposed to protect those who cannot protect themselves. I can teach you to defend others; I can teach you how to fight with and without your element. But I cannot teach you how to live with the fact that you could die on a battlefield one day. If that scares you, if you think you can’t handle that, then you need to leave. Now.’
Silence. No one moves.
‘Good. That’s what I like to see.’ Nicks nods, then gestures behind him. We all look to find six older students kitted out in black tactical gear stalking toward us.
Two girls. Four guys.
My breath catches when I realise the one at the very end of the line is Sebastian. His dark hair is pushed back, with a few strands curling at the nape of his neck. His fitted black top clings to his body like a second skin, and the padded protective vest over his torso only makes his frame seem larger and more defined. The thick belt at his hips holds a dagger on either side. Hilts of dark green leather bob with each step he takes. A matching hilt sticks out over his shoulder, something strapped to his back that I can’t quite make out.
His black boots thump across the hard ground, in sync with the five others ahead of him, creating a thunderous sound as they spreadthemselves out in a line directly in front of us all. Because I’m standing at the end of my line and Sebastian is at the end of his, he winds up directly in front of me, with only several feet between us.
‘Your last session was for your unit leader to get a grasp on the basic combat skills you have in your arsenal. Based on the information he relayed to me, I have been able to determine who is our weakest and who is showing the most promise,’ Nicks informs us all.
My hands get fidgety; unease sweeps through me as I look down the line of the older students and the hardened gazes they all sport. One of them is Lillian. I didn’t recognise her at first because her hair has been cut shorter, right beneath her ears.
Just knowing Sebastian had a role in passing on information about the class makes me suspect that I’ve been placed at the bottom of the food chain.
