Violet
I lost count of how many tis I hit the ground that afternoon.
Ten? Twenty? More?
Each ti, Ila’s voice would cut through the pain and humiliation: "Again."
And each ti, I would drag myself back to my feet, settle into my stance, and try to do better.
I didn’t.
Toda was relentless, moving with chanical efficiency and exploiting every hesitation, every mont of overthinking, every fraction of a second where my body lagged behind my mind.
Sweep. Ground. "Again."
Feint and strike. Ground. "Again."
Grapple and throw. Ground. "Again."
My body accumulated bruises. My lungs burned. My muscles scread. The sun climbed higher, then began its descent, and still we continued.
The watching wolves gradually drifted away to their own concerns, their interest waning as the spectacle beca repetitive. Violet gets knocked down. Violet gets back up. Violet gets knocked down again.
I hated it.
It hurt.
More importantly, Ila’s words were becoming an irritating grating sensation against my ears.
She hadn’t even given any breaks.
I didn’t even want to be negative, but I did not feel like I was improving, a statent she had made earlier. I was constantly hitting the ground.
"Again."
[ - ]
The sun had dipped low enough that our shadows stretched long across the training ground. I laid on the ground. My body was a map of aches and bruises, my shirt soaked through with sweat and dirt, my breathing ragged as I tasted dirt.
I shuddered as I forced myself up.
I didn’t want to get up. I really didn’t.
I looked like a ss. Felt like a ss, while Toda looked barely winded.
"Again!"
I was fed up.
"Get up!"
Stop it.
"Don’t just lie down there!"
Enough.
"Again!"
Enough!
I gritted my teeth. Hard. When I stood. When I fell. And when—
"Again!"
I scread, my hands lashing out to shove back the sudden force.
Stop throwing down already!
My fingers sunk into her shoulders, my arms shuddering at the impact.
Toda’s eyes widened, just slightly, and only for a fraction of a second with sothing that might have been surprise.
I didn’t have ti to even feel triumphant. I was angry, and she was already adjusting. Her follow-up caught in the ribs, and I was stumbling backward, gasping and clutching my side.
I reeled from the stabbing pain, and taking advantage of my situation, she slamd to the ground once again.
"Good," Ila said. "That’s enough for today."
For so reason, every injury and bruise I had sustained slamd down on all at once at her words. I groaned, tightening my grip on my side as I curled to my side on the ground, my body saring across the sand.
Why?!
"I’ll get a healer—" Toda’s frantic words rushed to my ears only to be cut off by Ila.
"No! Thank You, Toda. I’ll take her to her room. She’ll be fine."
I winced as Ila grabbed and pulled up by the neckline of my shirt, my body screaming from the pain.
"Bear with it for a mont."
Her voice was gentle and with a blink, I found myself in my room.
My body seized up and I collapsed to the floor, my mind reeling.
How did I get here?
I imdiately sensed Ila behind , her palms pressed flat against my back. A shockwave burst from her through and I doubled over, wheezing. The sharp sensation heightened the pain all over my body only to be replaced by a soothing sensation seconds after.
The room suddenly spun and I found myself on the floor, my consciousness fading.
’What did you do to ...’
[ - ]
I woke up to darkness.
Confusion imdiately clouded my mind as I pushed myself up from the bed, my body surprisingly... fine. I imdiately felt around my body. I was dressed in a different attire, and the pain was gone.
What...
How long had I been unconscious?
The door opened and Ila stepped inside. It was as if she had co the minute, she sensed I was awake. Her eyes faintly glowed in the dark.
"Co. Follow ." Her hushed voice was matter-of-fact.
"I—" I started, still disoriented.
"Now." She was already turning away, leaving the door open.
I stumbled out of bed and followed her.
Most of the settlent had already retired for the night, but so wolves still moved around, silent. And I could not help the strange feeling that this was the dead of night.
I followed her out into the cool night air, and towards the main gates.
"Where... where are we going?" I finally asked.
Ila said without looking back, her steps quick. "You need to eat. And we need to talk."
Sothing in her voice made my stomach tighten, but I kept moving.
Before long, we were in the outer district, and moving through the sa market Ana had taken through the first ti I ca here. Even at this hour, the city was alive with light. Oil lamps and what looked like glowing crystals lit the streets, and people still moved about their business.
Ila led down unfamiliar paths until we arrived at a section that went up a hill. When we got to the edge, I noticed the city spreading out below us in a cascade of warm light against the darkness. She gestured to a wooden bench overlooking the view, and I quietly sat onto it.
"Wait here," she said, and disappeared into one of the nearby shops.
I sat in silence, staring out at the capital until Ila returned with a flat plate containing skewers of roasted at and vegetables, still steaming. She sat down beside and handed the plate over to .
"Eat."
I slowly took it from her and started eating, not sure what to make of the situation. I stole glances towards her and she just watched the city below in silence.
I soon found myself savouring the food when she finally talked.
"Sorry for rough handling you yesterday evening," she said softly.
I looked up. "Yesterday... evening?"
"You were unconscious for a day."
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