"You're too small, sweetie,” Arezoo said gently. "But you can cheer for the boys."
"Go, boys!" Cyra shouted gleefully. "Pull harder!"
The boys redoubled their efforts, grunting and straining, but Drova's arms remained perfectly horizontal. After anotherminute, she slowly lowered them so their feet touched the ground.
"That was amazing!" Arman exclaimed. "Are all Kra-ell that strong?"
"Most adults are," Drova confirmed. "Though some are stronger than others, just like with humans."
"Can you lift a car?" Rohan asked, his voice full of awe even before Drova answered.
"With ease, provided it's not a very big one."
"Could you throw a person?"
"Rohan!" Arezoo admonished, even though Drova could and would.
"Of course. But I wouldn't unless it was to protect people that person was trying to hurt." She leaned closer to the little ones, nearly bending in half. "Can you keep a secret?"
The boys nodded eagerly.
"I don't need to throw people to stop them from harming others. I can command them to stop, and they will obey me. I have a special voice just for that."
The boys peppered her with more questions, clustering around her with the fearless curiosity of children who'd already decided that she was cool and not a threat. Even Cyra demanded to be lifted from the swing so she could join the group.
"Can you jump really high?" she asked.
"Higher than humans," Drova confirmed. "Want to see?"
"Yes, please."
Drova crouched slightly, then sprang upward in a movement so fluid it looked effortless. She easily cleared twice her own height, catching on to a branch, and hanging from it for a moment before jumping down and landing with barely a sound.
The children gasped in unison, then immediately began begging for another demonstration.
"One more and that's it," Drova said. "Then you go and play nicely while Arezoo and I get to chat in peace."
This time, she jumped lower but executed a perfect backflip at the apex before landing in the same spot. The children applauded wildly, and even Arezoo found herself clapping.
"I want to do that!" Arman announced.
"When you're older and immortal," Drova said. "For now, work on your strength and agility."
As the children reluctantly returned to the swings and climbing structure, pretending to have super strength as they played, Drova joined Arezoo on the bench.
"You've made their day," Arezoo said.
Drova shrugged. "It was fun. I grew up in a compound where the Kra-ell children mostly trained. I saw the human children engage in silly, playful activities, but until I moved to the village, I didn't understand why they wasted their time on such trivial things." She affected a smile, but on her Kra-ell face, it looked more threatening than reassuring.
Arezoo wondered what kind of childhood produced someone who could be both a deadly warrior and patient with small children.
"Were there playgrounds in your compound?" she asked carefully.
"We had training grounds. The closest thing to play was combat practice. The human kids just played ball in the dirt or hide and seek games."
The weight of that statement made for a charged and silent moment between them. Arezoo thought of her own cousins, of how their childhoods had been so much better than Drova's, despite the restrictions.
"I should thank you again," Arezoo said. "For the rescue, I mean. You are very brave."
