“Calix?” I hiss. It’s nearly pitch black, just an orange glow from the dining hall’s fire creeping around the curve of the corridor.
“Come on.” He appears next to me as if from the shadows themselves, and we head outside.
The air is fresh, warm, and peaceful, like the day hasn’t quite decided on what to bring with it other than scorching heat. The atmosphere is brimming with warmth already, and sweat starts to tickle my spine from just stepping outside.
“Run. Stretch. Then we’ll see where you’re at.”
I nod and remember him coming in to breakfast, already out and training before most of us were awake. And that’s what I have in store for the foreseeable if our plan is to work.
We reach the edge of the training ring. “Across the circle, to the centre and back. Don’t try to race me. Just go at your own pace.”
“And why can’t I run with you?”
“Oh, you’re welcome to try, but this isn’t about besting me. It’s about training you, which means I can’t have you pass out on me before we even start.” He shrugs as if that’s explanation enough.
I want to pout and protest, but I know running is not my favourite pastime, and he’ll likely beat me running backwards. Taking a calming breath, I close my eyes for a moment, listen, take in the stillness, the quiet of pre-dawn, and search for the little well of power in my chest.
It’s there, waiting, as if sensing I’m looking for it.
And then I open my eyes and push my legs to run. Not a sprint, just a comfortable pace across the sandy dirt.
Calix blazes past me a few moments later, and I force myself not to try to run after him. Like he said, I need to focus on myself and what everyone is doing to help. The least I can do is be a good student.
We warm up, and Calix sets out the instructions, complete with demos, the exercises to stretch my legs, back, and arms. All simple, but I find my legs already aching after one repetition of the routine.
“We’ll do this every morning. You’ll start to gain mobility, and then we can up the strength portion of your training. What you’ve done on your own is a good foundation, but less effective than if you had a partner. Another fail for Rowan. Man, he’s a jerk.”
“Okay. And then what?”
“We’ll spar. Like I do with Ten and Crim. Or others. Teach you how to block and defend.”
“And attack,” I interrupt. I’m not going to be helpless.
“Yes, Ever, attack too. But don’t push it, or I’ll put you on your arse again. I told you I won’t go easy on you, and I don’t intend to, but one step at a time or there won’t be any point in this for you.”
“Sorry. And thank you,” I add quickly.
He just shrugs again and then sets about giving instructions.
The sky has turned a deep pink, with strands of orange and gold streaking through it, signalling the sun won’t be far off when we’re through. I’m tired and drenched with sweat, but I have a heavy, satisfied hum in my muscles from the workout as Calix leads us back to the residence building.
“So, does anything special happen for the new moon?” I try to sound casual. I couldn’t ask Ten after last night when he insinuated, in an oh-so-infuriating way, that at the new moon, we could touch without any consequence. Relief had choked me, quickly followed by the images of me kissing Ten like he held my next breath. My mind just… summoned the vision. I even thought I could taste him on my lips.
We’d said goodnight very swiftly after that.
Another detail about Kirrasia nobody thought to share, especially one so vital, that on one day of the month, you don’t need to worry about what your touch can do—your powers are nullified—as Aslendrix passes into her next phase.
I’m itching to read more about it in one of the textbooks, and I still can’t believe I haven’t stumbled upon it on my own, but then, I’ve only been scanning the text, focusing on those missing five letters.
“We don’t mark it officially. Usually, the taverns are a little fuller; there’s music, and people are out to have a good time.” Hesmirks at me, and my cheeks flush with the hidden meaning in his words. Luckily, my skin is already pink from the workout.
“And us?”
“Us?” Calix looks at me, but his blue eyes only trail down to my lips before he looks at me again.
My eyes blink rapidly at him. “Trainees? Do we get a day off because of the no power thing?”
“Oh, right. Zuns no. We still train, just no power. In fact, it can be a good thing to stop us relying too much on them.”
