The week ran and in those days everything remained the same.
Ryven stood at the front every morning, back straight, voice sharp as his blade.
"Basics. Again."
The children moved. Fetching water. Stances. Breathing. Running. Footwork. Hands up, hands down, sweat dripping onto stone that never dried.
The same rhythm.
Except for Eoman.
Hovering around that was too close for comfort and the only one who entertained him was Kira or rather had no choice.
Ryven sometimes cuts in to remind him. He retreats then returns.
Existing around her like he was in orbit.
Which brought about mixed feelings amongst the children. Kira began coming late for lunch. The first time was ignored, maybe she was called back until it became a daily occurrence.
Even the night time wasn't spared. Kira will come back drained. And Sapphire being who he is, will always wait for her, while dreading each time what would have happened while he waited.
He wasn't too sure on how to feel about this new instructor but the more time he stopped Kira and caused her to come back exhausted. Did he become increasingly suspicious and heavily guarded.
He had waited for her once. Refused to leave until they went to lunch together. He nearly died for that bravery
Training had been put on pause as they went to the dining hall. Sapphire signalled to Kealor, Nirro and Lucian to go while he waited for Kira.
Soon everyone had cleared, but Sapphire was still looking for Kira. Confusion etched to his mind.
'Did she already go for lunch?'
'But I didn't see her pass,' he answered. He was sure that Kira was still here.
A couple of walks across the grounds while calling out her name, did he spot her along with the new instructor Eoman.
Eoman smiled. With Kira's palm in his hand. He placed a flat circular object into it.
It sank into her skin. Gone.
It looked like something more was about to happen but came to a stop.
"We have a guest" Eoman blood eyes crawled slowly till it pinned on Sapphire.
"I am waiting for Kira sir." Sapphire said. rigged like his cells were telling him to run but he ignored it.
"She will come for lunch when we are done" Eoman said but Sapphire still stood waiting.
"I should let you go then"Eoman said with a sigh. He turned Kira around then gave her a little nudge. She the first step.
She looked dazed.
'Something feels off' thoughts played but he flung it away. His current priority was to get Kira and leave.
"Thank—"
Spike birthed from the earth, moved like a carpet unrolling. Too fast for him, barely registering the attack and his imminent death.
_Blink_
He felt a tingling sensation just below his ear tracing his jawline. Soft hot liquid trickled down before his world zoomed out two times back.
Ryven was now standing in the space before him.
"How sad, I almost had him" Eoman remarked, head tilted as he looked saddened by the outcome, eyes hiding mischief.
Sapphire hands shakingly wet to his neck
He felt a sharp thin line amongst the liquid. Then brought his hand down to see splurges of red on his fingers tips.
"That's enough Eoman" Ryven said.
"Interference really runs with bloodlines," Eoman commented, clicking in annoyance.
Ryven turned to look at Sapphire who was staring at his blood like a sin.
"Leave kid" Ryven commanded, snapping Sapphire out of his stupor.
"But—" Sapphire tried to talk but was caught shut. Upon now he was still concerned about Kira.
"Don't make me repeat myself" Ryven said
Reluctantly Sapphire left.
Skipping lunch so as not to arouse the others. The healer, Famir healed the wound without any questions and let go.
By the time training had begun again and Kealor joined he learnt that Kira had not come for lunch as did he.
Now he was being watched by Ryven.
Kealor tried to talk to her. But her answers
were questionable
"Eoman said that he has also been assigned as my personal teacher and other children have their own teachers"
"O…kay" Nah. Kealor didn't understand a thing but he was still going to tell Sapphire about it.
"But why do you call him Eoman and not instructor Eoman?" Kealor asked, noticing Kira had said instructor Eoman's name without honorifics.
Yawning, Kira answered,
"He said it's because I am older than him and he doesn't like it" Kira said, not bothering to say the word honorifics as she couldn't pronounce it. All the while pointing at herself with innocence.
"Older?" Kealor had to look at small cute Kira who was just up to his shoulders to the Internal picture of Eoman.
"What is he saying?" Kealor thought.
Interrupted by Ryven voice. They paused their talk and continued training. They didn't get to talk again after that.
Nirro had tried following Kira from afar. But he returned back the next morning with no knowledge whatsoever and missing memory of the very night.
Amongst all the stupidity as Lucian will call it. He was the only one who stirred clear, far away and out of sight. maintaining as much distance he could get from Kira.
And when others tried to come up with a plan to talk to Kira he was the only one tight lipped.
From what he had seen. It was already more than enough for him. Plus that encounter with the eyes, creatures, monsters? he didn't know what else to call them. Eyes can't speak.
Dawn had bled once more.
More training and more exhaustion.
Lucian barely kept himself up. He saw them. Grey skinned and all but they refused to come closer like something was stopping it.
None of them tried to cross into the training grounds which they have done before apart from that day where black hole one of them. But now it looks like they fear something even when their urge to come forward is too great and they take a step forward.
They hastily retreat back like they have been burned.
This became a false safe zone. it was safe now but he wasn't sure if it would last.
They had stopped hunting his dreams also after that perhaps faithful encounter with the eyes.
The only time they could reach him was when they were assigned to fill the drum.
They give chase. And he runs.
Using all the energy available to get to safety.
Lucian moved through the drills like a ghost. Quiet. Eyes distant.
Sapphire jogged beside him during runs,
"Luc. Are sure…" obviously knowing Lucain would likely not answer him as he can clearly see he is not doing okay but still shows concern and not imposing so Lucian doesn't start giving space.
Issues kept piling. Kira and Lucian and none he could help. Sapphire felt useless.
"I am fine," Lucian said. A lie.
Sapphire nodded, not inquiring more and ran besides him.
During rest, Kealor bumped his shoulder, "You're gonna wear a hole in that floor, thinking that hard."
Lucian was drawn out of his thoughts. He turned to face the ever happy Kealor.
with the best smile he could conjure. He offered it to Kealor so as not to make him worry.
Nirro handed him water in a bowl, no words, just the look that said I know something is wrong. then sat beside him.
Training ended with climbing the wall. By the time all of them were done. their body screamed.
Kira swayed, looking like she was about to fall. Sapphire caught her. "Kira, are you okay?"
"I don't feel so good," Kira said, feeling nauseous, vision swimming. Pushing Sapphire away as she began to throw up.
Sapphire stepped forward to hold her hair out of the way, tapping her back gently to ease her.
She was wiping her mouth with her sleeve. The rune at the back of the hands burned red.
They were being called.
Their children began gathering before where Ryven stood. Sapphire and Kira joined.
After they fully arranged themselves, Ryven began to talk.
"Your physical training has come to an end. Though it may still be carried out. But it will be under your new instructor" Ryven voice vibrate. Pausing, so what he said settles before continuing
"Another part of your training will be carried out under him. And by him, you can already guess who I am talking about."
Ryven said and right on cue Eoman appeared. Ryven stepped to the side so Eoman can introduce himself.
The children stared at the blond haired and blood eyed man they had known for a while.
"Young mortals. The name is Eoman and the reason your going to die is because of her"
As he said those words, he pointed.
All the children followed the direction and the one who stood at the very end was none other than Kira.