The corridor stretched out endlessly before her, a cold stone hallway with doors, and signs above them. The air was neither biting nor warm, just a gentle caress on her skin.
She walked up to a door and paused before it.
The silence was deafening, save for the soft sound of footwear meeting the floor.
She looked up at the sign, her hair flowing around her like a dark halo, its tips an inch short of her robe hem.
"Armory training room"
She mouthed slowly stalling the inevitable.
Her fingertips tightened around the straps of her quiver.
She had endured it for many years, the kind of silence that followed her like a shadow, the stares and whispers that came with her presence, but she never got used to it.
She squared her shoulders preparing herself when a group of students brushed past her pushing her aside as they walked in, ignoring her presence.
She grabbed onto the door frame, her grip tight on the quiver. They were gifts from her cousin brother and sister.
She steadied herself, bracing herself as she walked in.
The scribe paused, all eyes on her, just for a heartbeat, and then he continued, all eyes shifting back to him like nothing happened.
Merva lowered her head and moved to the back rows. She could feel eyes on her, sliding away the moment she lifted her gaze. Whispers hummed faintly around the hall, incoherently.
She sat, placing the quiver beside her.
The stone bench was cold, even through her robe.
The lesson was on divine wars, how not containing threats had led to death of gods by unsuspecting mixtures.
She bowed her head in shame feeling the accusatory gazes as though she had killed those gods.
"Wouldn't be a bad idea to try on them though" she muttered,her eyes narrowing as she smiled at the thought.
Scribe Kyros paused
"So" he said, his voice sharp enough to cut through the hall.
"Lady Merva," her name alone drawing attention.
"would you care to explain to us" he continued
" what exactly is amusing you"
The smile froze on her face, her expression paling at the thought of what would come if he had eavesdropped on her.
A few heads turned, and someone snickered softly.
"Nothing sir"
She said and gulped nervously, her gaze lifting just enough to meet the polished stone floor.
Scribe Kyros didn't answer immediately. Instead his footsteps echoed softly on the floor as he made his way to her. Slow, and deliberate.
She could feel him watching her, waiting for her to slip.
He stopped beside her desk. "Stand" he said at last. "Go stand by the wall. I will see you after practice."
As she moved, whispers followed her, soft but sharp. She ignored them, settling into stillness as she took her place against the stone.
High man kyros turned back to the class without another glance.
"Now" he said, clasping his hands behind his back, "where were we? Ah yes, divine wars."
Merva listened as the words washed over her, familiar and yet distant.
"History has taught us," the scribe went on, " that imbalance invites catastrophe and chaos. When lines are crossed, order fractures."
He paused.
"Hybrids," he said plainly.
Merva's jaw tightened.
"Their existence has historically preceded conflict."
"Thus prevention is necessary. But should war arise, preparation becomes necessity"
She had heard this all her life, by all who saw her as a threat, as something abominable.
'Why someone like you?'
The question echoed quietly, like it always did.
"Divine order must be followed. Without it, chaos ensues, mayhem follows." His gaze flicking towards her.
Merva didn't move, she had blocked everything out, something she had perfected.
When the bell for dismissal tolled, the hall erupted into noise.
"Move toward the armory." The scribe called, but his voice was drowned in the laughter and rising voices that echoed off the ceiling.
Students streamed towards the armory, hands eager as they selected weapons and filed towards their training spaces.
She waited.
Only when the crowd thinned did she push herself off the wall and step forward.
She picked up her quiver, her burning anger pulling at her from the inside. Her power responded, causing her to stumble.
A hand grabbed her arm.
"Watch it." Daisy snapped, her grip tight and deliberate. "Or is your clumsiness another one of your talent?"
Lily laughed. "You should be grateful we even let you train with us"
Merva met their gaze calmly, her head tilting as she calculated just how many throws, and punches would floor them all.
She saw the scribe watching her from her side vision and gave up.
"Thank you," she said "I'll remember that."
The girls frowned, that wasn't the reaction they wanted.
Before either could speak again, a voice cut in sharply. "That's enough."
Zeus.
They turned.
He stood a few steps away, a bow slung over his shoulder, a spear in one hand. His expression bordering on annoyance and boredom. His eyes trailed past them, lingering on Merva.
"You're blocking the isle" he said.
"Move."
Daisy scoffed. "And who..."
He looked at her once.
She moved.
Merva freed her arm and said nothing. She slung the quiver strap across her left shoulder, and went to retrieve her bow.
She moved to the archery range, the weight of the bow settling into her arms.
She drew an arrow and nocked it. Her breath steady.
"Daisy."
The arrow flew, striking its target cleanly.
"Kyros."
It struck again.
"Odin."
And it struck.
Again and again.
She smiled, this was her release.
"So you really aren't quiet."
Merva startled, her arrow dropping to the floor.
She turned her head slightly, before picking her fallen arrow.
"I didn't invite you."
"I know."
She raised a brow. "That doesn't stop you?"
"I just wanted to check that you are okay."
She studied him from the corner of her eye, nodding her head in acknowledgement.
He looked un-bothered, not the careless type.
"Why did you intervene, earlier."
She asked.
"They were irritating and annoying."
"That's vague" she said the edges of her lips curving.
He shrugged. "It is accurate."
She fixed the arrow and shot. "You've done it before."
"Have I now?"
"Yes."
"They must have been annoying." He said lightly.
"That doesn't answer the question." She glanced at him this time, lowering the arrow she had prepared to release.
"But it is an adequate one isn't it?"
"Very well."
Silence settled between them, not heavy, not sharp. He stayed as she continued to shoot, observing without comment.
After a while he spoke again.
"You know you don't owe me anything, right?"
Her shoulder stiffened. "I never thought I did."
"You did."
She exhaled slowly. "I don't like debts."
"Good," he said. "Neither do I." Before he walked away.
When practice ended, she waited by the hallway until the scribe arrived.
"Lady merva, I have been notified of the..." There was a caricature of him standing on his bald head doing funny devotional dances.
She tried not to laugh. Squeezing her face to make her look serious as he droned on.
"Ehem" her elbow over her mouth hiding her smile, the nose of the figure growing longer.
She saw Zeus leaning against a pillar, not even trying to hide. She began coughing violently, laughing in between.
Scribe Kyros moved back, alarmed.
"I shall see you next time." He said quickly walking away as though she had a plague.
As soon as his silhouette disappeared, she sat on the floor laughing to her hearts content.
Zeus approached her, a silly smile on his face as he helped her up. "That...thatwasfunny." She said her speech incoherent." "Doyoudothatoften?" She asked descending into another fit of laughter.
He tried holding her up, and suddenly they were both on the floor laughing to their hearts content.
Merva paused for a brief moment and stared at his face, a smile on hers. And then she laughed, because she was laughing.
When the mirth died, they both helped each other up, and he fell in step with her.
"Do they do that often?" He asked.
She didn't pretend. "I'll say they do it enough."
"They shouldn't."
"But they do."
He hummed. "Fair point."
They walked in companionable silence for a while before she spoke again.
"Do they treat you the same way?"
He considered it for a moment. "Some try, most don't bother, mostly because of who my father is."
"Does it bother you?"
"Only when I let it."
She nodded. "That seems... Efficient."
He smiled lightly. "You learn what's worth your attention."
They talked as they walked out of the building. About family memories, and the few allies they had. About scribes who talked as if memorized history equals wisdom.
"They always talk as if they were there. What if its all false," she paused to breathe in. "What if the perpetrators are the true victims."
"It could be. But only he who holds power writes history."
"True." She said. "Funny how this little knowledge makes them feel like they are important." She added reproachingly.
He laughed softly.
And she smiled, surprised. Looking at him without thinking.
"what." He asked a smile on his face.
"You are different." She stated, then frowned. "That wasn't meant to come out like that."
"I know." He said easily.
He held the door open for her as they walked out into the sunlight. And she smiled despite herself.
He stopped.
"Should I walk you back?" He asked cautiously.
"No, but see you next time."
"See you next time." He replied watching her walk away.
She looked up at the sky, letting the golden sun hit her as she walked to the ladies quarters, then into her chambers. It was a great day.