Chapter 30
I made it to the Compound with only a minute to spare.
Falling into step with the others, I allowed the sounds of pounding feet against the earth to calm my mind and ease the pain from what had just happened at the Apothecary.
My sour mood must have been noticeable to Raine and Briar because they both offered me space until the warm-up was complete.
It seemed pointless to bring up my argument with Ma to my friends here. It would seem so minuscule to what we are all facing. That was my old world.
My new world was filled with training, learning, and of course, the growing anxiety about the West, Wraiths, and when we would be deployed. I could barely sleep at night. The fear kept me in a constant state of consciousness.
“You good?” Briar asked as he sidled up to me, bumping my shoulder.
“I’m okay,” I responded, giving him my best reassuring glance. I wasn’t used to having people other than Osta or Ma check on me. Or talk to me at all, for that matter. It felt so different… to have people in my corner. People who I could count on. People who could count on me.
I attempted to quell the pessimism that began snaking its way into my thoughts. Forming bonds would only make it that much harder if someone got hurt… if someone...
I pushed the thought away.
Raine, ever the force of nature, bounded up behind Briar, throwing her arms over his shoulders, and leaned in, her voice a loud whisper. “Did you both notice that a certain Baelor Soleil was not at warm-up today?” She wiggled her eyebrows.
I looked around to confirm her statement, noticing Nazul seeming very out of place as he paced a few steps behind the group. It was odd to see Nazul looking like the outcast for once.
After the run, we made our way from the track back into the building.
We were informed at our last session that we needed to meet Lieutenant Mercer in one of the many sparring rooms inside the Compound.
Perhaps we were finally going to start learning combat, instead of spending all our time doing sprints and drills.
“Do you think he’s been inside with the Lieutenant?” I offered, keeping my voice low to match hers.
“Doubtful. Mercer would never let us slack on a warm-up. He would just keep Baelor after,” Briar responded, shaking his head.
As I pulled out my badge to show at the front gate, I heard a familiar voice.
“Fia?” Eron called, his face filled with confusion. He was in the process of entering the Compound, his arms heavy with deliveries.
I could only imagine his surprise as he took me in, standing in training leathers, surrounded by the other recruits.
My heart skipped a beat, and I froze.
I hadn’t even thought to inform Eron or Jacquelina of the changes that had taken place in my life.
A sudden pang of guilt surfaced in my gut.
I managed to push forward, approaching him as I nodded for the group to go on without me.
His eyes were wide with shock, and a package slipped from his grasp .
“I wasn’t expecting to see you here,” I said, leaning over to retrieve the fallen box.
“Fia, what are you doing here? Are you… in uniform?”
“I don’t have time to explain right now. I’m so sorry. I promise I’ll tell you everything later, but for now, I have to go. I really can’t be late,” I said, desperation ringing through my words.
Eron nodded before looking away. I glanced down, hesitating for a moment.
But I didn’t know what else to do. What else to say.
I returned to the gate and rushed inside.
Guilt slammed into me, nearly knocking me over.
He probably felt so confused. Maybe even betrayed.
Every time I thought I was making progress in my personal life, some wave of disaster washed over me. I couldn’t win.
This day was complete shit .
I managed to slip into the sparring gym right before the day’s briefing started. I tried to focus my thoughts on the class instead of on Eron and what he must be thinking of me right now. The questions that must be running through his mind.
I eyed the room as I took my seat. Baelor was still nowhere to be found. A sense of calm crept over me. I had to admit, team V looked much better without him.
Mercer walked around the room, collecting our blood into our individual vials before starting the lesson. The same blonde in emerald uniform came and retrieved them as soon as they touched his desk. A shiver ran down my spine.
“We’re going to start transitioning from physical conditioning to tactical maneuvers and strategic training. Although I expect each and every one of you to continue your warmups before class,” Lieutenant Mercer said as he walked to the center of the room.
“You’ve all become stronger, quicker, more resilient. But that is just the beginning.”
I looked around, gauging everyone else’s reactions. I sure didn’t like the sound of that.
“Does anyone remember what I said about the Wraiths during your first briefing?” he asked, a rare curiosity peaking his brow.
“They’re nearly impossible to catch,” Raine stated, leaning forward in her seat.
“What else?”
I tried to search my memory for the details.
“We believe they are limited to the Western border. That they lose strength the further they get from their homeland. From the tear between worlds,” I said. And as if Draven had read my thoughts…
“They crave power. They’re potentially after our stores of arcanite, which could allow them to move further into the Isle,” he added quietly, looking down.
“True, but not the answer I’m looking for. Can anyone remember what I said about their fighting style?” Mercer asked calmly.
“They swarm you, and once you’re in their grasp, it’s nearly impossible to escape,” Briar said with confidence.
Mercer cracked his knuckles, turning towards his desk.
“They cast out darkness and distort our vision?” Raine guessed.
“You can’t breathe,” I murmured.
Mercer stopped in his tracks and turned back to us.
“Correct,” he said, nodding in my direction.
“You mean… they’re able to suffocate us?” Nazul asked hesitantly. It was the first time he had spoken all day.
“They siphon the air from your lungs. It’s like a vortex of shadows. This is clearly a disadvantage considering we all require oxygen.” Mercer took a measured breath before continuing. “So that’s what we will work on next.”
“You mean, like, practicing holding our breath?” Raine asked nervously.
“Something like that. ”
For a moment, my thoughts wandered to the General’s scar. It looked like an injury from a blade.
“Lieutenant Mercer, do they attack with anything else?” I asked. The rest of the recruits looked at me.
“There’s still a lot we don’t know about them, but yes. The vortex doesn’t seem to be their only form of combat. It’s just the one they employ most often.”
“Now pay attention please,” he said before turning towards his desk and extending his arm. Suddenly, the pieces of parchment that littered the wood surface flew off and spiraled in the air. I could feel the wind all the way from my chair.
“So that’s your focus,” Briar said in amazement.
A wind wielder.
“Which means I’m particularly qualified to simulate the effects from the Wraith’s grasp,” he said before turning back to us.
I felt a lump forming in my throat. I’d rather go outside and do sprints. Was that an option?
Uneasiness spread through the room as we all exchanged shifty looks. Mercer’s calm expression remained.
“I need everyone to line up at the back of the room. There’s no technique to this, simply a lot of repetition.
After a while, you will be able to go without oxygen for longer and longer.
And that could just save your life. Most die on the battlefield from suffocation.
” Mercer paced in front of us. “Anyone want to volunteer to go first?”
Everyone became eerily still.
“I’m not going to kill you. That would be completely counterproductive,” he remarked softly.
As if that was supposed to make us feel better.
His eyes narrowed in on Nazul. Mercer motioned for the dark-haired boy to step forward. Nazul glanced down the line at us before lowering his head and walking towards the Lieutenant.
“Just try to stay calm. It’s the only way through it,” Mercer said.
Nazul nodded, eyes still locked on the ground.
“Raine, give us a countdown.”
Raine shifted her weight nervously, “Five…” she stuttered. “Four. Three. Two. One?—”
Mercer’s arm shot toward Nazul. I felt my hair whip back as a gust of wind slammed through the room. Mercer yanked his hand backward, and my hair flew in front of my face just as Nazul gasped. His eyes shot up, filled with terror as he gripped his neck with his hands.
The Lieutenant was pulling the air out of his lungs.
After only a few seconds, Nazul fell to his knees, but Mercer stayed in position, still withholding oxygen.
My hands started to shake. How was I going to make it through this? I couldn’t even hold my breath long enough to fetch something at the bottom of a swimming hole.
This went on for what felt like an eternity before Nazul doubled over and fell to the ground, motionless. Finally, Mercer relented, and I watched air fill the boy’s lungs once again. He turned onto his stomach and gasped repeatedly. The sound was horrifying.
“That was actually quite impressive, recruit. Most don’t make it nearly that long the first time.”
Nazul didn’t even register Mercer’s words. He was still retching desperately.
“Fia, you’re next.” Mercer nodded in my direction as Nazul crawled back to his spot in line. I opened my mouth to speak, but I couldn’t say a word. My whole body was shaking.
“We don’t have all day. Come on now,” he added, but his gaze softened as we made eye contact.
I stepped forward. There was no getting out of this. I tried to concentrate, savoring my last breaths before the inevitable seizure.
“Raine, another countdown.”
I looked back at my friend to see her pale expression, but I nodded, giving her the go ahead before turning back to the Lieutenant.
“Five,” she said, voice wavering. I felt my pulse quicken, but I tried to calm it. I needed to relax. “Four. Three. Two.”
Suddenly, I felt the wind rush past me. I took one last breath and closed my eyes.
I felt my body jerk forward as the air was dragged from my lungs, and my mind went wild with terror. I swallowed, trying to focus on anything else, but it was to no avail.
All of my senses were on edge, and I felt a familiar heat radiating from the base of my spine. Panic washed over me as I felt the first tendril link onto my vertebrae. My body was going into defense mode. I had to stop it. My eyes shot open.
Instinctively, I gasped for a breath that didn’t come, only forcing the web to climb higher, faster. White light pulsed through my veins. I felt myself stumble, losing my balance. My eyes locked with Mercer just as the darkness overtook my vision.