Chapter 10
Avilyna
DON’T GET CLOSE
We walk through the labyrinth of halls. Finally, reaching the healers' department, the scent hits me. Sterile, clinical, but underneath it, something sharper, spicier, familiar.
And there he is, my father, lying in a stark white bed sheet, so still.
The man who used to fill every room with energy, with life, now reduced to this fragile silence.
My breath hitches in my throat as I walk closer.
Each step feels like it’s dragging me further into a place I’m not sure I want to go.
His face, so familiar, yet so different now, is pale, drawn.
The laugh lines that once marked his smile are gone, replaced by the hollow, lifeless skin of someone who’s already slipped away, even though his body still clings to this world.
For a moment, I wonder if I’ll ever understand what he was hiding, what he was really feeling.
I swallow down the lump in my throat, taking too much space, heavy. Every part of me aches to collapse, to let go of the harshness that’s always been my armour.
But I can’t, not here, not now.
My heart pounds in my chest, frantic, like a bird desperate to escape, as I grasp his hand.
The chill of his skin is a stark contrast to the warmth I was hoping for.
And panic rises in me, clawing at my chest, threatening to swallow me whole.
I press my lips together, feeling them tremble, forcing myself to hold it together.
But the walls I’ve built around my heart begin to crack, each one crumbling, piece by piece, as copper floods my mouth.
The weight of it all, grief and helplessness, is crushing me, too heavy to bear, too much to hold.
“I sense a deep sadness in the air,” a voice interrupts the suffocating silence, scaring my tears away as I quickly sniff back my runny nose.
Quietly wiping away any proof. The stranger continues, dressed entirely in black with soft hints of pink scattered throughout her outfit.
“Like a cloud hanging over us. But clouds bring rain, and rain brings growth. Sometimes, it’s okay to let the tears fall.
They water the seeds of hope, helping them bloom into something beautiful.
” The girl with pastel strawberry hair stands in the doorway, without a hint of urgency, and a clipboard clasped in her hands.
She carries the air of a vintage gothic nurse.
Her gaze is soft but piercing, as if she can see straight through me, deep, deep inside.
I swallow the urge to say something sharp, forcing myself to keep my mouth shut.
“Avilyna, this is Sakura Sato. She’s the assistant healer,” Nalaka says, appearing from behind her. Sakura gives a graceful bow, an almost old-fashioned gesture of respect that feels strangely out of place.
"Hi," I say, my voice tentative, cautious. "Do you have any idea when my dad might wake up?" Sakura’s amber eyes widen slightly, the quiet shift in her expression revealing the weight of the situation.
“All his wounds are healed,” She says, her serene smile not matching her stare.
“But Sergeant Rey has been infected by a virus we’ve never encountered before.
That’s why we put him to sleep, to stop it from spreading.
Unfortunately, we can’t predict when or if he’ll wake up.
It’s like searching for a pegasus... You can’t be sure when, or if, it will ever show itself. ”
Sergeant Rey? So he did work for them…
I try to absorb her words, a tight knot forming in my chest. “Okay... so what’s the plan?” Trying to keep my composure, but the urge to lash out, to break something, is almost unbearable.
“Oh, Ruby Oak’s in charge,” Sakura says lightly, a whimsical lilt in her voice. “She’s an incredible healer, with a rare gift. Your father is in the best hands, guided by the magic of Kvirr itself.”
Ruby Oak?
Could it be Aunt Ruby?
If Theo is not my real father, why am I even surprised that Aunt Ruby doesn't have the same last name? Now that I’m here, she can’t even reach me. I need to find a way to talk to her, but first, let’s see who that Ruby Oak is.
“Where is she?” The urgency clear beneath my cold exterior, at this point, I’d grasp at anything. Anything to feel like I still have a shred of control over this chaotic mess of a life.
“Oh, she’s with the council. A lot of meetings,” Sakura responds, eyes elsewhere, unfazed.
“But don’t worry, you’ll soon meet her. For now, let’s take care of your wounds.
” Turning around, she guides me out of the room, her calm presence a sharp contrast to the turmoil knotting inside me, cutting off any protests that linger on the tip of my tongue.
She doesn’t wait for me and starts leading the way, and I follow.
It turns out I’ve got a concussion, fractured ribs, third and second-degree burns, without forgetting the sprained ankle. Sakura moves with quiet efficiency, tending to my injuries with remarkable skill.
A pang of guilt twists in my chest.
The sharp realization that I had doubted her skills just a second ago.
For someone who has been under others’ scrutiny, I should fucking know better.
Sakura worked so effortlessly that within ten minutes, I was nearly as good as new.
The pain, fading to background noise that won’t survive painkillers.
But that swift recovery only makes the weight of my father's condition heavier; the contrast jarring.
I can’t afford to waste time.
The urgency to find a solution, to fix this, claws at me. If they've been battling demons since the beginning of time, how come it’s the first time they encounter a situation like this? I’m sure someone somewhere knows something about this virus.
Sakura also tests me, her touch gentle as a whisper, fingertips resting lightly on my temple. And she slips into a trance, her eyes losing all colour, enveloped in an otherworldly white hue. Meanwhile, my body buzzes with energy.
"Curious, yes... very curious," she murmurs as she blinks back into focus, her eyes back to liquid gold.
"What? What is it? What am I?" My voice hurries out, panic leaking out.
“Oh, don’t worry. You’re a mundane who has the sight. But you’re not a witch, and not an elf... Though, in a way, you are.” The words’ bury deep’ stopped my lungs from working for a minute. “What does that even mean?”
Sakura offers a soft smile, trying to soothe my growing unease.
“I don’t have full access to your essence.
Actually, I am sure I only got a glimpse of ten percent, so…
my analysis reflects that. But rest assured, with training, you’ll come into your full potential.
” Her words hang in the air, but they don't calm me. They only feed my thoughts, making them run faster, echoing my father’s last words to me: Trust no one.
I can feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as that warning floods back, louder now.
Noticing the shift in my expression, Sakura quickly adds, her voice dreamy and almost carefree, “Oh, don’t worry.
It’s nothing serious. My ancestors on my mother’s side were mundanes with the sight, too, but some of them had a stronger affinity with one of the elements.
So that eventually made them witches. If you think about it, we’re all mundanes, in a way!
” After a brief pause, she adds, “Have you awakened yet?”
That word again.
I feel it lingering in the air.
“I don’t know what that means,” I say, the frustration clear as day.
“It’s when your connection to Kvirr is confirmed. It can happen any time after you turn seven, but for some, it never comes. That’s why they’re simply mundane with the sight,” Sakura explains, her voice calm, almost detached.
Simply.
I scoff.
“No, nothing like that has happened.” How would I even know what that looks like? I’m done being the clueless new girl. I’ve had enough of feeling like I’m floating, untethered. “So… There’s no need for you to tell anyone about this, right?”
“Of course not, as a healer, I take the trust of my patients very seriously,” Sakura says, her ethereal voice carrying a weight of sincerity.
“Thanks.” Relief slips through the cracks of my composed exterior. This is the last damaged control. From now on, it’s game on.
Time to get some answers.
Rejoining Nalaka, we make our way toward the dormitories.
To my surprise, they’re not segregated by gender but by departments: Healers, Alchemists, Strategists, and the Legion.
Each faction has its own aisle. I still can’t quite wrap my head around why I’ve been assigned to the army aspect of the Institute.
Seeing all those soldiers around, I realize I’ve got serious work to do if I even want a chance at fitting in here.
I thought I was in good shape, but now? I’m already exhausted, and I haven’t even started.
Guess cardio isn’t optional anymore, no more shortcuts, no more excuses.
“Who was that man at the head of the council?” I ask, still trying to process everything.
“General Brackwell? He’s in control of the Legion, and that’s pretty much like ruling Kallahan.”
Alright, he’s the big boss, noted.
But why does that name sound so familiar? Isolde probably mentioned him. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. I’m too overwhelmed to keep track of names at this point.
“Like a president? And aren’t we in Elgar?”
“More like a wannabe king. Elgar’s the name of this realm; you’re from the Mundane World.
And we’re in the kingdom of Kallahan. They haven’t had time to elect a new ruler yet.
Hard to do that when the entire royal family was slaughtered,” she says it with a shrug, completely unfazed, in disagreement with the shaken state I am in at the casual mention of a massacre.
Just for a moment.
It’s strange. I shouldn’t care that a kingdom I didn’t even know existed is in political collapse. And yet… It unsettles me.
Nalaka goes on, “Elgar has four kingdoms: Kallahan, Elveron, Saltmere, and Arvendal.” If she notices my hesitation, she doesn’t mention it.
My brain is on the verge of short-circuiting, but what’s the point in fighting it?
Massaging my right temple in response, I might as well let it fry; it’s not like it’ll change anything.
“So, uh… What other types of races are here?” I ask, trying to sound casual, but there’s a nervous edge to my voice I can’t quite hide.
The elf glances at me, weighing her words before answering.
“There are witches, people with the sight… elves and some smaller communities. But you’ll learn more about them tomorrow.
” Opening my mouth to say something, but before I can get another word out, my elbow bumps into someone, jerking me sideways.
“Oh, shit, I am sorry, I didn’t see you,” I mutter, barely having time to process what just happened before a sharp sneer cuts through the air, right in my face.
A flash of sharp teeth glints, but there’s nothing playful here. In fact, it turns my blood cold, and I take a step back. What the fuck is wrong with this guy?
“Are you blind, little girl?” He bites, but before he can get any closer, he’s pulled back by the collar of his neck. Nalaka quickly steps into the space she just cleared.
“One more word, Zenik and you will for sure lose all possibilities of ever being an alpha, even if that possibility is next to nothing.” My new ally’s sharp tone stops the brute from coming any closer.
Instead, he grunts a fucking watch where you’re going and shoves past us.
His friends follow, snickering as they go.
And I stand here, stunned, my pulse barely calming down.
“What the fuck is his problem?” I ask, stunned.
“Lycans,” Nalaka states, her voice dripping with irritation. “They’re known for having an attitude problem, especially today.”
“Wait, lycans as lycanthropy as in… werewolves? Are those real?” Nalaka pauses, giving me a puzzled look before stopping in front of a black door marked with the number 241.
“Yes. Best stay in your room tonight and lock it properly.”
"Oui, chef, oui," I shoot back with an exaggerated tone of sarcasm. She hands me my key, her expression puzzled, as if she’s questioning my state of mind.
“There are also centaurs and halflings around, but they’re peaceful. No need to worry about them. I think you should rest, though. This has probably been a lot to digest. My room’s on the next level, door 364. The stairs are at the end of this hallway. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”
At this point, I shouldn’t be surprised by anything. After fighting demons, travelling through portals, and learning about creatures like elves… this should be just another day in my life.
“Of course,” I mutter under my breath. “I’m sure the next thing I’m going to run into is a vampire.” Nalaka stiffens.
I can feel the change in the air before she speaks.
“Those are Netherworld’s creatures. And it’s vampyr.”
“Noted,” I reply dryly. “Bad guys, don’t get close.” I stifle a yawn as I step inside my room, the door closing behind me with a soft click.