70. Zeina
ZEINA
Her steps were light as she made her way to the Apothecary where Lennox and Ahmina waited for her.
They had agreed to spend the day before the final assessment fitting in as much training with Ahmina as possible.
Starting with making sure she had the basics of survival refined.
Loveleena had been invited too, but she declined, stating she already had plans.
Twenty minutes later, Ahmina was set up at a table in the Apothecary, Zeina across from her and Lennox hovering nearby.
“So, let’s say you’re in the forest and you need a salve for quick healing, show me what you would do,” Zeina instructed.
Ahmina pulled out the materials she needed for a basic healing potion and combined them with deathly precision while Zeina watched.
“There. Finished.”
“Lennox, arm please,” Zeina ordered.
“Here we go again.” Lennox reached out his arm.
“Again?” Ahmina questioned, but both of them ignored her.
With pristine focus, Zeina grabbed the inside of Lennox’s forearm and slid a dagger down its center, bringing beads of blood to the surface.
“What are you doing!?” Ahmina stood up and tried to grab Zeina’s hand, but Zeina swatted her away.
“He’s fine,” Zeina said dismissively.
“This isn’t the first time she’s put a dagger in me,” Lennox said casually, and Ahmina frowned.
The sisters had spent almost every evening in Lennox’s dorm getting to know each other.
Zeina shared more about her life on the streets and how she spent her time at the Academy.
As they talked, Zeina found herself picturing a different life—one where she grew up with her sisters, where she had been welcomed to Anastasia as Ahmina had or given all of the best Jarrah had to offer like Loveleena.
Who would she be today if she knew she had sisters?
Zeina and Lennox had shared the story of their friendship as well. Ahmina beamed when she learned that Lennox knew her well enough to tell them apart easily. They had left out the part where Zeina stabbed Lennox during second assessments.
“That should be big enough.” Zeina put the dagger down. “Hand me your salve; let’s see if it works.”
Ahmina looked appalled at the sight of Lennox’s blood and pushed the salve across the table with a grimace. Gently, Zeina rubbed the cream on Lennox’s arm, which turned dark brown as it mixed with his blood. Zeina grabbed a cloth, and after a minute, wiped it off.
“Wow! My potions have never turned out this well before!” Ahmina watched in awe as his flesh morphed, closing over the wound.
“Not bad,” Zeina confirmed, but her mind was elsewhere. They had performed the potion with such great precision; the healing should have been instant. It confirmed what Zeina had suspected: Barrow’s potion still lingered inside Ahmina.
“It will be good as new in no time,” Lennox said, pulling down his black sleeve and smiling at Ahmina. She smiled back.
They tried four more potions before Zeina felt confident moving on.
She didn’t have the heart to tell Ahmina that Barrow’s potions were still hampering her skills.
It would only make her worry. So instead, she lied and told Ahmina she was ready for the final assessment.
The pang of guilt in her chest only worsened when Ahmina threw her arms around her in gratitude.