It was a complete tie.
They both of us sat on the ground huffing and puffing, attempting to fill our lungs with air again.
He glared at me with unwavering eyes that seemed to swirl in suspicion.
The person in front of me was none other than Sharp-eyes, the person in charge of training the troops. He had called me out early in the morning to an empty training room. And to add on to my dismay, requested- no, ordered me to fight him.
He had already known the extended of my fighting abilities, so naturally he was looking for something else. What could it be? I thought while looking at him.
That fight was one of the most difficult ones I've faced. If we had been introduced as enemies, I wouldn't be completely sure if I'd have survived that fight. Well at least not using only my strength. I do have my element.
We don't use that though.
I was scolded and I internally nodded. Of course not.
He was trained in a more professional matter, just like I have. No doubt he was labeled someone with talent in fighting. Like me.
It didn't take us long to catch our breath. Within half a minute we were already on our feet, still staring at each other cautiously.
He finally vanquished the silence. "No need for regular training just elemental. Ask Parker for the times. Someone will come get you now."
Without another word he strolled out of the room, leaving me blinking at the empty space in front of me.
He has a way with words. I began to sneer but stopped myself. Then again, I'm the same.
I sat back down on the mat, and after being unable to sense anyone's presence I decided to lay down. How cozy, I thought, what a cozy and shielded life they have. It's no wonder that Sneaker-boy was so weak despite completing his training. Just what are they thinking?
The thoughts stirred in my head uneasily.
Maybe they don't intend to fight a war after all?
I shook my head. Mr. Small's eyes were firm and confident. There was no way he's lying in order to give false hope. He definitely has hope of reclaiming Kaitleen one day. Then why are his men so weak?
My eyes flew open. The person who is in charge of training them is Sharp-eyes, a man who is constantly graying his eyes. I couldn't read him no matter how hard I tried.
"Are you the person we've been hunting?" Mr. Small's words echoed in my head.
They're looking for a spy.
A rat, I thought. It could be anyone. I paused for a moment. Despite being unable to read most of the time, there was an emotion I've been catching glimpses of. Suspicion. He was suspicious of me.
Now the question was, is he suspicious because I have the potential to mess with his plans? Or because I simply come from the outside?
It's something I can't answer at the moment but-
"A doll."
I heard the smallest whisper and in an instant I was on my feet with in an instant.
A familiar-looking girl stood a few feet away from me with wide eyes. "I-I'm sorry!" She exclaimed. "Did I startle you?"
How long had she been there? I panicked. Why am I lowering my guard so often?
"You just looked like a doll." She was practically sparkling. "Beautiful and still!"
I bit my lip and nodded slightly.
"I'm sorry I startled you!" She laughed apologetically. "I was just told to come get you for your session."
"Session?" I asked quietly.
She nodded, "With Dr. Simmons"
Oh. She must be talking about the problem with my element.
"I'll take you to the infirmary now!" She smiled.
I nodded and followed her out the room.
"I didn't think you were going to stay for long," she began, "that's what Parker told me at least. He tells me everything you know? Like how he accidentally lost Azure's hair clip during toilet duty or-"
I erased her voice out of my hearing, as it was unnecessarily chatty and loud. She's chattier than Arianna, I frowned.
I glanced at the long and wide hallway with certainty. Navigating through this base was easier than I thought it would be. Everything is connected so I had already created several shortcuts to navigate from.
"Dr. Simmons! We're here!" She shouted in the infirmary.
"Over here!"
She needlessly pointed at the room in which the voice came from. "Go ahead, he's in that room."
Without another word I abandoned the bubbly girl and walked towards the room.
"It was nice chatting with you!" She said behind me.
I simply entered the room without responding.
"Mind closing the door?" Dr.Simmons smiled gently at me from his desk.
My hand pressed on the door gently until it shut.
"Please, don't mind laying down."
He was pointing at an old but sturdy-looking long couch that sat in the corner of the room. Sucking in my breath, I sat down stiffly on the couch.
"Sitting is fine too." He smiled. Standing, he grabbed his chair and pulled it towards me. "As I explained earlier, I have these sessions for elementalist who have issues with their element. They're however long you want them to be, and we can speak about anything you'd like."
I looked at my hands as they picked on each other.
"This is a safe space. Rest assured."
I looked up. "Are you a licensed psychologist?"
He blinked before laughing sheepishly. "No. I'm actually specialized in heart surgery but I've taken a few psychology classes. Everything I know must be put into some sort of use right?"
I hummed slowly.
"Does that worry you?" He asked slowly.
I resisted the urge to smile. "Should it?"
"Honestly speaking, yes."
His laughed filled the room contagiously. I took this an an opportunity to give a quick glance through the room.
It was a simple four wall room, a small desk sat on one side of the room. Books and stacks of paper were littered everywhere. Several of the books had titles concerning techniques and psychology ideas. It kind of reminds me of my dad's old office, I thought. The walls were littered with charts of the human body.
"Despite that, I'll try my best to help you." He reassured me.
I nodded, quickly refocusing.
"So how's your day going so far?"
My shoulders went up and down apathetically.
"Well that's okay," he smiled, "after all, its only your first day officially being here. Did Vans treat you well?"
I thought of the fight I had earlier. Whatever his motives were, I actually enjoyed the fight. It had been awhile since my heart has beat so violently.
I nodded slowly.
"That's good. He could be a bit rough around the edges but is actually a good guy." Dr. Simmons smiled. "The same goes with Louis."
I watched as he smoothened his coat, which was stained various different colors. He carried himself well as a doctor, he seemed kind and seemed to respect his work.
"How about you tell us something about yourself?"
My eyes looked into his grayish blue ones. "Like what?"
His lips curled as he looked up at the ceiling in thought. "Oh!" He raised a finger, "How about something simple, like your favorite color?"
I nodded and thought for a second. A color is just a color isn't it? Is he asking for one I prefer? I shook my thoughts. I knew if I didn't respond he would most likely pester me nonstop for not having one. "Black." I concluded.
"Black? May I ask why?"
Black made it easier to hide. I hesitated to tell him this. Would it in anyway affect the way he looked at me? Is it normal color to like? Should I have said something like grey? Green?
"Nothing's wrong with the color black!" He said with a smile. "I was just wondering why you seemed to like the color black."
"It's-" I struggled to find the words until they came to me in a memory. "Elegant and simple."
He made an 'o' shape with his mouth and nodded.
In truth, I had taken those words from a ripped faded poster I had seen a long time ago. My reason seemed a little paranoid to say out loud, no matter how truthful it may be.
"My favorite color is Hunter Green." He stated. "Mostly because it helps camouflage around the area during the summer."
My head bobbed slowly, suddenly my answer didn't seem that paranoid.
"How about your favorite film?"
This question brought me a headache. What was I supposed to say? "I don't know." I muttered, deciding to go with the most logical and truthful answer. The last time I had watched a film was when I was fourteen.
He laughed. "Yeah, I don't have one either."
My mind began to feel unsettled. This man clearly knew what to say to make me feel comfortable, his words and laughter began to sound like honey. I felt as though he was slowly bringing me in. I began to rethink again on the fact that he wasn't a licensed psychologist.
They are learnt in the process of making their clients comfortable. Not my cup of tea but certainly something that should be taken seriously.
I was overgrown with cautiousness as he said his warning. The man in front of me was a force to be reckoned with.
"Favorite pet?"
I stared at him. How was any of this revelant? Why was he asking this? "Pet?" I repeated carefully.
"Yes," he smiled, "unless you've never had one. In that case it's alright not to know."
"I've never had one." Was my final answer.
He nodded. "I've only had a pet rabbit. They're smelly but good companions. I've always wished for a dog though."
I froze and felt pang in my head. A dog?
"Snow! Look at my new puppy!"
Outside the window. Barking. Screaming and cries. I was pulled away and the curtains were tied shut.
I lifted a hand to ease the growing pain.
Don't think about it.
I shut my eyes so tightly they could've popped out.
Don't think about it. Forget about it.
A shattering sound caused my eyes to fly open, and the searing pain in my head ceased in an instant.
My eyes focused on Dr. Simmons who was picking up shards of what seemed a broken cup on the ground.
"I'm sorry," his move would move in and out of focus, "it seems today I'm a mess. How about we end today's session and leave it at that?"
I swallowed and nodded slowly.
"Alright then! You're free to leave!" He waved his large hand at me.
My body stood up on its own as my mind was still grasping to understand what happened. That shouldn't be happening until a month from now. Why is it happening now? I closed the door to the office behind me and wandered out the infirmary.
I wasn't exactly sure when that started. Every month my body seemed to temporarily shut down. I would fall into a dream, one that I hold at the deepest and darkest corner of my mind.
According to what the old man told me, I would fall sick for about three days and my body seemed to be struggling with itself. He instructed me, saying that this period of time was a time that I should fear full-heartedly. Which is why I would always find a place where I could hide for a long period of time.
But why is it happening now? I had the spell a few days before coming here. Why is it happening now?
It was silent in my head. He didn't give me anything or tell me anything. He was probably just as confused as I was, which caused my heart to twist.
"Snow?"
I blinked and stared at the person in front of me the red- no his name was Parker, I think.
"Are you feeling okay?" He reached over to touch my forehead but I quickly dodged. "Should I take you to the infirmary?"
"I just left there." I mumbled.
He stared at me for a few moments before smiling. "Alright. Where were you heading?"
I realized that I had no idea where my body took me. I let down my guard again, I growled in frustration. Either way, I had no idea where I was to go next. Exploring? Arianna? No, probably shouldn't go with her. The training room?
"I'm actually heading to lunch, wanna come with?" His eyes sparkled and begged.
I looked at my hands, which were picking on each other again.
"No pressure though!" He laughed and the curls on his head bounced.
I was looking for the words of rejection when I saw two people spreading straight towards us. On instinct, I grabbed his shirt and pulled to bring him out of the way.
I failed to consider that he wasn't as quick as me, so naturally the boy stumbled on his feet.
What came next sent feelings I've never felt before. We both crashed onto the ground, my body pressing his heavily.
I gasped.
I scrambled up and held myself up with my arms.
His face was inches from mine, the fire in his eyes now burning close to me. I felt my stomach tie itself into knots as I realized I was close enough to count the freckles on his checks. I've never been this close to someone who isn't trying to kill me, I realized.
He breathed slowly, the warmth of his breath hitting my cold face.
"I- I'm sorry."
His voice brought me back to reality. My hands shoved him aside as I quietly gasped for air. We both sat on the ground like idiots for a moment before we scrambled up and brushed ourselves off.
"I-I'm sorry." He repeated with red cheeks. "I didn't mean to."
"It," I paused for a second, "it was my fault."
A lethal wave of awkwardness filled the suddenly wide space between us.
"You- you know what? My friends are waiting for me so I'll go ahead!" He shouted while running away.
Watching him go, I placed a hand over my chest and another over my stomach. What the hell was that? Am I sick? No, I don't get sick besides the spell periods. So what was that?
I placed a hand over my cheeks and felt they were a little warm. Warmth on my skin was something that shouldn't be taken lightly, especially as an ice elementalist.
I looked at my hands and felt my cheeks heat up. The image of his flustered face wouldn't leave my mind. The amount of freckles and the bright color of his eyes stuck on like glue.
Should I just go back to the infirmary? I thought glancing back in the direction I came from.
Whatever it was, it startled me greatly.