"What the heck are you doing?" Judah hissed at me. "Lift it up."
"You don't understand, this is heavy." the words barely made it out as he made me lift two huge buckets of God knows what.
"I know what I'm doing. We don't have time to waste, you need to work harder than you think."
I would have never guessed Judah would turn out to be the complete asshole while in training. I understand the seriousness he's trying to bring here, but this is way too much.
The others were practicing something on their own, I wasn't too sure of what, since I barely knew whatever was going on. My mind was just stressing to keep up these two buckets.
"Lift it up!"
"I am!" I cried.
"Higher."
"No way, I'm gonna die."
Anyways, the rest of the day was spent this way. While Judah kept yelling at my face to do everything right, I was just too exhausted.
Give me a break, I've been into too much shit lately. This 'workout' was killing my already non existing self confidence.
"You aren't that weak, why are you pretending to be?" He asked me.
"Please, leave me alone during the five minutes short-breaks." I turned around, while passed out on the dirty ground next to few other props that Judah brought in.
I don't want to train with Judah anymore, I might as well quit the first day.
"How are you going to pick your sword up if you can't even carry these buckets?" Judah's disappointed tongue clicks were what made me want to hide my face deep into the ground. The other watched from far away.
Ronan and Eden were in a combat with each other. It was way too cool to watch them professionally practice their skills.
I saw Wallace on his own in a corner training his muscles, push ups on one hand and it wasn't hard to say he was giving it his all. I didn't see Vanola around, so I wondered what went wrong with her.
It was just the first day, but everyone was prepared to already face Vadon right here right now.
Judah sat down next to me, giving up on making me listen to whatever he had to say.
"You know, Quinn, I had a younger brother. And I would train him everyday."
"Did he hate you for that?" I closed my eyes, feeling the sunshine hit my face. I already knew the answer to the question, of course he hated Judah for the training.
"Yes. He hated me, but he loved me as a brother. And he was about fifteen, moody and angry all the time."
I snapped opened my eyes. "Don't tell me-"
"Vadon killed him, right in front of me." Judah gave a sad smile, and he looked down at his hands. "He was taken away, I couldn't even mourn over his body." I didn't know what to say to that. I just remained silent, and let him speak. "That is why I am here. To fight. Why are you here?"
"To fight." I said, but I couldn't get my reason out. His seemed more efficient.
"To fight for, justice, peace and humanity?"
"For Aenor."
"Your potential isn't an issue here, I know so." Judah looked up at the sky. "I want to see you keep your word and fight for Aenor."
"I want to see myself too, but.." I lost it, how can I tell him I'm scared and afraid of things unimaginable and have never felt this way before?
"But?"
"I'm trying."
"It's the first day."
"I know, I know!"
The short break ended way too early and I had to go back to training with Judah to be able to pick that stupid sword and actually fight. He was gentle this time, and I was thankful for that.
When he started talking about his brother, it only reminded me of Aenor. Was she eating well? Was father being an asshole?
Did she safely get back home after collecting wood? I wondered why burners hadn't reached the outskirts yet. Or was it that we couldn't afford one?
Aenor, I will not let Vadon get you. And I'm sorry I can't come home every weekend. But I will keep my word, I'll survive and come back.
"You don't look too good? The heck did Judah do to you?" Wallace raised at eyebrow at me.
The training session had ended already, and we were heading to the daily assessment.
"Ah, yes. My body hurts overall. Judah really thought I was a half noble who lived in the capital and was aware of how everything was supposed to go." I pursed my lips intk a thin line, not appreciating the thought at all.
"So wait, you've never been to the capital to train?" Wallace's mouth formed an oval shape and I could only be taken aback by that expression.
"No..?"
"Holy hell, you've lead one easy life."
"Yeah, I'm sure of that too." I agreed, since right now I considered my life to be the best out of everyone anyway.
Wallace looked everything but kind, and his words always pricked like needles. He still bothered to ask me if I was okay, and I don't know if I can trust him just yet, but I know one thing for sure, we were all fighting for something.
Even though I didn't know what Wallace was here for.
"Move."
I flinched, turning back to look at the oh so familiar face of Eden. She walked past me, without sparing a glance and entered the assessment room.
"Fucking nobles." Wallace's face crumbled. "How do they live knowing they're the most stupid creatures in mankind?"
I let Wallace walk into the assessment room first. Didn't wanna be around negativity at all. It was enough that looking at them boosted negative thoughts in me.
I stopped walking, and immediately held onto the nearby wall.
Something was wrong. No way this is happening again, from that time in the restaurant. Not here, not now.
I slid down, palms planted on the floor as all I could see was blankness. I wasn't passing out, I could still comprehend things and touch. I could feel the coldness of the wall and the dryness in the air.
The gear bubbling inside me as I was drowning further into the darkness.
"Quinn?"
I could hear everyone clearly, so what the heck is happening?