Days turn into weeks. And weeks turn months, and I find a new normal and settle into Helej Norun.
Life in Helej Norun is a completely different dimension compared to the life I've lived before. Nothing was given. All must be earned. Something, I wasn't exactly accustomed to. Everything was an exchange of goods and services. Everyone did something in service of the colony. I wasn't an exception. It was a tight-knit community, but no matter how wide they opened their arms to me, it still didn't feel like home.
Shay is still sleeping. He has been, for months and Nareen tells me in very few words that I can understand that Sertari, are known to go into deep sleep to survive when their powers are depleted.
It makes sense, he tried to teleport at least thirty times before he gave up. I have no idea what Eagan and Lissete have done but they did a good job. There was a good chance that I was responsible for the travesty, but Shay never had trouble teleporting around me before.
I spend my days helping Nareen and Denmar at their little spice shop during the day. On some days, I help Taethi at school. It was payment for her lessons. I would have done it for free. The children are mischievous and for the little amount of time I'm around them, I manage to settle my unrestless spirit.
In the evening I train with Taethi on the roof of her house. In the first few months, Taethi beat me into a pulp every single evening. She stopped short of breaking my bones. Other than that she didn't hold back. For once, I didn't complain, and I took it like a big girl. But it also taught me everything I need it know.
At first, I find the contrast between the two professions odd. Because teaching children requires the patience of a saint. And beating grown men and women into a pulp requires none of that. But teaching is teaching whatever form it takes.
It took a considerable amount of months to feel the power in awake once more. At first, it was a faint, negligible amount, but it progressively increased with each passing day. It gave me time to explore it at ease, without the threat of imminent danger. It took a few weeks to learn how to release the excess, to keep myself from reaching a critical point. It is an exercise of great will and discipline. I'm still discovering, still learning. Every day is a challenge.
I suppose that Shay wasn't the only one who depleted his energy stores that day. So did I. On one hand, I was grateful for the reprieve it offered. Without powers, it meant that there were no troubles following me. It also meant that Micah wouldn't find me anytime soon, nor Mason. I somehow stumbled upon the perfect solution, albeit a temporary one. One that came with an expiry date, just as I did.
After what happened in the cave, I realised that my power was the reason Micah wanted me so desperately. One day I'll be gone and I'll take everything else with me. It is a wild guess, but I believe he intends to take that power and use it to his benefit.
Taethi laughs at me, she speaks a broken version of old Ankeshi but I understand her because of the similarities between the two.
" You have not been around children for very long. I can see why you struggle to understand," She says between chuckles, showing me the gap in her teeth, " Teaching children is more like taming a wild creature. They require a strong hand," She says and throws a punch at me while I duck under and tackle her to the floor.
In one swift move, she rolls us over places her knee on my throat, and cackles. Taethi is an impressive fighter. She has spent most of her youth fighting for sport. When she married, she left it behind. But her love for the fight has not dulled over the years.
" The oldest trick in the book. I taught you better than that," She is a hefty woman, not easy to topple over, but she moves with grace.
She laughs and I squirm under her trying to find the right angle to attack. Landing a punch into her pelvis, Taethi groans, slightly lifting her weight on my throat. It is the perfect window and all I need to throw her ass on the ground. I'm on her the next second ready to pummel her into oblivion. Taethi takes pride in her skills and the fact that I have managed to reach the same level as her in such a short time. Almost.
" Good," She smirks, grabs my fist, pushes me off her and hops to her feet, " You turned it around," She takes the loose blouse off the hook, and pulls it over her head. The lesson is over.
" I want you to fight someone," I'm confused and Taethi catches on.
" He is the best in Helej Norun," my confusion turns into surprise, " He comes here often, and fights the locals. They call him ' demon' because he has never lost a fight," And she wants me to fight him. Is she crazy?
" It's just to test you. See what you can do in a real fight, with a worthy opponent. I have taught you everything I know. Now it is time to put you to the test," She carries on speaking. It has been almost a year since I've landed in Helej Norun. I'm quickly approaching my twenties. I've lost my place at the academy, but somehow I'm not that heartbroken about it. All I know is that all those that I love are safe because I'm not there. And that brings me comfort.
" When?" I ask, and Taethi nods, smiling at me. She knew I would take the challenge. And she is right, I need to test myself against someone other than her.
" In a week's time. Under Ghedi market, there is an arena. I wouldn't allow you to fight if I didn't think you were ready," She adds and I nod.
I feel ready for more than just a fight against someone who is unbeatable. I feel ready to face the Kallah and the consequences of my decisions. Because I know there will be consequences.
" Will you be there?" I need Taethi to see the fight, otherwise it will be useless. It is not about winning or losing is about strengthening my defences.
" I wouldn't miss it for the world," Taethi gives me a wide smile and waves goodbye.
She is off cooking dinner for her husband and their daughters.
My heart aches every time I see them because once upon a broken star I wanted all of that.
I take the shortest root back to Denmar and Nareen's house, which is what I like to call roof hoping. Night has settled in and I know the couple have gone to bed already. I still sleep on the kitchen floor, while they still sleep in the other room. The house is small but it's home for now.
When I reach the house, I stop on the roof, and the neighbour's cat finds me. It seems that cats have an affinity for me and find me wherever I go.
His name is Black, because of his colour and sometimes when he steals food, ' I'm going to kill you,' which in the Monite colony dialect is only one word, ' ghalafaedri,'.
He settles in my lap, and purrs while I stroke his fur to appease my waging thoughts. The upcoming fight unsettles me. I know I'm good. But he is better than me. I shake my head. It's only a test of competence. But I can't fail.
When the moon rises high, I put black on the roof, he stretches and yawns and for the a thousandth time I wish I could trade places with him. I'm running again.
With a heavy sigh, I descend into the dark house. Denmar is snoring. Nareen is awake because Denmar is snoring. I know because he is huffing and puffing frustrated with his wife.
I drop onto my place on the floor, and like every night for the past year, I take Shay's paw in my hand and settle to go to sleep with Denmar's snoring lulling me to sleep. I got used to it after a while, it's almost soothing.