As the sun started to sink below the trees, painting the training grounds in a warm, honey-gold glow, Alistair finally decided we'd had enough. He crossed his arms, giving us that rare nod of approval. Or maybe he was just relieved none of us had managed to set ourselves on fire.
"You're done for today," he announced. "But don't get comfortable. Today's task was the easy one. Tomorrow, I expect better—faster, sharper, and far more coordinated."
Easy, I thought, trying to keep my expression neutral. If this was "easy," then tomorrow might actually finish me off. I'd leave behind a legacy of…well, nothing really, except maybe the memory of that one guy who made a fool of himself in the training grounds.
I rolled my shoulders, feeling the weight of the day settling into my bones. Every muscle in my body was protesting, and I could barely imagine dragging myself back to the dorm, let alone tackling whatever Alistair had in store for us tomorrow.
No way was I going to bed. I'd just end up lying there, staring at the ceiling, wondering how many new ways Alistair could make us suffer. Nah, I needed a walk—a long walk—where I could imagine I was anywhere but here.
Shoving my hands in my pockets, I wandered toward the edge of the compound. It wasn't a terrible place to be stuck, all things considered. The grounds stretched out in all directions, bordered by thick trees and pathways that led between various training areas and barracks. Some buildings looked ancient, made from stone that had clearly seen its fair share of wear and tear. It kind of made sense—the place was probably built to withstand attacks, storms, and possibly the occasional fireball if someone lost control.
I drifted down a narrow, uneven path lined with tall, twisted trees. The shadows were getting longer, stretching across the ground like dark fingers. Somewhere in the distance, a bird cawed, and a soft wind rustled through the leaves. It was quiet, peaceful. Just what I needed to recharge.
Still, I couldn't shake Alistair's words from my head. Tomorrow's harder task. Why did he say that like he was excited about it? What could possibly be worse than today? Maybe they'd just toss us into a pit and let us fend for ourselves. I chuckled under my breath, muttering, "Tomorrow's harder task. Sure, let's make it impossible while we're at it. See if I can fail with style."
A sudden rustle in the underbrush made me jump. I stopped, glancing around. Probably just a bird. Or, knowing my luck, maybe a tiny magical creature ready to launch a surprise attack. "Alright, Alistair, if this is another 'test,' just know that I will absolutely lay down and let whatever it is eat me," I said to no one in particular, half-laughing at my own joke.
Just then, I heard footsteps behind me—quick, light, and unmistakable. I turned, expecting maybe a guard or Galen sneaking up for a scare. Instead, it was Riona.
"Hey, sorry if I startled you."
"I don't get scared that easily."
"Well the training session we had today really pointed to the opposite." Riona chuckled.
"Hey, I'll have you know that I'm a master in the ancient arts of acting."
"No argument there."
"So why are you out here? Shouldn't you be back in the dorm resting after the hectic day we just had?"
"Yeah I guess. It just felt stuffy in there so I decided that taking a walk was going to feel better." Riona said. "I'm Riona by the way."
"I'm Ethan." I said as I stretched my hand to her. "So where are you off to?"
"Just wanna see what secrets this realm could be hiding." Riona replied. "Wanna come with?"
Riona's eyes sparkled with a sense of mischief that was hard to resist. The way she tilted her head, daring me to say no, well…how could I possibly turn down an offer like that?
"Lead the way," I said, gesturing grandly ahead of us. "But I'm just going to throw out a warning here: I am very talented at finding trouble, especially when I'm not looking for it."
Riona laughed. "Good, because this place could use some shaking up."
We headed off the narrow path, winding our way past training grounds and a few clusters of buildings. Soon enough, we found ourselves outside the boundaries of the compound, where a small market stretched out across a clearing.
"So, this is where everyone goes when they're not busy dodging Alistair's death traps," I murmured, eyeing the bustling scene.
Riona nodded, her gaze wandering over the stalls. "We could pick up a few things. You know, blend in, look like we know what we're doing."
"Blend in, huh?" I smirked. "Yeah, because we're not suspicious at all, two clueless students trying not to stand out."
She rolled her eyes, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the nearest stall, where a grumpy-looking trader was displaying a row of small bottles filled with glittering powder. "Alright, Mr. Blends-In, maybe you should practice your quiet voice."
The trader eyed us suspiciously as we picked up one of the bottles, the powder inside shimmering like stardust.
"What's this for?" I asked, squinting at the label that looked more like an ancient spell than an ingredients list.
"Not for the likes of you," the trader grumbled, snatching the bottle out of my hand. "Students aren't allowed to mess around with this kind of stuff."
"Oh, don't worry. I mess around with everything equally," I shot back, but the trader was already waving us away.
Riona snickered beside me. "Maybe we should try somewhere else, before he hexes you or something."
We wandered further, joking about the "unique" cuisine and failing to blend in as much as we hoped. That was until we passed a stall selling these odd little creatures in tiny cages, each one making strange, squeaky sounds and twitching whenever someone walked past. Riona's eyes lit up with curiosity, but before we could step closer, the trader shouted something angrily in a language I didn't recognize.
"Uh… I think we just got kicked out," I whispered, grabbing her hand. "Time to go!"
We ducked away, making our way through the crowded market as the trader's voice rose behind us. We zigzagged through the crowd, dodging other shoppers and ducking between stalls until we'd put a safe distance between us and our new enemies.
When we finally stopped, both of us were panting and grinning, leaning against a low stone wall at the edge of the market.
"Well, that went smoothly," I joked, brushing imaginary dust off my shirt. "I'm sure they'll be thrilled to have us back next time."
Riona raised an eyebrow. "We're not that terrible at blending in."
"Sure," I said, crossing my arms. "Let's see how long it takes for a wanted poster to pop up with our faces on it."
We wandered around the outer edge of the market for a while longer, keeping a low profile this time, but the whole thing was a blast. I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt this relaxed. Usually, I was stuck in my own head, worrying about training or trying to keep up, but with Riona there, the world felt a little less serious, a little more… fun.
Eventually, the sky started turning that deep, inky blue of early night, and the soft glow of the market began to fade. I glanced at a clock hanging from one of the wooden posts nearby and froze.
"Uh, Riona? We should probably head back. Like, now."
She looked at the time and groaned. "If they lock the gates—"
We didn't need to finish the thought. In perfect sync, we started sprinting back toward the compound, winding through the forest paths and kicking up leaves as we went. By the time we reached the edge of the compound, the gates were, predictably, shut tight.
"Great," I muttered, looking up at the walls. "Because climbing high walls after a long day is totally my idea of fun."
Riona snorted. "Come on, if we get caught, we'll be the ones cleaning the training grounds for the next month."
With a sigh, I crouched down, bracing my hands for her foot. "Ladies first."
She grinned, taking a quick running start before leaping off my hands and grabbing the top of the wall. In one quick, smooth movement, she hoisted herself over, landing with barely a sound on the other side. I took a running leap next, gripping the edge and scrambling over. I sure was glad vampires had superior agility. When I landed, she was waiting, and we both bolted in opposite directions, waving each other off.
"See you tomorrow!" I whispered, laughing.
"Yeah, good luck surviving Alistair's easy task!" she called back, disappearing down the hallway.
When I finally made it back to my dorm, I collapsed onto my bed, staring up at the ceiling. Somehow, the day had gone from exhausting to just plain insane, and I couldn't help but laugh to myself as I replayed the events in my mind.
For the first time in ages, I was actually looking forward to tomorrow. Smiling, I closed my eyes, and in no time, I was fast asleep.