VALKRYIE ISLAND
Sweat rolled down Nova's back as her sword clashed against Nesta's under the sun's heat. It had been two weeks since Nova had taken on her position in the Elite camp- fourteen days since she'd last spoken to Adira.
"You're unfocused." Nesta's voice was a harsh reminder that Nova still wielded a sharp blade.
Taking a deep breath, Nova wiped the sweat from her brow and nodded. "I know, I'm sorry." She shook her head, discarding the thoughts of what she may have missed in the path she'd chosen, and adjusted her stance. This morning, she only wore tight black leggings and a bra that crossed in the back. Nova's biceps rippled from the exertion of training at dawn, which continued with Nesta in sword-play.
Nesta shook her head. "Take a break."
"I can-"
"Do as I say," Nesta snapped, glaring at Nova, "I will not train with you if your attention is compromised."
Nova started to argue but quickly bit her tongue. The headache behind her eyes was worsening as she baked in the sun. She unwrapped her hands, dragged the fabric across her defined abdominal muscles, and tossed them into her bag to wash. Glancing up, she swallowed under Nesta's watchful gaze.
"It's okay to be sad, Nova," Nesta used a gentler tone than before. "You gained and lost at the same time." She met Nova's confused stare and managed a light laugh. "Did you think your romance was a secret?"
Nova's entire body flushed as she raised her brows, "If you knew, why did you let me cut the Ribbon?"
"We advise against relationships as they can interfere with the progress of training, but you didn't let your feelings stop you."
The words stung in a way that didn't make sense. Nesta was right; she hadn't let her feelings for Adira interfere with her training. That was why she now stood in the center of the Elite training circle, and Adira was getting to know a new roommate in their…her cabin. Nova had gotten what she wanted, and she should be happy.
Shouldn't she?
Nesta placed a hand on her shoulder and frowned, waiting until Nova met her worried gaze. "Go find a quiet spot and meditate. Find me when you're ready to work with a clear mind."
Taking a deep breath, Nova nodded. If she couldn't control her emotions, she had no right to proclaim to be a Valkyrie. Admittedly, learning to calm the mind and body had been the most difficult to master. Leading her to meditate often.
Nova nodded and said, "I'll be at my spot."
Under the tallest tree on Valkryie Island sat a small pond. Though tinted green, the water was clear enough to see the koi fish swim beneath lilypads. Yellow and pink flowers stretched out their petals to embrace the day, inviting dragonflies. Their shimmering bodies zipped across the water's surface with a soft hum.
Sitting on the ledge of the pond, under the oak's leafy shade, Nova removed her boots and socks. She tucked them neatly next to her before submerging her feet into the cool water. The mud squished pleasantly between her toes, but she moved a pebble with her toe after it pressed against the ball of her foot in an unpleasant prick of pressure. She straightened her spine and let her hands rest on her thighs. Breathing deeply through her nose, Nova closed her eyes and let the nature surrounding her envelop her senses.
The beat of a butterfly's wings. The buzz of a bee. The sway of the trees.
Relaxing, body and mind, Nova delved into herself.
It is okay to be sad…It is okay to be happy.
Breath in. Breathe out.
Nova gazed into the dark as pinpricks of light shined through.
Stars…No, snow.
She was met with eyes the lightest shade of blue she'd ever seen, but they were filled with grief. They burned into hers with an icy darkness. Cold and penetrating, it was like being dunked into an ice bath on a hot day.
Gasping, Nova withdrew from her reflection and covered her face with her hands, willing her heart to slow and the chill across her skin to ebb away. Hesitantly, Nova opened her eyes and breathed in the scent of sweet grass. Gazing down at her hands, she watched her fingers tremble involuntarily. Never before had she experienced an episode like that. Her usual meditations left her feeling at peace with herself and the universe, but now goosebumps raised the hairs on her arms.
The thrum of creatures returned to her ears, and Nova lowered her tensed shoulders. Rubbing the side of her neck, she looked around, relieved to see nothing had changed. She watched the water with furrowed brows and stared back at her distorted reflection.
The dining hall was lively as Nova pushed through the heavy doors and scanned the tables. Relieved to see Ana and Gwyn waiting for her, she managed to smile as she moved through the lunch line. After her strange experience at the pond, she couldn't shake the feeling that whatever she had seen wasn't something she should have witnessed. As if she had been unintentionally invasive. It was nice to see them smiling over their lunch, a stack of books between them.
Nova sat at the table across from them, her plate heavy with food, each item separated into its appropriate section. "How was your morning?" Nova asked as she was greeted with their smiles.
"It's nice to see the rain take a break," Ana smiled, her gray and white frock pressed cleanly as always. "I imagine you've been busy?" She asked, lifting a spoonful of oats and berries to her lips.
"Busy, yes…" Nova replied as her thoughts drifted to the icy darkness behind unfamiliar blue eyes. Picking up her, she stabbed a piece of sausage and took a measured bite.
A small frown carved Ana's lips as she observed Nova, "Is everything alright, Nova?" Over the years, she had grown to know Nova well. It wasn't always easy to read her, but Ana could see the distant glaze of her eyes.
Nova pursed her lips and nodded slowly, "Of course." She hated it when Ana looked at her like that. Why did she have to notice everything?
Clearing her throat, Gwyn smiled and sipped her water. "Emerie mentioned you've been training new recruits. How's that been?"
"Not bad," Nova nodded as her thoughts reverted to the night prior. She'd watched women, Illyrian and Fae alike, dash and crash through the obstacle course. Injuries were abundant, but every new bandage was a lesson learned. "They're more fearful than others have been." It was like they entered the camp with the predisposition they were already fighting in a war.
Instantly, Ana lowered her gaze to her bowl of half-eaten lunch and forced a tight smile. "Yes, I imagine they would be nervous…"
"Nova." Nesta's voice cut through the dining hall, and everyone stopped to stare.
With a furrowed brow, Nova glanced at Ana. She supposed it made sense to be nervous, but why did she say it like that?
Nesta narrowed her gaze on Ana as she repeated herself, "Nova. I have a task for you."
It wasn't unusual for Nesta to request her time for a random task or two, but her focus on Ana didn't sit right. They had never been friends, but Nova thought there'd always been mutual respect. Now, watching Ana sit back in her chair and avoid Nesta's gaze.
Had something happened?
"Nova."
Nova stood to her feet and followed Nesta out of the dining hall. "Is something wrong between you and Ana?" She asked, glancing over her shoulder. She watched Ana speak with Gwyn in a hushed voice.
"Never mind her," Nesta said, taking her arm and guiding her to the dirt path that winded through the camp. "I need you to return to the Beginner camp."
Frowning, Nova nodded. "I wasn't scheduled til tomorrow evening. Has something happened?"
"We need to be on our guard," Nesta said quietly, "We need to be prepared."
"We always need to be prepared."
"Yes." Nesta agreed. "Now, go." She started toward Emerie's cabin, but Nova caught her wrist before she could get too far.
"I saw something while I meditated this morning…"
Nesta froze in her steps and slowly turned, her brows furrowed with concern as a strike of fear entered her heart. "What did you see?" She whispered.
Frowning, Nova recounted the vision to her. The sense of despair and dread…how cold she'd felt, inside and out. She watched as Nesta's eyes turned distant, but soon she nodded, "It is nerves, Nova."
"Nesta…"
"Nerves," Nesta cut her off with a clenched jaw, "Nothing more."
Nova swallowed harshly and slowly shook her head, "Why are you afraid? You're never afraid."
"Enough, Nova. You won't ask me about this again."
Staring at each other, they didn't dare breathe each other's air. Then, Nesta squeezed Nova's arm as her features softened, "Everything is fine, Nova. I promise."
With that, they let their grasp go, and Nesta escaped to Emerie's cabin. Leaving Nova to bask in the rising anxiety she was told she shouldn't have. A distant memory swallowed Nova…
Lightning cracked across the sky as thunder rumbled, sending fifteen-year-old Nova under her bed, slamming the frame against the wall and denting the wood. She trembled as the light in the lamp flickered to life, and a shadow loomed across the wall.
"Nova…" Nesta whispered, lowering herself to sit on the floor next to her.
Scowling from her hiding place, Nova watched Nesta with defensive, violet eyes. They'd arrived here in this strange place last night, and her family was nowhere to be found wherever she searched. She'd fun for miles and miles until someone found her and hauled her back, kicking and screaming. The only people she knew here were Nesta and Ana, who were nearby, but it didn't matter.
Nova didn't want them.
Sitting on the rug, Nesta set the lamp down. "I'll leave this here," she murmured, staring ahead at the opposite wall with red eyes and disheveled hair, "To help you fight the darkness."
Nova watched Nesta disappear and took a deep breath, letting it expand her chest before releasing it. If there were something wrong that she should be worried about, Nesta would have told her.