Viridian

Chapter 12

"You've got to be kidding me," a voice calls, waking me up from my sleep. "This is what I get for helping you?" Najiba asks, walking in from her place at the doorway and slamming my door closed.

"W—what?" I ask, wiping the sleep from my eyes as I sit up in my bed.

"You're training with me today, remember?" she asks, as if I have any idea what she's talking about. Seeing the look of confusion on my face, she rolls her eyes and grumbles "of course Cato didn't tell you."

"Cato?" I ask, the sudden memories of what happened last night making me blush.

"Yeah," she complains, crossing arms. "He said that because I had 'so much to say' about your capability on this mission that I would be the perfect trainer for you," she practically yells. "As if I don't have more important matters! As if I shouldn't be out there hunting the Creon because Ancestors know his guards are a bunch of idiots who can't get the job done. As if I have time to babysit," she finishes, leaving me in shock. While her brother's words tend to have a way of irritating me, Najiba's direct attacks seem to leave me unfazed. "Can't even stand up for herself," she scoffs at my lack of reaction, before turning to make her way out the door. "Get dressed and meet me in the training room, I have to have some words with my brother." She leaves.

Pulling the covers back, I look out the window. The sky is a lighter grey now, so I assume it is morning. I really need to ask Cato for a clock. Cato.... I push down the thoughts that come rushing through my head and head to the bathroom. After brushing my teeth and putting my hair up in a ponytail, I exit my bathroom, looking at my bed where, as I suspected, was neatly made with my clothes on top.

I pull on the grey sweatpants, fitted green camo crop top, and tie up the black sneakers, before exiting my room. I make it a few hallways down before I realize I forgot the paper Shyama gave me. Digging through my memory of where the piece of paper said the training room was, I eventually come to the door. Entering through, I look around. I am on the lower level, the balcony where Shyama misted us to my left, and I am standing on matted floors. I see countless guards of countless ages sparring, some hand-to-hand combat, others using weapons, and a very aggravated Najiba leaning against the wall. As I make my way towards her, dodging guards along the way, I see men come to stand at her side.

"It's about time," Najiba grumbles, pushing off from the wall.

"That's not very nice," one of the boys laugh, before turning towards me. "Killian Delcour," he says, bowing slightly. "I've heard a lot about you, Princess Adhira," he smiles as I look him over. He wears a pair of light pants and a white collared shirt fully buttoned accompanied by a green and gold vest, making his red hair more vibrant. "All of it bad if it was from Najiba, I'm assuming?" I laugh.

"Don't flatter yourself, Princess," Najiba snarls.

"Um, no..." Killian hesitates, looking between the two of us. "You saved my sister. Manisha?"

"Yes!" I respond, recognizing the red hair and freckles. "You look like her."

"We get that a lot," he laughs before turning towards his colleague.

"Nox Jinnowae," the other man, dressed in green fitted sweatpants and a black t-shirt, nods from beside Najiba.

"Are you both training with us, or...?" I ask.

"Not me," Killian laughs before continuing. "I'm just here to change the obstacle course. I'm a Savant." That explains his outfit.

"Enough chit chat," Najiba snaps, walking over to an empty sparring space.