LACUNA [ THE DARKLING ]

04. - that's my bestfriend

Ravenna has never been this shocked before.

Her best friend, her childhood friend, is the sun summoner. She took note of how cool that is.

She stood in front of the tent, trying to spot Alina in the middle of the crowd. She had hoped that she could be the first one to congratulate her best friend for being the savior of Ravka. Spotting Alina being roughly dragged by two Grisha, Ravenna speed-walked to them. 

"Let her go! I'll be the one to bring her to him. General Kirigan's order." 

At her words, Alina was let go with a hard shove by the two guards. Ravenna fumed even more at this but thanks to Alina's hug, her glare stopped.

"Alina! Oh my god!" Ravenna pulled away, grinning at her bestfriend. "I can't believe that you're the sun summoner. When are you gonna tell me?" she gazed at Alina in awe.

Alina, on the other hand, was just confused about the whole ordeal, "I am not the sun summoner, I can't be. I don't even know about it." 

"What do you mean you don't know? Didn't get you tested when you and Mal got caught?" 

"I cheated, I hurt myself because if I am a Grisha, I would be separated from the two of you," Alina said. 

Ravenna couldn't shake the guilt from her chest. Even though Alina did everything in her power to keep the three of them together, she still got left alone anyway when Ravenna and Mal left for the army. She felt so rotten for not thinking about Alina's feelings.

She shook her head, ridding her horrible thoughts and trying to think of something else. She did not want to feel down and bring Alina's mood down with her. It was time to face Aleksander anway.

She beckoned Alina to follow her to the tent, "Come on, we better get inside. Or I won't hear the end of it." 

Aleksander was probably preparing for a grand expose. He will be all dramatic about it like turning around to meet everyone's eyes only when Alina has arrived. Ravenna was sure that he'll pull that suave look of his when he turns around just for the drama.

Alina, who was full of anxiety and nerves, followed Ravenna to the tent. She walked beside her best friend while clutching Ravenna's forearms very tightly that it might bruise. 

"Can you loosen up your grip a little bit, Alina?" Ravenna winced. 

"Sorry, I'm nervous." Ravenna understood that feeling well.

The Grisha guards opened the tent flap when they saw Ravenna walking towards them. She walked inside with Alina still gripping her forearms tightly. Seeing Aleksander's back when she first entered the tent, Ravenna knew that her hunch was right. He was really being all dramatic about it.

"Bring her closer," Aleksander ordered, still not turning around. 

Ravenna brought Alina closer to the General before pulling away from Alina's grip. Alina, who noticed that Ravenna is leaving her side, begged Ravenna with her eyes not to.