𝘈 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩→ₜₕₑ Dₐᵣₖₗᵢₙg

five: training grounds

flashback

THE SUN WAS shining through the whole palace and the grisha's inside was happily doing their work properly, except for Zeliah who just woke up and was still laying on the her bed. A smile curved on her lips as she stretched her hands, she sat at the edge of her bed for a couple of seconds before standing.

She drew the curtains aside and let the sunshine in, when she looked down, her brows furrowed when she saw the grisha's that were running in circle at the training grounds. Her face turned into a scowl when she realized that she was already late and Botkin is probably thinking what  punishment he will give her once he saw her.

Zeliah immediately ran towards her bathroom and took a quick bath. When she's done, she wore her kefta and ran outside. She didn't bother to fix her hair because she knows that it will be a waste because of her punishment. On her way outside, she saw Genya. The tailor noticed her and gave her a smile, "Zeliah!" She called.

"Later, Gen!" She yelled as she continued to run. Genya furrowed her brows before she continued walking, why is she in a rush? She thought to herself.

Zeliah reached the training grounds a couple of minutes later, she was breathing heavily. "You are early for tomorrow, Zeliah." Botkin yelled, earning her attention. The inferni glanced at him before giving him a small smile, "Well.." She slowly said.

"I don't need any explanations, go ahead and run. You will not stop until you ran all the way from here to all the floors of the little palace!" He yelled, causing Zeliah to frown.

Having no choice, she yelled, "Yes, sir!"

"What are you waiting for?!" He yelled once again. Zeliah shakes her head in disbelief before tying her hair. She heard a grin from her side and she knew that it was Zoya. She gave her a glare before  she starts to run her way towards the little palace.

Her first few minutes of running was already tiring. She reached the little palace, she glanced at the building before letting out a sigh. How many minutes will it take for her to reach the top and then run all the way to the training grounds again? She shook her head in anger before running inside, the faster she runs the faster this punishment will end.

When she was already near her room, she was debating with herself if she should just stop running, go inside her room, then sleep or if she should just continue running. But knowing Botkin, he will probably give her a harder punishment if she do that so she continued running.

She lets out a loud groan when she bumped into someone, it made her stumble a bit. She didn't bother to look at who it was, "Are you--." The person didn't get the chance to finish his sentence when Zeliah pushed the person she bumped into, "Watch where you're going, loser!" She yelled as she starts to run again.

She was already in a bad mood and she has no time to argue with someone. She promised herself that she will never be late in her trainings again.

present

ZELIAH PETROVA was on her way to the training grounds with the darkling on her side. The both of them was talking about what happened a few months earlier when Zeliah bumped into him. Her face was slowly turning red, sure, she was sometimes wishing that she could just insult him one time, due to the fact that his orders to find something or someone was always hard.

She was wondering why her missions this past few months are hard and now that she knows that he was the one she called a loser, she already know why. Maybe it's his way to punish her.

A small smirk curved on the corner of the Darkling's face as he stares at the girl in front of him. To be honest, he finds her amusing. In his years of being alive, the only person who could call him things was his mother. In the past, no one even dared to give him a glare. His ability to control shadows was feared by many, maybe it's because it's also his kind who created the scar on the maps.

"Very well, looks like we've reached the training grounds." The darkling spoke, earning Zeliah's attention.

The inferni nods her head before giving him a nod, "Thank you for walking me all the way here, although i already told you, i can walk here by myself." She said.

The darkling lets out a scoff, "You know, saying thank you isn't really that hard." He smirked, "Anyways, i think you should consider yourself lucky that the leader of the second army offered  to walk with you."

Zeliah furrowed her brows as her face turned into a scowl, she was about to speak but the darkling beat her to it as he raised his hands in surrender and it was clear that he was teasing her, "Calm down, Zeliah, you should've seen the look on your face." He said before shaking his head in amusement, "I should go now, i'll see you tomorrow." The darkling gave her a one last glance before walking back to the palace.

Zeliah was left there, dumbfounded. It didn't sound like it but she knew that the general just told her that he's joking and what did he mean by i'll see you tomorrow? The inferni stares at his leaving figure, "What the hell is wrong with him?" She asked herself before running towards the training grounds.

The inferni went inside and a gasp escapes her mouth when she saw how Alina's back almost hits the wall. "What happened?" She asked the tide maker on her side.

"Botkin told her to find someone she wants to spar with and she chose Zoya." The tidemaker started. "Zoya was obviously winning but then, the sun summoner punched her in the face." He explained, earning a laugh from the inferni.

A smirk formed on the corner of her lips when Botkin yelled at Zoya. The squaller has a frown on her face as she starts to walk away from the scene. As she was nearing on Zeliah's side, the inferni gave her a mocking smile, earning a glare from the squaller. Zoya was about to speak when Botkin cuts her off by a shout, "What are you waiting for?! Go!" He yelled.