Shadows and The Sea - The Darkling

Timeskip & Friends

Timeskip

Third POV

Alina Starkov was immersed in her new sketch of Ravka, adding details to make sure the quality of her work was up to par. The sound of the wagon she and her unit were in and the sound of the pencil on the parchment filled her ears until a voice piped up.

"Alina, how can you do that in here?" Alexi asked.

"Bumps help with texture."

A cartographer across from me looked at his map before glancing back at mine, "The Fold looks different on mine. I need to get a better view from your country."

And there it is, she thought.

Alexi shoved his head away from my work, "She grew up here. Come on!. He was one of my few friends in my unit.

"The Shu Han didn't want her either," another cartographer said. And that is not one of my few friends. People didn't exactly want to get along with someone who looked like the enemy.

She turned her head to get back to work before the head cartographer opened the flap of the cart, "Cartographers, listen up. We're almost there. Pack up and be ready to leave. And if you lose anything, you will not be getting a replacement."

And with those words, everyone began to gather their things. However, movements paused for a moment when a loud growling filled the air. It sent chills up Alina's spine and it seemed to echo through her ears forever.

When the cart came to a halt, the cartographers filed out and were met with the sight of darkness. The Shadow Fold, in all its glory.

Alina stood still and stared at the shadowy mass. Alexi stopped a few steps behind her, gazing at the Shadow Fold as well, "We're never going to see it go away. This abomination is here forever."

Raisa, a blonde cartographer, answered whilst walking by, "You don't go to church. A Saint who can summon the sun will destroy it."

The same man who commented on Alina's map pitched in, "I'd like to see even one person who isn't scared of that."

The blonde woman replied, "I bet I know someone. Mal. he isn't afraid of anything."

That tickled Alina's funny bone. She chuckled under her breath, "You'd be surprised."

----------------------------------------------------------------

Faint cheering could be heard but all Mal focused on was making sure the wraps on his hands were proper. He took a deep breath and when he was certain that his hands were bound correctly, he bent over and pulled his shirt off.

The large tent was filled with First Army soldiers gathered round in a circle. The cheering became louder as Mal turned to face his opponent and a bell rang. "Final bets, final bets. Keep it clean, boys, go on" the person with the bell said.

Mal and his opponent approached each other and people started to take sides on who would win. The opponent struck first, the first punch was dodged but he managed to land two after that, sending Mal into the arms of his mates, Dubrov and Mikhael.

"It's all right, breathe. Breathe, here we go. Come on," Mikhael said as he and Dubrov threw him back into the fight.

Dubrov leaned in closer to Mikhael so he could hear him better, "He'll be alright won't he?"

"I'm sure we'll find out. Come on, hit him! Belt him!" was the answer he got from his friend.

His opponent threw a few more punches but none found their mark as Mal dodged every one. He stayed light on his feet and as his opponent turned to throw one more roundhouse punch, ml blocked it and followed up with a hook to the ribs and another to the face. The man stumbled back before resetting and going in for another strong but unbalanced punch.