oppositum [a (maybe) Nikolai Lantsov story] (currently being reviewed)

IV

Nix cleared her mind, as her father had taught her. She concentrated and focused her energy in her hands. Frowning, she felt a drop of sweat trickle down her spine. Quickly, she found a sensation she hadn't felt in a long time. It was as if she could feel the heat in the form of particles that she could use as she pleased. Her hands began to shake with the effort, but the results were there.

"Come on Nix, you can do it, it's not that. complicated!"

She let out a small scream as orange-green flames shot out of her palms like snakes and wrapped around her legs before entering her skin. At first nothing happened and Nix was ready to give up and turn her back on her power for good. But suddenly, a puff of heat enveloped her and a kind of condensation cloud came out of her legs. And that's when she felt it, even with her legs deprived of sense thanks to the drug. Her fire had accelerated the osteogenesis process. Her cells, which had become like little devils, were regenerating at a crazy speed, but this accelerated healing was not without a backlash. Nix bit her lower lip until it bled to keep from screaming in pain.
Her hands began to convulse, but before she could react, the pain was gone and only a tingling sensation remained. Nix moved to the edge of the bed and gently placed her legs on the floor. She counted to three before getting up.

"Perfect!"

Pleased that her healing had worked, she began to twirl around the room, starting a dance of joy. She stood in front of the mirror and changed her clothes and wiped the blood from her lip that had fallen on her chin
She opened the door violently and discovered the surprised face of Koira.

"Nix? What the hell are you doing up?"

Exited as a flea by her success, she took his hands and began a dance of joy. Koira followed her in her delirium and smiled to see her so cheerful. When she calmed down, he guided her outside and made her sit down. Nix tried to protest but she let him do it anyway. Koira knelt down in front of her and put his hands on her knees.

"How? Your legs? The doctor said it would take months for the bones to heal!"

Nix smiled at her and placed her hands on his.

"Well...I read Dad's notebook. And it made me think about what you told me. To learn from my past and to consider my flames as a tool."

Koira smiled broadly and tapped happily on her knees.

"And it worked! You miraculously healed yourself with it!"
"I... remembered how I felt when I healed him... and my power took over."
"No complications?"
"I just hurt at the time but that's because I heated my cells to speed up the healing process. But now everything is perfectly fine!"
"That's just beautiful... I'm so glad you made peace with your power."

He seemed to want to say something else but remained silent.

"What do you want to tell me Koira?"
"We... could go to the Little Palace. With the other Grishas. For your power. For you to train with people who know about it."

Nix frowned.

"But... The Fold is blocking our way. How do you want to get through?"

He stood up, went to get a map of Ravka, and pointed south of the Fold, into Shu territory.

"Through the South. Even though we'll be at the Shu's, the trip would be much more pleasant than through the north or across. Our borders will be on maximum vigilance because of your escape."

Nix nodded again then stood up and took Koira by the shoulders.

"I'm fit enough for us to train. My health has already cost us enough precious days and my muscles must not be used to the effort anymore..."
"You are right. We will surely need strength for our journey which will surely be perilous. When do you want to start?"
"Now, if you are also ready."

Koira nodded and they began to warm up under the puzzled gaze of the crew, then gradually they were joined by the members who had time to kill. They spent several hours running around the ship, fighting hand to hand and with sticks. Soon a sort of tournament was set up and the youngest of the group was sent to fetch a paper with something to write on. Koira climbed on a wooden box and signaled to those who had participated in the training to come closer.

"Well, now that everyone is warmed up, we can get down to business! I propose we have a tournament, those who want to participate, raise your hand!"

All hands went up and a voice was heard.

"What do we win? And everything is allowed?"

Koira glanced at Nix, then shook his head, an evil smile on his lips.

"As your win, you will receive a special gift from our dear princess here-"

His words unleashed laughter in the audience, for Nix was making an unbelievable face and when she realized she was being laughed at, she made a comical pout and stuck her tongue out at her audience.

"And as for the rules, I'll be a referee, so my decisions will be unquestionable!"

A proud smile graced his face and the audience fell back into laughter.

"So my rules are."

He motioned to the youngest of the cast to begin writing, which he knew how to do, having been Koira's assistant when he was still in the palace.

"First, the first fights will be drawn at random. Then, you will have 15 minutes to either get your opponent out of the circle or to give up. You can't use guns or bladed weapons. You cannot kill your opponent or give him untreatable wounds on this boat. And of course you can't kill your opponent. I think that will be all. Galasy is going to give you a piece of paper to write your name on and then you'll put it in this box. where he'll randomly draw names to give the fighting pairs."

The young Galasy gave Nix a piece of paper and a pen with a little ink on it where she wrote her name before folding the paper and putting it in the box. After about twenty minutes, all the papers were in the box and Galasy began his drawing.

The names were almost all called when Nix's name came out of the box. Being the seventh fight, she had time to prepare herself mentally and to observe her opponent who turned out to be a man in his forties. The one who had burst into tears during their first meeting. Slezy. She approached him and gave him a big smile.

"Well Slezy, it looks like we're back together! I hope it will be a good fight!"

The man gasped and bowed to Nix and when he stood up, she could see that his eyes were filled with pride.

"Thank you Your Majesty for doing me the honor of taking some of your time for me. I also hope that this fight fulfills your expectations."

Nix blinked, stunned by his behavior and then had a somewhat awkward laugh.

"Okay. You know, you don't have to treat me like that."

Slezy shook his head as if Nix had said something impossible to believe.

"I couldn't your highness. But thank you for offering anyway."

Nix nodded and then joined Koira as he prepared to referee the first fight.