𝙎𝙃𝘼𝘿𝙊𝙒 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙁𝙇𝘼𝙈𝙀

𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲

Maven

I sit at the Silver's table in the cafeteria, picking at my food. Mother has sent letters with news from home, but it hardly lifts my mood. She asks about my progress and urges me to keep working hard. As if that would make my stay any easier. I haven't made any real friends and everyone looks at me like I'm a bug.

The little prince. Spoiled. Silver.

The cafeteria is loud and messy, even though the Reds keep to their side, but I've come to enjoy its loudness. Nobody pays attention to me here. It's almost enough to drown out my other thoughts.

Training today was under the rain and I spent an hour in the baths scrubbing all the mud off my hair. Now it hangs over my face, dripping small droplets on the table. The food here isn't as tasty as back at Whitefire, though that isn't the only reason for my lack of appetite. Spending every day with talk of war, strategy, and conscription in meetings with generals and captains has left me nauseous. Especially with my golden brother a few steps away to keep me company. There are ceaseless comparisons.

I shove a bite into my mouth, biting mindlessly. Despite not being hungry I eat because I have nothing better to do. This side of the cafeteria is mostly occupied by Silvers. Though there is no official division, the Reds tend to keep to the other side, either out of hate or fear I'm not sure. My table is mostly vacant now and I take this small piece of peace for myself before Cal gets here.

There is a sudden commotion from the other side of the cafeteria. The Red side. I turn to see a short man yelling at the crowd for attention. I can't make out what he says, but it obviously displeases the workers. A few brave ones voice protests. The others keep to quiet resentment.

"Mavey, I was looking for you."

I turn around to see Cal placing a plate in the seat in front of me. He sits down and automatically people look our way. I hate it.

"Here I am," I say, ignoring the nickname.

"I was waiting for you in the showers, but you weren't coming out so I came here. Have you eaten?"

Before I can answer a shout behind me distract us. It's the Reds. The short man is still talking with them, trying to organise a group. I frown.

"What's that about?"

"Ah," Cal says with a wince, "there's a new group of workers coming in from the North. I think they need to reorganise the barracks."

No wonder there were protests. Finally, a small group leaves and there is some sense of calm again. The usual chatter picks up once more and I turn back to my brother. He eats a lamb with aristocratic elegance, even though we're far from all the pleasantries. If Mother were here, she would make a remark about it. But she's not and I have to remind myself of that.

"How did you get all the dirt off?" I ask him, picking up the conversation. "It took me over an hour to get it all off."

"Yeah, it was a losing battle for me," he shows his nails, which still have some dirt left in them.

I laugh. The future of Norta stands before me and yet he looks so human. He makes fun of himself too and laughs with me.

"Anyway, I better get used to it. The front won't have any bathrooms. And there's a lot more mud in there," he chuckles.

I sober up a little thinking about my unpreventable fate. Sooner or later I will have to go to the front lines and face war.

"Yeah," I comment. I wish I didn't have to go.

"I was talking with General Samos, and we will most likely leave next week." He drops the bomb like it's no big deal.

"Next week?" I ask, trying to keep a straight face. How many days is that, exactly?

"Yes. We're going in approximately 10 days with my legion."

"I wasn't aware."

"That's why I was looking for you. I just received the news from Samos as well."

I look back at my food. I feel even less hungry now.

"Don't worry, you've been doing good at training," Cal says. "It's not that different."

Except it's real people and not fake targets.

"Right," I say.

I wish I didn't have to be here. I wish Father wouldn't force me to be "tougher". I wish Mother didn't think I had to be that too. No matter how far away I am, their voices keep echoing inside my head.