Dust to Dust | ✓

3 || Nothing

Aiko adjusted the strap of her satchel for the millionth time—or so she assumed since she wasn't counting. It bit painfully into her shoulder, dragging her body down with the weight of spare clothes, food, water, and whatever else she and Felix had thrown together for their journey. The bag hung awkwardly at her side, and there was no good way to rest her arm without leaning against it and pulling on the strap more. She shifted and rolled her shoulders. "Is this what it's like to travel? It's uncomfortable."

"Just wait until we've been walking for days on end." Felix chuckled. He glanced back at her with a faint smile and slowed his pace slightly. He hefted his own sack, making sure it only rested against his good shoulder. "It'll start to wear on you pretty fast. The good thing is the bag will get much lighter the longer we travel."

"How do you feel about carrying me?"

"Can't. Still building strength in my wounded arm, remember?" He lifted his arm out from under the folds of his midnight cloak, waving it around to demonstrate its so-called weakness. Black gloves now covered his scarred hands, catching her off guard, and the dark gray of his old long-sleeved undershirt was now replaced by a soft navy blue. It reminded her of the chill that now lingered in the air and a shiver slid down her spine.

Aiko huffed and folded her arms against the cold, but her lips twitched up into a teasing smile. "Don't think I'll give up that easily."

"I know you better than that."

Though they laughed and teased each other—and though she felt light and unburdened in his presence—her heart snagged as they approached the castle's armory. Its heavy steel doors were left hanging open, inviting the elements into its confines. Spiderwebs and dust coated the rows of weapons in a fine cloak of gray. Rust ate away at the swords and chips and cracks marred the spear tips. Normally, there would have been guards posted outside, and the inside would have been kept in pristine condition for the soldiers. Like everything else in the castle, it was a ghost of its former self. There was no one to blame but her. Her foolishness. Her selfishness. Her cowardice. Her.

She wanted nothing more than to back away into Felix's arms, to look at his face and smile, to laugh with him and at him. She wanted nothing more than to be filled with the warmth and joy that she felt teasing him under the mask of Cinere all those weeks ago. Back when she was a princess under Ameris's thumb, rebelling against her advisors and bickering with Mae in the library.

You're nothing now, she reminded herself, gripping the strap of her satchel so tightly that her fingers began to ache. You're nothing. Doesn't that make you free?

Felix dropped his sack at her feet before venturing into the forgotten armory. His hand skimmed the surface of the spear racks while his gaze drifted along the wall of swords. Shadows swallowed the back half of the room, hidden from the sunlight that peaked through the open doorway. Aiko's palm itched to summon a flame and light his path, but there was no magic beneath her skin to answer the call. Again, she crushed the satchel strap in her fist.

Nothing. Nothing. You're nothing now without Cinere.

The reminder pulled her eyes to the Core, though she couldn't see its remains from where she stood. The armory was on the opposite side of the castle, still well protected by walls that rose up around it. There were only a few holes in the ceiling that made way for the sunlight.

"I was hoping there would be some kind of long range weapon here like a bow. That would be a good fit for you." Felix sighed. "There's nothing in good condition."

"Hm?" Aiko snapped her gaze back to Felix, her back straightening as she pushed her shoulders back. "For me?"

"Yeah." The shadows had completely swallowed him as he disappeared into the back of the armory, but his voice echoed back to her clearly. "I promised to train you and I'd like to make good on my word."