Blood of Water and Light

𝔽𝕠𝕦𝕣: 𝕊𝕒𝕞

As a guard in training I was dragged out of bed literally by one of the other trainees. The sky was dark and the morning dew had not yet hit the grass. I tried my best to wake myself up. Many others in training had also arrived for the early practice and training.  Abigail was up and shouting to the men assigned with the spars. I sat in a corner where another man was drowning on about survival skills and other such knowledge I'd stopped listening to.

I had yet to see Cyra since our last encounter at the prairie. I worried about her in this type of world. Especially since they placed her into maid duty. If there was one thing her brother told me about her she did not obey others. She did what she wanted and thought the way she wanted. She also hid everything like she was a locked cover on a book. Her brother mentioned how she never cried when their dog passed a few years ago. He suspected she cried alone later.

The others started getting up letting my thoughts fall silent. I followed them to the spar area of the field. Abigail was standing in the middle with her iron sword small and petite, yet just as deadly. 

"Glad you made it other worlder" Abigail said.

The other men seemed to snicker or out right go silent at the words. I knew here I was an oddball. Even back home I was a bit strange, but never snicker worthy. Being a young twig in an arena of older men gave them every reason to attack at me with words and looks. 

Was this what Cyra always felt?

"Alright first in line we will test the other worlder and you" she pointed to me and then a bigger man.

The others stepped away leaving the three of us in an empty circle. A part of me knew this would end horribly. Another part of me wanted to do this to get better. I knew this would take work, but I was willing to deal with it.

Abigail stepped back and the man lunged for me. Good thing he was slower with his size. I dodged his first few strikes and attempted to get him. He punched into my gut and I crumpled to the ground. Before I could get up he was back at me. He pinned me down and leaned close.

"You will always be a weak other worlder" he whispered.

I slammed my head into his skull and he backed away allowing me to get up. I smiled a little and stepped onto his chest. He groaned holding onto his head which gave me a small amount of joy. 

"I wonder then what that makes you?" I said taunting him. 

"Not bad other worlder, now everybody line up" Abigail shouted. 

*   *   *

By the end of the day I had learned a few basic fighting moves and carried bruises all over my face and body. That guy was not the only one to speak of my weakness. I thought of Abigail she was more built like Cyra, but where Cyra had rolls she had all muscle. They both carried beauty in different ways. 

Abigail walked over to me as the sun was setting. She had a bucket with a white rag hanging out. The sky made her glow brightly in the dimming light. She took a seat next to me and grabbed my face to look at her. I felt a jolt run through my body at her touch. 

"Hello to you as well" I said as she dabbed the rag to my cheek.

"They are asses and none of what they say is true" She said.

"Are you worried for me?" I asked smiling lightly.

"No but you don't know the way of this world they do which I intend to help you change that" she said dipping the rag back into the water bucket.

"It's not me I am worried about its Cyra" I said.

The light in her eyes faded and she seemed to stiffen at the words. She continued to dab at my face, but she seemed far away.

"Your friend will be alright the king won't let her get hurt" She said at last.

"Why? what is it about her?" I asked.

I had been so confused in the last twenty-four hours as to what I was doing here. Why Cyra and I had been dragged here and how it had happened. I went to bed and then I woke up in the field and saw the bear. Next thing I know I am training to be a guard. 

"She is special she can change the world" she said after a moment went by.

With that she got up and walked away leaving me alone with more questions. What did Cyra have that they wanted.