The Forgotten Light

46. Fairlight

Fairlight's dreams had been more like memories than nightmares for some time. She was back in the dark dungeon again, as if her subconscious wanted to unravel what had happened to her while she was under the influence of the drug. The faces she saw were still blurred, and the voices she heard were distorted, but already clear.

"There is no other creature like you in the entire universe."

Invicta's indistinct figure raised a fist above her. So she stretched out her hands in a defensive gesture, and then someone behind her kicked her in the legs. The girl fell to her knees, then the blows came down on her from everywhere. Confused, surprised and stunned by the pain, she didn't even notice when she curled up on the hard ground, protecting her head from the painful kicks. Pain. Everywhere.

It seemed like ages before the voice spoke again, "We'll drain you of half your blood. Maybe it will reveal then who you ultimately are."

Because she couldn't be human and Invicta at the same time.

Then she screamed. She screamed incessantly, as much breath she had in her aching lungs. Every minute her voice grew weaker, until finally she was wheezing out worthless pleas that no one could hear anyway.

"Are you even listening to me?"

Fairlight blinked in surprise and her gaze rested on Darksen, who was standing in front of her.

"What?" She muttered, confused.

"You're not standing properly. Stand wider on your feet, bend your knees, and you won't wobble so much," he said in such a bored tone, as if he was repeating it for the tenth time.

The cold steel in her hands reminded her of what was happening. As soon as she entered the large hall, whose walls were adorned with every kind of weapon, Darksen shoved the sword into her hands and began to come a teacher, demonstrating the basic moves. She was as confused as ever. She didn't have the faintest idea what the Invicta was playing with her. Did they really want to make her the best soldier? Who were they so afraid of that they forcibly trained the enemy to be their ally?

She measured the Being in front of her with a menacing stare. She adopted the position he said and raised her sword at the ready, tightening her fingers on it. She was given a chance she never expected to get. She had just come upon an opportunity to properly end what had started that night in the hut in the middle of nowhere.

She made the fastest move she could afford and thought that she was going to hit the Prince right in the chest, when in the last moment he knocked the blade out of her hands with one strike.

"No, no and no. Should I tell you what's wrong with you?"

She didn't even budge. Had she really lost so much strength since he had brought her to the castle? In the hut she had almost defeated him, and now she couldn't even make him blink.

Darksen slid his foot under her sword and in one fluid motion kicked it into the air, catching it with his other hand. Its sharp tip pointed at her.

"First, you are weak. Second, I know that by giving you the sword, I have given you a tool for the revenge you so desperately want, but it won't help you defeat us. And third, most importantly," he took a step toward her, causing her to step back reflexively, "stop thinking. You think too much, and that's your biggest mistake. Do you know what defeated you back then in the hut? For the most part it was your thoughts, and for even greater part - your feelings. Feelings are weaknesses, they are the ones that distract you the most. I didn't defeat you. It was you who had led to this."

Fairlight clenched her fists, hating that he was right in certain part. "It's easy for you to say when you are heartless. You don't have a clue about anything, and you know practically nothing about me."