A young doctor unexpectedly finds herself forced to indoctrinate into a paramilitary organization, where a stoic hero silently falls in love. Slowly, he earns her trust. The love between them burns away the darkness of the past and acts as a beacon...
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I paced worriedly across the floor of my room.
Today is the day.
My heart squeezed uncomfortably, and my stomach twisted in knots. I licked my lips nervously, letting out a shaky breath.
The real possibility of failure cast a long shadow over me. This could be the start of the end. I ran my hands down the front of my track pants, feeling sick. I entered the bathroom and splashed water on my face, searching for composure. I looked unhappily at the girl in the mirror; she looked unsure and panicked.
I groaned, dropping my face in my hands before picking my head up and looking back into the glass.
"Pull it together!" I instructed myself in an angry whisper. I grounded myself in who I am – and who I am not.
I am not a coward. Summoning all my confidence and strength, I forced away my panic and repeated the phrase. I am not a coward. I smoothed over my braided hair, then circled it into a tight bun, ensuring nothing was out of place.
As if on cue, a loud knock sounded. The knots in my stomach twisted again, but I ignored the feeling. I left my reflection, grabbed my bag, and answered the door.
Arthur stepped past me and straight into the room without a word. Aldric and Solan waited on the threshold.
"This place is depressing," Arthur said, casually taking a lap around my space.
It looked exactly as it had the day I moved in. Almost everything still fit in my bag, which remained packed beneath my bed. I refused to unpack and forced myself to remember that this place wasn't my home—at least not until I passed this evaluation. Unpacking before I pass is irresponsible.
My heart squeezed again at the thought of failure, of everything on the line for me.
I am not a coward. Even if I fail, I'll figure it out, move on, and everything will be okay.
I'll miss this, but I'll be okay.
I am not a coward.
"To each their own," I responded to Arthur with a shrug, turning back towards Aldric and Solan. Solan's sharp eyes pinned me down in unspoken concern. I averted my eyes, focusing instead on my ruck.
A small wave of aggravation rolled over me. This stupid energy burn.
Solan settled beside me and pulled my ruck off my shoulders.
"You don't need all this gear." He murmured, setting the bag down.
"I packed everything on the list." I countered, feeling both defensive and concerned.
"I know, Ryn. But that packing list is for combatants. You're not a combatant." He said gruffly, unzipping my bag and pulling out all combat-related gear. "Pack for your function, and pack minimally." He advised me, looping a short maroon chord to my ruck before returning it.
