Vengance of the Keys

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ Chapter 9: Reylyn ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

 Reylyn leaned her arms on the wall as she listened to Etta going over the training schedule. She had it memorized by heart at this point, the schedule was the same everyday almost. Sometimes a certain thing was slightly longer than the day before, which was the only reason she listened.

Harkin rested his back on the wall to her left. "Is it really necessary for her to repeat the schedule over and over again? I'm convinced all of the recruits but the new ones have it memorized." His dagger was hidden deep in his pocket, a disadvantage for their new challenge forming. Madelyn had also decided to join the pair.

"7 o clock: breakfast, 8 o clock: showers, 9 o clock: training!" she mimicked.

He snorted. "Yep. You have it memorized,"

Madelyn tapped her foot impatiently on the cobblestone floor of the auditorium. "Does daily orientation take this long usually? I would like to be training,"

"It depends on the day," she fixed her hair lightly. Reylyn had let it out of the tight ponytail she had put it in, into three singular braids that formed a long one down her back.

"And how good of a mood Etta is in. Which probably isn't the best because some kids were out past curfew," he wrinkled his nose.

"Oh, that's nice to know, isn't it?" Madelyn stalked towards the crowd gathered round Etta.

Reylyn and Harkin exchanged nervous glances. "Madelyn, I don't think that's the best idea," he tried, but she was already surrounded in the crowd of people.

She sighed. "This is going to be fun," she pushed her arms off of the wall and stalked to the crowd. Harkin followed behind her quickly. They rested their backs against the wall where Etta was standing. She was tossing a rock.

"The sect mentors will show the new recruits to the sleeping chambers," she slid the rock into her pocket. "I need the older recruits to stay in the auditorium please, we have business to talk about," Her eyes glanced over at their direction for a second before landing back on the crowd.

Harkin's arm brushed against her own. "I'll try to get in her head. She needs us for the war plans,"

Reylyn wasn't surprised by that, she just didn't realize it was coming this soon. "Did you get in her head last night?"

He nodded. "Her mind was hard to read last night, it seemed all over the place." he closed his eyes shut. Reylyn's finger felt that warm sensation again from earlier that morning.

Oh great. Is someone watching us again? Or scheming against us?

"There's a new batch of recruits, specifically from Endana," Harkin's voice snapped out of her thoughts. "According to her, they'll help her with her plans for the war. Madelyn just so happens to be a part of that batch," Even though they were shadowed, she knew he was smirking with the new information.

"Didn't know Endana had sects." she clutched her dagger slightly as the shuffling as the crowd began.

"They don't. They have just been moving extra people into sects of the smaller cities to prepare for the state split, according to Etta's mind."

"Great. We'll get rich people in our sect now,"

"Where are those two?" Etta boomed from her spot on the stage. "Ugh, they never listen to me."

Harkin grumbled. "I have a plan. One that might help us,"

"Help us with the war and the state split? Or how to stop these new recruits before they mess everything up?" Reylyn's tone dropped into a whisper. "Either one is fine,"

"Both." his hand brushed against her forearm till it rested on her wrist.

Reylyn gently removed it, and curled her hand around his own. "Easier then having to touch my blazing wrist,"

Harkin smirked as they stepped into the light, they were still shadowed enough for anyone to notice them. The lighting reminded her of dusk during her childhood days in Maleni.

"Are you sure your wrist would burn me?" he raised his eyebrows, that smug smirk still plastered across his face.

"Yep, definitely," He led her out of the auditorium to the outside training field, where a few people were practicing their dagger throwing. Birch trees were scattered across the field with a pile of leaves in the center, where the practice daggers were placed. "Any plan to sneak from them?"

He tilted his head to the side. "Most of these people are new from their thoughts, and their not the best at dagger throwing,"

"Endana citizens?" She glanced up at the sky, where the clouds were slowly turning gray. "It's the perfect day to explore, to. There's a storm rolling in,"

"You're thinking of a little adventure to the town square, aren't you?" He suddenly tugged her behind one of the trees. She grunted.

"What was that for? You could have warned me!" she whisper-shouted.

"Well, I didn't have time to warn you," he snapped. "Etta just happened to walk by with her minions,"

"Did you see any of her 'minions' faces?" she made sure to make air quotes at the word minions.

He laughed amusedly. "Only recognized about three. My sister, Eren and Elliot," Eren and Elliot were the twins people had nicknamed the star pair due to their powers.

A heavy boot kicked the tree they were hiding from. They jumped. The light hair of Madelyn appeared in the corner of Reylyn's eye. Madelyn stepped behind the tree and eyed them warily.

"Aren't you supposed to be with Etta, for senior training or whatever it's called?"

"I could ask you the same thing, Endana princess," Reylyn flinched slightly at how angry his tone sounded.

"Endana princess? Who said I was from Endana?" she gritted her teeth at his unacceptance.

Harkin tugged Reylyn behind him. She stumbled slightly.

"I can read your mind." Harkin cracked his knuckles and ran his tongue over his teeth. "No one comes willingly to any of the sects, and you brought clothes with you. Smart people would bring weapons,"

Reylyn tugged his hand that was her own. "Harkin," she warned. "She might help us, if we tell her why we're not in training,"

He relaxed slightly and turned back to face her. "Alright. You ask the questions, and I read her mind," he reached for her front pocket and grinned as he slipped her dagger out. "Don't tell me you forgot about our challenge already, now have you?"

Reylyn smiled. "Nope. Just got caught up with listening to your complaining,"

"So.. are you going to tell me what you guys are doing out of training?" Madelyn raised her cheeks.

"Well, help us. We need information about the rumored war, as long as you promise not to tell anyone in the sect,"

She nodded. "Deal."

Reylyn nodded as she walked out into the open. Harkin was still gripping her hand like his life depended on it. "You can let go," she whispered softly.

He loosened his grip a little bit, but enough to still be able to hold it. "I'll keep holding it for safety precautions," he winked. She scoffed lightly.