Within Maximine

Chapter 9

As we trudged back to Azazel and Max's home—which I supposed was now my home too—exhaustion weighed heavily on each of us. The fight with the Void Walkers had taken its toll, leaving us battered, both physically and mentally. I couldn't help but notice that Beline was conspicuously absent from our group. Her disappearance after the battle didn't come as much of a surprise, though I hated to admit it.

I tried to push away the bitterness that threatened to overwhelm me. Yes, Beline had trained me for days, preparing me for a world I never knew existed until recently. But she had also stood by silently when Trevin kicked me out of the house. The memory still stung, a fresh wound that refused to heal.

As we approached the house, I caught sight of my reflection in one of the windows. My hair was a mess, dirt smudged across my face, and my clothes were torn in several places. I looked as terrible as I felt.

Azazel fumbled with the keys, his usually steady hands shaking slightly as he unlocked the front door. We all shuffled inside, the silence between us thick and uncomfortable.

Max was the first to break it. "Anyone want some tea? Or something stronger?"

I collapsed onto the couch, my muscles screaming in protest. "Tea sounds great, thanks."

Azazel nodded in agreement, sinking into an armchair across from me. His piercing gaze met mine, and I could see the concern etched in the lines of his face. "Are you alright?" he asked softly.

I wanted to lie, to put on a brave face and pretend everything was fine. But the events of the past few days came crashing down on me all at once. "No," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm not alright."Azazel leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "Talk to us. We're here for you."

I took a deep breath, trying to organize my thoughts. "It's just... everything. The Void Walkers, the training, being kicked out of my home. And now Beline's gone. I know I shouldn't be surprised, but..."

"But it still hurts," Max finished for me, returning from the kitchen with a tray of steaming mugs. He handed one to me, the warmth seeping into my cold fingers.

I nodded, taking a sip of the tea. It was sweet and fragrant, with a hint of something I couldn't quite place. "I feel like I've been thrown into the deep end without a life jacket. Everything I thought I knew about the world has been turned upside down, and the one person who was supposed to guide me through it all just... left."

Azazel's expression softened. "Beline has always been... complicated. Her disappearance doesn't necessarily mean she's abandoned you."

I couldn't help the bitter laugh that escaped me. "Doesn't it, though? She didn't exactly stand up for me when Trevin kicked me out. And now, after a major battle, she's nowhere to be found. It feels pretty abandoned to me."

Max settled onto the couch next to me, his presence oddly comforting. "I know it's hard to understand right now, but Beline has her reasons for everything she does. It might not make sense to us, but she's been fighting this war for a long time."

"That doesn't give her the right to just walk away," I protested, my anger flaring. "She spent days training me, telling me how important it was to be prepared for the Void Walkers. And then, when we actually face them, she disappears? How is that okay?"

Azazel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's not okay. You have every right to be upset. But dwelling on Beline's actions won't help us move forward. We need to focus on what we can control."

I knew he was right, but it didn't make the hurt any less real. "I just... I feel so lost. I don't know who I can trust anymore."

Max placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "You can trust us. We're in this together now, whether Beline is here or not."

I looked between Azazel and Max, seeing the sincerity in their eyes. Despite everything, I felt a small spark of hope ignite in my chest. "Thank you," I said softly. "I don't know what I'd do without you guys."

We spent the next hour talking, going over the events of the battle and trying to make sense of what had happened. As the night wore on, exhaustion finally won out, and we all retreated to our respective rooms.

As I lay in bed, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. Whatever was coming, I knew I had to be ready. With or without Beline, I had to keep training, keep learning. It was the only way to survive in this new world I'd been thrust into.

Morning came too soon, the sunlight streaming through the curtains and pulling me from a fitful sleep. My body ached in places I didn't even know could ache, a stark reminder of yesterday's battle. But as I slowly sat up, wincing at the protest of my muscles, I knew I couldn't afford to rest. Not now, not with so much at stake.

I made my way downstairs, the smell of coffee guiding me to the kitchen. Azazel was already there, looking far more awake than anyone had a right to be at this hour.

"Morning," he greeted, sliding a mug of coffee across the counter to me. "How are you feeling?"

I took a long sip before answering, savoring the bitter warmth. "Like I got hit by a truck. But I'll live."

Azazel's lips quirked in a small smile. "That's the spirit. We've got a lot of work to do today."

I raised an eyebrow. "Training?"

He nodded. "The Void Walkers won't wait for us to recover. We need to be ready for their next move."

As if on cue, Max stumbled into the kitchen, his hair sticking up in all directions. "Please tell me there's more coffee," he mumbled, making grabby hands at the pot.

I couldn't help but laugh, some of the tension from the previous night easing. "So, what's on the agenda for today's training session?"

Azazel's expression turned serious. "We need to work on your defensive skills. Yesterday's battle showed that you're quick on your feet, but you're still leaving yourself open to attacks."

I nodded, remembering the close calls I'd had during the fight. "Okay, defense it is. When do we start?"

"As soon as Max here becomes human again," Azazel teased, earning a glare from his caffeine-deprived son.

An hour later, we were in the backyard, which had been transformed into a makeshift training ground. Various obstacles had been set up, creating a challenging terrain that would force us to stay alert and adapt quickly.

Azazel stood before us, his posture straight and commanding. "Today, we're going to focus on evasion and blocking techniques. The Void Walkers are fast and unpredictable, so you need to be able to react instinctively."

Max and I nodded, our earlier lightheartedness replaced by focused determination.

"We'll start with some basic drills," Azazel continued. "Max, you'll be on offense. Try to tag her with these." He handed Max a set of soft foam pads. "And you," he turned to me, "your job is to avoid being hit. Use the obstacles to your advantage, but remember that in a real fight, the environment can change in an instant."

I took a deep breath, centering myself as I'd been taught. "Got it. I'm ready."

Azazel stepped back, giving us room to maneuver. "Begin!"Max didn't waste any time, lunging forward with a speed that caught me off guard. I barely managed to sidestep his first attack, feeling the whoosh of air as the foam pad missed me by inches.

"Stay light on your feet!" Azazel called out. "Anticipate his movements!"

I tried to focus, to see the patterns in Max's attacks. He was favoring his right side, I realized, probably due to an injury from yesterday's battle. I used that knowledge to my advantage, ducking under his next swing and rolling behind a large wooden crate.

"Good!" Azazel encouraged. "But don't rely too heavily on cover. It can be used against you."

As if to prove his point, Max vaulted over the crate, coming at me from above. I scrambled backwards, narrowly avoiding a hit to my shoulder.

The drill continued for what felt like hours, though it was probably only about thirty minutes. By the end, I was drenched in sweat, my lungs burning with each breath. But I'd managed to avoid most of Max's attacks, and I could feel the improvement in my reactions.

"Not bad," Azazel said as we paused for a water break. "You're getting better at reading your opponent's movements. But you're still telegraphing your own intentions too much."

I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand, frustration creeping in. "I'm trying, but it's hard to think about everything at once."

Max clapped me on the shoulder. "That's why we practice. Eventually, it'll become second nature."

Azazel nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Now, let's switch things up. This time, I want you to focus on blocking rather than evading. Max, use these." He handed over a set of padded sticks.

I felt a flutter of anxiety in my stomach. "Are you sure about this? I mean, I barely managed to avoid getting hit before."Azazel's gaze was steady, confident. "You're ready for this. Remember, in a real fight, you won't always be able to dodge. Sometimes, you have to stand your ground."

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. "Okay. I'm ready."This time, when Max attacked, I forced myself to stay put. I raised my arms to block his first strike, the impact jarring my bones despite the padding.

"Good!" Azazel called out. "But don't just absorb the hit. Redirect the force!"

I tried to remember the techniques Beline had shown me, angling my arms to deflect Max's next attack. It wasn't perfect, but I managed to avoid taking the full brunt of the blow.

As we continued, I found myself falling into a rhythm. Block, redirect, counter. Block, redirect, counter. My arms ached, and I knew I'd have bruises tomorrow, but with each successful defense, my confidence grew.

"Excellent!" Azazel's voice cut through my concentration. "Now, let's combine evasion and blocking. Max, full speed. Don't hold back."

I barely had time to process his words before Max was on me, moving faster than I'd ever seen him. I ducked under his first swing, blocked the second, and spun away from the third. It was like a deadly dance, each move flowing into the next.

For a moment, I lost myself in the rhythm of the fight. The world narrowed down to just me and Max, action and reaction. I forgot about Beline's disappearance, about the looming threat of the Void Walkers. There was only this moment, this breath, this movement.

And then, just as quickly as it had begun, it was over. Max stepped back, lowering his weapons. I stood there, chest heaving, barely able to believe what had just happened.Azazel's slow clap broke the silence. "Now that," he said, a hint of pride in his voice, "is what I'm talking about. Well done, both of you."

I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face. For the first time since this whole ordeal began, I felt like maybe, just maybe, I could do this.

As we made our way back inside for lunch, Max nudged my shoulder. "You know, for someone who didn't know about any of this a week ago, you're picking it up pretty fast."I flushed at the compliment. "Thanks. I had good teachers."

Azazel, walking ahead of us, glanced back with a smile. "You did the hard work. We just pointed you in the right direction."

As we settled around the kitchen table, digging into sandwiches and fruit, I found myself thinking about Beline again. Despite the progress I'd made today, her absence still stung.

"Do you think..." I started, then hesitated. "Do you think Beline will come back?"

Azazel and Max exchanged a look I couldn't quite decipher. "Honestly? I don't know," Azazel admitted. "Beline has always been... unpredictable. But I do know that she wouldn't have invested so much time in training you if she didn't think you were important."

Max nodded in agreement. "Whatever her reasons for leaving, I don't think we've seen the last of her. But in the meantime, we'll keep training, keep preparing. That's all we can do."

I mulled over their words as I finished my lunch. They were right, of course. Dwelling on Beline's absence wouldn't help me face whatever was coming next. I had to focus on what I could control: my training, my skills, my readiness for the next battle.

As we cleaned up after lunch, Azazel outlined the plan for the rest of the day. More defensive training, followed by a session on energy manipulation—something I was both excited and nervous about.

"Remember," he said as we headed back outside, "the key to manipulating energy is focus and intent. Your mind is just as important as your body in this fight."

I nodded, determination settling over me like a cloak. Whatever came next—Void Walkers, mysterious disappearances, or challenges I couldn't even imagine yet—I would face it head-on. I had to. There was too much at stake to do anything else.

As the afternoon sun beat down on us, I threw myself into the training with renewed vigor. Each block, each dodge, each flicker of energy between my fingertips was a step towards being ready. Ready for the next battle, ready for whatever the future held.

And if Beline did return? Well, I'd be ready for that too. Ready to demand answers, ready to understand why she left. But most importantly, ready to show her that I wasn't the same helpless person I'd been when this all started.

As we wrapped up the day's training, exhausted but satisfied, I caught a glimpse of movement at the edge of the property. For a moment, I thought I saw a familiar silhouette watching us. But when I blinked, it was gone. My tired brain had to be playing tricks on me.