Sianna and the Soulweaver

Chapter 12- The Boys of Sector Rose

Can I truly convince myself that I am capable of magic in basically less than a week? I don't know.

But I guess I'm going to try.

•••••••••

My world continues tilting in the wrong direction on its axis, my grasp on what is real and what isn't drastically fading. "What am I supposed to do?" I ask, out of both necessity and for lack of a better question. I have no inkling where to begin in this new place, especially with all of these people and creatures alike who seem to be waiting for my demise one way or another.

"You will go through four levels of training this week. The first is basic magic, then passive, followed by moderate and ending with lethal magic on your final two days. I am sure you can deduce that successfully displaying even a semblance of lethal magic is crucial if you are to face Abyssin."

"But why? Why must I face this Abyssin?" I ask him, knowing I won't like the answer.

"It is either face Abyssin in battle and prove yourself or die as a magic feeder. Unless of course you die during battle, in which case you'll become magic feeder anyway, albeit a bit more honorably." Alistar sighs, not appearing to take pleasure in explaining my destiny. "This is our way, Sianna. There are people in our realm whose sole responsibility it is to collect magical potential from the human world and to bring them back to ours through the glimmer portal."

Glimmer portal?

"I still don't understand. How does anyone even know I have any magic in my blood? Like, how would they have figured that out exactly? I've certainly never done anything magical and I didn't know any of this shit existed until it was forced upon me!"

Alistar looks slightly bothered by my response, whether that be empathy or annoyance I'm not sure. "I did not create our ways, I just enforce them. We have methods of tracking magical potential, methods that I cannot reveal to you until you've passed our tests. Law prohibits us from sharing valuable information with outsiders that may or may not last the week."

I stare at him, baffled and horrified, using my fingers to squeeze a small section of my arm skin as hard as I can while Alistar looks at me incredulously. "What are you doing?" He asks, reaching out as if to stop me from pinching but then thinking better of it and putting his arm back down.

"Trying to wake myself up." I reply, completely deadpan as I continue the assault on my arm.

"Well, I can assure you that we are indeed awake. In fact, it's time to meet the boys."

•••••••••

Each of the eight young men standing before me have stoic expressions and keep their eyes forward. They are all donned in matching burgundy tunics and pants, the same color as my jumpsuit. The sandals covering their feet mirror the shoes I was provided―except theirs are distinctly tattered and thinned from use. Upon closer inspection of their faces I realize they're really just boys, young teenagers mostly from the looks of them. They're barely old enough to grow a strand of facial hair and yet their eyes have the creases of grown men, their marked-up skin aged by what I can imagine has been an exhausting life experience.

They look absolutely haunted.

"Boys, this is Sianna. She is your trainee this week while I monitor. Sianna, this is Edgar, Tye, Luke, Bubs, Diego, Paulie, Samson and Charlie." He points to each of them individually, introducing them one by one. The boys nod when he says their name but keep their eyes forward, not looking at either of us directly. "I advise you all be on your best behavior and train both efficiently and fairly. Understood?"