Only Skeletons Remain

Chapter 34: The Novem Vigil

Inside, the apprentices' living quarters were unexpectedly modest—rows of beds lined the stone walls, each with personal belongings scattered across them. Scrolls, ancient books, and artifacts cluttered the shelves, while dim candles cast flickering shadows on the worn floor. A group of young figures stood near the center, their conversation halted as the door creaked.

The first to notice them was Isla, the oldest of the apprentices. At twenty, she had an air of command despite her youth. Her sandy-blonde hair framed sharp, determined features, and her violet eyes flickered with the glow of the nearest candle. She crossed her arms and sized them up, the weight of her gaze heavy on Harper's shoulders.

Another apprentice, Asher, stepped forward. He was seventeen, with wild blond hair and piercing blue eyes that sparkled with mischief. "I'm Asher," he grinned, nodding at them. "The fun one, in case you were wondering."

Tobias, who looked around fifteen, leaned against one of the bedposts, eyeing them cautiously. He was tall and lanky, his messy brown hair falling into his eyes, but his hands were steady, almost too calm, as if always ready to defend himself. He said nothing, just watching.

Casey, a boy of fourteen, sat on a bed to the side, his face shadowed under the hood of his cloak. His quiet presence reminded Harper of Liam's calm demeanor—silent, observant. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, though it seemed more of curiosity than friendliness.

Then there were the younger ones—Elara, age thirteen, and Thalia, who looked to be about the same. They stood together near a window, their expressions serious despite their age. Elara had short, brown hair and brown eyes that sparked with a fierce intensity. Thalia, in contrast, had long, braided black hair and dark, stormy eyes. She barely glanced at Harper, focusing more on Andrew, as if sensing a hidden power.

The silence stretched awkwardly for a moment before Andrew, the most confident of the four for being the youngest, stepped forward and greeted them with a small nod. He knew enough English to speak, though it wasn't perfect. "Hello."

Isla tilted her head slightly. "You're the new ones, aren't you?"

Andrew nodded. "Yes. These are my brothers and sister." He glanced at Harper, Liam, and Micah, who stood behind him, unsure of what was being said. "They don't speak much English yet."

Isla's expression softened slightly. "I see." She gestured for the other apprentices to introduce themselves. "I'm Isla, and these are Asher, Tobias, Casey, Thalia, and, Elara," she added with a smirk, pointing to the younger girl.

Andrew translated quickly in Spanish for his siblings. "This is Isla, Asher, Tobias, Casey, Thalia, and Elara."

Harper nodded, offering a small wave to the group. Liam, his arms crossed, just stared at them while Micah shifted nervously.

Asher raised an eyebrow at the younger ones. "How are they going to survive training if they can't even understand us?"

Andrew narrowed his eyes slightly, catching Asher's tone despite the language barrier. "We will learn fast." He didn't like the way these people were questioning his family's ability to survive in this environment.

Asher smirked, shrugging. "We'll see."

Tobias stepped forward, his eyes curious rather than challenging. "So, where are you all from?"

Andrew hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal. "We're... from a different place. Far from here. An island called Puerto Rico."

"Oh, you're foreigners," Isla replied with a hint of a smirk on her features. "Lisden mentioned expanding the reach of our apprentices."

Andrew narrowed his eyes. Oh so you're racist. He thought to himself. "Puerto Rico is part of the United States, in case you were unaware."

Isla chuckled. "Whatever. Elara, would you like to take our guests on a tour?" She asked.

Elara nodded, and she motioned for them to follow her.

Elara led Harper, Liam, Micah, and Andrew down the dim corridor, her footsteps echoing against the stone floor. The flickering candlelight cast long, uneven shadows, making the apprentices' quarters feel even more unsettling. 

Harper stayed close to Liam, her eyes darting around at every unfamiliar creak and groan, while Micah trailed just behind, silent but wide-eyed. Andrew, walking slightly ahead of the others, seemed the most at ease. Maybe it was because he knew the language better than they did.

Elara glanced back, noticing their nervousness. She addressed them with a confident tone, but it was clear only Andrew understood her. "You'll get used to it here," she said with a faint smile. "The place looks worse than it is."

Andrew nodded and translated quickly in Spanish for his siblings. "Dice que nos acostumbraremos a este lugar. Parece peor de lo que realmente es."

Harper raised an eyebrow but said nothing, keeping her eyes on the path ahead. She didn't trust this place at all. DEMA was to be avoided, not embraced.

As they turned a corner, Elara motioned to a small gathering area cluttered with books and strange artifacts. "This is where most of us hang out between training sessions."

Andrew caught her words and relayed them to the others. "Aquí es donde nos reunimos cuando no estamos entrenando."

Liam crossed his arms, unimpressed. "Parece un desastre."

Andrew smirked, translating for Elara. "My brother says it's a bit messy."

Elara chuckled. "It's not supposed to be cozy. You're here to learn, not relax." She motioned for them to follow again, and they continued down another long corridor.

They passed by several small rooms, each containing a bed and little else. "These are your bunks," Elara explained. "Pick one, get comfortable, but don't expect luxury. Things move fast here."

Andrew quickly conveyed the message to his siblings. Harper peered into one of the rooms, her brow furrowing at the sight of the sparse furnishings.

"Es tan simple," she muttered under her breath. "Ni siquiera parece un hogar."

Micah, quiet until now, glanced at her. "¿Vamos a estar bien aquí?"

Andrew caught their concern and gave them a reassuring smile. "Estaremos bien."

Elara, picking up on their unease, paused for a moment before turning to Andrew. "You speak more English than the others," she observed.

Andrew nodded. "Sí, a little more than they do. I'll help them."

Elara's gaze softened just a little. "You'll all need to be strong. It's not just about language here—it's about survival."

Harper, unable to understand the full exchange, leaned closer to Andrew. "¿Qué dijo?"

"She says que necesitamos ser fuertes," Andrew explained quietly. "No se trata solo del idioma."

Harper bit her lip but nodded, her expression hardening with determination. Micah shuffled his feet nervously, glancing at Liam, who seemed more annoyed than anything.

A sudden bell rang out, loud and commanding. Elara straightened and gestured for them to follow. "That's the call for training. Time to see what you're all made of."

Andrew turned to his siblings. "Es hora de entrenar."

Harper exchanged a glance with Liam and Micah, then nodded resolutely. They all fell into step behind Andrew, their hearts pounding with a mix of fear and anticipation.