The Warrior- Laila Nomon

17. Hierarchy

Twenty minutes later, Erika- still in Laila's clothes, floating a foot above the stairs; Laila was using her levitating powers- and Laila headed downstairs.

'You can stop levitating me when we reach the bottom of these unnaturally long stairs.' Erika grumbled, looking pointedly straight.

'Ha. As if I was going to keep you in the air for free any longer. Be glad I'm not charging you any fees.' Laila scoffed as she shook her head.

When they reached the bottom, she released the magic and Erika, caught off guard, fell on her butt. She groaned as she stood up, rubbing her shin. 'Don't be a punk.'

'Oh? Look who's talking.' She crossed her arms as Erika, cradling her injured shoulder in the other arm, walked past her to the dining area. Laila followed, mischief glinting in her eyes.

Laila had been right. There weren't any more than a half dozen people there and they sat down at the table farthest from the door. Nora was sitting a little farther off, eating some anchovy soup, and smiled in greeting when she saw them. After acknowledging nods, they faced each other again.

'So, what? Is this like Magic pot? How do you, you know, get food?' Laila asked, as she kept her intertwined hands on the table, observing Erika.

'Stop staring at me like I'm pork pie and maybe I'll tell you- or, rather, show you.' Erika replied, looking around. Immediately, Laila shifted focus to the air above Erika's head.

Erika uttered an incantation in the same hocus-phocus language Helena had used earlier and a moment later, when she opened them, a lady walked out of the door at the back, dressed in a dark purple tunic, hair up in a neat bun.

'Alright, what would you lot like to have?' She asked Erika first, looking right at her.

'A tofu salad.' Erika replied casually as Laila's eyes widened.

'You can get whatever you want around here?' She asked, amazed.

'Yep. Early bird gets the worm, or you'll end up with a vegan chicken sandwich like everyone else. When you're with everyone else, it's a no-choice.' Erika smirked.

Laila turned to the lady. 'Could I have the same, too?'

'Sure Sweets.' The lady smiled and walked back in.

Erika raised an eyebrow at the unexpected affection, but kept silent.

'So...' Laila started.

'So what?' Erika asked, looking at her nails. 'I told you- I'm not telling you anything. I'd rather tell Nora and get it over with.'

Laila leaned in, squinting her eyes, and whispered after glancing around like M.I.A. 'You're in trouble, huh?' She leaned back, smirking, as she enjoyed the horrified reaction Erika gave.

'Y-You're a mind reader?' She stammered as she stood up quickly.

She interlocked her fingers over her stomach lazily. 'I am, but I didn't read your mind. The reaction you just gave confirmed it.' She winked once, her smirk growing. Another lady dressed as the one before walked in and placed their respective bowls on the table and walked back to whatever was behind that door.

Erika looked lost for words, then mumbled out a quiet 'Of course.' Then she looked back at her food, almost done with it and took another bite. 'You... whose kid are you? I mean, wait, don't tell me you're a half- blood, like that retarded Nicholas kid.' She enquired, putting her utensils down because she'd finished.

Nick is a half- blood? What does that mean anyway? Doesn't sound remotely nice. Don't tell me there's a hierarchy system here. Laila thought to herself as she tried to come up with how she could escape the question. She didn't notice the shocked glare Laila was giving her, piercing through her soul, as she talked on, flipping her hair.

'I'll be honest, I'm a pure. Too bad my parents are both on the trail to catch that traitor of a man- Zadok.' She looked back up just as Laila shifted her glare to the table and stuffed her mouth with food. 'What? Communication goes both ways. Make an effort. Talk- we're alone and this is getting rather boring.'

Laila looked around to notice that was actually true. They were the only two in there. Suddenly feeling trapped, she was about to mumble out a reply, when a hand clutched her shoulder, lightly squeezing it, and the sound of a chair being pulled backwards was heard to her left. At the same time, a familiar voice rang out. 'Who said she's alone?'

Erika's gaze turned from nonchalant to hostile as they looked at the person taking a seat beside Laila.

It was none other than Helena, who returned Erika's gaze with the same fierce glare and then looked at a relieved Laila, hand still on her shoulder. '

We need to talk. Come with me.' She released her shoulder, got up and walked to the exit; taking the hint, Laila quickly stood up, too. Thank Cheeses, she's helping me get out of here! How did she know I was here, though? Never mind that. When someone gives you a rope as you're falling towards a ditch, you hold on tight.

 'Nice talk, Erika. Goodbye.' She gave a quick smile to the said girl and practically ran out behind Helena. Erika chose to stay silent through this, finding it all rather amusing and let her go. Outside the dining hall, Laila caught up with Helena. 'Slow down!' Silent, Helena continued walking, but slowed her pace in compliance.

'Where are you going?' Laila asked after a minute, breathing steady now that they were walking comfortably.

'Not 'me,' but 'we.' And you seriously want to ask me that considering what happened the last time you came with?' Helena stopped walking, pausing in front of a door, and crossed her arms.

Laila looked away with a sullen expression 'You shouldn't hold grudges.'

'Nor did I, Laila. Come on.' Helena said, and releasing her arms, pushed opened the thick door after clicking a few spots on the door in a pattern to reveal an enormous armoury. Laila gaped at the different weapons of choice, taking in the smell of rust, metal, and wood as they walked in. There were even a few modern weapons unlike she'd seen in the training arena. Her eyes were drawn to the many guns; bombs, handheld and nukes; laser- tasers; spikes; whips; bows-and-arrows; swords; shields; spears; crossbows, and others that lined the racks on the walls.

In the centre of the armoury, a sturdy oak table served as a focal point, strewn with tools of maintenance—a hammer, whetstones, and polishing cloths—attended by skilled craftsmen who laboured diligently to keep the arsenal in peak condition.

There were a few Warriors, looking at the weapons in glass- enclosed cases. Possibly getting their ammo for a war or recruitment. She also noticed Leader Dylan standing near the table, speaking to two youngsters in hushed tones who were shaking their heads in protest. As Helena and her approached him and they got nearer, she heard some of their conversation. They stopped a few metres away from the trio who seemed to be discussing something important.

'But Leader, it just can't be, right? We're fully-trained. We'd have known if there was an intruder.' One of the warriors was saying.

'Then they must have configured and evaded the traps, Eva.' Dylan stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

'Obviously, but then the question arises- how?' The second warrior said, crossing his arms.

'That's the billion-dollar question, isn't it? Derek, do you-' Eva, started to say, but was cut off by Dylan keeping a hand on her shoulder as he noticed Helena and Laila waiting to speak to him.

'I'll talk to the other Leaders about this, since it's of importance and isn't a light matter. We'll talk later. I seem to have someone to attend to.' He said, dismissing the two from the exchange and his expression shifted from serious to a little bright as he turned to the two.

'Ah, Helena, thank you for fetching her. You may leave, or stay if you wish.' He then looked at Laila with a scrutinizing gaze as he looked her up and down. Nervous to move, Laila stayed frozen as the man inspected her. Helena didn't move either, gaze on a bronze dagger nearby, opting for the latter of his offer to stay.

'Thereason why I had her bring you here, Laila, was because Laura asked me to help-or rather, assist you in choosing a weapon.' He explained.

A/N: Hiii Lemons, I've brainstormed a lot in this hiatus. The plotline is going through some major changes, haha. I'll upload at least twice a week from now. Thanks for waiting for me!