Thalora

Chapter Eight: Memories

Alyssa sat on the edge of her bed, her legs dangling limply over the side. Her body ached from head to toe, every bruise and scrape from the combat session with Jaylah throbbing in time with her heartbeat. Her arms, still trembling from the fight, were wrapped in cold compresses, but the pain that gnawed at her ribs had nothing to do with the physical wounds.

Jaylah's voice echoed in her head. Pathetic... weak... you don't belong here.

Alyssa winced, her fingers tightening around the edge of the bed. She had faced taunts before, but something about how Jaylah looked at her—like she was nothing more than an annoyance, a bug to be squashed—stuck with her in the worst way. And then there was the way she had flirted with Kai, so effortlessly, as if Alyssa's presence didn't even matter.

Alyssa let out a long, shaky breath, her eyes drifting to the small, worn photograph of her mother on her desk. The edges were frayed from years of handling, but her mother's smile was still warm and reassuring.

Her mom had always been the strong one who could weather any storm, no matter how rough. Alyssa missed her every day, but moments like these, when the world seemed to weigh down on her shoulders, she longed for her mother's advice the most.

As Alyssa stared at the photograph, she could almost hear her mother's voice. Soft, calming, and full of wisdom.

"Be patient, Alyssa," the voice whispered, like a distant echo. "Big things are coming. You're stronger than you think."

Alyssa closed her eyes, her breath catching in her throat. She had heard her mother's voice before—when she was younger and felt lost. When the world seemed to push her too far, her mother's voice would always find her again, like a beacon in the dark.

But it wasn't real. It couldn't be.

Could it?

A soft chirping noise pulled Alyssa from her thoughts, and she blinked, glancing toward the small, open window in the corner of her dorm room. The sound came again, this time from the floor near her bed. Alyssa leaned forward, her brows furrowed, and spotted a tiny creature peeking from beneath her desk.

It had scales that shimmered in the low light, a long, sinuous tail, and wings that twitched restlessly. Its bright eyes met Alyssa's, and it let out another soft chirp, like it was calling to her.

"What the...?" Alyssa murmured, sitting up straighter.

The creature—no, the tiny dragon-like thing—chirped again. It fluttered its wings as it climbed onto her desk with an unexpected grace. It nudged the photograph of her mother aside as though it had some sort of purpose in mind.

Alyssa blinked, momentarily stunned. "What are you?"

The little creature tilted its head as if contemplating her question before it hopped off the desk and scurried toward the door, its wings fluttering excitedly. It paused by the door and glanced back at her expectantly.

"You... want me to follow you?" Alyssa asked, frowning in confusion.

The creature chirped again, louder this time, and then fluttered out into the hallway.

Alyssa hesitated, her mind still spinning from the strange encounter. She was mentally and physically exhausted. All she wanted was to curl up in bed and forget about the day. But something tugged at her, a strange sense of curiosity mingled with the memory of her mother's words.

"Be patient... big things are coming..."

With a quiet groan, Alyssa pushed herself to her feet, wincing as the pain in her ribs flared up again. She quickly grabbed a jacket and slipped out of her dorm room, following the little creature down the winding corridors of the Academy.

The halls were empty at this hour. The soft hum of the energy generators was the only sound as Alyssa moved through the shadows. The creature led her with surprising speed, darting around corners and through narrow passageways that she hadn't even realized existed. Despite her aching body, Alyssa's curiosity grew with every step.

After what felt like an eternity, the creature led her to a hidden stairwell tucked away in the farthest corner of the Academy's grounds. The stairs spiraled downward into a dark, damp tunnel that seemed to stretch on forever.

Alyssa hesitated at the top of the stairs, her heart pounding. She wasn't sure what she had expected when she followed the creature, but this... this was something else entirely.

The creature paused halfway down the stairs, turning to look at her with bright, expectant eyes.

Alyssa swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and started down the stairs.

The tunnel was narrow and musty, the walls lined with old, faded markings that looked like they had been carved ages ago. Alyssa's pulse quickened as she descended deeper into the darkness, her mind racing with possibilities. Who—or what—had left these markings? And why was this strange creature leading her here?

Finally, after what felt like hours, the tunnel opened up into a vast, cavernous chamber. The air was thick with an ancient energy, making the hairs on the back of Alyssa's neck stand on end.

And standing in the center of the chamber, bathed in the faint glow of a flickering torch, was a man.

He was tall, with a rugged, weathered look that suggested he had spent years living on the edge of danger. He wore a long, hooded black cloak that offered a small glimpse at battle-torn armor underneath. His eyes gleamed with curiosity and amusement as he watched Alyssa enter the chamber.

"Well, well," the man said, his voice low and smooth. "Look what the dragon-cat dragged in."

Alyssa blinked, momentarily at a loss for words. "Who... who are you?"

The man pulled down the hood of his cloak, and Alyssa got a better look at his scarred face. He grinned, crossing his arms over his chest. "Name's Troy Zaylar. But you can just call me Troy. And this little guy here—" he gestured to the creature, which was now sitting proudly at his feet "—is Nimbus. I see he's taken a liking to you."

Nimbus chirped happily, fluttering his wings as though to emphasize the point.

Alyssa stared at the pair, her mind struggling to keep up. Troy Zaylar? The Troy Zaylar? The rogue former recruit who had disappeared years ago, rumored to be dead?

"What... what do you want with me?" Alyssa asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Troy's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with a mischievous light. "I'm not the one who wants anything, kid. It's you who's been looking for answers. And lucky for you, I've got a few."