Clouds Over the Sea

Chapter 28: Gossip

Elowyn was jolted awake by the harsh sound of a blaring horn that reverberated through the stone walls of the barracks. Her heart pounded as she pulled herself up into a sitting position, blinking rapidly in the dimly lit room. The air felt thick with the weight of exhaustion, but there was no time to linger in the warmth of sleep. The call to rise echoed through the corridors, signaling the start of a new day.

She glanced toward the narrow window, beyond which there was only the faint glow of artificial lights. Outside, the Abyss stretched endlessly, a vast expanse of darkness broken only by the flickering lights from the distant towers of the Abyssal Kingdom. The world outside was so deep that no natural light could pierce it—an endless, suffocating blackness, a reminder of just how far from the surface she truly was.

The guards had already called for the men to assemble, and she knew Thorn would be waiting in the training yard, likely as frustrated as she was by the separation. The two of them had been thrust into a world of uncertainty, with only their wits and their resolve to keep them grounded.

She dressed quickly, pulling on her training leathers. The fabric was stiff, not as comfortable as she would have liked, but it was practical—designed for quick movements and protection during combat drills. She glanced at her reflection in the small, cracked mirror on the wall. Her hair was a mess, but there was no time to worry about that now. It was all about surviving this world, piece by piece.

After a hasty breakfast of salted fish and stale bread, she joined the other recruits outside, where they were already being divided into their training groups. Women on one side, men on the other. The separation was always a reminder that here, things were different, and the rules were strict.

As the horn sounded again, signaling the start of the first drill, Elowyn found herself paired with Lira, the young merfolk who had joined her the night before. Lira was light on her feet, her movements quick and fluid, but Elowyn had no intention of going easy on her. She needed to keep up the appearance of being tough, capable.

"You ready?" Lira asked, adjusting her stance as they squared off. There was an innocent eagerness in her voice, but Elowyn knew that the girl still had a lot to learn.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Elowyn replied, adopting a defensive position.

They sparred for a few minutes, each strike met with a swift block or dodge. The rhythm of the fight felt familiar to Elowyn, remembering her short training back in the Twilight Depths. Her body moved almost on instinct, responding to Lira's quick attacks, the soft thuds of their strikes and the scrape of boots against the stone floor filling the air.

"So," Lira said between breaths, her voice light as she aimed a quick strike at Elowyn's side, "I saw you with Kael last night at the mess hall. You two seem pretty close, huh?"

Elowyn's brow furrowed for a split second, but she didn't miss a beat, parrying the blow and stepping back. Lira's tone wasn't judgmental, just curious, but Elowyn wasn't sure what to make of it. She hadn't been expecting this.

"Kael?" Elowyn said, the name coming out easily enough. "We've known each other for a while now. He's just... a friend. Why do you ask?"

Lira grinned, clearly pleased with herself for catching Elowyn off guard. "Oh, no reason," she said, her eyes glancing over Elowyn before drifting to the side. "Just that you two looked a little... cozy last night. And you've been looking around during training like you're waiting for him to show up. Not that I'm judging. It's just not hard to notice."

Elowyn tried to ignore the flush creeping up her neck. "We're not..." She let out a sigh, realizing it was pointless to lie. "It's complicated, okay?"

Lira's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Complicated? Oh, that sounds like something worth hearing about. I'm all about the gossip, you know. You'd be surprised how much people talk around here."