The Chronicles of Guertanna: The Sword of Light and Shadow

Chapter XVIII

The warm water hugged her. She felt her bare skin wrapped in her arms. Her face resting on her knees, staring at the calm water in the bathtub. Her long hair sunk in her back and covered part of her face. Last's night fright left her wondering why she didn't do something to defend herself. For the first time, in years, she stayed in real shock. Kenor didn't know how to react at her shock, either, which didn't help her a lot. And above all, Rinna couldn't ask about his past anymore, so she kept her questions unanswered, with just the clue of his family in the picture she saw.

She held her breath and immersed under the water. She cleared her mind; thinking about what happened wouldn't help in the mission today. After a week of practice, Kenor and Rinna were now ready to go into the first portal, the Desert, and seal the First Dandelion, that conceals the fire element. Alice didn't give any further information about how the arena would look. She just said it was like any other desert they may know, hot, surrounded by sand, few plants and no water.

Her mind filled with the thoughts of her family and friends. Trey, it repeated in her head over and over again. What was he doing? What he would do if he found out what was she affronting? She remembered her assault again. What it would've been like if Trey saved her instead? Her heart hurt her chest from beating so fast. She thought about Erderik and his strategies, his beautiful and warm smile. She thought about Leyla and any phrase of courage.

Her head jumped out of the water and she gasped for air. She was ready to fight out in the desert. She took the towel and put on her black leggings, a white undershirt and a red long tight shirt with the sleeve ending at her shoulders and a tall collar neck that ripped in the middle to the middle of her collar bone. She rubbed her head a few times in front of her bathroom mirror. She looked at her reflection, ignoring her paleness and her startled and upset eyes. She opened the faucet with shaken hands and let the water run for a moment. She took the cold water in her hands and splashed it in her face. Ah, it fell good. She looked at the mirror again and took a deep breath.

She went out to find her room and hurried to the dresser, taking her brush and arranging her hair in a perfect ponytail, her hair looking straight and breaking her curls at the rubber band. She took a look from every angle, stupidly, because she knew it was going to be ruined in any second. She took an extra rubber band and slipped it in her wrist—just in case.

The door knocked and she gave a start. Her heart skipped a beat but she reminded calm, "Come in," She said, trying to not let her voice tremble.

Alice came and leaned against the frame door, she was wearing her formal uniform. It was a blue long cape with gold embroidery at the edges, with a rope in the middle. Under the rope there was a medal with the City's logo, which was a golden flower that looked like a sun. The rest was a long white buttoned and tight shirt with tight black leggings and her combat boots.

"You ready?" She said giving a comforting smile.

Rinna nodded and looked away, "Yes, I am."

Alice dragged her gaze down to her feet; then she noticed...she was barefoot. "Of course..." She whispered to herself and went for her brown booties.

Alice gave a soft chuckle, "It's alright, it's ok to be nervous," She said while Rinna tied up her booties. "I was walking to the Dinner Room, we can go together."

The last week has been strange concerning the relationship Rinna was making with her favorite instructor in the Academy. She didn't know anymore what to call it, still student-teacher, carrier-leader, friends? She finished tying up her booties and took her bag that contained water and some food. She didn't know what could happen in a dessert. Right before leaving she took the Dandelion from her dresser, with her hands still shaking.