Constantine (Daughter of War #1)

Chapter 46: Racing and Cursing

Music is The Name of Life by Joe Hisaishi. Play it!

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"Excuse me," I address one of the Galennus in the reception area, one who's not skilled enough to be a healer, but passable in clerical duties. "Is Quinnian Allura currently under the care of a Galennus?"

"Ah, the scholar," the Galennus says in clipped tones. She looks at me curiously. It occurs to me that she's the exact same physician who had redirected me to Sir Isaac a few weeks back. From the way her eyes squint at me, I wouldn't be surprised if she thinks of me as a bad omen, for I only come here whenever one of my close friends is incapacitated.

No, that's not it. Anyone who comes here asking for someone surely has a close friend of theirs incapacitated. It's not just me. It's just my mind unconsciously becoming judgemental of myself again.

"She's with Galennus Asa now," she continues, "but I think you know your way round well enough that I don't have to take you there."

I nod. "Will do. Thank you."

I lead Gilbert down the twisted hallways. Despite my inaptitude for navigation, I find my way easily enough, only because I've been here far more times than I'd like to admit. The shadows engulf our bodies, cocooning us in their safety. If I concentrate, I think I can almost feel them nipping playfully at my elbows. A slow smile spreads across my face; a mischievous little thought comes into mind.

First, I close my eyes, reaching out with my hold over the shadows to sense if anyone's near us. No one. At least, no one who would pose as an obstacle for me.

"Constantine, what are you doing?" Gilbert says when I abruptly stop in my tracks. He crashes into me; I firmly keep my ground. He quickly peels himself off my back with embarrassment. "What are you doing?" he repeats.

I turn around slightly, enough to flash him a wicked grin. "Let's see who's the speedster now. Race you!" I cry, an unbridled joy taking place in my heart in the midst of the shadows.

"Wha—" he sputters. I ignore him, sprinting ahead without any forewarning. His competitive instincts eventually kick in. No less than two seconds later, he races after me, hollering something about the whole unfairness in the situation, to which I laugh in response. Fortunately, this side of the workhouse is mostly empty, as it is reserved for Galenni who are of a higher rank, who are few and far in between.

I continue to lead him down the twists and turns of the hallways. Only, we're not headed in a straight perfect line towards Galennus Asa's workroom. We're taking the long way round, the race morphing into something that's almost playful. As I expect, Gilbert is faster than me. I barely manage to keep the lead with my frequent feints and sharp turns.

Then suddenly, I don't know how or why, I focus on a spot about five meters ahead of me, and imagine myself pulling on the shadows to get me there.

I find myself in an entirely different place a split second later.

I look around, bewildered, trying to grasp any sense of the situation. Gilbert rams into me, and I don't have the strength or the stability to hold myself. We both topple onto the ground. I instinctively kick him away—he responds with a contained 'oof'—and roll to leap onto my feet.

I stare at the spot where I had been seconds earlier. Seconds later, I reached across the gap. My shadows—my shadows actually took me to the place I desired to go to. I've no idea how, or why, but there it is. There's no other explanation.

No denying it anymore: my necromantic abilities are growing stronger.

"What was the purpose of that wild goose chase you led me on earlier?" huffs Gilbert, finally crawling onto his feet.