Resurrection {NaNoWriMo}

Chapter 6

The pounding through the wall caused Acacia to jolt awake. She had slept dreamlessly, the darkness completely enveloping her, until the noise began. She had waited it out, optimistic that in time it would cease, but as it continued incessantly, she decided to investigate.

Sliding off her cot, she padded silently across the stone floor. She paused between her room and Alias', wondering if she should bother him, but knowing he would most likely be surlier when she awoke him than when awake, she glided past his room.

She traveled down the hall, flinching as the banging escalated, its magnitude blaring through her ears, rattling her skull. She wandered to the door through the pitch blackness and hoped that it would open for her. The idea of being locked in the small area of space made her lungs feel tight and her body compacted.

Running her hands along the nippy surface of the door, Acacia sought a door knob or latch, anything to allow her to pull it open. As soon as her hands circled its surface, the door began to rumbled and crashed open. Jumping back, she looked up to the two figures that waited for her.

Raygen's face was impassive, but her eyes were honest as they revealed the scowl she yearned to present. She seemed to loom over Acacia, despite their equal heights. She was not pleasant in the morning, even less so when it came to be handed the responsibility of dealing with the minute issue of two people when she had Community to run.

"You are an impeccably deep sleeper," Raygen commented. "If you are ready for it, it is time for us to begin the tests." Her eyes ran over Acacia's ivory dress, the way it seemed to gleam even within the shadows. "However, it would be more appropriate if you did so in the proper attire." Out of air, neatly folded clothes of black wool and leather appeared in her hands.

Acacia grabbed them timidly, frowning down at the dismal fabric. "Thank you, Raygen."

The flash of confusion that came from behind Raygen drew Acacia's attention upwards. She looked to the second figure she'd overlooked, Alias.

He was surprised that she had thanked Raygen. Perhaps gratitude was also a foreign concept to his people, but they seemed respectable in nature, so Acacia discounted it.

"I will be right back." She announced.

Raygen nodded once, watching Acacia as she disappeared back into the dark halls.

Acacia looked down at the dreary clothes as she laid them down on her bed. Sighing, she drew her dress over her head and slid into the tight pants and gripping sweater. The clothes fit her perfectly and she assumed somehow it was because of the magyk. Maybe someday she would learn how to conjure up light and clothes and anything she could ever need. Spirited, she return back to Raygen and Alias, and squirmed under their scrutinizing gaze.

Raygen began to walk through the hall and Acacia took this as a sign that she was please. She looked to Alias.

"Will I be expected to get up at this time every morning?"

"Yes," he said, and without explanation followed Raygen, surprisingly obedient when it came to everyone but her.

The hall twisted and bent in an endless labyrinth that Acacia had no hope of ever memorizing. She trailed her hand across the wall, stunned by the zap that shocked her when she did so. Jolting back and staring wide eyed at it, she froze as she looked to Alias' inquiring gaze. She knew he must've felt the energy push through her, but she said nothing and moved past him, continuing to follow Raygen through the dizzying building.

Alias hurried to march ahead of her once more, a silly habit she bet was induced by his ego and belief that she was weak and below him. She understood why his people were the way they were. She understood why he saw caring and helping as a weakness. She understood why he felt the need to remain stoic with her and that it was natural for his kind to do the same, but she yearned for them to not view her as a threat and as an ally. She was not a foe. She had no ill intent, and so their trepidation towards her was frivolous.