The Pariah

Chapter 30

Chapter Song: Blue Stahli - Metamorphosis Life Theory Remix

!!!

The final challenge was going to be here tonight. Madeline, in spite of not being in the competition, was still staying in my room with me and promised to help me with it. As she was showing me how to preform a simple defense spell that would block off enemy attacks, I saw the weird old fashioned soldier guy standing under the gazebo, watching us. It wouldn't be so weird if he didn't narrow his eyes at me when I noticed him. It was like he was suspicious of me cheating or something. I returned back to the lesson, with no more thoughts about the old fashioned guy. 

After a few rounds of hand-to-hand combat as well, Paige and Hinnah came walking out to greet us. I was very sweaty and I'm sure I didn't look too great because I not only have stitches in my face and a bruise under my eye, but I was covered in sweat and was wearing a shirt that said, "REBEL". It wouldn't be so bad if it didn't have a massive hole in the front, showing off my not-abs. 

Hinnah offered Madeline and I drinks, which we greatly accepted. "Thanks, Hin. I thought I was gonna die." I say, exaggerating it a bit, just because I knew that would make it feel even more important. 

She rolled her eyes at me, obviously catching onto my game. "Yeah, yeah, rebel." She smirked at the shirt I was wearing. 

"Hey," I pointed at her. "Mouth, young lady."

Paige was silent the whole time, watching the display between us. I smiled at her to catch her attention, which it did. "Hi, Erin." She says, standing a bit taller. 

"Hi, Paige." I slip down into a seat near the table and pat the seat next to me. She immediately obliges and takes the seat next to me. Madeline and Hinnah decide that they would leave, I guess they assumed we would need our privacy. Not like anything would happen anyway. 

She's still fidgety, I can see. Her hands are holding onto the hem of her dress, as if for dear life. "You did well again. The maze was scary, huh?"

I shrugged, thinking about it now, I find myself wondering why I saw myself as my biggest fear. I didn't want to think too much about it, I'm sure it would lead into another emotionally unstable thing wrong in my life. "I'll admit, I liked the race better."

She giggles at that. Her hand lifts very slowly, hesitantly to the stitches over the bridge of my nose. Her finger traces over the line, I wince a little because it's still hurting. "Sorry."

"No, it's okay. I've had worse." 

"You're always getting hurt, aren't you?" She says it more like it's a fact than a question, which makes me laugh. "What's so funny?" She's chuckling too now. 

What is so funny? I'm an accident prone? That was a very good question, after the maze challenge, I was feeling pretty damn good. It felt like I'd done something good. But now it was up to the last challenge. I would need to fight Taurus, even without his knowledge. Maybe that's why I'm training so hard. In the bright sunlight, during the hot summer day. Asking Madeline for help. It was all because of Taurus. He was my opponent and so far, only two people know about it. It's sad that not even Taurus is conscious of it. 

But instead of saying all of that, I obviously went for a shorter, more light version. "I'm just happy today."

Her features soften. "Me too." It's now that I notice that Paige is really pretty. Her blonde hair tumbles down her shoulders in thick, pale waves, her skin holds no scars or blemishes. Her eyes were bright blue and always seemed to be lit up. She was always smiling too. She looked really pretty when she smiles. I smile when I come across this realization that shouldn't have taken this long to realize.