Power Without Strength {Discontinued/Rewritten}

8

          After a very cheery good bye to Desta and Yanju along with other apprentices for break, I was sitting here, of course reading a book, and scrolling through my phone at the same time. I never really touched my phone ever since I became an Apprentice Slayer, I had too much work and eventually forgot about it. But after I saw that the software updated while it was charging a few months ago, it seems way more useful than it was before. New applications, new features, but no new messages from a single-family member. I was almost tempted to send a message myself or call to see how Akoni and Etana were doing. Maybe even how Yara and his band are doing.

Even though I was bursting with newfound confidence and had a lighter heart now, I still haven't mustered up the courage to contact them yet. I mean, it's literally been months since I've seen them. Have they been searching for me? Did they miss me? Did they even know I was gone? My thoughts were interrupted by Kulea trying to speak to me. When did she get here?

"I know you're not reading that book, Zeera, your eyes haven't moved, and you've been on the same page for five minutes. What's on your mind, mitamu?"

I sighed, debating whether to tell her; I decided it wasn't her burden to bare. "Nothing, just deep in thoughts about what I'm gonna eat tonight. Speaking of, what are we gonna eat tonight?" I asked, hoping to veer this conversation off me.

Kulea sat on her usual chair and crossed her legs and arms. She looked up in thought. "Well, I was gonna make steak pasta with some honey biscuits on the side, but Aren wants mixed-meat soup instead. What's your pick? I'm fine with either."

Looks like the bait worked. "So am I, but I feel like I'm in a soupy mood right now."

She smiled. "Soup it is, but I need to go to the store for some ingredients. Want to come with?"

I gasped loudly as a beaming smile made its appearance on my face. "Yes!"

As an apprentice, we weren't allowed outside of the sanctuary without adult supervision, and we definitely weren't allowed to go anywhere by ourselves. I don't know the real reason why, but I thought it was because we had practically everything here already. We had a cafeteria, we had a library and a computer room, we had our own rooms, and we wore uniforms every day for school. There really wasn't any reason for us to leave, but if we wanted to for personal reasons, I always guessed we'd tell the Co-Founder. But then again, this was all my assumptions, I didn't really know.

Why not find out the real reason now?

"Hey Kulea, how come we aren't allowed to leave the sanctuary?"

She got up and put on her shoes, I figured I should do the same. "Because this particular part of Korenchi has been known for its demon activity. The village below us, Siri, is the only village in the area for roots. Although we do send our higher-ups for some chores every now and then, but we always send them with a Second-Rate Slayer for protection. Actually," She paused, looking at me smiling as she put on her jacket. "you'll probably be able to get out a lot more too, soon enough. Now that your mind is no longer clouded, your iko and mind are finally balanced. Which means you're going to pass your apprenticeship way sooner than before."

She was smiling when she looked at me, but when she turned around to walk out the door, her face showed wariness. What was wrong? Is being a Gina Adroit really that hard? Or was something wrong with me going outside the sanctuary?

Chapter 8

Once we got to the vault, she opened it, and I followed her out onto the rocky terrain of the mountain. I closed the vault, but Kulea went back to lock it.