Glistening Embers

Chapter 12: Healing

Glisteen stopped at the door. It was a day after the fight, and Mictochra refused to leave her room. Glisteen felt sorry for her. She had lost someone she was close to, maybe even someone that she loved. Glisteen raised a hand and knocked. It reminded her of Telma raising her hands to kill Thigil. Would she always be like this? Unable to shake the memories of blood and killing? Glisteen shook her head. She'd get better when this was over. She'd learn to heal herself. Just then, Mictochra opened the door.

"Yes?" Her voice sounded hoarse, as if she'd been screaming and crying.

"I just wanted to let you know... I know you're not okay, but you need to come out and heal. You can't stay in there forever, and wait for your death. We can help you heal. Raya, Sinlivbie, Yilasia, and I, we're your friends and we want to help you." Glisteen didn't know where those words came from, but they came out anyway.

"I don't want to forget." Glisteen was surprised. It was the first time Mictochra shared more than three words. Maybe Glisteen was finally gaining her trust.

Glisteen sighed, "Mictochra, you will never forget. I know I never will. But you can't keep reliving those memories. They will never fade, but you have to let the pain fade. Someone on this Aethr will make you happy, and Thigil will be happy." Glisteen didn't know she could be so wise.

Mictochra nodded. "Okay." She came out of her room and they walked to the training room, where Yilasia, Sinlivbie, and Raya were waiting anxiously.

"Do you want to train with someone, or maybe spar?" Glisteen asked.

"My Gift doesn't need aim, I'll spar." Mictochra stated.

"Okay, who do you want to spar with?" Glisteen asked.

"You." Mictochra replied.

"Perfect, I was hoping to spar." Glisteen replied.

"Good." Mictochra said. They lined up on the sparing circle, Glisteen without a weapon and Mictochra with a scimitar. It was a grey scimitar, but Mictochra slowly leached the blade into a white blade, and a black pommel. They got in their fighting stances. "Ready?" Glisteen asked. Mictochra nodded. "Go!"

Mictochra darted forward, scimitar raised for a strike. Glisteen dodged to the side, but Mictochra was ready. She turned and struck Glisteen in the side. Glisteen clutched her side and grimaced at the sharp pain. Glisteen jumped around Mictochra and tried to strike her in the back of the knees, but Mictochra turned and raised the scimitar to strike her head. Glisteen grabbed her wrists and Mictochra gasped in pain. She pulled out of Glisteen's hold and knocked her to the ground. Glisteen went sprawling and Mictochra stood over her, triumphant. Glisteen got up, painfully.

"You okay?" Mictochra asked, flatly. Glisteen knew Mictochra probably wouldn't ever get a lot of tone in her voice.

"Yeah, just will have a big bruise in the ribs." Glisteen replied.

Mictochra nodded. "Why didn't you use your fire?"

Glisteen bit her lip. "I'm afraid I'll hurt you." she admitted.

Mictochra smiled. "I can take a little burn."

They spared a few more times, Glisteen using her powers a few times. It was unclear who was better at sparring and Glisteen started to tire. "Hey, Mictochra, can I go practice aim?" Mictochra nodded.

"I'll spar." Glisteen turned to see Yilasia standing there.

"Sia, are you sure?" Glisteen asked. Yilasia nodded. Glisteen turned to Mictochra. They made a silent promise; Mictochra would go easy on her.

Glisteen nodded. "Okay, Sia." Glisteen lined up with a dummy. Unfortunately, the only dummy available was next to Sabecary. (Ugh!)

"Excuse me, Gifteds." The intercom came on. Glisteen sighed. It was Mictochra's turn to fight. It had been just a day after Thigil's death! "Those who are fighting today, please make your way to where you will enter the arena. Those who are watching, please make your way to the stands."

Glisteen sighed, again. Mictochra wasn't ready. She simply wasn't ready. Also, she was fighting the most annoying person Glisteen had ever met; Sabecary. Glisteen looked to Mictochra. She was tense. Glisteen gave Mictochra a wave, before having to leave for the stands with her friends.  They found the same seats, reserved, right in front. 

The intercom came on, and Mictochra and Sabecary went into the arena, followed by applause. Mictochra didn't look nervous anymore. She was ready. Then she would heal, after this. Glisteen knew that. This time, the weapon rack was by Mictochra.

Mictochra selected a scythe from the wall of weapons and attempted to mimic Sabecary's arrogant stance. The buzzer went off and Sabecary wasted no time attacking. He conjured up a ball of ice and sent it toward Mictochra. It hit her dead on and threw her back into the wall.

Glisteen winced and glanced over at Yilasia. "I-I don't want M-Mictochra to die." Yilasia stuttered. 

Glisteen took hold of her eleven year old sister's hand. "She won't. She's too strong for that."

The sisters watched as Mictochra shakily stood up and pointed towards Sabecary. His hair turned the same lavender as it had on the ship. Sabecary's face twisted into a mix of confusion and anger.

A giant frozen hand formed out of the air and grabbed Mictochra. It flew over to Sabecary and began to squeeze Mictochra. The scythe clattered out of her hand. "Any last words?" Sabecary's voice rang out over the screaming crowd.

Mictochra's mouth moved, but Glisteen couldn't hear what she was saying. Neither could the rest of the crowd, judging from the looks on their ugly, tattooed mugs.

Sabecary's face softened, along with his voice. "Do you surrender?" he asked.

"Yes." This time, Mictochra could be heard, but just barely.

The ice hand dropped Mictochra unceremoniously on the ground.

"And that's a wrap!" The voice announced. "The winner of this Battle is... Sabecary Rosen!"

Everyone left, happily and soon Glisteen was sitting alone in the stands. Glisteen was stunned. What could Mictochra say that could make Sabecary the arrogant, soft? "Mictochra!" she screamed as Mictochra was being led away with a bloody nose. "What did you say to him?"

Mictochra looked up at her and smiled. "I asked him to beat Telma. For Thigil."

Glisteen sat, thinking, as the guards took Mictochra away from her.