Storms of Fury

Storms of Fury::Chapter 5 [pt.2]

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The day was early and foggy, making it hard to breathe as Instructor Levi pushed Adira harder and harder in strength training.

"Back handspring!" he called watching her for any imperfections with his cold eyes in slits. "Use your wind to do a flying back flip as high as you can!" Adira did as she was told; sweat already running down her back. "Not high enough!"

Adira tried again and again until Instructor Levi was satisfied, but then he moved on to another nearly impossible move and another and another. Adria collapsed on the ground, her breathing hard and shallow and every muscle in her body aching.

"Now go. I have another class in a few minutes."

'I pity them...' she thought to herself, as she stood on shaky legs and limped toward the castle. Michael saw her in the halls and ran to her, slinging her arm over his shoulders.

"Instructor worked you hard huh?" He asked, an amused smirk on his face.

"Just take me to my room." She didn't think Instructor Levi working her to death was funny at all and if she had full use of her body, she would have given Michael a couple bruises to remember that by.

He shook his head, his blond hair brushing back and forth on his eyebrows. "It's too many flights up. You can rest in my bed; I have some things to do with your father anyway."

The reached his room and he helped her into his bed. It was not near as comfortable as Adira's own bed, but at that moment it felt like heaven. "Thank you, Michael."

"You're welcome, Adria." He turned to leave but Adira stopped him.

"Michael?"

"Yes?"

"Have you ever thought...have you ever thought about...not getting married to me?" She looked up at him awaiting an answer that, judging by his face, he had a hard time thinking of.

"Why would I think about that? We've always been promised to each other."

"Yes, but, haven't you ever wanted to find someone on your own? Instead of being arranged to be married?"

"No. Why would I want that? You are going to be a Chief and I was the logical choice for a partner. If we all went around choosing for ourselves, all hell would break loose. You know that." He smiled then, a condescending smile, as if he were trying to reassure a small child that there were no monsters under his bed. "Perhaps you hit your head too hard during training, with all this talk. You need rest Adira."

"But-"

"Go to sleep, Adira." He turned and closed the door behind him before she could reply. She sighed and turned on her stomach with her hands under the soft cloud-like pillow. Her heavy lids began to close, and she fought against them.

What was so wrong with wanting to find someone on your own? Why did she have to have an arranged marriage? Just because it was the tradition of the chief's line? She couldn't understand why Michael was so indifferent to the fact that he was going to be married to someone simply because he was chosen by her father. She had always accepted the world for what it was, and now she was questioning everything she believed and thought. She was so unsure of everything now...

Her eyelids won against her will and she drifted into a puzzled and restless sleep.

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