The Arena

The Whole Truth

"What I mean, Acadia, is-"

The door burst open, cutting off Alvilda's explanation. Acadia twisted in her seat to see a woman in the doorway, chest rising and falling as she fought for breath. It was the Elven-looking woman from the portrait. Her silver hair glinted in the light from the window. She stared at Acadia like she was made of precious jewels, and Acadia returned an identical stare.

"Ah, perfect timing," Alvilda started. "Acadia, this is Ey-"

"Eydis Valka," she interrupted, lunging forward to take Acadia's hand in her own. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise," Acadia said quietly.

Acadia fidgeted in her seat as Eydis continued staring. Alvilda cleared her throat loudly, finally tearing Eydis' eyes away from Acadia.

"Thank you," Alvilda muttered before continuing. "Lady Eydis here is another Asynjur. I asked Karina to get her so she could be here during this process."

Eydis moved to the wall where she stood, hands clasped in front of her, and watched Acadia.

"Now, Acadia, I'm going to ask you a few questions. It's important Lady Eydis and I know a bit about you before we allow you to stay here. Karina informed me that you two met in a Southern village called Fendalen, is that correct?"

"Yes," Acadia said quietly.

"And you've lived in Fendalen all your life?"

"This is actually the first time I've ever left home," Acadia admitted, glancing down at her lap.

"And you are aware of your Aefala, if I'm not mistaken. Can you please describe to us the types of spells you've been able to cast?"

Acadia paused, slightly taken aback.

"Well, I don't know how to describe it, really. It's sort of like... I can make things take a different shape. Sometimes I can make things liquify and then solidify again, but... differently than how they were before," Acadia looked down at her lap. "I'm sorry, I'm not that good at describing it."

"Do you remember the first time you used your Aefala?" Eydis cut in, eyes glinting.

"Yeah," Acadia's voice had a dreamy quality to it, as if she didn't quite know if the memory was real or not. "I was eleven. I was climbing a tree near my house, and I couldn't reach the next branch. I was about to get down when the branch suddenly dipped so I could reach it."

Eydis nodded. "Aefala usually manifests because of necessity."

"And does anyone know about your Aefala except for you?" Alvilda interrupted.

"Just my dad. And my friend Elliot."

Alvilda paused before continuing.

"And what do you know about the tribe you're from?"

"Just stories," Acadia muttered, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "That there's a tribe of people with blue hair that live in the hills outside of Fendalen. All I really know is that no one goes out there: they're too afraid."

Alvilda's eyes flickered in Eydis' direction, so quickly that Acadia wondered if they'd even moved at all.

"And how, exactly," she said slowly, "did you come to live in Fendalen?"

"My dad found me as a baby, out in the woods," she said.

A sudden look of understanding dawned on Alvilda's face. She glanced at Eydis, who nodded, before continuing.

"Acadia, it's important that you know something before we continue. Two things, actually," Alvilda said, pretending to dust something off her desk to avoid eye contact. "Firstly, the Aesir has a reputation for... exclusivity. Especially when it comes to the initiates here at the Idavoll House. That's why it's critical that you tell no one of how you and Karina met."