The Revenant

Distance

ESKARINA

Elena's locker in her private bathroom had been cleaned out,all her belongings were given to Nova for safekeeping. That was one of the last times I would see him for the next few weeks. I continued going on missions with Tyrese,Pauline and Sven, yet we all agreed that it all felt wrong without Elena or Nova there. Amaani had become a wanted fugitive, with a hefty price on her head with charges of treason.

She was wanted alive for questioning,whereas the girl named Alisha...seventy platinum coins was the bounty, and she was wanted dead.

The manhunt was vast,with men and women,bounty hunters from all across the northern continents searching for them. I had a feeling it was just a matter of time until they were caught.

Nova still hadn't been seen for a weeks. A month passed since Elena's death, and he still would not be seen. Rumours around the barracks began to circulate that the Commander had abandoned his post. Pauline,who seemed to be panic-stricken at Nova's sudden  disappearance asked for my help in finding him. We searched the hospital where he visited that woman, yet we were told he hadn't visited since Elena's passing.

He wasn't even in the catacombs,visiting her grave. Nova wasn't at the training grounds,or in their private bathing area. We arrived at his room around midday. The sun shone brightly, the sky was painted a magnificent ocean blue. Birds chirped all round us as green leaves blew gently in the summer breeze.

Pauline knocked on the door, yet no answer came.

We exchanged looks before she knocked on the door once again. Once more...no answer came from the room.

"Maybe he's still asleep?"

"It's twelve in the afternoon. I know he's awake."

"What do you want?"

His voice was hollow,empty. It sounded almost as if he was putting no effort into speaking at all.

"Nova could you open up for us? Please?"

"What do you want."

"We just want to make sure you're okay." I said.

"I'm fine. Go away."

Pauline sighed. She took a few steps back before she skipped forward and bashed her boot against the door. Her kick sent splinters of wood flying everywhere while Nova sat silently on his bed.

He gripped Elena's shortsword tightly by her hilt. Small cuts ran along both his arms.

Pauline rushed to him,grabbing the shortsword and trying desperately to pry it from his grip. Nova barely needed to exert any effort into holding onto the weapon.

"I'm not hurting myself."

"Aren't you? Then what are those marks on your wrist?"

"They're weeks old by now. Just two more days and they'll have healed up entirely. I'm fine. You know I'm fine. Now leave."

Pauline hesitated before she turned to leave. She dragged me outside with her,where she slammed  her fist against the wall.

"Fuck!"

"Hey...he'll be alright." I assured her.

Pauline nodded slightly, "I know. I just...I get pissed whenever I see him like this..."

Pauline stayed silent and never uttered another word.

More time passed,yet as it did, Nova eventually started coming out of his room,spending most of his time in the training yard. I'd watch him everyday, as he woke up at the crack of dawn, swinging Nightmare and practicing his footing, keeping his breathing in sync with his strikes. He'd swing the malicious blade with such strength that he'd send small gusts of wind flying after each strike.

His movements never slowed. Yet he would eventually tire out,his breathing becoming heavy and quick. He'd spar with no one for hours on end, from the crack of dawn until dusk.

I watched him repeat this for days on end, and each time he did, he would end up on the floor,sobbing so soft I could only barely hear him.

Everyone deals with loss in their own way...maybe I should try help him?

I shook my head at the thought. Me? Help Nova? Why would I ever? He threatened me, treated me mostly like horseshit throughout the time that I knew him,didn't trust me in the slightest...but again...he did get better toward me with time...and...no one else wanted to help...

Fuck...

Before I knew what was going on,I was down there with him. My heart thumped in my chest as I approached. I was nervous. I didn't know what to expect. But I took my best steps forward as I made my way toward Nova.

"You look like hell." I said.

Nova wiped his eye's,covering his arm in blood. He hopped up to his feet,wiping his bloody tears away.

"What do you want farm girl?"

I really hate that name.

Calm down...Calm down...

I took a deep breath and kept talking.

"You train every day. Thought you might want some help."

"I don't need help."

I shrugged and drew the sword Pauline had given me. "I need to improve on my combat skills, so how about you give me some sparring practice? Spar with me."

Nova's eye's scanned my body. "Your stance is already off."

He rushed forward,his palm bursting against my chest as he sent me falling to my ass.

"You need to root your feet in the ground,or else parrying an attack could send you off balance."

I slowly got up to my feet,dusting myself off.

"Get better at standing...gotcha...because it's not like I haven't done that my whole life..."

"Standing in combat and standing normally is two different things."

"Difference being footwork and all that other good stuff right?"

Nova scratched his head,his eye's lowering to the floor. "Yeah that's about right."

"I remember Elena teaching us when you weren't here."

I quickly stopped myself from talking any further.

Nova's knuckles whitened as his grip on Nightmare strengthened.

To my suprise,he exhaled, running his hands through his hair again. "Yeah. She told me about that day too. Pauline taught you to fight that day."

"To a certain degree."

"Let's test that degree then."

I quickly held up my hands in surrender. "Whoa whoa! I can't fight to save my life. Usually its just instinct. It's pure luck that I even manage to fire arrows and hit a target. The best thing I know about fighting is how to fight in a street brawl."

Nova looked up toward the skies. For the most part,days were clear, and the skies never saw clouds.

"I'll teach you how to fight. Properly. You won't be a farm girl anymore,you'll be a hardened killing machine once we're done. But,if we do this, it's not going to be a walk in the park. You sure you want this Eskarina?"

It takes Nova's mind off of Elena's death, and I get stronger...win-win to me.

"Yeah. I'm sure I want this. Hit me with all you got Nova."

Sometimes,I regret those words to this day.