The Embers of Nethremis

Chapter Four: Choices, Pokers and a Dwarf

Dedicated to StanAndac and DutchFeminist for being amazing people and commenting.

           “Of course I am in” Hafmal and I say at the same time. I almost protest but the way Hafmal glowers threateningly at me shuts me up. I turn to look at Mama expecting to see her disapprove but after a few seconds of hesitation, she almost imperceptibly nods her head with a ghost of a smile gracing her pouty lips. “Well then, Elle shall escort you to your sleeping areas to rest and hopefully meet to start training for a new team” a short, balding man with warm, brown eyes says while standing up; which does not make that much of a difference to his height. He smiles kindly and gestures for us to follow Elle.

Following Elle out of the room and going through the same process of getting access, we reach the elevator doors again and I start to feel queasy just by thinking of plunging down again. “Don’t worry, it is not so bad. You will get used to it in no time.” Elle says reassuringly. “Can’t wait to see that day come.” I say mentally not wanting to sound rude though I still grumble inaudibly while she presses a few buttons. “Nalia promise you’ll open your eyes this time around.” Hafmal asks while eyeing me for my reaction. Glaring at him good-naturedly, I close my eyes and put my hands over them to prove a point. With a sickening jolt at my navel, the feeling of leaving my guts behind hits me with even more force than the first time as we plunge downwards at high speed to our impending doom or so I thought.

“We’re here Nalia” Mama says pulling me out of dreadful thoughts of dying after a short period of time. I lean on my knees and breathe like a marathon runner before slowly opening my eyes. I look around at the long hallway before me painted a dull grey, lined with about a dozen, wooden doors on either side all sporting small screens with names on them. Ironically, with the copious amount of light from the ceiling, claustrophobia threatens to seize me . “Alright, so this is the female quarters and the one for the males is one floor down. You will find a room with your names on it. The last door on your left belongs to a doctor that will give you a general checkup before you go to bed and I do hope you find your stay here welcoming. I shall come at around 10:00am tomorrow to give you your schedules.” Elle explains kindly as I scrutinize the place warily.

“Please follow me to the male quarters Hafmal.” She says turning to him and gesturing towards the elevator. “Thanks for all the help Elle.” Mama says before she leaves with Hafmal but not before we all hug each other tightly. “Stay safe.” Mama whispers to him and we both wait until the elevator doors close before walking towards the lined up rooms. “Let’s go see the doctor then, shall we?” Mama says and I cringe inwardly because all I needed at the time being was to hug my pillow and cry myself to sleep. “Alright then” I reply with my heart as heavy as a rain cloud. Mama raps on the metal door three times in quick succession while I stand beside her, holding my breath in anticipation with my palms sweating.

              The door swings open but I do not see anything from where I am standing so I scrunch my eyebrows together while trying hard to decipher who opened the door. “Down here” A croaky voice says below my eye level and I look down to see the most bizarre person ever. My life is now full of peculiar surprises; I think sourly while discreetly studying the strange dwarf standing before me. Her kind yet somewhat austere, wrinkling face looks up at me through squinted cobalt eyes with dazzlingly orange hair in a formidable bun. I feel the sudden urge to bend down and hug her but I stumble backwards when I see her zooming up until her face is at the same level with mine, towering over my mother’s slightly smaller frame. I then notice that she is standing on a small stool like machine with a remote which she grips tightly in her right hand. “Come in dears” she says in the same shaky voice and we follow her inside the rectangular room as she zooms forward while pressing the remote.