From the Ashes

CHAPTER TWO

A digital screeching pulls me from my sleep. I try to block it out, rejecting the thought of waking so soon, but the screaming alarm only grows louder. Finding rest impossible, I open my eyes and slam the "off" button on the clock. The awful sound stops, but I won't be getting back to sleep anytime soon.

Staring at the ceiling, I take in the fresh morning air. My shoulder isn't hurting as much anymore. Thank the stars for that. Before I can stop myself, I get up and get dressed.

I snatch my small, paper-thin silverscreen off my desk and make my way to the dining hall, only a minute's journey from my dorm. The tall, green, glassy doors open after I press my index finger to the scanner and my fingerprint is confirmed. The large white room I step into is crowded, as usual.

Kavi smiles when I see her. "Over here!"

After grabbing a tray of food, I take a seat across from her. A silvery cup of freshly chilled ginger tea sits waiting for me, along with a small plate of sweet bread and Vava honey. The best honey in the galaxy.

Kavi takes a bite of her bread as she studies the small, hand-sized silverscreen on the table. "I didn't know you were coming back today," she says. She doesn't look at me, but she smiles.

"I got really bored," I joke. "How was training this past week?" I sip the cool ginger tea. It's sweeter than usual and I'm grateful for that.

"It was alright. Mostly physical combat, the usual. But yesterday Liam kept asking Master Iohna questions he obviously knew the answers to. He wasted so much time. I can't believe you used to like him." She sighs in disgust and brushes a strand of her black, shiny hair behind her ear as she looks at me.

Chatter fills the dining hall and my eyes automatically search to make sure Liam's not anywhere near. He's not, so I reply, "Kavi, it was last year, okay? He could always make me laugh, and he gave me attention. Of course I liked him. A little."

"A little?" Kavi sneers. "Turns out he could also make you cry."

"Which is why it's over," I reply.

"I'm worried you're going to relapse," Kavi mutters. "I just think it's funny; of all the guys here you chose Liam. I mean...yuck." Her eyes flicker to the surrounding tables as if she's searching for someone, and before I can respond with some kind of defense for myself, she continues, "Anyway, what did the doctors say? I wasn't allowed to visit because the Masters insisted I have enough on my plate."

"That's okay. I'm healing quickly, but I'll be lucky if I qualify for the Trials." That better not be the case, but I have to be realistic.

"Well, you took a really hard fall, no thanks to Liam."

"In his defense, he tried to help the first time," I retort taking a bite of bread. It's sweet and sticky with a bit of tanginess. Delicious. When I'm done chewing, I add, "It was also a really big spider."

"I saw," Kavi murmurs.

"Looks like I'll have to train harder than ever." I sigh. "I'm still going to try out."

Kavi looks at me like I've totally lost it. Her eyebrows are raised high and she smiles like she's not sure if I'm joking or insane. "The tryouts are next month... you haven't been at practice for five days, and you have to be in perfect shape to participate."

"Your point?"

"The Masters might not clear you for tryouts," she says. "You know how it is. Missing class is missing class. Even if it's because you dislocated your shoulder. They want people with the best chance of winning."

"If we try out and don't make it, we can always try again next year. I don't want to be stuck here until I'm twenty and get sent into a...you know..." I lower my voice. "Reconstruction Camp."