Lunaria: Genesis

1- Inspection

My name is Lunaria, and after over a year in this hospital, I am now being judged to see if I can finally be free. I stand beside Dr. Lightwood in the physical therapy room, spectators watching outside the glass window to decide my fate. I know they will be taking note of what I am capable of, and if they are satisfied with me, I will be able to leave the hospital. There are five people watching, Prae Sul, and four other shadowy people I don't recognize. Dr. Lightwood directed my attention forward, it is a simple, small gym room with some everyday obstacles like stairs and platforms for those who have serious injuries and have to re-learn how to walk and other things like bars and weights for those who need to build strength. Dr. Lightwood softly tells me to walk forward, following a straight green line on the floor to show her balance and coordination, and I do so without hesitation, mindlessly walking perfectly on the green line without any faltering or weakness. Dr. Lightwood has me do some other things, like climb stairs and jump up on platforms to show that I am healthy and well, but the spectators are not convinced. Dr. Lightwood is from what I can tell, kind and gentle-hearted. I don't really know everything about him, but he is the only one I've put some trust into ever since I arrived.

After a while of jogging in place, Prae became impatient and walked in the physical therapy room to Dr. Lightwood.

"You are too soft for your own good, doctor." Prae said, crossing her arms. Her hostile appearance made me feel on guard, wary of what she might do to me if she is unpleased.

"She is a child, not a warrior. I won't make her do anything rash for your sport." Dr. Lightwood says sternly. His voice is always calm and positive, he is very soothing and not at all aggressive, and I am thankful for that. I had enough aggression towards me to last multiple lifetimes.

"She is a child, but not a porcelain doll. You are botching this for her, making her look weak by doing what even babies can do." She hissed at him. I don't like being called weak, but at the same time I feel weak. I've had almost a year sitting in the hospital bed to sort out how I felt about all that has happened before, the terrible pain I was in, the cruelty and the abuse, but I still don't know if I feel weak for submitting myself to it, or strong for enduring it. Prae glanced over her shoulder, looking at the disapproving figures watching me and then turned back to the doctor.

"Listen, I know you mean well, but you have to do more than this. Tell her to do something more fitting, like a backflip or pull-ups or something of that sort." Prae said, glaring at Dr. Lightwood. Before she had even finished her sentence, I have already begun to carry out her orders.

As Dr. Lightwood and Prae glare and whisper to each other, I stop jogging, standing up straight and letting my body bend backwards as I complete an unbroken series of flips and reach the high bars in the back of the room. It is about halfway up the wall and I grab it from a single bound. As I grip the cold metal I pull myself up past it and back down within the time of a second. I continue to rapidly do this, pumping my arms to complete the task as quickly and efficiently as I can. My arms don't feel strained from holding me up after about sixty pull-ups, and I suppose I could go on forever, but by now the four spectators are engrossed with me, watching with a newfound interest since I began my flips. Prae Sul and Dr. Lightwood both look at me agape at my ability. After moments of silence as I continued to pull myself up and down hanging from the bar, Prae walked out and talked to the four spectators, who spoke excitedly and then left. Prae returned again, beaming with satisfaction.

"She made it! She is now approved to begin training at the Academy." She reports, giving a small grin. Dr. Lightwood smiled, and turns towards me.

"Did you hear that, Lunaria. You can stop now, you passed your inspection." He says kindly, smiling at me with soft eyes. I let go of the bar and drop silently on my feet, standing in place as they come to me. There has been plenty of talk of this Academy for a while, and I know little of it. All I do know is that it must be a place where this village's youth learn to fight and be of use in a sort of military. I don't know how I feel about it, for as long as I can remember I have been following orders, I don't expect much different. Whatever it means, it won't involve the small confines of the hospital room anymore. Tomorrow, I'll go outside for the first time in forever.