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The campus wasn’t much better. The grounds were old and boring. The same brown brick framed every single building, making them identical, except for the small, rustic looking sign outside of each one.
The gardens were the only unique part of LakeWood, but they were still nothing compared to the pictures of Lux that were depicted in our textbooks. Since the Light Kingdom housed the elemental ground users, Lux was known to be flourishing with beautiful botanicals as they bent the soil to their will, creating a vastness of color and beauty. It was only because of the Treaty that Lux agreed to create anything at all. If it wasn’t for the ground users, there would be no mountains or trees, just frozen ground covered in snow.
I continued running on the path laid out between the sections of the school. The large mountains engulfed the surrounding area, giving it a false alluring presence of seclusion. To me, it was just a reminder that I was trapped in this valley I couldn’t escape from. The mountains were mostly bare of wildlife and nature. Dirt, rocks, and rubble laid below each white crest.
The only opening through the mountainous perimeter was one road, Laten, which led to the other Tennebrisian villages. Since I was still a student, the only time I would be able to leave on it was in a week, after graduation.
Finally arriving at NorthEnd, I entered the familiar, musky gym. The summer sun remained high in the sky, shining through the floor-to-ceiling windows, lighting the space with golden rays. I began my usual workout routine of punching and kicking drills before moving on to weapon training. In class, we had to familiarize ourselves with each weapon of the Kingdom. Even though most of our fighting focused on abilities, our instructor always enforced that we couldn’t rely on our powers, that if we only trained with them, it would become a crutch. I was ecstatic as I had no dark abilities to use, so I made myself skilled with weapons.
We practiced with swords, knives, staffs, bows and arrows, and axes. Whenever I had a choice, I always chose the large staff. I liked the feeling of letting everything out, of not having to hold anything back or keep anything in. With a dagger or sword, I had to draw back my throws to not injure my classmates. One wrong cut could be fatal without a Luxian healer stationed at the school. But with a staff, as long as I avoided headshots, I let whoever I was sparring against feel my wrath.
The palms of my hands felt raw by the time I finished my weapon training. Thankfully, I developed thick calluses long ago, so my hands no longer were left with open blisters. Most days, I opted to walk after my training. Being out in nature calmed me. I would walk until the last possible second before I had to head back to my dormitory to wash and prepare for class, knowing I would repeat everything again tomorrow.
I usually ended up on the trails near the mountains, wondering if the cold, snowy beach from my nightmare was on the other side. Scanning the perimeter out of habit, I would search for an opening other than the guarded road of Laten. But I knew the only way out was up and over the mountains. Despite my failed attempts every day, I walked, picking a new area to stroll and discover.
Today was different though. I only had a week left of classes before our Trials this weekend. I always thought that if I found the black-sanded beach, the memories of my previous life would come rushing back to me, and I would know why I was brought here.
It was wishful thinking. I knew some of the Advenians of Tennebris possessed mind-controlling abilities. I didn’t doubt that the male with the lavender eyes had my memories from Lux wiped by a Tennebrisian. Only it didn’t all take. The memory of my capture was left, either on purpose or by accident, but I always wished I could remember everything. It bothered me not knowing the names of my real parents. Not being able to recall their faces.Did they love me?
I’d spent countless nights not sleeping, trying to figure out who kidnapped me. Lavender eyes were a Luxian trait and I swore the kidnappers possessed elemental abilities. Even though my memories were tampered with, I didn’t doubt that recollection. I re-lived it every night. But what purpose would someone of Lux have for leaving me in Tennebris?
Impulsively, I decided to try to hike up one of the nearby peaks. I chose the smallest mountain toward the Hub of the campus. Grabbing my worn leather gloves from my front pocket, I quickly threw them on and shoved my workout pack over my shoulders.
It was harder than I thought. My legs grew sore and stiff from hiking up the cutting terrain, but I pushed myself to go further. The air became thinner, causing my breath to become more ragged. The temperature dropped the higher I climbed. I could feel the frigid air seeping through my clothes. It was so cold that it felt like it was burning my skin the closer I got to the top of the shield. I slipped on an icy patch, but managed to catch myself before tumbling down the steep slope.
The next time I slipped, I didn’t see the large rock behind me as I stumbled. My pants tore at the knee, opening up to a raw cut. Blood covered my kneecap and dripped down my leg. My bare skin felt chilled against the wind. I knew from the throbbing that it would leave a nasty scar in its wake. I clutched my knee to my chest as I surveyed the distance I had climbed. Disappointment coursed through me as the realization sank in that I still had miles to go, and the slope would only get steeper and icier the higher I climbed.
I decided to rest on the rock as I slowed my breathing. The change in altitude wasn’t helping. I took my water out of my pack, took a sip, and frowned as it was nearly half gone from my workout. I knew classes would be starting soon. I momentarily thought about skipping them to continue hiking, but decided against it. One mark on my record could tarnish my chances of passing the Trials.
Part of me knew that even if I made it over this mountain, it wouldn’t end there. It was not like the beach was going to be waiting for me on the other side. The villages of Tennebris were stretched out, and all I had was a scant amount of water and an apple. I didn’t even bring my coat for warmth. Frustrated, I sighed as I started the slow descent back down the mountain.
By the time I reached my dorm, my roommate, Vallie, was sitting at her desk with her arms crossed, tapping one foot hard against the floor. Her red hair was tied up in a messy bun that somehow still looked perfect as her amber eyes glared at me.
“Where have you been? We’re going to be late for class,” Vallie blurted the moment she spotted me. She stood, pushing the chair aside so she was looming over me.
“I know. I’m sorry. I got caught up with my training. I’ll be super fast.” I promised her as I threw my pack down, kicked off my boots, and rushed into the bathing room.
I could hear Vallie call after me as I locked the door and jumped into the cold bath she must have filled for me, “You better! This is not the time to be late with Trials coming up this weekend.”
“Vallie, I won’t make us late,” I shouted through the locked door as I vigorously scrubbed the grime and dried blood from my body. The dorms in Tennebris were only lit by windows or candlelight. The Dark Kingdom hated electricity and seldom used it as it reminded them of Lux. But even though the bathing room was dark, I didn’t bother lighting a candle. I still avoided them whenever I could and I loved the select rooms that did have electric lights.
She huffed. “You better not, Scotlind Mae Rumor. I don’t care how strong you are from all your training, I’ll beat you myself if you make us late.”
“Vallie, I would pay to see you try to fight anything,” I teased as I hopped out of the tub in record time. In all the years I’d known her, she didn’t do anything that could get her even remotely dirty.That’ll ruin my makeup,she would say anytime I tried to get her to join me.
“You’re lucky we’re friends, Scottie,” she shouted. I could imagine her large smile even though she was on the other side of the door. “You’re so odd. I’ve never known another Advenian who doesn’t care about dating and literally doesn’t do anything fun.”
“Just because I don’t like to go out partying with you and Miles, doesn’t mean I don’t like fun things.”
“Running outside and reading does not count as fun.”
I laughed. I was lucky Vallie was friends with me. She was my only friend. Well, her and her twin brother, Miles. Everyone else at LakeWood looked at me with disgust. I was the strange child who survived a fire that killed her entire family. A child with no abilities as far as they knew. I was a loner at LakeWood. The only female trying out for the King’s Guard at the Trials. Everyone looked at me as if I was foreign, but little did they know, I was.
TWO
SCOTLIND
Vallieand I were both panting heavily by the time we arrived at our first class of the day. Still breathless, I leaned over one of the wooden desks that filled the classroom. We had just made it. Our teacher wasn’t here yet. We smiled at each other triumphantly, realizing we barely got out of getting detention as we claimed the only two empty seats.
