Page 64 of Forged in Fading

Lilja, as it turned out, radiated sweetness and warmth, like a ray of sunshine on a cold dalvi day. Though it became painfully apparent from the moment she entered the clearing in a vibrant pink dress, humming a cheery tune, that Lilja was built for tending to and creating beautiful things, not embracing violence.

But then again, losing your father to a heartless monster could poison anyone.

Alvara had started to demonstrate the basics of footwork, a boring but crucial piece of combat, when Kat burst into the clearing, her clothes a wrinkled mess and her hair sticking out at odd angles. “I may have slept in. What did I miss?”

“Nothing. I was about to show Lilja the proper starting stance,” Alvara said. “Though, she probably already knows some since she’s in academy.”

Lilja twirled a piece of light brown hair around her finger. “I’ve never paid much attention in our combat classes. I tend to…socialize.”

“Sounds like someone related to Boden,” Alvara said under her breath.

“Wait, wait, wait, what about swinging swords and other pointy things? That’s why I’m here, at least.” Kat scrunched her nose.

Alvara pinned her with a look. “You’re here because you’re my friend, and you support me.”

“Yes.” Kat drew out the vowel. “That is definitely why I’m here. Not to learn how to stab people.”

Gods, this was going to be a long morning.

Her assumption proved to be correct. Kat and Lilja chatted on and off throughout Alvara’s instructions, missing at least half of them. She had to repeat herself to a nauseating degree, until an elbow to the ribs from Kat dragged her into their small talk against her will. Apparently, her friend didn’t understand that the whole point of fighting was the physicality and delightful lack of conversation.

“How are you liking Ilmanir?” Alvara asked, and both Kat and Lilja relaxed their posture, giving up altogether on imitating her movements.

“It’s…different.” Lilja cast her green eyes toward the ground. Alvara tilted her head, and Lilja rushed out her next words. “It’s not bad, really! I like it. It’s just different than what I’m used to.”

“You don’t have to pretend with me.” Alvara was the first person to admit she had struggled to adjust to the Malvan kingdom.

Lilja laughed, a bright, lovely sound that reminded her of Eloisa. “I hate it here. Well, not hate, that sounds harsh. But I miss the flowers, all the plants really. I know that sounds so typical for an Elan elf, but I’m not used to everything being…brown. We have an orchard back home.” She swallowed, her eyes shimmering. “Had an orchard.”

They lapsed into an uncomfortable silence, and Alvara looked to Kat to fill it, something that seemed to come naturally to her. But Kat jerked her finger toward Lilja and pointed to her moving but silent mouth with her other hand. Oh gods, why did she want Alvara to fix this?

“There’s nothing wrong with missing home.” Kat nodded so energetically while Alvara spoke that her neck could have snapped. “Uh…maybe you could help in the city with your magic. Grow crops and food?”

Lilja beamed, and a subtle warmth blossomed in Alvara’s chest.

After spending the first few days of training focusing on the first steps that preceded any attack (and learning what some might consider too much about Ela, its food, clothes, and plants), Alvara found herself standing a little taller and breathing easier. She was doing something. Something small, but something, nonetheless.

Though it was easy to see how much Boden’s sister still longed for home. Alvara had never heard anyone talk so much about flower species, growing habits, and soil, of all things. Wasn’t all dirt just…dirt? But the sentiment woven into Lilja’s every word mirrored the void in Alvara’s own heart where her kingdom and people had once lived.

“You’re rather chipper this morning,” Boden said when he arrived for her magic training. “What’s put you in such good spirits?” He peered over her shoulder as if expecting to find someone hiding behind her. “Or should I ask who?”

Alvara rolled her eyes. “Very funny. I’m training a couple of others in the traditional fighting forms. But don’t you already know…” The blank look on his face gobbled up the rest of her sentence.

Oh gods. He had no idea what his sister had been doing.

“Don’t I already know what?”

She bent down and tugged at the laces of her boots. After losing his father, she was sure the last thing he wanted was Lilja engaging in anything with even a whiff of danger. “Nothing. I just got confused.”

Boden narrowed his eyes. “Who are you training?”

Alvara stood, scratching the back of her head. “Kat.”

“Who else? You said there was more than one.”

Alvara willed her face into neutrality. If she opened her mouth, she would only make more of a mess than she already had.

“Who else.” His tone had taken on the sharp edge of a blade. “If you say my sister’s name, so help me Vitharen⁠—”