Val was a lot lighter than I expected.

I’m not sure why I was expecting her to be heavy. She was about average height, but thinner than most women I’d seen. Her armor was also thinner than that of an apprentice. Compared to Max, she felt like she weighed nothing.

I started to flip her over my shoulder but decided that doing so would be disrespectful. Instead, I cradled her in my arms and walked sideways so I didn’t knock her head on the walls.

Sera was standing in the doorway and moved into the room to pull back the blankets. I paused when I reached the bed. It was so white and clean, and Val was covered in dirt, blood, and liquor.

“Are you sure want me to put her in there?” I asked.

“It’s fine,” Sera smiled, “she’s slept in her gear many times.”

That wasn’t what I was worried about, but I complied. Once I laid her down, I moved to the doorway.

Sera flipped the blankets over and tucked her sister in. she kissed her forehead and then turned out the light.

I watched the tender moment. A moment that I had never seen growing up on the island. I started to wonder what life might have been like for me if I had never been an apprentice. It was a future that I couldn’t imagine. My life was not this despite how curious I was about it. My future was to become a Bokor, so other people could have this.

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Sera turned towards me and must have seen some of my thoughts on my face.

“What?” She blushed as she asked the question.

“Oh, it’s, uh,” I tried to think of the right words. “Are you going to stay here and watch her?” I realized that was a bad question, “I mean, um, I was just wondering where my room was.”

“It’s alright,” she smiled as she brushed past me, “follow me.”

I could’ve followed her singsong voice into a zombie next without my pulse rising. There was something about her demeanor that just put me at ease.

She led me upstairs to the last room in the hall. She held the door open so I could see inside. The room wasn’t much. There was just a bed and a corner table. The blanket on the bed was old and frayed, but it smelled clean.

“I cleaned it this morning,” She stepped back into the hall.

“It’s better than what I’m used to,” I said as I stepped into the room.

“What are you used to?”

“Trees, mainly.” I sat down on the bed. It was firm, but not uncomfortable, “Sometimes caves.” When I was on the island, I slept on the floor of Master Bran’s room. That was only once my chores were done though. Sometimes I slept in the garden. The soft dirt was where I had gotten my best sleep.

“You poor thing,” Sera cooed from the doorway. “Well, you’ll always have a bed when you stay here.”

“Thanks,” I fought a yawn and lost.

She smiled and grabbed the door, “I’ll let you get to sleep.” She paused before she shut the door, “I’ll be in the first room if you need anything.”

“Thank you.” I tried to think of what I might need. The room had a bed. It seemed dry and closed in from the weather. I couldn’t think of anything else I might need.

I stared at the closed door for a moment. It was late and tomorrow was going to be long. I took off my boots and vest and dropped them on the floor beside the bed. The blankets practically wrapped themselves around me. In a few seconds, I was asleep.