Four days passed and Narvari’s sacros training went on without any incident. Well, except for all the times she had to faint from exhaustion and agony. That, however, was the least of her problems. Something else bothered her immensely.

Pheera.

Narvari was certain that Pheera didn’t want to talk to her anymore. A week had passed since the tour but she had not seen Pheera again. As much as she tried not to think about it, it was all she ever thought about. Sometimes, she even caught herself getting distracted during training.

Narvari consoled herself that perhaps Pheera was busy. To be fair, she hardly ever saw Yanvirrak either. Maybe they had gone on a mission. They weren’t in the same quarters so she wouldn’t know about that. She had to focus on her training if she was to start her missions anyway. So just as Trixan instructed, Narvari would wake up every morning at 5:30 am to train her sacros for the next hour. Before bed, she trained her sacros again until her limbs completely refused to go on.

It was a hellish experience but she forced herself to endure it. Her best time was still fifty-nine seconds. That was fine. As long as she practiced she would get better. She had to reach her goal — within two weeks she should be able to wield her sacros for at least thirty minutes.

One morning, while preparing to go to class, there was a knock on the door.

Narvari bolted to the door expecting to see a pair of stunning blue eyes. She raised a brow when a pair of light brown eyes met hers instead.

She sighed in complete disappointment. Why would Pheera come looking for her anyway? Perhaps, Narvari should have taken the initiative to find her first.

“Did you hear me?”

“Huh?” Narvari suddenly remembered she had a visitor. Who was this guy anyway? She could tell he was a junior vanquisher because of his uniform but she had never seen him before.

“Trixan wants you to know that your class will be in her office today.”

“Oh. Sure. Thanks.”

And now all Narvari could think about was what she would be learning in class today.

----------------------------------------

Narvari halted in her tracks.

Just outside the Academy, on the stairs, stood Pheera and Yanvirrak.

Narvari’s chest soared. How she had missed her.

She changed her hair.

She loved Pheera’s white hair, but black hair suited her too. She was sure anything would look good on Pheera.

Just look at how perfect she looked in that uniform.

Wait? What’s that uniform?

Yanvirrak also wore the same blue and white uniform, making him look like a high-school freshman. Narvari had never seen any vanquisher in a uniform like that. Or maybe, she could just go and ask them about it. The thought however stopped her in her tracks.

What if Pheera was still mad at her and didn’t want to talk to her? What if seeing Narvari would only make Pheera relive her trauma? What if Pheera…

“My god, Narvari Shar, go talk to the girl.”

Jesus Christ. Narvari almost lost her balance. Ushama, what the hell is wrong with you? You can’t just pop up in my head and startle the shit out of me.

“I live inside your head.”

She rolled her eyes. Yes. And apparently, you only come out when it’s convenient.

Ushama laughed. “So that’s the girl, huh?”

Stolen story; please report.

What does that even mean? Narvari narrowed her eyes.

“Well, Narvari Shar. I hear things, you know. Like your thoughts.”

I don’t know what you’re talking about. Her face reddened as it suddenly dawned on her that Ushama had been hearing all her thoughts about Pheera.

“Yes, I have. So are you scared to talk to her or what?”

I’m not scared of anyone.

“Then why are you still here?”

Okay, her savaz was clearly mocking her.

You know what, Ushama, I’m going to talk to an actual person.

“Bye-bye.”

Narvari could imagine her savaz as a boy waving at her with a mischievous smile.

Taking in a deep breath, she jogged toward Pheera and Yanvirrak.

Yanvirrak waved animatedly as soon as he saw her. “Hey, Shar.”

“Hey.”

Pheera slowly turned, her gaze falling on Narvari. Narvari froze, completely caught off guard by Pheera’s new look. Not only was her hair jet black now, but her blue eyes were now as dark as coffee. They held the same intensity as before and Narvari could not help but get lost in them.

Narvari cleared her throat awkwardly when she realized that she was staring like an idiot. “Hi. How have you been?” Pheera said nothing, but the softness in her eyes encouraged Narvari to go on. “I’m sorry about last time. I never meant to hurt you.”

Silence.

Narvari pressed her lips together and then glanced at Yanvirrak. But he simply shrugged as if to say, ‘Nothing I can do, pal.’

Narvari sighed. “I should get going. I have class.” She tried.

Just as she turned around to walk away, a hand slid around her sleeveless arm. From the way Narvari’s body responded, as though she had been zapped by electricity, she knew this touch could only be Pheera’s. She stopped instantly, her eyes glued to the smooth ebony hand around her bicep. She gazed at Pheera not completely sure of the expression in her eyes. But whatever it was, it made Narvari’s heart beat faster.

Pheera suddenly pulled her hand away and nervously ran her finger through her hair. “I’m sorry. I know you don’t like it when I touch you. I just… I don’t know what came over me.”

“It’s okay. I don’t mind.” Narvari smiled. “But are we okay, Pheera?” She hated how desperate she sounded but what the hell, she couldn’t just let this keep going on. “It was never my intention to offend you. I won’t talk about your family. Just don’t avoid me.”

Pheera smiled. “I wasn’t avoiding you, Narvari. I promise.”

“You weren’t?” Narvari paused, raising a brow. “I thought you were mad at me.”

“I was mad.” Pheera nodded. “But not at you. I just needed some space to think. That’s all. I’m sorry for making you believe otherwise.”

Narvari nodded. She sighed in relief. It was strange how she could not stop thinking about whether she had offended Pheera. Usually, she couldn’t care less about offending people with her words or actions.

“I like your new look.” She grinned. “Are those contact lenses?”

Pheera nodded. “We’re going undercover. We need to blend in.”

“Wow, undercover?”

“Yes, Shar. We’re going on a secret mission. We’ll take on new identities and act like — ”

“Hans, I know what undercover means.”

“It’s Hanes.” Yanvirrak laughed.

Oh, I know it’s Hanes. “What kind of mission is that?” Narvari ignored him.

“There’s a high school serial killing in the city.”

“The city? You mean Johannesburg?”

He nodded. “The school authorities believe it’s supernatural so we’re going to look into it.”

Narvari gaped. “The school authorities called you? Are you saying people know about vanquishers?”

“Of course. The majority don’t, obviously. But it would be weird that no one knows about the existence of demons and vanquishers when they’ve lived among people for thousands of years.”

“When you put it like that.” Narvari nodded. “So when will you be back?”

Yanvirrak shrugged. “Who knows? It’s an undercover mission. These things could take several weeks or even months. Sometimes years.”

“Years?” She gazed at Pheera. “I won’t see you guys for that long?”

“I don’t think it will take that long,” said Pheera. “This is a lower-class mission. But if you want, I can give you my number so we can keep in touch.”

“Really?” Narvari’s eyes lit up. “Alright.” She fumbled through her pockets but then her face fell. “Shit.”

“What?”

She grinned at Pheera sheepishly. “I lost my phone back home.”

Yanvirrak said, “Wow. Iconic.”

“Shut up, Ham.” Narvari chuckled. Narvari turned her attention to Pheera. “Well, I’ll be here training. By the time you return, I’ll be ready to go on missions just like you guys.”

Pheera smiled. “I look forward to it.”

“Maybe you can join our team,” said Yanvirrak.

“I can?”

“I don’t know. Ask Trixan.”

Trixan. Narvari’s eyes widened. “Holy shit, I have to go. Trixan is going to kill me.”

“That doesn’t sound too bad,” said Yanvirrak, laughing.

“Very funny, Hades.”

A familiar voice called out to Pheera and Yanvirrak. Narvari had to look carefully at the man in the square-rimmed glasses and black blazer before she recognized him as Azmel. Why does he look like a substitute teacher? Azmel beckoned to the two to follow him.

“Train hard, Narvari,” said Pheera, drawing back Narvari’s attention. She rubbed Narvari’s arm and for a moment Narvari stopped breathing. It was only after Yanvirrak and Pheera left her standing alone that she finally released her breath.

She touched the very place Pheera had touched. She could still feel the softness of Pheera’s fingers on her skin. She closed her eyes. God, I’m losing my mind.

“I agree, Narvari Shar.”

Narvari quickly opened her eyes. Ushama, I liked you better when you called me mistress.

“I think you like me just fine, Narvari Shar.”

Was it her imagination or was her savaz becoming sassier?

“It’s not your imagination. I’m definitely becoming sassier.”

She shook her head. Ignoring her vaz, she silently headed for class.