(EVE)

I wasn’t sure how long it had been since Amelia had woken me up to take over on watch, but I was quite thankful for the cold from the sand-worn stone seeping deep into my bones causing them to ache more than they already did. The pain helped to keep me awake and attentive.

However, I couldn’t lie that I honestly wished I was still sleeping. Not because of the pain or the utter exhaustion racking my body, but because it meant that I was isolated. Something I hadn't experienced in a very long time. The occasional gust of wind across the sand did little to accompany or distract me.

But I knew this time was needed. So many things needed to be talked about between Amelia and me, but while she’s asleep I may as well take the chance to gather myself before we talk.

I took a deep breath and released weak pulses of mana in each direction to search for any signatures. There were three D-class and 1 C-class mana signatures to the South, with another pulse of mana I realized they were moving away from us so I took another deep breath and allowed myself to be swallowed in my lonely thoughts.

I honestly wonder if Amelia regrets doing this with me, even if she did I can’t say I would blame her. Nothing positive has happened since the tournament. Ryla is gone, Kalan is dead, Io won't give us the time of day for a personal relationship, only training, and now here we are alone with a half-dead stranger in the middle of the Borderlands desperate to not be found while we recuperate, and lick our wounds. Though, as far as near-death experiences go, this actually isn't that bad.

I allowed myself a soft chuckle with that.

Truly, I appreciate everything that has been done for me so far. But…

What is this emotion?

Whenever I reflect on the help everyone has so selflessly given to me, the sacrifices they have made. Willingly or otherwise. My heart feels like it's being squeezed in a vise. I'm afraid that if they give any more it just might break.

And here I am, nearly throwing away their sacrifices and effort for what? A childish dream I had of being a mighty adventurer. I was a fool. We've always been surrounded by powerful people that protected us without fail. I became arrogant about my safety. My power. The power I've had for less than a single year.

I got up from my ground and brushed the sand off my pants. Walking over to the sleeping nook just close enough to see Amelia's feet sticking out and stopping. I stayed like that for a long while. My mind empty yet full at the same time.

Where do we even go from here? Would it be better for Amelia and me to focus more on building ourselves mentally and emotionally while taking the safest quests we can? I had a sinking feeling that no matter what we did, danger would find us.

I shook my head to try and clear it.

I was supposed to be thinking through things, not feeding into my formless anxiety.

Knowing it was better to settle this later, I pushed my thoughts to the back of my head and returned to my stone, and settled down for a long night.

~~~~~~~~~~~

“Good morning.” A female voice sounded from behind me. Which only slightly startled me.

“Good morning, how’d you sleep?” I asked Amelia as she shook the sand out of her now crimson hair.

“Like a rock," she said with a humorless smile. "I’d hardly call that sleeping, but it’s better than nothing.”

“I’ll take over the watch, are you going to get some more sleep?”

I looked over to where we had made our camp for a few moments before shaking my head.

“No, we don’t have much for food rations after the fight with the wolves so I’ll probably try and hunt around these ruins for anything we might be able to eat."

"Oh, how is he doing?” I added when I saw her bend down to check on Nikolai.

“Well I’m no doctor, but I can sense mana concentrated around his broken bones and his complexion is a lot better. It must be some sort of enhanced regeneration.”

She thought for a moment.

"Both this and that taunt spell..."

“It’s because of my constitution, and mana type compatibility. But it still hurts like hell.” Nikolai groaned out without opening his eyes.

Amelia jumped back and tapped the amulet resting on her chest to cover her hair again.

“You're a strange one. Not that I'm complaining. The sooner we leave this gods-forsaken desert the better. How long do you think you'll need before we can travel?"

Nikolai considered for a moment before answering.

"Another day or two at least."

"Well since we’re going to be stuck here,” she sighed as ice began growing along her body. “I may as well make sure we have something to drink.”

“I’ll leave you to that, I’ll be back with food for us as soon as possible.”

“Alright, make sure to be careful and always check to make sure the wolves aren’t beginning to close in on us.”

“Of course,” I replied before heading toward the trees in the distance.

~~~~~~~~~~

“If you’re this good of a hunter, I may have to bring you along more often,” Nikolai said to me as he saw me carrying two deers towards him.

“Finally decided you slept enough?” Carefully setting the deer down in front of the makeshift camp.

The deer were a breed I hadn't seen before. They had a much thicker insulating coat than I was used to with sparsely covered spots in a few select areas and they were a mixture of tan and a light green color.

“I'd say after this meal, there’s a lot more sleep in my future.”

“Leaving the watch to us again tonight?”

“Ah, well, you know.” He began before pointing toward his waist. “I’m still injured, so it’s only right I rest as much as possible right?”

“That’s a very long-winded way of saying yes.” To which he only laughed, before we went to grab Amelia so we could begin cooking our first real meal in days.

The dinner started rather quiet, with only brief comments about the food being spared through mouthfuls of chewing and the wind I was using to push the smoke in directions away from the wolves as occasional white noise.

I had to admit, it was nice. It had been months since Amelia and I just had a meal together without any training, no fighting, no death, just a meal. I hadn’t realized just how much a meal can truly mean. Although I couldn’t tell if it was better or worse that I had come to learn this.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

‘That’s definitely one thing I’ve come to realize lately.’ I thought as I laid back on the ground letting my head rest on a log. ‘These powers have brought a lot of happiness and sadness into my life, but I know I can’t change the past. I can only hope this will all be worth it in the end.’ My eyes lingered on Amelia, something that I've found myself doing more and more lately.

“Hey Eve, why are you such a good hunter anyway?” Nikolai suddenly asked.

My heart ached at the mention of my past, but I quickly pushed the emotions as I waved a finger at Amelia to let her know it was okay.

“When I was younger, I didn’t have the ability to use mana. However, I still wanted to do something that would help me be stronger and of course my dad was an archer so the bow was what I fell in love with.” Gripping my bow tight in my hands as memories of my father flooded into my head.

“So why choose to be a hunter over an adventurer or trying to be an archer for the church?”

“I didn’t think I could kill anyone.”

“Didn’t think?”

“Does knowing my hands are stained in blood make you think less of me?”

He raised his hands in surrender.

“Woah. There’s no need to be so defensive, my hands are by no means clean either. Who would I or anybody be to judge anyway, human morales flip at the switch of the hat. If you were to fight in a tournament and kill someone the crowds would cheer your name, but if you killed one of those same people a step outside of the colosseum you’d be seen as a monster. I’m sure you had reasons for what you did, we’ll just leave it at that.”

“My own reasons, huh?” I mumbled as I looked at my hands while his words replayed in my head.

“Tell me, what led you to this life?” Looking back up at him.

“Ah well, it’s a lot like...”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

(NIKOLAI)

“It’s hard to believe it’s already time.” The woman said to me as she looked down with a wrathful glare. Although over time I had come to learn the look never came from anger, it was just who she was.

“It shouldn’t be long. I promise I’ll write to you, and come back one day, Matriarch.”

“Don’t be silly!” She quickly responded with a sweet tinkling laugh that chilled me to the bone. “We’ve waited a long time for this moment, it’s best we not ruin it by returning so soon. The next time we see each other it will finally be time. Now you better get going before you get left behind.”

“Yes, Matriarch.” I said quickly before hugging her and running to catch up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“The layout here is quite strange.” I heard my friend, Xavier, complain from behind me.

“But it sure is beautiful.”

I couldn't tear my eyes away from the violet-red sky that stretched across the calm evening sea that seemed to reach the other side of the world.

“Yeah, it is. I’m glad you convinced me to come here."

Xavier nudged me with his shoulder as the wind blew his long blonde hair out of his face to reveal his hazel eyes that gleamed with excitement.

“Let’s make the best out of this.”

“The world will know of us one day.” I responded as our fists met.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Haha look at that Nik! We took down our first goblin king, there’s so much for us to take back!”

“The gods have blessed us, this might just be our calling! Let's hurry and get back so we can sell this.”

“Dinner is on you then right?”

“Of course not, buy your own food.”

~~~~~~~~~~~

“Why should we give you our loot? We worked for it, not you.” Xavier exclaimed.

“We run these roads, this just happens to be your toll fee for using these roads. Blame the gods for your terrible fortune, not me.”

“We’re not giving you a damn thing.” I agreed.

“You’ll either give me your loot or your life, this is your final chance to choose.” Snapping his fingers, multiple armed men, that had been hiding their presence, stepped out of the trees on all sides of us.

“As if I would ever let my life be taken by some filthy bandits.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blood leaked from the many cuts along my body as I dragged the limp corpse I used to call my friend behind me.

Images of the fight flashed in my head with each unsteady step I took.

The bandit leader was a hidden elite turned criminal. His men were nothing on their own, but they weren't on their own. I saw blood as their leader's initial attack pierced straight through my shield into my chest.

Gold light flew past me as Xavier unleashed a torrent of condensed mana to get him off me.

I turned to thank him only to see that he had taken two spears to the back to save me.

His bloodshot hazel eyes met mine and he smiled.

"You owe... me dinner," he groaned.

Another spear ripped through his chest and my vision turned red.

When I came to, on the ground, there was destruction.

I looked around for an incoming threat but there was only silence. Parts of bodies were littered around the forest. Some were stuck into branches, others half buried. The leader was still standing but from the scorched hole giving me a view of the cloudless sky through his chest, I knew he was dead.

Lastly, I looked behind me, to my friend. His body was propped up from the spears still inside him yet he was smiling. The excited gleam his eyes always had was replaced by the cold emptiness of death.

I had been right there but could do nothing. All this training, all this power, and I merely watched my best friend, my brother, die. If only I had done something more. Done anything at all, I could have saved him.

"Never again," I swore upon his blood.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The months had been lonely since I lost my friend, but I had to continue my mission, for her.

As I sat drinking my mead and eating steak I couldn’t help but be captivated by the girl who walked into the guild. Especially the hair color that I had never seen before. Silver.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(EVE)

Amelia and I watched Nikolai in silence after he finished his story. Neither of us was sure of what to say.

“I’m sorry about your friend," was the only thing I could think of. His story awoke in me the feelings I had been holding back thus far.

“There’s no need, we’ve all lost people. That’s, sadly, just the way this world turned out. I think I’m going to turn in for the night. I’ll see you both in the morning.”

“That’s fine, have a goodnight Nik. I’ll take First Watch Amelia.”

“Are you sure? You've been awake the longest,” she responded with a worried expression.

“Yeah it’s okay, go get some rest.”

She didn't respond at first and simply looked at me. I could feel her gaze pierce through my facade. My inner turmoil must have been as clear as the sky to her.

“Alright, but only a half shift, you need your sleep too," she said gently.

“Of course, I’ll change out with you in a few hours.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

“It’s no use.” I gasped out as I exited the wind vision.

‘Am I just not ready yet? Am I really supposed to just wait to improve my abilities? This doesn’t make any sense.’

Taking a quick breath, I let the frustration leave my body like a steady breeze and I lept off the six-foot pillar onto the sand below.

‘It’s a good thing that it is time for Amelia’s watch, I probably just need sleep anyway. Yeah, I’m sur….’ I was thinking before the sound of rocks tumbling down a hill caught my attention.

I didn't even need to extend my senses to know that the wolves were back. They must have sensed my training somehow.

‘Shit! Amelia!'

Dashing into the cave, and whipping around the corner I found her.

“Amelia, Amelia wake up.” Shaking her as I tried to keep my voice as calm as possible.

“E…Eve? What is it?” She said, barely opening her eyes.

“The wolves are coming! Wake up now.”

Her groggy eyes immediately hardened and she shot up and pulled me into the covered section. Ice ground against stone as a wall of ice began to grow over the opening, sealing us inside. Once covered, she extinguished the fire and both of us sat down against the inside wall leaning into each other.

“What do you think we should do?” She whispered next to me, feeling her shaky breath on my cheek.

“We must avoid fighting here, we are both exhausted and Nikolai is still out.” I whispered back, already beginning to use the wind to push our scent in the opposite direction. It was a lot harder than I expected with the barrier in the way but eventually, I managed.

“Alright, I trust you.”

I could feel the wind outside rushing out into the moonlit landscape beyond, my heart beating against the cold stone wall, the warmth of Amelia’s sand-worn skin against mine, the fear of looking out into the dark nothingness, and before I knew it my eyes were flooded with blue light.

‘Huh?! What just happened?! Amelia, is she okay?!’ But as I looked over I saw that Amelia was sleeping peacefully still leaning into me. I turned to the blue light and found sunlight emanating from beyond the ice wall.

“Look who finally decided to wake up.” I heard Nik say from behind me.

“What, did I fall asleep?! I’m so sorry Ni..." Some swift laughter interrupted me.

“It’s fine, you don’t have anything to apologize for. The two of you have been doing whatever you can to help me, but you’re only human. Just think of this as me paying you back for everything.”

“If that’s the case, you’ve still got a long way to go,” I said, laying back down beside Amelia. “I see you’re moving around quite well now, feeling better?”

“Feeling one hundred and ten percent after all the rest you’ve allowed me to get and the amazing food you both prepared.”

“Good, there were wolves that were approaching last night. I think we should stay one more night just to make sure they leave, and if everything goes well we can leave tomorrow morning.”

“That sounds good to me, get some more rest. I’ll keep watching a little longer.”

“Thank you, Nik.”

The day went much like the rest, and the morning quickly came for us. It was almost time for us to finally leave this desert.

“Has everyone finished their breakfast?” Nikolai asked as he loaded all of his gear.

“Yeah, I’m all set.” Putting the last arrow into the quiver on my back, I looked to Amelia who nodded as well.

“Then let’s get back to human society.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I thought the walk back to town would have taken longer, but it only took a couple of hours before I could see the large slanted black roofs of the city peeking out over the horizon. In another blur of moments we had turned in our mission at the guildhall and were outside a clinic where Nikolai was going to get checked out.

“This is where we part ways for now, but I’m sure we will see each other again.”

“I'm sure we will,” Amelia responded.

“I’m glad to know I’ve finally melted some of that ice.”

“And you ruined it."

He only laughed before waving and turning his back as he headed into the clinic.

“I really hope we both have the same idea for what’s next.” Amelia said, looking extremely tired.

“I think we’re on the same page.”

Long before the sun set on that day, Amelia and I were sprawled out on the bed at an inn, sleep taking us almost immediately.