Sienna leaned against the tree with all her weight. She didn’t know why she agreed to watch Archer and his friends train over here. Did he expect her to offer some advice on what they could do better at? They did fine attacking Sha’al like they did. They made a united front and exposed the man beneath.

“Hi Sienna,” Naomi said with a wave. They were the most understanding of the three. They didn’t push Sienna to participate in the training sessions. Maybe they understand the burden of leading a tribe because they were the heir to their own tribe.

Sienna waved back. “Do you have any paper on you I can use? I’ll pay you back. I just want to draw.”

“I do.” Naomi reached into the satchel on their side and pulled out some crinkled, yet intact sheets of paper. “Do you need a pencil as well?”

“Yes, please.”

Naomi smiled and handed Sienna the requested supplies. A smile crossed Sienna’s lips.

“Have fun drawing. Make sure to look up occasionally. Archer really wants to impress you,” Naomi said before running off to the centre of the field and met up with Archer and Eren. All three of them hugged each other.

Sienna looked down at her paper and sketched the scene out before her. Sound vanished from the world as she drifted into the making of her creation. It was the only thing on her mind. Every detail had to be as close to perfect as it could be. Archer was the easiest of the three to draw as she had the most interactions with him. The finished drawing looked awful. If she had her left hand, it wouldn’t have turned out this bad. She crinkled the sheet of paper up and started again. Over and over, this process repeated.

Flames bursted around the field, capturing Sienna’s attention. She looked up from her drawing. Her eyes went wide, and her mouth hung agape.

Above them was a storm of fire, stronger and more powerful than the flames of Sha’al. Archer, Eren, and Naomi moved in sync with each other. Similar to how Sienna created a tidal wave, the fire moved in a similar manner. They mimicked her ability after only seeing it once. The three of them made something stronger than Sha’al in a short time.

Doubt pricked at the corners of her mind though. If they were this strong, why didn’t they deal with Sha’al at Hunter Tribe? Why did they bring him to Sienna’s home and wreak havoc? She clenched the pencil tightly. How dare they ask her for help when they were stronger without her? Archer wouldn’t lie to her like this so it must have been Naomi’s and Eren’s idea. Make her feel the smallest she’s ever been in her entire life.

Sienna growled and rose to her feet. She left the drawing and pencil on the ground by the tree. She stormed off towards the lake. If they wanted me to join them, they shouldn’t have made it clear that I’m lesser than them.

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Sienna seated herself on the edge of the lake. The water felt nice as it touched her legs and feet. A sickening feeling entered her gut as she looked at the burnt bridges and houses. An unlivable space for the members of her tribe. Her shoulders sagged. If Archer, Eren, and Naomi were so strong, why couldn’t they have prevented this fate for the Fisherman Tribe? Maybe they did really only care about themselves.

Movement from beneath the lake came. Titus broke the surface of the water and revealed himself. He gently nudged Sienna’s feet, asking her for a ride.

“I can’t…” Sienna looked at her broken arm. Why couldn’t they have prevented this from happening to me? They’re selfish and awful. Her brows furrowed, and her fists clenched together into tight spheres. “This isn’t fair that they get to have fun with their animals and magic, while I suffer like this.”

Titus nudged her again.

“I said I can’t.”

The fish repeated the motion over and over again. Sienna’s brows furrowed.

“I can’t!” Sienna shouted.

Titus stopped the motion and sank back into the depths of the lake.

“I don’t know if I can do this, Titus,” Sienna whispered. He resurfaced. Tears fell from her eyes and into the lake. “I’m not strong like them. If I was, I wouldn’t suffer this broken arm. Sha’al would have been defeated.” She brought her knees up out of the water and hugged them. “I’m a failure.” The tears stained her cheeks as she continued to cry. Her heart ached and felt heavy in her chest. “I’m not worthy of my father’s sacrifice. You worked with my father. You must think the same way. That I’m not worthy of you or this power.”

She laughed softly. Telling a fish her worries. It was like talking to Pisces in her dream. He couldn’t respond so it’s not like it mattered.

“You know, I’m not worthy of Stellina’s power,” Eren said.

Sienna looked up from her cocoon. “Why’s that?”

“Because I’m too aggressive and quick to anger. I want to do everything on my own.” Eren sat beside Sienna.

“But you were working with Naomi and Archer?” Sienna arched her brows.

“I was. Naomi helped me after Sha’al beat me up the first time. I didn’t even know I had fire magic. She trained me. It’s only right to repay her kindness tenfold.” Eren smiled. “Archer escaped from his tribe to warn you. Before Sha’al attacked, Archer passed out. When he awoke, you were the first person he thought of. He told Naomi and I to evacuate your people so he could delay Sha’al until you got there. He might not be as strong as Naomi because he’s had less practice, but he cares more about his friends than anyone.”

Sienna nodded. “Yes, he does.” She smiled as she remembered the first time she met him. She thought he was so strange riding on his horse with a saddle, while his boyfriend rode bareback. Sienna approached them and almost got shot with an arrow by Riven. She chuckled softly.

“Just, think about it, will you?” Eren stood up.

“I will.” Sienna looked at her arm.

“I heard that water can heal. It might fix your arm, but you’ll have to recover strength.”