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S. A. A

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"You may come in."

I opened the door to Negus's study, smiling as I saw that he was sat in his regular seat behind his desk, writing away on a paper.

"How are you feeling now, Negus?" I asked warmly, sitting myself opposite him. He gave me a small smile at this before lifting his teapot and pouring some into a cup for me. I took it gratefully when he passed it, watching as he sat back and took his own cup in his hands.

"I'm feeling quite well, thanks to you." He replied and I smiled bashfully at his words, taking a sip before spitting it out immediately when I tasted the bitterness. Negus raised an eyebrow knowingly at this and I smiled sheepishly, wiping at my mouth.

"Are you not fond of ginger cardamom tea, Hanna?" He asked, sipping his own and I let out a small dry laugh before placing the cup onto the desk.

"Can't say that I am." I commented and Negus smiled at this before leaning forward in his chair.

"You wished to discuss something?" He asked and I nodded slowly, thinking back to yesterday's battle. We had reached home more quickly, using Ayla's transportation, seeing as she could travel to places that she knew and had freshened up before going straight to bed. I didn't allow myself to think too hard into anything that had happened and had fallen immediately into a deep slumber. But now, having woken up an hour ago, I wanted to share my concerns with Negus. He observed me intently as I thought of how to phrase my disarrayed thoughts.

"Negus, I- I'm confused." I let out simply and he raised his cup to his lips, listening as I continued.

"I want to help and I'm glad I did yesterday, but I want to do more- more than I'm doing now." I explained and Negus raised an eyebrow at this.

"And this is an issue?" He asked and I sighed deeply, placing the leather book, he had given me, on the desk. He glanced at it before turning back to look at me.

"I've been trying every day and I'm getting nowhere. How can I be the prophecy if nothing's happening. What do I do?" I questioned, seeking his wisdom and he sat back, looking out the window, his green eyes full of knowledge.

I waited patiently as he sighed before placing his hands back onto his cup.

"You'll know who you are when you are the person you want to be." He spoke in an ambiguous manner, his tone calm and my eyebrows furrowed at his words.

"I don't understand." I admitted honestly and Negus smiled at this, turning back to look at me.

"In time, you will."

************************

I replayed Negus's words back in my head as I walked past the courtyard. I didn't understand and I felt more confused than I did before seeing him. It was as though there was something I wasn't seeing: something more.

I had generally always been a patient person, but I wasn't in this case. The desire to do something more rung within me like bells and I felt exasperated at the feelings that ran through me. I was stuck in a rut, one of which I had no clue how to pull myself out of. For that, I would need clarity. I sighed, trying to clear my head. If Negus said it would happen in time then I would think about it at a later point. There was no use stressing myself out about something that was not entirely in my control.

I made my way towards the training hall where I knew Emut would be waiting for me for our usual daily sessions. And, sure enough, when I opened the large doors, he was there, stood on the red-lined ground, stretching his arms. He smiled as he saw me walking to him and gestured over to the weapon shelf.

"That one's new." He commented as I came to a halt in front of him, looking to where his gaze was. I smiled when my eyes landed on the doublesword- the one that I had chosen to take. I picked it up, the feel of holding it more familiar than I thought it would be.

"It felt right to use." I explained distractedly, inspecting the weapon. It was fully gold, the handle bejeweled with red and blue gems.

The sound of a sword being removed from its scabbard echoed across the hall and I looked up, smiling with a raised eyebrow as Emut raised his sword towards me.

"Let's see how right it is." He challenged and I laughed before getting into the correct and familiar stance. He stood, waiting for my move as I waited for the opportunity.

I made a move towards him then, spinning it as I came closer, but the blade hit against the metal of his sword as he defended himself effortlessly. I scowled at this, whirling it the other way, so the other side of the sword could hit at him. He defended this too and then he struck, his sword swiping at me. I blocked it, my arms drawn in. I knew he wasn't using even a fraction of his speed or strength; one arm rested lazily against his side. He smiled at my defence.

"You're more agile with it." He commented before kicking his leg out under me. I jumped up to avoid his hit and brought the sword down to his head. He lifted his sword high and blocked my hit before pushing off, making me stumble back a few steps. He let out a small laugh as I pouted slightly.

"It's not fair; you've been doing this since you were 7; I haven't!" I exclaimed and Emut smiled at this, an eyebrow raised.

"It isn't always going to be fair." He mused and I nodded at his words, spinning the weapon in my hand.

"You sound like a fortune cookie sometimes." I said dryly and Emut frowned at my words.

"What's that?" He questioned, his tone curious and I laughed before dramatically smacking a palm against my forehead.

"I'm surrounded by fools." I joked and Emut laughed, nudging me with the flat side of his blade.

"Now, you sound like Demir." He retorted and I scowled playfully at his words.

"Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you?" I joked, swinging my sword at him. He blocked it with a simple move of his sword before smiling smugly.

"Very much so. For one, he'd make for a more entertaining sparring partner." He jabbed playfully and I gasped dramatically before folding my arms.

"Like I said, you started young, it's not fair.' I muttered under my breath and Emut nodded at my words concedingly.

"Point taken, I'd learnt to block when I was 6." He recalled, eyeing his sword and I frowned at his words as he got back into stance.

"Before you came here?" I asked, following in his movements and he nodded as we circled each other.

"My father taught me. He spent months just teaching me how to block." He said simply before moving towards me and swinging his sword, I ducked under it and went for his back, but his unarmed hand came up and held my wrist. I struggled against his grip and he pushed me back as I spoke what was on my mind.

"And you didn't mind that?" I asked, suddenly curious.

Emut shrugged heavily as we circled each other again.

"I wanted to make my parents proud." He explained and I smiled at his words. I moved towards him, hitting at the hilt of his sword instead to stop his movements.

"That's sweet that you'd want to do that." I spoke through clenched teeth as I pushed hard against the hilt. He let go of his sword abruptly at this before catching it in his left hand and hit against my sword, making me slide back against the floor. He smiled at this before looking to the distance, a vacant look in his eyes.

"I've always wanted to make them proud of me." He said more so to himself than me before sighing. I watched as he looked down as he continued.

"I've spent my whole life on this. I just want to know if there's more." He said and I dropped my hand, my breathing heavy from the combat.

"More?" I questioned, wanting him to clarify and he nodded before turning to me.

"I love the cause more than anything, but after all this is over, I want to go places." He explained and I smiled at the torn compassion in his tone before moving closer.

"Where would you go?" I listened intently as he let out a low drawn whistle, shrugging his shoulders with an airy laugh.

"I haven't thought that far ahead." He joked and I laughed at his words before he looked back, a thoughtful smile on his face.

"I'd want to see Earth; see something new. Something that I chose for myself, not what was chosen for me." His tone was serious as he looked back out of the large window in the corner of the hall. He sounded almost sad and I bit my lip in contemplation of what to say to make him feel better. Suddenly, an idea formed in my head and I smiled, clicking my finger. Emut turned his gaze to me at this, opening his mouth to enquire, but the sound of the creaking door interrupted him and we turned to see Arun walk in, ushering Emut over.

"Negus is calling you!" He shouted as he walked back to the exit distractedly, books in hand. Emut nodded at his words before placing his sword back into its resting place at his belt. He excused himself before turning to move, but I grabbed his arm to which he looked at me in question. I smiled widely as I spoke.

"Meet me in the courtyard when it's time to sleep." I whispered despite the fact that no one was there. There was not much rules or guidelines, but everyone was always in their bedrooms by midnight- it was more of an unspoken rule.

Emut frowned at my words.

"Why?" He questioned and I sighed exasperatedly, dropping my grip off his arm.

"Just do it, okay, trust me." I promised, watching as he looked at me in contemplation before smiling slightly.

"I'll be there."

*******************

"Just one bite."

"No."

"Come on, Hanna!"

I let out a laugh, shoving Ayla as we walked to the dining hall while she tried her best in persuading me to eat figs after I told her I didn't like them too much. I rolled my eyes as she pouted, clasping her hands together as I opened the large doors to the hall. I could see her blue bauble eyes from my peripheral and I sighed deeply.

"If I taste one, would you stop making that creepy face." I joked and she squealed, hugging me. I laughed before looking into the dining hall. I had only been here once for all the weeks I had stayed here. We had generally eaten in the village, during the festival period and, other times, I hadn't come downstairs to join the group. The wooden table was large and stretched on further as though it was made to hold more people.

I nearly salivated at the various dishes as we neared the table, finding that everyone was already seated. Abrax, Emut, Demir on one end and Arun and Maya on the other. They looked up as we arrived and I gave a small smile before seating myself down next to Arun. Ayla came to my side as I glanced around at what to eat.

I smiled when I saw both Demir and Emut engrossed in a private discussion, Emut letting out a laugh.

"Love birds." I whispered to Ayla who let out a giggle before immediately grabbing a plate of figs and shoving it in my face.

"Try one now!" She exclaimed and I looked to the plate, grimacing slightly.

"Could you at least wait till I've eaten other things before making me lose my appetite." I commented dryly and Arun gasped, turning to look at me.

"You don't like figs? I never knew you were a woman of bad taste." He said woefully, grabbing one and biting into it. I rolled my eyes as he let out a groan of delight at the taste.

Maya snorted at this, eyeing Arun with a flat stare.

"I thought the goal was to make her not lose her appetite." She bit out, looking to Arun and, now, Ayla who were happily eating away.

I turned when Demir scoffed at Maya's words, a blank look on his face.

"A rather difficult goal if she's sat next to you." He said bluntly and Emut and Abrax laughed at his words.

Maya let out a small harsh laugh at this, chewing at her food.

"If seeing me makes you lose your appetite, I'd happily stay with you until you starve." She spat out and I watched as Demir raised a dark eyebrow.

"You overestimate your influence over me, Maya" He retorted simply to which Maya rolled her eyes, throwing a turkey leg into his plate with a thud.

"Go choke on it and die." She muttered quietly, but I heard her words, smiling at her vigor. Emut laughed at her jab, looking to Demir's plate.

"Handing him food as he insults you isn't the best way to get him to stop." He said playfully and Ayla giggled beside me.

I let out a small huff at this, lifting my cup to my lips.

"No, but getting him to eat is one way to get him to shut up." I edged in and Maya slapped her hand against the table at my words, laughing loudly.

"Quite right, Hanna!" She exclaimed and I smiled smugly to Demir, watching as he leaned forward, a bored look on his face.

"Don't attempt to guise your concern for me by jesting, Hanna. I'll eat so long as you don't lose any sleep over worrying for me." His tone was playful and I let out a small purposeful laugh, biting into my food.

"Oh, now why would I be so concerned? I'll leave that job to Emut." I shot back and Emut looked up from his plate, his gaze snapping to Demir before turning to me, a playful smile on his face.

"I see that Hanna loves to involve me in her arguments. I'm glad I'm of that much importance to you." He teased and I reddened at his words, throwing a pea at him, watching as it hit his shoulder before rolling onto the floor.

"Shut up." I grumbled out and Ayla nudged me with a laugh, pointing a finger at Emut.

"And, here I thought you were our ally! No matter, we can make an enemy out of you too." She said jokingly to which Emut frowned, but it was Abrax who spoke.

"Pray tell, who is on your list of enemies?" He questioned curiously, leaning his face against his knuckles, his kind gaze on Ayla.

I watched as she blushed, not expecting Abrax to question her response. She stuttered slightly and, knowing how shy she could sometimes get in front of him, I clasped a hand around her arm, looking to Abrax.

"The real question is, why would you believe we'd tell you. Right, Ayla?" I questioned, urging her on and then she composed herself, smiling to me and tapping her chin thoughtfully.

"I don't know, Hanna. It doesn't seem right to tell an enemy that they're an enemy, does it?" She questioned jokingly and we laughed at her words, Abrax shaking his head with a smile as he continued eating.

I couldn't stop the laugh that escaped when Maya spoke.

"All men are the enemy."

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Hope you guys liked it! Let me know how it was!

I will be updating weekly now so make sure to add to your library to get the notifications!

S. A. A