CHAPTER NINE
"You're awake…"
At first, my vision was blurry. I had only just regained consciousness after fainting, thanks to my intrusive thoughts about trying belladonna.
"I thought she was done with her stupid decisions. I guess amnesia doesn't really stop a person from being stupid."
Were those whispers? Or not whispers at all, because I could hear everything clearly.
"Does she really want to die? That stupid girl… deal with her yourselves," a girl complained nearby.
"Relax, Raya. You'll wake her up," a man said.
I didn't want them to know I was awake. I had a strong feeling I was the topic of their conversation.
Who even were they?
I knew I had made a huge mistake, but it still hurt hearing the truth. I stayed still, staring at the ceiling, hoping they'd leave so I could escape without anyone looking at me… without feeling even more stupid.
"What in the world were you thinking?"
I froze at that moment; it felt like I had lost my capability to think or even move. I stayed in my position as if I were dead.
The voice came from right beside me. Like a machine, I slowly turned my head and saw the man sitting there.
"Craige?" I said his name as if to make sure there's really someone in there and I am not just hallucination.
Like a puzzle piece snapping into place, I was even more puzzled when I look at the guy beside Craige.
"Raiven?"
More confusion flooded my head as I looked around. And when I said their names, the curtain separating me from the rest of the room was pulled aside aggressively.
Sierra.
I blinked thrice aggressively because why is she here? Why everyone is here?
Not just Sierra, but Fiona, Calyx, and even Elric. Oh well, I am pretty aware that this persona I am is friends with her, or maybe has a connection with these people but not this kind of connection that they will visit me in this body.
"Are you really that dumb? What in the world were you thinking?" Sierra snapped. I didn't know what had happened in the hours I'd been unconscious, but one thing was clear—she was furious.
"W-well—"
"Relax, Raya. You're scaring her," someone cut in.
For real. Thank you, Fiona, for saying that.
Once again, she smiled at me so brightly, like an angel sent down from heaven.
"She's just worried you might fall into a coma again—"
And yet… sometimes, the words that came out of her mouth were exactly the ones she shouldn't say.
"Oh, sorry for that." But she can be saved by her smile.
"Anyway, how's your feeling? The poison you ingested isn't that fatal, but it could endanger your life if it's not removed properly. You're lucky. Wanna try a mushroom instead? I could give you that if you truly want to get poisoned."
I looked at the one speaking. Every word he said felt like it was piercing me, yet I smiled at him. I didn't know what my reaction was supposed to be.
That smile slowly turned into a forced laugh. I couldn't look him in the eyes. It was Raiven speaking, and I remembered that when I had eaten the belladonna, I saw him leaning against the door, watching me.
A laugh you could count on your fingers.
"Ha… ha… ha… N-no… I'm fine, thank you."
I am pretty aware that Seraphina is also friends with them, but I am pretty sure that they are not that close...or so I thought.
"As long as she's fine, there's really nothing to be worried about. We should eat something delicious today, they said that the cafeteria today is serving a steak."
This is weird.
Really weird.
Or maybe I am dreaming.
Just a few days ago, I am alone and now I am eating with these people. This is weird.
"You're going to train again?" I looked at Raiven—he was asking about things only I knew. When he didn't hear me answer, I couldn't find the right words.
He looked up at me.
"It's not your private training room," he said calmly.
That was an acceptable reason, even though he hadn't explained how he knew about my training session.
"I was planning to," I whispered, since he was right beside me and could hear without me raising my voice.
"Do you need someone to train with?"
I paused again while cutting my food at his words. I didn't know what we had talked about that night, my memory was hazy, and I wasn't sure if I was remembering correctly or just dreaming.
I didn't want to assume.
I grimaced, because all of a sudden, he was being kind to me.
What the hell is he up to?
I squinted at him, trying to read his intentions. Sure, someone might find out I was training, but for him to ask that… it didn't make sense.
"If you don't want to, it's fine." He let the idea drop immediately.
I was even more puzzled by his reason, but… if he really wanted to go into the training room, I couldn't even stop him.
At least he asked me.
But I didn't say anything to him, nor give in to his idea of being in the same room alone. I don't know what's gotten into him for this drastic change of attitude towards me so I can't really trust him.
That afternoon, I was puzzled about why he was here, but I didn't mind him. I continued walking into the training room.
Raiven stayed above, watching me from the second floor of the training hall.
"Don't forget to stabilize your mana first. You're losing control," he kept reminding me. He'd been giving me tips since the moment I started training.
"You said it yourself—intention is what matters when chanting."
I could chant, but it wasn't powerful enough to defend me, let alone protect anyone else. If I can't leave this world, at least I know how to protect myself. I don't want a painful death.
"Remember the last time you fought underwater," he continued. "Think about that moment. What did you feel?"
I didn't know he could be this talkative but I did everything I could to listen to what he was saying, and eventually, I could have a grasp of chanting.
It's hard.
I have to chant every word properly. When I am running out of mana to even draw a rune, I drop myself on the floor.
I stared at the ceiling, then at the man watching me from the second floor. I didn't know if I was mistaken, but I thought I saw him smile.
In one second, he was floating in the air. Next thing I knew, he's standing right beside me.
"Just be gentle with your energy."
I only stared at him, saying nothing. He didn't stay by my side for long.
Without a word, he quietly fixed and put away everything I had used… then left. That isn't the first nor the last time he gives comment regarding my personal training.
"Pick up a wooden sword."
I stare at him for minutes as he picks up his own wooden sword, I am not really into swordmanship. I'd rather have archery as my weapon.
"You're probably thinking archery is better. Having to learn close combat is also important." He ends that with a stop, a period.
"Long-range is advantageous if your enemy can't detect your mana, however, you don't know how to even conceal your mana. You'll die even before you could kill your enemy." He added, he sounds so serious about it.
I did consider that, but I didn't even consider myself going on a battle or some kind of war. Why would I be a hero in a battle I didn't start?
But if it's for protection...
I guess it's also my win to know about sword techniques.
Swordmage? Is that how they call people who know how to infuse their mana into their swords, becoming part of their body?
"Swords, huh..." I whisper as I touch the wooden swords. I never really imagined myself of using swords. Swords are very complicated , you have to hold on for it so strong enough to strike the enemy in front of you because just one wrong move...
It will give the enemy the chance to strike back at you.
That's why I love long-range weapons, I don't need to face the enemy in a close combat.
I just need to be faster at casting the next arrow to kill an enemy. Unlike swords that you have to face them heads on.
I pulled the sword from the basket.
I turn my body in a swift move and use my mana to infuse it into my feet so I can move my body faster to put the tip of the sword at his neck.
"Do you want me to fight using the weapon you're an expert with?" I move the sword forward, enough to touch his neck.
I can't help but hate him.
Everything about him.
Not because of how he's treating me right now...but how she treated Seraphina back then.
"This is just training." He simply said. He didn't back down. He stared back at me. His eyes bore into me.
I put down my sword.
I hate his eyes. I hate how expressive they were sometimes, and cold at the same time. I hate how he looks at me...like he's staring at my soul. He is not simply looking at me, he is staring at my whole being.
I throw the wooden sword at his feet. I didn't even bother to look at him again as I grabbed my bag to walk away from the training room. I don't like him. I hate him.