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Authors: Tara Elizabeth
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combat training. I, however, think it is best to keep such talk to ourselves. Fortunately, Val knows better than to publicly discuss her specialized weapons training class and more specific details about the other trainees. She is patient enough to wait until the other trainees have wandered off, leaving Ethan and I alone with her.
As a group, the three of us have grown closer in a short time. I even spent the past two evenings strategizing with them about ways to beat Kinah and Az. Not surprisingly, Val managed to pry their training progress out of Leen, who is in their weapons class. She tells us Leen revealed to her that his class has spent a lot of time on deflecting attacks from knife throwers and archers. They’ll be well prepared for any onslaught of projectiles we send at them in the Second Trial. This information was valuable for Val to have shared. Ethan and I both thank her.
Besides my personal gain in strategy, I am enjoying spending quality time with my friends. Something in me has shifted, and I feel the need to make real connections and real friends. My new, unobstructed mind is telling me this is important.
On our way to the East Gate, Ethan and I pass my magnolia tree. It’s been watching the fields alone while I’ve been enjoying my time with my friends. I notice that its branches stretch out wide toward the barrier that keeps her prisoner from the world beyond. Is that what we are? Prisoners? No, I don’t believe that. The wall is here for protection from what’s out there—protection for the citizens. I believe in what we do here, and I want to serve the Republic to the best of my abilities . This belief in the Republic is why I made the decision to stop taking the Pump. The Republic trusted me enough to choose my own weapon; they should trust me enough to find a way to become stronger for them.
I hope to see the Exalted marauder on my rounds today. I have so many questions. I want to know if I’ll really become stronger and how long it will take. I want to know how not taking the Pump opened the door to my emotions. I’m still waiting for my body to take off in flight, but it has definitely begun flapping its tiny wings.
I want to find out more about the stranger. Why is he not serving the Republic? I also hope to find out his name so I can stop calling him the “Exalted marauder”.
Basav is waiting for us. His face is dark as if we’re about to be scolded for being late for duty. In actuality we are six minutes early. “Finally,” he grunts. Then he nods his head toward the fields, sending us straight into patrolling.
Geez, he’s strict , I think to myself, and scary as hell.
“I’ll see you when we finish.” Ethan whispers before leaving my side.
I nod because I am actually looking forward to meeting up with him again later. I’m also looking forward to my time alone now. We separate and begin our patrol in our respective areas.
As I walk through the rows of corn, I turn my face up to the sun and breathe it in. It warms my cheeks. I look at the maturing corn kernels that are plumper now than the first time I passed them a few days ago. Like me, they’ve been enjoying the sun’s warmth. As I revel in the light, the corners of my mouth rise on both sides. I let them, because no one is here to see my transgression.
As I walk the rows, watching clouds pass by, I find it hard to focus of the job at hand. I should be watching out for marauders, but instead, I’m only interested in trying to find one. I search for him in the depths of the fields . . . but I’m alone. He never appears.
TWELVE
My chest aches with heaviness. I realize the stranger never promised to return, but I thought he might . . . I hoped he might. Not only do I have questions for him, I find myself thinking about him in other ways. The mystery of the stranger excites me, and only now am I registering his rugged beauty. I was unable to appreciate such a thing while on the Pump.
I replay the feel of
As a group, the three of us have grown closer in a short time. I even spent the past two evenings strategizing with them about ways to beat Kinah and Az. Not surprisingly, Val managed to pry their training progress out of Leen, who is in their weapons class. She tells us Leen revealed to her that his class has spent a lot of time on deflecting attacks from knife throwers and archers. They’ll be well prepared for any onslaught of projectiles we send at them in the Second Trial. This information was valuable for Val to have shared. Ethan and I both thank her.
Besides my personal gain in strategy, I am enjoying spending quality time with my friends. Something in me has shifted, and I feel the need to make real connections and real friends. My new, unobstructed mind is telling me this is important.
On our way to the East Gate, Ethan and I pass my magnolia tree. It’s been watching the fields alone while I’ve been enjoying my time with my friends. I notice that its branches stretch out wide toward the barrier that keeps her prisoner from the world beyond. Is that what we are? Prisoners? No, I don’t believe that. The wall is here for protection from what’s out there—protection for the citizens. I believe in what we do here, and I want to serve the Republic to the best of my abilities . This belief in the Republic is why I made the decision to stop taking the Pump. The Republic trusted me enough to choose my own weapon; they should trust me enough to find a way to become stronger for them.
I hope to see the Exalted marauder on my rounds today. I have so many questions. I want to know if I’ll really become stronger and how long it will take. I want to know how not taking the Pump opened the door to my emotions. I’m still waiting for my body to take off in flight, but it has definitely begun flapping its tiny wings.
I want to find out more about the stranger. Why is he not serving the Republic? I also hope to find out his name so I can stop calling him the “Exalted marauder”.
Basav is waiting for us. His face is dark as if we’re about to be scolded for being late for duty. In actuality we are six minutes early. “Finally,” he grunts. Then he nods his head toward the fields, sending us straight into patrolling.
Geez, he’s strict , I think to myself, and scary as hell.
“I’ll see you when we finish.” Ethan whispers before leaving my side.
I nod because I am actually looking forward to meeting up with him again later. I’m also looking forward to my time alone now. We separate and begin our patrol in our respective areas.
As I walk through the rows of corn, I turn my face up to the sun and breathe it in. It warms my cheeks. I look at the maturing corn kernels that are plumper now than the first time I passed them a few days ago. Like me, they’ve been enjoying the sun’s warmth. As I revel in the light, the corners of my mouth rise on both sides. I let them, because no one is here to see my transgression.
As I walk the rows, watching clouds pass by, I find it hard to focus of the job at hand. I should be watching out for marauders, but instead, I’m only interested in trying to find one. I search for him in the depths of the fields . . . but I’m alone. He never appears.
TWELVE
My chest aches with heaviness. I realize the stranger never promised to return, but I thought he might . . . I hoped he might. Not only do I have questions for him, I find myself thinking about him in other ways. The mystery of the stranger excites me, and only now am I registering his rugged beauty. I was unable to appreciate such a thing while on the Pump.
I replay the feel of
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