The Wastelands

Chapter 8 - 4

Lilia arrived at her destination. A control room connecting to an extensive training area. This was a place where she spends most of her time. She was supposed to meet the others here, but it looked like she was the first to arrive.

'That's a first.'

She dropped her things by the wall and moved to the training area to start her warmup. As soon as she walked in, Lilia felt it. She knew she wasn't alone. There, at the corner of the room, where the shadows were the thickest.

She greeted him with a nod, "Shadow."

A nineteen-year-old young man with a tall, gangly build stepped out of the shadows. He had his midnight black hair pulled back in a ponytail, and his skin tones a couple of shade lighter than his hair.

Shadow didn't reply. He just stared at her with his startling light grey eyes.

Ever since the time they first met, he followed her like a predator, never letting her out of his sight. Over the years, she had gotten used to it. It was still creepy, especially lately. The mood had changed somehow, and Lilia sensed that he wasn't content in just watching anymore.

She couldn't help but shiver in fear.

"Lee," Shadow greeted her in a silky tone. Lilia winced internally. That nickname…was her stage name.

"Please don't call me…"

"Lee," Shadow interrupted.

Lilia sighed in resignation.

"Want to spar?" she asked. Wanting to change the subject.

Sparring was one of the few things that she didn't avoid doing. Using her abilities against another opponent was fun and challenging. Especially a stronger one like Shadow.

"No, I'd rather watch," Shadow's voice was chilling.

She couldn't help but shiver.

Leaving that aside. Lilia was disappointed, but not surprised. He had stopped sparring with anyone a long time ago.

"If I get serious, you'll be dead on the floor," Shadow whispered under his breath. Just low enough so an average person couldn't pick up.

'Shadow knows I can hear him.'

He was trained as an assassin. A killer. This was a healthy reminder.

Her thoughts were interrupted when two green-streaked, brown-haired, brown-eyed, dusky-skinned fourteen-year-olds borrowed into the training area. The girl ran ahead and turned to taunt her twin brother. "You can't catch me!"

The boy only sighed. "Heather, please watch where you're going…"

Heather tripped, tried caught herself with her air ability, but used too much force and slammed into the nearby wall.

"Terran!" she cried out; blood gushed from a cut on her forehead.

"Geeze," Terran scolded her. "I warned you." He paused, looked her over. "Okay, but this is the last time." He placed his hand on the cut, and when he pulled it away a couple of seconds later, the wound was gone. "Now wash your face, okay?"

Heather smiled. She said in her traditional chirpy tone, "Thanks."

Lilia smiled at the antics of the two youngest members of their group. It was nice to see them using their abilities freely. The training area was special because it was the only place on the compound where they could use and train their abilities without consequence.

She waved. "Ha, you two."

"Hi, Lilia." They both responded. Before turning towards each other.

"Terran, can we practice my shooting, please. I don't I have the angles on a moving target yet." Heather gave her brother puppy dog eyes.

Terran g.r.o.a.n.e.d out. "No, I am not going to be the moving target. Not again." He made a stopping motion with his hands. "The last time I helped, you almost cracked my ribs. Get Lilia or Shadow to do it." Giving a pleading look at Lilia.

Lilia answered with a 'Are you kidding me' look. No one liked being on the other side of Heather's sniping. The kid was ruthless.

Heather shook her head. "Lilia's too quick. Plus, she's tough but not Terran tough. And Shadow, come on…ha… like he will ever agree."

He sighed. "Can't fault me for trying."

"And you're a healer, remember?"

"It still hurts."

She stomped her feet in impatience. "I have no time for this." She grabbed her brother's hand and dragged him towards the sniper range. "You know that this will help you too. You need to be quicker putting up your earth shields." Rolling her eyes. "Geeze little brothers."

Lilia watched them disappear into the long-range section.

She wished Terran condolence.

Despite how they appear, Terran and Heather work well together. In fact, with Heather's long ranged shooting and Terran protecting her, they were hard to beat.

Now the only ones who were still left to arrive were…

Lilia turned toward the sound of the door opening. There stood the golden couple, Druid and Bryson.

Druid made a point to stay by Bryson. Though she made sure to acknowledge the rest of the group with a wave. Bryson, on the other hand, didn't even bother.

That condescending jerk, Lilia thought to herself.

Lilia walked forward to greet Druid. "Ha Druid, Bryson."

Bryson crossed his arms. "Hello, Lilia." Looking her up and down. Making it known that he didn't like what he sees. "Your state of the dress is more unkempt than usual. If that was even possible."

He meant it as an insult, but Lilia just stretched up her arms. "Yeah, I just woke up from an amazing nap."

"Clearly."

"Bryson," Druid warned. Before turning to Lilia, with a smile on her lips. "Lilia, do you want to train with me."

She felt her cheeks redden. Druid was like an older sister to her, but that doesn't mean Lilia didn't notice how beautiful she was. "Sure."

Bryson spoke up, stepping forward. "Don't you dare go near…"

He suddenly stopped talking. Lilia looked up to see that Shadow had his medium, one of his daggers, laying gently against Bryson's throat. "Need I remind you about the last time we both were in this position."

Bryson looked back in fear, but he managed to clench out. "You bastard."

"Now, Now," Druid smoothed, caution was evident in her voice. "Let's put the dagger away, shall we. Bryson wasn't going harm Lilia. He was just talking."

"He wasn't back then."

"No, but he is now. You made sure of that." Druid looked deeper into Shadow's eyes. Showing her sincerity. Trying to persuade him.

Druid's eyes followed him. Worry edged on her face.

Lilia, on the other hand, couldn't help but breath a sigh of relief. Giving how unpredictable Shadow was, that could have gone either way.

"Druid." Bryson tried.

Druid held up her hand. "Not now."

"But, Druid."

Sighing. "Bryson, take a walk."

"Okay, then come with…"

"I want to train with Lilia." Druid interrupted. When he hesitated. "Please."

He glared at Lilia one last time before he turned and walked out.

*It's not time yet.*

Lilia's head whipped around to stare at Druid. "What was that?"

Druid placed her finger on her lips. "Let's pretend that you didn't hear that. Shall we?"

Lilia wouldn't deny that she was curious, but she didn't want to pry.

"Do you still want to train?" Lilia asked.

"I have no problems." Druid began to stretch. "Now, do you want me to stick to elemental abilities or do you mind if I use my foresight and teleportation as well?"

Lilia's eyes glinted. "Use whatever you want I will still win."

"Oh." Druid brought up her hands. Her fire elemental ignited. It quickly consumed her whole body and then she disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Oh, how she wished that she had teleportation. She would never ride an elevator again.

Lilia felt the heat behind her. She turned to see Druid, who had her medium in hand, a snake-like whip, aiming to hook Lilia's feet. She only had seconds to flip out of the way.

As a Life Elemental, Lilia's physical abilities and senses were more enhanced, but she needed an edge. She pooled her element into her fingernails, and claws, which looked like shimmering light, sprouted out.

She swiped at Druid, but Druid had disappeared already, leaving flames in her wake. Lilia had to scramble away to prevent getting a face full of fire.

'This is so much fun.'

Her soul was soaring. Not just because of the fight. It was a connection, a link the six of them shared. Even with Bryson and Shadow. Despite their differences. That link had only gotten stronger from that day, four years ago.

The day they first met.

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