(Amaia)

Kacir is discharged from the infirmary and returns to our room.

"How are you feeling?" I ask, as I finish up the written assignment for him.

"I can speak, that’s a good sign," he answers, drinking the soup Rahria has brought him earlier.

"I am sorry for what he did?" My words make Kacir slowly smile.

"Vampires are known to be ruthless. And I don’t think Ezran is an ordinary vampire. That aura is nothing I have ever experienced before. I need to get stronger." Kacir wistfully says. He doesn’t even blame Rigel and I feel guilty that he has been hurt because of me.

"Alnilam is setting up some extra drills for us soon. I swear that man is obsessed with grinding us till we bleed oil like walnuts being crushed." I gesture with my hands making Kacir laugh.

"That’s such weird imagery, Amaia. I have never seen anyone use it."

At least he is laughing; that makes my heart light. Otherwise, the burden of feeling attracted to a man who hurt my friend has been crushing me.

"Well, I am weird so it goes perfectly." I stick my tongue out and roll my eyes, and he continues to laugh.

"You are not weird, you are amazing. Thank you for doing my assignment." He points towards the papers in my hands.

"That’s the least I could do."

***

Moonball season is kicking off with the very first game being held between our guild and Guild Pegasus. Mintaka and Alnitak are both part of the team. For the state of Orion, Moonball is not just a game, it’s their passion. Evolved from the old world’s basketball, it had been given its own spice with the limited allowed use of powers.

Alnitak has given me a detailed two-hour lecture on it, so I can enjoy it to the fullest, although I am aware of the game. Tarian and his buddies used to play it.

I didn’t interrupt Alnitak when he did, enjoying his enthusiasm for the game.

Kacir, Rahria and I arrive at the playground where the game is to be played. Tiered rows of seats rise above the playground, with a hollow, sheltered space of pillars and shadows underneath. We climb the wooden stairs and take the top row.

The play area is about 100 meters in length, with a pole at each end, and hanging from it is a basketball hoop.

A popcorn stand has been set up, and its warm buttery smell fills the air.

We settle down in the wooden stands with the rest of the Guild Leo and Serpen.

"Hey!" Cristo greets me. He is my partner in Jamina’s class.

"Hey! Here to enjoy the game?" I ask, while he settles down beside me.

"My sister dragged me out or I would have been sleeping," he lazily answers, extending his paper popcorn bucket towards me. I accept a handful and pop them into my mouth.

"...Thank you!" My eyes drift to his sister, Caria. She is holding the arm of another recruit from Serpens and leaning onto him. They are not mates, Cristo had told me before but she likes to hang out with any guy she can find.

Cristo and Caria haven’t found their mates yet.

Even our mentors and the Principal have come out to watch the first match, and I watched them sitting in the high stand on the opposite side of us.

"I will grab some popcorn. You guys want some?" I ask, Rahria and Kacir.

Both of them have started to sit together. Though they don’t speak that much, Kacir doesn’t remain that rigid in her presence and she no longer pushes him or shouts at him.

Silence speaks louder than words.

Baby steps, I guess, and I hope that it works between them.

Rahria has brought out some beer bottles and she waves one at me.

"Nah! I am good."

"I will have some," Kacir softly says and I nod at him.

I have my coin purse in my jeans pocket. Every month, we are given an allowance of 30 gold coins, 50 silver coins and 100 bronze coins by the Academy to spend on ourselves, which is ample enough to last us a month. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

The seats have a vast empty space underneath them. I descend the stairs and walk underneath the dark vast space of the sitting area.

Something rushes past me like a gust of cold wind, and the next thing I know, I am pinned against an inner pillar of the seats, away from the sight and light.

My breath is lodged in my lungs at the speed my body has been moved, my hair flies whipping at my face.

The misty scent of Rigel invades my senses. My eyes focused to find him looming over me, watching me with the burning intensity of two volcanoes.

He is barely breathing, his nostrils flared, the muscles and veins stretched against the tight black t-shirt he is wearing.

Without thinking I place my hands on his sunken cheeks, rubbing my thumbs so he could relax.

"What’s wrong?" I quizzically ask.

And he continues to stare at me, his gaze burning with raw yearning.

"You are. I can’t eat, sleep. No blood tastes like yours and then I can’t have you, only watch you sitting with other men."

Not only are his words desperate but there is an ache in them which hurts my soul.

His shadows, which dance against his skin, collect around his neck and face and propel backwards, forming two distinctive wings. Like a looming black gelled curtain about ten feet high and equally wide, they wave behind him, covering so no one can see us.

Mesmerising how his shadows move and work.

In the dungeon, I made the promise to be there for him. The desperation he exudes couldn’t be fake. I can’t put him through what I am already experiencing.

Our fates are tied, whether I like it or not. And we are more similar to each other than he could even believe.

Sliding my hand slightly I press my wrist against his soft lips.

"Then drink, I never forbade you."

Ragged breath he snatches in, greedily grabbing my wrist and keeping it against his nose and lips.

"You can drink whenever you want, Rigel. I won’t stop you, but you won’t hurt the people close to me. Agree to this and my blood is yours."