Are you Afraid?
Are you Afraid?
ISIDORA
The Angus mineral stone.
I didn’t really know what it was, but today was the day I would find out.
After generously paying Estingia Solange with a few special plants she had been coveting from the greenhouse… and y that stingy old woman had sold them to me as if they were worth my weight in gold, we managed to get her guidance. “It’s a special training room. I replaced the drained stones with the monthly allotment we’re given, but I’m warning you, it t much.” She stared straight at me. “And they’re expensive. Rare too.
I nodded, knowing that the higher I climbed, the more often I would hear the words rare and expensive.
“Good. At first, you’ll only be able to stay in there for a few minutes. Use your methods to circulate your Estingia magic and master it,” she told us, just like that.
The girls and I looked at one another, not seeing anything special.
“Don’t look at each other with those faces. You’ll see what I’m talking about soon enough. If any of you lasts more than fifteen minutes practicing in there today, I promise I’ll give you two high-quality Angus stones.”
“And if we don’t?” Mika asked, falling right into her game.
“Lady Isidora will have to give me three top-quality restorative tonics.” She shamelessly lifted three fingers in the air. “I heard the business is yours now.”
My mouth twisted stiffly.
News moved fast among these Estingias.
I saved myself from pointing out that she didn’t even need that tonic. It didn’t affect her anymore. But if she sold them, they were still worth a small fortune.
“But… that’s not fair…” Mika muttered.
“Two tonics,” I bargained, lifting two fingers too.
Solange stayed there looking at me, as if she were thinking it over.
“Oh, Goddess, I like your attitude more every day, girl. You’ll get far in life. Deal.”
She walked in a good mood toward the enormous dark door rising in front of us.
I looked at Mikaela, pretending to be annoyed that she had fallen into the claws of this sly Estingia.
“In the end, if we don’t make it, I’ll take it out of my helpers’ hides,” I muttered.
Mika looked away, playing dumb, while a smile appeared in Karla’s eyes.
“Who’s going to try her luck first?”
The moment had come, and I wanted to step forward, but Solange pointed straight at Karla.
“Don’t try to play brave, because you can die in there. When you feel you can’t take anymore, you getsout
She gave her a few more instructions, and the rest of us listened too.
When she pushed the heavy door open, it rang out with a metallic sound, and for one second, it was as if a slap of something heavy burst out into the hall.
I swear I saw Karla hesitate at the entance.
Even taking one step inside seemed difficult for her
Mika tensed beside me, and I narrowed my eyes too, trying to see what was beyond, but all I saw was darkness and a pressure that squeezed my chest.
Karla went in with her teeth clenched, like the brave warrior she was, and the door shut behind her.
“Does any of you smoke?” Lady Solange suddenly asked, as if nothing had happened, walking toward the window seat and etting on the ledge while she took out a cigarette case
“We don’t smoke
“Ah Either way, you won’t even have time to take one drag, sweetheart Your friend should be cut out any second now
she told Mika
And sure enough.
Are you Afraid?
Before Solange could take another drag from that cigarette, the door suddenly rang out as if someone inside were trying open it and failing miserably.
“You’d better help her. She won’t be able to do it alone,” Solange said, completely unbothered.
I ran toward the enormous surface of iron and wood and pulled it toward me.
Karla’s body collapsed forward, and she almost slipped right out of my hands.
“Karla!” Mika screamed, and I looked down at the woman soaked in sweat, her face looking as if she had just survived a
brutal battle.
“Take her.” I handed her to Mika and shut the door, because Solange had told us the power from the stones could leak out
and be lost faster.
My heart was pounding hard as I looked at Karla panting, barely able to open her eyes. She looked pale.
Was this really supposed to make us stronger, or was it weakening us?
“You’ll see tomorrow. The body gets used to it. Come on, blondie, your turn. I don’t have all day,” Solange urged Mika, and I was about to throw in the towel.
Not out of fear, but because if Karla had come out like that, I didn’t want to know how Mikaela would end up.
Of the three of us, she was the weakest.
“Don’t resist if you can’t. It’s dangerous…” Karla held her hands, and I could see how badly she wanted to tell her not to go
But Mikaela was a warrior too.
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