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My heart feels constricts, pain as it breaks. A year without communication and a few months that seemed like as was well just to say we can't see each other anymore because his cousin doesn't trust where the perceived allegiance of my lineage lies. I can't fault him, though, but as my eyes sting with tears that want to escape. I turn saying one last thing, looking bohdi in the eyes, I say.

"I hope this is truly what you want, bohdi." For words often have more power than a name can carry, I think as I continue " 'A love worth fighting for is one built to weather the storms ahead,' i thought that was what we had, but it seems that wasn't it." My voice waivers at the end, but I take a deep breath and watch for anything that might say this isn't true, that I'm wrong in assuming we had something special.

He doesn't break his gaze from mine as he says, "It's best to not believe in such childish things." He turns to his cousin, and they walk off, leaving me alone in the empty corridor leading to the box canyon where all the other cadets await for this year's threshing. I make my way into the sea of cadets and find my squad. I guess my expression is somber as Violet gives me a quick hug, followed by the rest of the squad as Rhi asks what happened.

I laugh sadly, "I'm single now." I say, they knew I was seeing someone, a second year.

"Shit, really. What an ass..." says Ridoc before sawyer elbows him. "What?" he says

Ahead of us, Professor Kaori addresses us one last time before thresing begins.

Assessment day

It's the look in her eyes as she watches us, an assessing, calculating look that makes me wonder what it is that she sees or wants from us. The training room is full of the assessment fights happening all around. It's unnerving the way it feels like I'm prey caught, cornered by an unassuming predator. Her long hair braided down her back, almost hitting her ass, taunting any opponent to use it against her.

"Calaire, Derwalsh, your next." Calls the professor.

Her gaze leaves us as she steps forward, towards the mat along with her opponent, a male taller than her by a few inches and a built like he's been fighting his whole life. He's grinning like he's already won the match, looking at her lean hourglass frame assuming an easy win. It's the way she walks onto the mat is with the grace of an aristocrat, almost with the fluidity of her movements and the gracefulness that deceives the untrained eye of the predator she is.

"Start"

The fight happened quickly, her appointment charged, and threw a punch. She sidestepped and twisted, grabbing the outstretched arm and twisted around her opponent, twisting his arm behind his back as she stepped towards him, slipping a foot between his legs efficiently disabling him into submission. Not allowing him to get another step towards her, even as her hair sways.

A grunt from her opponent came as he tumbled down onto his knees, arm still behind his back.

"Yield," she says as her hair whips around over her shoulder, hitting her opponent in the face as he braces on his free arm. After a few seconds of struggling, she's pulling his arm back, causing him to yelp in pain, and he taps out, unable to free himself.

A lethal beauty, unassuming and deadly that can either end us or aid us. Looking to my side, I can see the appraisal and disbelief on my brother's face, as suttle as it is. Trouble, she'll be trouble if she isn't on our side.