Is there a problem, Luna?
CALLA’S POV.
Three knocks on my door, and I was wide awake.
“Who’s there?” I asked, jolting from my bed.
The door opened and Cole entered with a smile. “Did I wake you up, my love?”
I shook my head, “Is there something you need?” I asked, maintaining a safe distance from him.
He must have noticed it as he took a few steps closer to me, close enough that he didn’t need to shout from over the room to talk to me.
“I came to inform you that you would be training with Scar today.” He said after a while. “I know I said you would be training with Athaliah but there has been a little change in today’s plan.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. I had looked forward to meeting her in today’s session, digging into her person and most importantly, finding out why she seemed so familiar and yet hostile to me.
“Alright,” I said, holding back the question on the tip of my tongue. “Anything else?” My eyes widened when I realised what I had just said.NôvelDrama.Org owns this text.
How dismissive I had sounded. Cole was not pleased. It was clear from his clenched jaws but he didn’t react. Instead, he responded to my question with a calmness he was not known for.
Was it the calm, before the storm?
“After your training, you would be returning here. A dinner is happening tonight and you will be attending by my side. Preparations have been made for you and everything you need will be available at your return.” He had an evil glint in his eyes. “Have a great time, my love. I’ll see you later.”
With that, Cole left my room and I mentally kicked myself for speaking out of turn. I didn’t know what he had planned and I was foolish to add sin to sin after my hostile acts the last time he was here.
I didn’t have enough time to reflect on my choice of words before Scar entered my room. “We’ll be leaving early today.” She said when she noticed my state of unpreparedness. “I’ll be outside.”
As soon as she left I got into the shower and dressed, a few minutes later, I was ready and we proceeded to the training ground. This time, we were back to the dead field. I couldn’t help the twinge of guilt I felt whenever I perceived the deadness in the air – knowing I was the cause.
“Today, we are going to be practising something different.” Scar started her lecture, and I was all ears. “We would be learning restraint. The best way to control our powers even when we are emotionally or mentally unstable.”
That was interesting. I nodded my head and she continued. “If things go well, this might be our shortest lesson yet. But if not, we could go for hours, until you have perfected this valuable skill.”
That sounded daunting. But with my experience with learning from Scar. I knew there were two options – to get it done or die trying. And I naturally leaned towards the first.
The day’s training was short. Thankfully. I mastered the skills of restraint – trying to cage my powers against situations I perceived to be deadly. She even went as far as forming visions that triggered me to use my powers instinctively.
After many failures, I succeeded and never looked back since then.
“Good work,” Scar said as we wrapped up the day’s practice.
I smiled, genuinely proud of myself. “I have the best teacher,” I replied humbly.
“You flatter me,” She said with an equal smile. “It was all you.”
We walked away from the field and headed towards my chambers in a light mood. I decided to try my luck on something pricking my mind. “Scarlett.”
“Is there a problem, Luna?” She asked, looking straight ahead.
“I need to ask you something.” I slowed to a stop and looked at her.
Scarlett stopped in her tracks too. “What is it this time?”
“It’s about your memories,” I said after a while.
Her face froze. I could tell it was dangerous territory but at this point, I could die of curiosity. “Luna.”
“Please. I just need to know something. It’s nothing too big.” I persuaded her. “Just listen to the question and decide if you will answer it.”
It took a while, but she agreed.
“Thank you.” I started. “You once told me that you had a glimpse of your past and what you saw made you choose to forget who you were.” She gave an affirmative nod, and I swallowed.
“Don’t you think there might be more to you than the bad memories you saw? Have you considered the possibility that there might be good memories and people lost in the darkness of your mind, which you have decided to forget for one bad memory? Don’t you feel… short knowing you could know more about yourself, but you chose to give that up?”
“That is a lot of questions.” Scarlett pointed out and turned to me. “I understand that you must be curious and unable to comprehend the reasons for my actions, but that is the life I chose” She resumed walking and I followed beside her. “I have considered all those things. But I’m afraid, I am not as optimistic as you are, Luna.”
“What if I dig out those memories and reverse id the case? What if I learn something that will forever alter my life course? What if I can’t handle it?” Her questions threw me aback.
At that moment, I realised something. There would always be what-ifs. But it took a certain amount of courage to step into the dark and truly find out.
“I don’t have that courage. I cannot risk what I have now for the unknown, Calla.” She said and stopped.
I realised we were in front of my door. “I will leave you to your business.” She said, and with a bow, walked away from me, leaving me to my thoughts.
Did I want to find out who I am? Can I handle the responsibility of knowing the truth? Was I better off this way?
I stepped into my room and I was reminded of Cole. Living without my memories was like living with Cole for the rest of my life – a risk I couldn’t take.
It was hell.