Time has gone by, and I felt the darkness weaken around me, its strong grip loosening little by little. My body grew lighter, and I could see the changes happening right in front of me. Small rootlike shapes moved under the skin of my arm. When I touched them, they hardened so quickly I might not have noticed if it weren't my own body.
It was a strange new feeling. I crouched down and punched the floor. Just as I thought, there was no pain—only a small hole in the ground and a dirty hand. I looked around carefully. My vision had changed too; I could see much farther than before, every small detail—the fall of a leaf, the stillness of sleeping insects. The sharpness of it all made me feel uneasy.
I made my way into the house. It looked old, the wood and stone showing their age. Behind one door was a small room. Clothes were scattered on the floor, a bare table stood to the side, and in the corner sat a chest. I opened it and found a uniform inside, black in color. I took it out and began to dress. The pants were too long, so I rolled them up to keep from stepping on them. The uniform was far too big for someone like me.
I walked down the empty road. The world had no color, and the only sounds were my boots and my breathing. The feeling was hard to explain, but it was absolute—something few would ever experience.
And then the world regained its color. It took me a moment to even notice the change; that's how fast it happened.
_ _ _
The rustling of leaves, the vivid green of their color, the sway of the branches, and the imposing figure of the trunk—trees were beautiful, and Cassian couldn't help but admire them. Seated on a small rock near the wall of one of the barracks, he waited for another day of training to begin. After experiencing the life of another person, he now saw everything with new light and meaning.
He had always thought trees were beautiful, and he still did, but now he understood there was more to them than their leaves, branches, and trunks. Beneath it all were the roots—what made them grow, what shaped what they became. Unlike the beauty above, roots were unsightly, twisted, and ugly in every way, yet they were the most vital part. After all, what would a tree be without its roots? Nothing.
His thoughts drifted deeper, but the sound of footsteps pulled him back. One by one, the cadets began to arrive, breaking the silence. Cassian's reflection faded as his attention shifted. Soon, he spotted a familiar face.
"Long time no see, Cele."
She gave me a devious smile. "Long time no see? I saw you yesterday!"
"Doesn't count if I don't remember," I said, shrugging my shoulders. "Where's Daniel?"
"What do you mean? He hasn't been attending training for a few days now. Are you really okay, Sian?" She looked at me with concern.
"Yes, just tired."
"Training with Lord Roberto and the squires seems to be too much."
"Maybe. But just because I've been sick doesn't mean I'll go easy on you." I tried to sound confident, though the truth was I hadn't managed to beat Cele once since we started sparring. She was what people called a genius. Even though I trained under Lord Roberto and his squires in swordsmanship, Cele only needed a few exchanges to adapt, and after that, it was impossible for me to gain the upper hand.
"I'll try not to hit you too much today," she laughed, walking toward the center to get in position for the instructor. I stood beside her, and we passed the time with small talk until training began. Running drills came first, then sparring. As expected, I lost to Cele again, but I didn't mind.
When training ended, we walked together toward Lord Roberto's house—her mother worked there too. I glanced at her beside me. She was a little taller than me, maybe because she was two years older. Despite her age, she carried herself with confidence. Born with an ability, intelligent, and naturally gifted, she was a genius in every sense. Yet, according to the older folks, it was a misfortune that Cele had been born a woman.
If she had been born a man, her future would have been secure. She might have become a knight, without a single worry.
As we arrived at the front door, the two guards stopped us. They only allowed me inside while Cele had to wait outside. I entered the house and made my way up to the second floor, toward Lord Roberto's room.
When I drew close, I heard shouting—not cries of panic or pain, but anger. I know that voice. It was Aylin's father. I waited until the door flew open, and a tall, bulky man with scars across his face stormed out. When he noticed me, his eyes narrowed and his hand curled into a fist, but he said nothing. He simply glared and walked past.
Inside, I found Lord Roberto with a plum in one hand and a quill in the other, writing on parchment. He looked up and gave me a soft smile.
"Look what you've done, Cassian."
"I don't understand, my lord."
He held my gaze, then pressed one hand against his face.
"Because of you, one of my subordinates has been consumed by anger." He stood from his chair and stepped closer. "Do you know he had planned to marry his daughter to my son?"
His tone wasn't angry, but I still felt intimidated.
"Speak the truth, Cassian."
"I did, my lord," I said. There was no point in lying.
"Good." He turned back to his desk and sat again. "No need to be so terrified. The only one who seemed interested in that plan was the man himself. I have no intention of letting my son marry a villager girl. Beautiful or not, Aylin has nothing of value to offer."
I stayed silent, unsure how to respond. As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. What could a simple girl offer the son of a knight? But he wasn't finished.
"But she has you now, and you clearly care for her. Unlike her, you have power. You have a future, Cassian."
A few days ago, I wouldn't have seen through his intentions. But I wasn't that naïve anymore.
"My lord, even without a marriage, I will serve you with all my strength."
He studied me for a long moment before speaking.
"I understand. But I can't help noticing there's something in your eyes you desire. If you're going to serve under me, I don't want to owe you anything."
He was sharp, able to see straight through me. Despite my age, he no longer spoke as though I were a child. He treated me as an equal. So I went directly to the point.
"Make Celeste a knight squire."
He didn't look surprised by my request.
"I've thought about it," Lord Roberto said, his voice carrying a trace of pain. "You're young, so you probably don't know what happens to female squires. Those who hold the title of knight usually come from noble families. They enjoy using women and see them as nothing more than objects."
"Then allow her to train alongside me, even if not as a squire!"
He said nothing for a moment, only continued writing. Then he answered:
"No. But you can teach her yourself. From what I've heard, though, it seems you have no talent whatsoever."
It was clear he wouldn't change his mind. Still, I wasn't angry. I knew he only refused for her sake, to protect her.
"I will!" I said, bowing before leaving the room.
Just as I closed the door behind me, I heard Lord Roberto's voice one last time:
"Remember, Cassian. You have strength—not only in body, but in mind as well. Don't let anyone who is not your superior rule over you."