"You fail," aunt Gloria says after Hewlett reaches Darren. I, I didn't know it was a race. I thought we had to chase him in these, I thought this was strength training.
"I didn't know it was a race."
"It wasn't. You failed for a whole other reason," says aunt Gloria.
"What's the reason then!?"
"Pay attention mwaiche*, have you already forgotten where you are?" Darren asks. My eyes quickly drop to scour the ground.
He's right. I'm not home anymore, things can go south for me in milliseconds when around people like aunt Gloria. "I'm sorry for being rude." I finally say. Aunt Gloria didn't seem to mind what I just said though; but Darren took it so personally. My eyes continue to scour the ground, hoping they don't meet his.
Darren's anger isn't burning as strong now.
"I'll tell you the reason you failed after we've eaten. But like I said, you won't be allowed to eat. I was bluffing, initially but I warned you about running your mouth at me," aunt Gloria says. "…Your Master would be disappointed."
!...
I…I, I don't want to believe her, it hasn't been too long since I left the village. Have I already forgotten what Master Dell has taught me? I twist my wrist to get a feel of how heavy they are, mhhm. They've been reset to their original weight. …I really have failed.
I never wanted to come here; Master Dell forced me. He forced me because I was weak! C-calm down. I'm still in front of Darren and aunt Gloria.
"Hey…, where's the bathroom?" 'Yeah, I'll tell you about it after I'm done taking a shower'. No, it doesn't sound like me at all. I have to make it shorter.
Oh, Hewlett's not here. He left to shower after he passed, while I've been stuck here failing. I pick myself up and start heading for the fourth door to my right.
I push the door only to find Hewlett about to leave. "Hey Yori, you…you done with training?"
"Yeah, I'll tell you all about it after I take a shower." He can tell. This conversation didn't go the way I hoped it would. Even his pace seems to have slowed down. Don't say anything Hewlett, I'm embarrassed enough already. Don't make me tell you any of it.
"Oh, okay," Hewlett turns around to answer. "Uhhm… you'll find me outside then," he says as he closes the door behind him.
'He's finally gone,' I sigh.
Even having a normal conversation is difficult for me after what aunt Gloria said. I didn't know things would get like this. He never told me! All he said was that this errand would help me get stronger. And I took his word for it and ran…
Hewlett's really good at this, he said the training under The Faith was similar. I should finish up before they all sit. Worst case scenario is me walking to them while they all stare at me. Damnit! Why did I have to screw things up at the start?
Deep breaths… calm down. Please calm down.
"I'm done."
"You've been in there for almost an hour, but it looks like you're ready to hear it," aunt Gloria says. "For someone who was just posted as a village guardian, your Master taught you well. And aside from your disrespectful tone; the only problem that I had with the way you went about training was you not using any of the things you were taught." A sudden rush went through my mind.
That was why I couldn't do it. I'm not stupid! But what I did was stupid. "I think I understand."
"Good," aunt Gloria says. "We'll continue training in the next twenty minutes." Does she just know that I can tell they've eaten? She isn't just strong; this feels more like extreme confidence in herself.
"I am glad," Hewlett says. "You seem more like yourself now." I knew he noticed. Just like how aunt Gloria could tell that I knew they'd eaten.
More than that, Hewlett's right. If training is going to be anything close to earlier, then I've got this in the bag!
The weights from before got heavier if you tried to use amaka in a certain way. But that's only the major way you can carry them if you don't have the physical strength to do it. Should I ask Hewlett how he did it? I should've asked him in the bathroom. Anywhere without aunt Gloria and Champo.
I'm not dumb. I know what he did. His amaka was circulating too fast to get syphoned… It's just harder to copy so I won't even try to use it.
"Okay… your ten minutes is up," says aunt Gloria. I really don't think it is— "You still have your weights on. But this time, instead of catching someone who isn't moving, Darren will be moving too. To make this-remotely-fair, Darren will be wearing weights too." So-Darren is as strong as he acts. Can't seem to find a single reason to get along with him. Just hearing his name's making me angry. "There are only three rules to this. One, if either of you catches him, you both pass." Holy glazing. Sounds amazing but Darren can't really be that strong.
"Two," aunt Gloria goes on to say. "There's no time limit. But I won't be offering anyone food until this training is finished. And finally, if your weights get too heavy to carry. You both fail." Sounds like she's talking to me. Jokes on her, I won't let that happen again. "Now… Begin!"
Whatever made the weights lighter is immediately undone. My muscles stiffen to bare the load. Of course she'd do something like this.
But…I'll start this off strong.
LYCAN DANCE!