Nova Arc 6

NOVA

The following morning came. I was exhausted. I could barely stand. All around me lay the bodies of several unconscious soldiers. Delion arrived late,his eye's widened as they fell on me.

"Nova?"

Other soldiers stood around me, watching me as I panted and fought to stay afoot.

"Well? Is this...is this good enough?! I...I fought..."

Sheer exhaustion sent me careening to the floor, and I passed out not long after.

Several hours must have passed whilst I was out. I can never know how much time passed,but I do know that was the first time I laid eye's on you. When I slipped in and out of consciousness, your glistening emerald eye's were the first things I saw.

When I awoke a few days later,My head ached. Delion sat beside my bed,shifting closer as I rose.

"Hey hey easy there. You've been out for a few days."

"I won our bet."

He was silent for a few moments. "That you did. As a man of my word...I've accepted you to join the military. You have the next few days off until your training begins."

"No."

"I'm sorry?"

"My training starts today. Right now."

"Nova you can barely stand."

"I'm fine." I said,forcing myself to my feet. I struggled to keep my legs from trembling beneath me. "See? I'm standing just fine. Now take me to training."

Delion took me to the training area,where my life in the army officially began. The training was rigorous, brutal and unforgiving. Hours upon hours of running laps, constant climbing over obstacles, crawling through mud. Few hours of sleep, only to repeat the cycle once more. I was glad I had no taste, because apparently the food in the army was absolutely horrible back then,but I still gorged myself silly. I couldn't taste it. It didn't fill me,but it gave me a much needed energy boost.

So my days would repeat,over and over again. My body grew more fit over time, and I'd spend days training both my body and mind. Meditation and a couple sit ups or push ups a day.

Running laps until I could only crawl. I'd push my body to it's absolute limit,until my muscles ached and I could barely move.

I'd catch whole days of sleep, forcing myself to go back to bed after being woken up by nightmares. Months passed. I had only barely been managing to pay for mothers hospital fees,but I managed nonetheless.

The other older men would pick on me. "Accidentally" spill their drinks on  me, trip me so I dropped my lunch.

It became increasingly difficult to stay afloat,not only emotionally but physically. Then there was my hunger. Every night my stomach growled,begging for more food. I hadn't eaten or had my first taste of human flesh in months now. I'd been trying my best to suppress it, forcing myself to eat something I couldn't taste day in and day out.

I would curl up in my bed,clutching my gut as it pained. Drool fell from my mouth by the gallons with every time I saw a human in sight. I'd sit and watch the other soldiers, while they ate,filled their gullets to the brim whilst mine remained empty.

"Hey."

Your voice. That was the first time I heard it. It's changed since then,but that was the first time I truly met you. You stood there with that steaming bowl of stew,placed it in front of me,with a smile so bright I was almost blinded by it. Your hair was still long back then,gold locks stretching down behind your back.

I met Elena that day. She took me away from all the others,outside on the grass where she handed me the bowl.

"I don't see you eating with the others.  Also you're so young! Papa says you're my age, so what are you doing in the army?"

"I need money..." I said as I took a spoonful of the stew. Still...nothing. I let out a sigh and downed the whole stew then set it down on the grass.

I remember Elena looking at me as If I were some madman.

"You should be careful! That was hot!"

"Didn't taste hot to me."

We sat together outside,watching the stars above us.

"My name is Elena! What's yours?"

"Nova..."

"That's a cute name!"

"Cute?"

"Yeah cute! Like a puppy!"

"You'd name a puppy Nova?"

"Yeah? Why not?!"

This girl was far too cheerful for her own good. I knew all too well what happened to cheerful people in this world.

Elena looked up,staring at the stars above her. I'd never spoken to a girl before in my life. Or in my death in this case.

"Hey, have you ever tried counting the stars Nova?"

"No. That's dumb. You'd either lose count or you'd forget which stars you counted already and get confused."

"Giving up already? You didn't even try silly!"

She pointed upward and started counting. I watched her with the most curiosity I'd ever observed anything in my life. I felt as though I was observing a special specimen. Girls were...strange.

"Child!"

Both Elena and I turned our heads in the direction of the voice. Delion stood,his armour strapped on and weapon on his waist.

"Get ready. We're moving out to your first battle."

"A skirmish?"

"Nope. An open battle kiddo."

Delion turned around and began walking away and his words lingered in my mind.

We're sending you to the front lines.

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