I WALKED AROUND the statue, stopping at the front again, marveling at the craftsmanship displayed.

Eyes trailing over the expression held in those marble eyes, I couldn't help but feel inferior.

"You can say what you're thinking, you know," Lucas encouraged, his voice sounding farther away, as he pushed from the wall, folding his arms, soft gaze settling on me.

"I know you said you like it, a huge relief by the way," he grinned shortly, "but I want to know what you think of it," he finished, his smile fading into a more spaced, curious look.

I glanced over at him at this remark, managing to initiate a small smile I thought would ease him into firmly believing I did quite like this gift, before looking back at the statue in a thoughtful haze.

"She looks so-" I began hypnotically, taken again by the sculpture, signing as I studied her stone face. My gaze trailed back to him, uncertain of the right word-"brave." I finished.

Gaze traveling up the statue too, Lucas moved toward me, "It's nothing I can't see you in you right now," he gushed with a slight shrug.

I couldn't help but snort amusedly, stepping closer to the statue, eyes trailing down the spear. I grazed the slab the sculpture sat on, steady and firm in her hand.

It looked like she had held it a thousand times. Like it was part of her now.

Releasing a short riddled breath at the thought, I moved on, marveling at the craftsmanship and the details of the fine lines on the spear. Mr. Ogustus was definitely Lucas' mentor.

It was something that was quite cleary seen, yet there was a difference in the sculptures.

Mr. Ogutus made his like he was doing it from a memory, or from a picture he had seen a long time ago. Lucas brought out the fact that the muse was still alive, and still ruling, her hand around that beautiful spear to this day.

This made a small smile appear for a second on my face, life. That's what Lucas' sculptures looked like- like they still had life, and hope.

"This," I signed, my fingers trailing gently down the length of the detailed spear, "makes her look like a warrior,' Inbreathed lowly, trying to form the words through the signs.

"L-Like someone who could win a battle," I finished, turning to face him slightly, uncertain if I had made any sense, and outrightly embarrassed that he would see what was going on inside me.

That I felt inferior to a statue of me.

Like the lesser being,

Not to say that I wasn't thrilled he saw me differently from the rest of the world, as if he opened the door to who I was inside, whilst others only watched through a window, but rather, It was a feeling that was quite hard to describe.

A feeling of not being able to reach those expectations that he had seen in me, was what was bothering me now.

These feelings were only squashed by thoughts or ridicule, calling myself pathetic for thinking like this, like I was ungrateful for not just accepting this gift.

I should be happy, and here I was, developing even more insecurities. My life was not like the movie I expected.

I was not the shy heroine who turns brave after thirty pages, no-

I would like to believe I was learning, and yet sometimes it felt like I hadn't even passed square one.

"I'm sure you've won many battles," Lucas suddenly stated, his hazel eyes a thoughtful glimmer, studying my face.

I snorted at the absurdity, laughing it off.

[I can barely throw a fist,] I signed.

He chuckled at this too, looking quite amused by the statement I must say, before glancing back up at the statue before us.

"There are many kinds of battles, Crazy locks," he began, his tone soft, as he let out a low breath, "some of the fists, which you sadly haven't encountered yet," he grinned to which I chuckled, "not that they're any fun," he huffed, "swollen face, black eyes, sore muscles, wounds.." he trailed off listing, "yeah you're not missing out on anything there," he added with a puffed out tone, successfully launching a wider smile on my face.

"However, there are others, some emotions, everyday trials that life throws your way. If you've made it here, to Kingsland-You've definitely had a few," he mused, sideglancing my way,

I held his gaze for a moment, before my eyes dropped lower, clearing my throat as I mindlessly stared back at the sculpture before us.

I understood exactly what he meant by that.

It was a struggle for almost every convert to make it to Kingsland. It was no secret that the outside world was a hard place for them- I guess I should say for us- now that I know I'm a convert too, and yet it still felt so strange acknowledging that.

I had been 'human' for all my life.

I did not experience what Claire had to go through or hunted down like Lucas had been.

My life was smooth sailing all the way.

There hadn't been any battles for me. Coming to Kingsland was like everything else, it was merely handed or brought upon me.

I didn't have to struggle or lift a hand.

I pursed my lips, swallowing dryly, still staring ahead lifelessly, feeling more out of place than ever before, if felt like I was an imposter here.

Making him believe I was something I was not. I frowned at the thought, my gaze lowering to the ground.

"Talanda- " Lucas began, and I jolted towards him again, dragging myself out of my head, blinking cluelessly at him. He studied my face in amusement, shaking his head, "if it bothers you that much, I could teach you," he offered, before pausing eyes shining, " I quite like the idea actually," he stated.

I stared blankly back at him, still not following. "teach me what?" I signed.

"To win a battle," he replied with a chuckle, "or to throw a fist," he huffed, gaze narrowing into thin air, "yes, that seems like something I should teach you to do first," he joked, " it's not a battle without a fist fight."

The thought crossed my mind for a second.

Me? Fight?

Combat.

A skill I had once upon a time fantasized I could acquire after watching almost every Jackie Chan movie ever to exist.

Yes, back when I  was twelve I was convinced I could be the next child martial arts prodigy- but after a test run with Zali, it was quite clear I was better suited to find other talents for my two left feet.

I chuckled at the thought, glancing at Lucas, once more, shaking my head, right about to decline.

"I could see you in the arena- maybe joining the trials.." Lucas prodded on, squinting as he gauged my reaction, to which I offered him a humourous look.

He grinned at this, "I think you would be badass in there, " he added, looking up at the sculpture.

I stared at the side of his face for a moment, at how radiantly he looked at the sculpture.

"Did I mention- I'm a really good teacher?" he added, recapturing my gaze.

I pursed my lips for a second.

My eyes narrowed on Lucas thoughtfully, "You're a green-" I signed,

"and an Original, which is a very good combination, by the way, some would even say the best kind if you're looking for a mentor," he joked cheesily.

I rolled my eyes in return, knowing I had missed goofy Lucas Bowne.

He sideglanced my way, pursing his lips.

"Plus," he trailed off, his smile fading, "It will give me an excuse to spend more time with you," he added, his tone lower, eyes reaching for mine.

My heart softly rattled against my chest at his words, "I'm afraid if we don't spend more time together, David going to take my place as your best friend, and you have to understand Talanda, I really, really like being your bestie," he mused, causing me to chuckle at this.

"And I don't mind dropping him off in the middle of the fareborn forest if he dares take my place, he doesn't seem like he enjoys the outdoors."

I laughed at this, shaking my head. It was no secret David was more of the indoors study geek than the outdoors which Lira would be more accepting of.

It was a decision I had to make now.

Heaven knows that I needed to learn how to protect myself, especially when

- memories flashed in my head-

THREATS like HIM, existed all around me.

Just the thought of him made my heart beat faster.

I rubbed my wrists, pushing the sleeve further out to cover the stupid weird-looking circle mark, before looking back at Lucas nodding.

"Fine-" I signed, his eyes brightening, "for David's sake," I added, "he cannot survive a night in there alone."

he chuckled at this nodding, "great," he grinned, "we can do practice tomorrow. I know the perfect place," he added,

"Don't we have classes?" I signed, folding my arms.

"We do," he huffed, " but with preparations for the Games on Wednesday, and the match on Tuesday, Monday learning will probably not be as intense. Plus- I don't think ditching would be too much of a hustle for you,' he added with a wink as we walked toward the door, beckoning me through.

I rolled my eyes at this. You ditch class one time, and now you're the ditching Queen.

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