Through the Ashes

Aisling and I are laughing, albeit practically falling over each other in exhaustion. She's gotten much better and has been able to submit me multiple times. It started to get dark out, the sunlight fading and torches being lit on the surface so we stretched and ran back to the Crypts. I push open the door to find Ryan bustling around the kitchen.

"Hey guys. Dinner's almost ready. Have fun training?" She asks.

"Yeah, Aisling's getting much better. I was surprised. She got me during sparring more than I'd like to confess," I praise.

Aisling beams and Ryan chuckles, no doubt proud. I don't normally don't admit defeat so easily but I truly am proud of her. After a moment, Ryan drops our plates full of pheasant onto the table. "Eat up, Aisling. I wanna take you to do something tomorrow and you'll need your energy!"

"What about me?" I poke Ryan, frowning.

"Don't worry kiddo. You did the same thing when you were her age." Ryan smiles and I think back about 5 years  and it hits me.

"Ohh you're gonna love this, little sis!" When I was about 15, Ryan took me to a training club, Eclipse, where age didn't matter as long as you had a guardian. Not many know about it, as letting young people wield a spiked club is pretty taboo. There, they have advanced weapons and equipment, a clean gym, and not many supervisors. Aisling will love it. Most of our young lives consist of just waking up, eating, fighting or learning for hours, sleeping, and then repeat. It will be a good chance for Aisling to experience adult stuff like this.

"Don't tell me! I'm going to sleep right when I'm done so tomorrow will get here faster!" She fist pumps and begins scarfing down her food.

Ryan lets out a hearty laugh. "Be careful! Don't wanna choke before you get a chance to see the wonder of tomorrow."

Aisling nods but still eats her food quickly. As soon as she's done, she kisses my cheek, then Ryan's, and races off to the bathroom to get ready for bed.

"Honestly, I will never get tired of that," I chuckle. Then Ryan turns to me, a serious expression on her face. "Where did you take her to train today?"

I furrow my brows at her sudden suspicion. "We just went down to my old academy. We just worked on her tracking skills."

She sighs. "Sam, please don't lie to me."

"I'm not! Go ahead and ask her. She'll tell you the same thing."

"Because you told her to. Last time I went to the academy, I don't remember there being dirt everywhere. I also don't remember tracking practice taking that long."

I wince as I realise she's right. I completely forgot about the brown river bed dust coating our clothes and that tracking practice should definitely not take that long.

"Look she hardly gets out and I know-"

"That doesn't matter! One of you could have gotten hurt."

"Ryan, please. I was watching her the whole time and nothing happened." I try to keep my voice calm.

"But something could have! When your mom and dad gave you to me, I swore to them I would keep you two safe. Don't compromise that!"

"I didn't mean to! We were completely safe. Besides, what would my parents care if they just gave us up in the first place," I mutter dejectedly.

"Samuelle, don't you dare say that! Your parents loved you very dearly. They had no choice."

"Yes they did! If they had two kids, then obviously they were prepared to take us through whatever came our way! You always have a choice." I stand up, my chair scraping against the carpeted floor. "I'm going to bed."