Page 77 of A Simple Truth

I had wasted too much of my time relying on so-called teachers and trainers. They didn’t make a promise, I did. They didn’t have to sleep through nightmares of the Rock Quarries, I did.

I could spend days—years for that matter—training, only to stumble when it was time to use my fire to kill.

I clenched my jaw tighter, my dry lips painfully cracking. The unnatural cold air felt suffocating in my lungs as I slowed my breathing.

This idea, this master plan, was an easy shortcut. I’d hunt the Glide and then use my fire to kill it.

A part of me was curious too. I wanted to see that creature, to know what they were past the point of shadows and bones. My eyes darted to the fresh, bloodied, wild hog I had killed. I needed a lure and hoped that it would suffice. I pulled my bow, raising the handmade arrow; another theory I wanted to check.

I long suspected that Basalt Glass did more than stop Destroyers.

Did it work on Insanaria’s creatures too?

I pulled the string back, the arrow tight between my fingers. What was left of the previously large Basalt Glass arrow now served only as a sharp glass tip. I aimed it up, my eyes anxiously scanning the horizon.

“Come on…” I whispered as cold sweat rolled down my back, but my hands didn’t tremble, and my feet were steady.

What was one little black cloud of bones and claws against a fire wielding angry woman? It doesn’t stand a chance.I tried joking to ease the stinging tension, yet the joke fell flat, even to myself.

There.

A shadow. I pulled the arrow taut. My heart thudded loudly, like marching war drums. My blood loudly rushed past my ears.

Clap.

“Liriya, I almost shot you!” I hissed, giving a stern half-second look at the large raven landing at the top of one of the branches. I swallowed, though my mouth was parched, and I could feel something staring back at me from a growing fog. My eyes scanned the surroundings meticulously, coming up empty.

A part of me was a bit relieved that Liriya was here now. “Look at us, two girls just casually hunting cursed creatures at night,” I whispered to myself. Shivers went deep down to my toes, and they almost felt numb from the tension I was holding for too long. “Did he send you to spy on me?” I mumbled to the bird. The hairs on my arms rose, as the temperature dropped below freezing.

Any second now.

“Waiting for anyone in particular?” The General’s husky voice sounded just a breath behind my ear. His sudden appearance startled me, and I foolishly let the arrow fly.

“Oh, fuck me!” I growled in frustration, lowering the now-empty bow. This day was turning progressively worse.

“Is that a request, Finnleah?” the General purred with amusement, taking a step back from me.

“Have you ever considered, General, wearing a bell around your neck so people can tell when you show up?” I spat, hooking the bow across my back, refusing to look at him. My eyes scanned the trees ahead of me, searching for my most prized and now completely wasted arrow.

“And miss watching you get startled like that? Where is the fun in that?” He snickered. His left brow quirked in delight as he noticed the large, dead hog laying not too far from me. “Got hungry?”

“Precisely.” I frowned but started walking, not even sure where, but I refused to stand there with him just a step away.

“What are you doing in the Cursed Forest, Finnleah?” he asked, dropping the amused tone as he lazily followed behind me.

“Hunting,” I replied, lifting my gaze to the top of the trees. The arrow couldn’t be too far between the thick, overgrown plants.

“Hunting?” the General repeated, his dubious tone irking me.

“Yes,hunting. I’ve decided to take my training into my own hands,” I replied, pointlessly scanning the thick tree branches in the dark.

“Was my training not up to your standard?” he asked, jeering.

“I’d say the student is outgrowing the teacher at this point. Plus, it seems you are preoccupied anyway, and I’d rather not waste my time.” I climbed over the large, fallen tree.

“I thought you’d enjoy the morning off. Did you not rest?” he said, still following me. I contemplated running away from him. Getting lost in the godsdamned Cursed Forest sounded like a better option than having this conversation with him right now.

“Oh, I got all the rest in the world, General. Don’t I look so refreshed and rested to you?” I questioned sardonically; my voice laced with bitter sarcasm.

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