Page 74 of The Ninth Element

“I’ve been in the library a lot lately,” I confess, feeling my melancholy vibrating from my body.

“And food, apparently, has become your mortal enemy. I don’t ever see you in the kitchen anymore. And why is everyone avoiding the communal hall? I miss our fireside chats with the Izadeonians.”

Her words hit hard, bringing back memories of the cozy evenings we spent around the warm glow of the fireplace. But I shrug and say nonchalantly, “Everyone’s been very busy lately.”

Lila’s gaze sharpens as if she can see right through my casual act. “Has something transpired between you and the Izadeonian three?”

“Or course not,” I blurt out, but my voice is high-pitched and forced.

Lila arches an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced by my hasty denial. “If you insist. But should any discord have arisen—which it hasn’t, according to you—I wouldn’t be surprised. Men, in my experience, are as trustworthy as a fox guarding a chicken coop. One should never become too entangled in their affairs.”

“I’m not entangled with their affairs. We’re just allies,” I say defensively. But the words sting a bit. The truth is, Iwantedto be entangled in their affairs. Ilikedbeing entangled in their affairs. It meant we were more than just allies. It meant I was a part of their inner circle.

Lila gives me a look that screams,“I’m not buying your act,”but she’s kind enough not to say it out loud. “Good. But even if you have allies, don’t put all your eggs in one basket—especially when it comes to men’s basket. You should branch out a bit and build connections beyond those three fools.”

I frown. “And who, exactly, am I supposed to befriend? It’s not like there’s a queue forming for Arien’s best friends.”

“Well. There’s always me,” she says matter-of-factly.

I blink, feeling a bit taken aback. “Um, I thought we were already allies.”

“Are we?”

“Wait, are we not?”

Lila purses her lips. “Hmmm, let’s see. You never really reach out to me unless you’re with the Izadeonians. It’s like I’m the awkward fifth wheel on your already wobbly four-wheeled wagon.”

I stare at her, mulling her words in my head. She’s not wrong. But it never occurred to me that she’d be interested in, well,me,outside of our shared alliance. Now that I think about it, she’s the only Kishi left. And she has made several attempts to engage me in conversations. The irony of the situation isn’t lost on me. Me, dismissive of someone else?

I stare at her, mentally face-palming myself for my social ineptitude and struggling to find the words to convey my thoughts. “I’m sorry. I tend to avoid… imposing on others.”

“I know. That’s exactly why I’m taking the initiative once again. I wouldn’t have if I knew you were doing this on purpose. If you’re in need of a friend, a confidante, I’m here. But only if you reciprocate. You’re not imposing when someone extends a hand.”

This whole situation is as awkward as a fish in a ballroom, but Lila seems unfazed by my silence and hesitation. “I’m a veritable fountain of fascinating conversations and social connections, just waiting to be tapped.”

I can’t help but admire her confidence. This tiny woman seems completely free of self-doubt. She knows her worth and doesn’t let anyone else’s opinions define it. If I turn my back right now and walk away from her, she’d probably just shrug and laugh at how silly I am rather than blaming herself for why she extended a friendly hand to me. Meanwhile, I’m here, overthinking every social interaction like it’s some deep statement about my worth and constantly stressing over what others might think of me.

“So, now that we’ve established my fabulous personality and your desperate need for new friends, how about I introduce you to my adoring entourage?” She gestures dramatically toward… well, open space as if a whole crowd of admirers is about to appear.

I can’t help but chuckle. “I’m intrigued. Lead the way.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

The washroom Lila dragged me to, across the fortress and in the depths of the southern wing, is a scene out of a luxurious painting, not at all like our grimy contender accommodations.

The sheer opulence—gleaming marble, a pool-sized tub, and a fountain with steaming, fragrant water—makes my eyes wide. It is like a mirage in this desert of dust and sweat. It is clearly designed for high-ranking Martyshgards, not lowly contenders like us.

I’d never seen Lila fraternizing with other female contenders left in the competition before, yet they are all here—a secret society of soap and suds that I had not known about. And they are all completely unclothed, radiating an air of unapologetic confidence.

My brain screams:Look away, look away!

Old habits die hard, especially when those habits were instilled by the modesty-obsessed Fire Temple. We weren’t allowed to bathe together, our uniforms were designed for maximum coverage, and even casual wear was strictly regulated. Yet I am somehow now naked in this bath and trying to keep my eyes averted from the beautiful bodies around me.

The water is divine, though—warm and fragrant, a soothing balm for my frazzled nerves.

“It’s not so bad, is it?” Lila asks me.

I nod with a smile before glancing around and taking in the scene again.Samira and Olanna look relaxed and at ease. And why shouldn’t they be? Olanna is currently second on the leaderboard, after Zanyar, and shares that spot with Faelas. Samira is sharing the third spot with Bahador.

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