✦ 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ✦

Thirty Two

"You train quite a lot, don't you dearest?"

Mala skeptically squinted her eyes at Nyx.

"Was it obvious?"

Nyx shrugged.

"More or less so. I was wondering if you'd like to see how the fae of this world train. To you know—compare techniques."

It didn't take long for her to come up with an agreeable deduction and she nodded her head in answer.

"Though—one question. Do the fae and Illyrians here actually fight wars or battles?"

Through skimming a few history books she had learned information of a war that had to do with Hybern, though the information on the subject was sparse and little.

Nyx clicked his tongue and she could feel his presence pulsing at the back of her mind, however attempts to break through her mental walls were nonexistent from him surprisingly.

"There are indeed wars and battles here. One of the main aspects of Illyrians in general is to fight them for the Night Court; though it takes a bit of persuasion to get them to support us fully most of the time," he huffed as he explained.

From Mala's past experience with Illyrians she could see where Nyx's attitude against them was coming from nevertheless. That one male—Cathán—put a stain on the way she viewed Illyrians of the like. She was still contemplating if she should sort Nyx with the likes of them, but his stance with her was much too different than those of full-bred Illyrian genetics.

"Have you ever fought in a major war?" she asked him, eager to learn more of his past that she hadn't already seen.

Nyx shrugged his shoulders up and down, "A few minor ones, but nothing that crucial. The world has been quite peaceful lately, minus the meddlesome Autumn Court."

With his last statement he made sure to look Mala in the eye. He certainly didn't like her thinking to involve herself with the Autumn Court. She remembered to keep that in mind for future reference.

Despite having had a majority of her energy drained from the night before, sleep had rejuvenated a small amount of it. Enough so that the idea of training made her eyes gleam with delight. It had been some days since she had last done any sort of practicing drills.

Contradictory to the fact that she didn't feel Nyx intruding in her head, he seemed to sense her follow up question.

"May I show you to the training area my dear?" he questioned and offered a hand to Mala, ever so chivalrous.

"I'd like that, thank you my prince," Mala giggled at his overdramatic charm, taking his hand before she paused.

"I should like to dress before going out though—oh, and what shall I wear?" she tapped her chin with the tip of her finger.

The shadows around Nyx became more prominent as he unexpectedly disappeared into the darkness that was surrounding him. Mala blinked in surprise and waited until he appeared. The same as he was only mere moments ago, the only differentiating feature was that he had clothes draped over his muscled arm.

"I don't believe Mor picked out any Illyrian leathers for you, so I took a guess at your measurements and picked out a pair for you," Nyx held out the leather outfit to her.

She plucked the tunic from his arm, thanking him before making her way to his giant closet to change. The leather pants and shirt were tight, and outlined her figure excellently much to her astonishment. Along with that, despite that the outfit was made from leather, it was shockingly moveable and she was able to be as flexible as she liked without ant restrictions. Ideal for the type of training she was geared towards.

Naturally, Nyx was still waiting for her by the time she waltzed back into the background. This time when he offered his calloused hand to her she grasped it purposefully before he winnowed them away.

The difference between the first and latest times she had winnowed between places was astounding. The first time was an experience she had never wanted to relieve and the sickening feeling made her nauseous just thinking about it. The latest of course, went by in just a second and it barely passed her mind that it felt almost normal to winnow around. Too normal. The constant chant that she had to get home was still loud, clear, and going strong within the walls of her head. She mustn't get used to life in Velaris, she had to keep searching for a way home.

But just this once, she allowed herself a reprieve. A break, if nothing else a way for her to get out her anger and pent up energy, or whatever was left of it, and moreover find another way to control and channel her powers.

Nyx pressed a chaste kiss to her hand before letting it fall back to her side and then motioned with his same hand to the training grounds of which they had traveled to. Her hand tingled from where his lips had landed on it, but she stood her ground and swept her eyes around the landscape. A feminine voice unexpectedly sounded from behind the both of them.

"Nyx?"

~tev <3