Washing off in the shower the next morning, I could see the extent of Micah's anger. I had large bruises on my upper arm, the outline of Micah's hand clearly visible.

I saw Micah staring at the marks during breakfast, his eyes tortured. I knew he was sorry. He had never meant for things to get so out of control. He only ever wanted to protect me.

Yet, Micah never apologized for his behavior. He pretended like nothing happened, still only speaking to me when he had to. That hurt far worse than any physical pain he could have caused.

As the days continued to pass, things between Micah and I were growing continuously more frigid. Micah had long ago stopped walking me to my training sessions, and I was glad. I enjoyed the solitaire far more than his company.

An apparent rift was beginning to form between us. Between our busy schedules, and Fletcher being assigned additional duties around Tueri, the three of us were rarely together at the same time anymore.

At meals, we sat at different tables. I now spent this time with Dennis. I would occasionally catch Micah watching me crossly from the other side of the cafeteria, but I just learned to ignore him. He didn't get a say in my love life.

The majority of the time, Micah and I would only communicate during my afternoon lessons, most of which were spent with an agitated Micah barking orders at me when I failed to produce magic. He didn't even try to hide his annoyance at my ineptitude now.

"You have to concentrate, Alexis," Micah said firmly, rubbing the bridge of his nose in exasperation.

"Don't you think I am? This is just as frustrating for me as it is for you," she snapped back at him.

"That's doubtful," he muttered.

It bothered me that my magic would surface when I least wanted it to, but when I tried to summon it at will, the power was nowhere to be found. How could I use it in battle if it disappeared any time I actually needed it?

Micah was beginning to lose patience with me, and he was letting it show. He frequently temperamental, and more often than not, left the field in a huff, refusing to even look at me for the rest of the night.

In the evenings, the two of is would simply retire to our bunk where an awkward silence hung in the air. Fletcher was working later and later each night, so he wasn't around much to act as our buffer. Micah would sit on one side of the room and review battle plans, while I studied my textbooks on the other side, before finally going to bed.

Sometimes I was concerned that it didn't seem to bother me more that we were so distant. But then my mind to become preoccupied with some other worry, and our dissipation would be temporarily forgotten.

My nightmarish visions had also continued, but with the tense environment in my team these days, I dared not say a word. Everyone was already losing confidence in my abilities, and I didn't need yet another reason for them to doubt me.

Each night I would lie awake, putting off the inevitable. But, eventually, my exhaustion would consume me, and I would be transported back to the dark castle where I witnessed any number of murders as the King continued his search for me.

I watched as he paced nervously in the castle, twisting his crimson ring for hours at a time, thinking of new plans to capture me. Each morning I would wake up terrified and drenched in sweat. Still, I hid my distress enough to get me through my unrelenting training sessions.

The only relief I felt throughout the stressful weeks was my meetings with Dennis during meditation time. Each day I would walk into the gardens where Dennis would be waiting with a smile. We'd find a comfortable bench or tree trunk, and talk for the entire hour. Dennis had this uncanny ability to make me laugh, even when I was on the verge of tears. I was truly beginning to feel like Dennis was the only person left in the world who understood me.

Dennis and I sat under the shade of an old maple tree, which was beginning to shed its leaves as the cool weather approached. He had his hand interlocked with mine. He rubbed the small, bird-shaped scar on my right hand, comforting me after an immensely difficult day of training.

"I don't understand why I can't gain control of my powers," I admitted, as tears fell down my face.

Micah had spent the afternoon criticizing me about not taking magic seriously, and I had finally reached my breaking point.

Dennis looked at me with his dark brown eyes full of concern and empathy, as though he was able to feel my pain. He brushed my hair behind my ear, wiping the tears from her cheeks with a soft caress of his thumb.

"You can do it, Lexi," he said in a soft voice. "But you need to stop listening to what everyone else is saying and just concentrate. Don't do it because Micah is telling you to, or because the Council expects it. Do it because it's something you want to do; because it's part of who you are."

I let out a soft sigh. This was exactly what I needed to hear right now.

"Thank you," I whispered, resting my cheek on Dennis's reassuring hand.

"You're very welcome," he said, leaning toward me.

Before I even realized what was happening, his lips were on mine in a tender kiss. He pulled away, looking deep into my hazel eyes.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me," he said, turning away.

"Don't apologize," I whispered.

I grabbed his chin and tilted his head up so that he was looking at me. Summoning all of the courage I had, I leaned in for another kiss.

In that moment, it seemed like the world stopped. All of the hysteria and tension that I had been experiencing since my birthday seemed to fade away. Right now, I was just an ordinary girl, kissing an ordinary boy.

I was no longer thinking about all of the people who I had lost or those who had sacrificed their lives to save me. I was no longer concerned with my poor performance in my trainings. I was no longer 'The Redeemer' who was expected to battle the most evil individual in the history of Kapanathy.

For the first time in a long time, I was just Lexi.

That evening after dinner I went to take my usual shower. The day had been particularly exhausting, and I could barely keep my eyes open. I hurried under the warm water, eager to get back to the bunk so I could get some sleep.

I walked back to the room by myself, now confident enough with the layout of Tueri to find my way around. But I stopped short outside of the barrack when I saw that the door was cracked. Muffled whispers coming from the inside of the room, so I leaned in to hear better.

"...not ready. She never will be at this rate," a man's voice vehemently whispered. I recognized the voice as belonging to Patrick. "She is immensely behind in her academics, and I anticipate no improvement based on my observations."

"I agree, it doesn't seem she understands the necessity of this program," Micah said with a sigh. "What do you think Sage?"

"Maybe the problem isn't her. Maybe it's your training methods," she suggested.

"I can assure you my training methods are impeccable, and have been efficient in teaching students for years," Patrick replied, affronted.

"All I'm saying is, if something isn't working, we're just as much at fault. As far as her physical training, I have no complaints. She's doing much better than expected at this stage," Sage said, much to my surprise. I never thought I would see the day when Sage would be praising me.

"Well at least she's doing well at something. So far her magical training is non-existent. If I hadn't witnessed her perform magic myself, I'd never believe she is a witch," Micah admitted in frustration.

"Are you sure the Council thinks she's the one? Her rate of progress thus far is below par. Based on the prophecy, she is supposed to have advanced abilities to aid in the fight, and I haven't seen anything of the sort," Patrick said.

"You haven't even given the girl a chance," Sage argued. "It's only been a couple of months. I say she just needs more time. What do you think, Micah? I mean, you are her protector. The two of you are supposed to have some 'special bond'. Don't you think you'd have known from the beginning if she wasn't the one?"

"I was beginning to wonder that myself, so I met with the Council this morning, and they confirmed that they still think she's the one that the prophecy refers to," Micah replied with an exasperated sigh.

I had heard enough at this point. I stomped back to the restroom in a huff, walking into a stall and closing the door behind me. I was shocked that Micah was questioning my abilities so much that he had brought it to Council's attention. This was the most infuriating thing he had done yet, and that was saying something.

I put my head in my hands, frustrated that my trainers were having a clandestine meeting to discuss what a disappointment I was. If this had been a few weeks ago, I would be hurt by their words. But at this point, I expected as much. I knew that I had been the topic of debate since my arrival in Tueri, but to hear the suspicions for myself was something else altogether. My trainers were the few people I thought I could trust in Tueri. The fact that they were questioning me to this extent felt like a momentous betrayal.

It felt so unfair. I had never asked for any of this. I could easily go back to the mortal world, and live the rest of my life like a normal person, forgetting all about Kapanathy and magic and powerful tyrants. I was doing them a favor by being here. Who were they to doubt my abilities? If I remembered correctly, they were the ones that tracked me down because they couldn't take on King Casimir by themselves. How hypocritical of them to criticize my speed of learning when they repeatedly told me that I was their last hope.

I paced back and forth for several minutes, fueled by my annoyance. I didn't head back to our bunk until just before curfew. Fletcher was already lying on the mattress, fast asleep after a long day in the kitchens. Micah looked up at me from his makeshift bed on the floor, but didn't say anything. He simply ignored me as he went back to viewing his battle plans like I wasn't there.

The fact that he was treating me like I did something wrong, like I had been the one talking about him behind his back, was annoying. But I was filled with a newfound determination to prove everyone wrong, and I didn't have time to waste caring about Micah's judgements.

I sat down on the mattress and immediately opened one of my textbooks. Although we were several chapters into them by now, I started at the very first page and began reading with a renewed vigor. For about an hour, Micah and I sat in silence as he reviewed his materials and I read my chapters, until he finally decided to call it quits.

Although I was exhausted, I forced myself to stay awake and continue studying to the rhythm of Micah's soft snores long after he's gone to sleep. I read through the night, going through one textbook at a time until I was completely caught up on the information and felt as though I could recite it, if necessary.

As dawn approached, I put my shoes on and walked outside, leaving Micah and Fletcher still sleeping in the bunk. The bright colors of morning were barely beginning to show in the horizon as I walked down the deserted road to the communal bathroom. I went inside and splashed cold water on my tired and swollen face, trying to revive my exhausted mind for the long day ahead.

People were just starting to stir in the vacant streets as the early birds headed to the cafeteria for breakfast. I went back to the barrack and grabbed my books, wondering for a moment if I should wake Micah. But my stubborn side still resented him for his conversation the night before. Instead, I closed the door quietly behind me and walked to the cafeteria by myself.

When I walked inside the Mess Hall, I was momentarily thrown. I wondered for a moment if I was in the right place. I was used to a room full of laughing children, each table full, and a long line for food, but not this morning. It must have been too early for most people because the cafeteria was deserted, save for a few sporadic people.

I get in the service line and filled a mug full of steaming hot cup of coffee, and scooped out oatmeal with a side of toast. Then I stood at the front of the room, temporarily puzzled by all of the options for seating. I finally settled on a quiet corner in the back of the room.

I sat down and pulled out my textbooks, giving them a last minute review as I sipped my coffee, the caffeine welcomed to my tired body. I was about midway through my third book when the sound of a tray thumping down on the table made me look up.

"It's a bit early for you, isn't it?" Sage asked, giving me a suspicious look. Beside her was Dennis, looking equally perplexed.

"Yeah, well Patrick has been giving me a hard time about my studying, so here I am," I mumbled groggily.

"You look exhausted," Dennis said with a concerned expression. "Have you been up all night?"

"Yes. There aren't enough hours in the day for everything I need to do," I admitted, stifling a yawn.

"Well, it better not interfere with your workouts," Sage said stiffly. "Speaking of workouts, it's going to be a good one today. I'm not going to tell you, though, because that would ruin the surprise." She gave me a malicious grin.

Oh great, I thought to myself. I had learned that any time Sage smiled, it meant I would be in for a rough morning.

"Where's Micah?" Sage asked.

"I don't know. I'm not his keeper," I muttered as I took another sip of coffee. The words came out harsher than I intended, but I was too tired to try to hide my disdain.

After a few seconds I silence, I looked up at Sage, afraid I may have offended her, but the look on her face was one of pleased disbelief.

" Trouble in paradise with the old compadre, I sense?" Sage asked, pouring sausage gravy on her biscuit.

"Nope," I said with a clipped tone.

I glanced toward Dennis, who was still eyeing me skeptically. I knew he was trying to read my face, to determine what had happened to make me act so strange. I made a mental note to fill him in this afternoon.

For the first time in hours, I laid my textbooks to the side, joining in on the conversation at the table which, to my disbelief, I really enjoyed.

Sage had a completely different personality when Micah wasn't around. Maybe it was because Dennis was there, or maybe it was the gratitude I felt for Sage's support the night before, but for the first time since I arrived, Sage was actually tolerable.

You'd never know it from her hardened exterior and hostile personality, but Sage was surprisingly comical. She was very brusque, but I liked this about her because it left nothing to question. If there was something she didn't like about you, she would be the first to let you know. I decided that I might actually like Sage when she wasn't barking orders at me.

Out of my peripherals, I saw Micah scurry into the cafeteria, his eyes searching frantically around the building. He spotted me at the end of the room and huffed over, irritated.

"There you are, Alexis! I was worried! I woke up and you were gone. Next time can you at least have the common decency of letting me know you're leaving?" he snapped.

The look on Micah's face would normally make me tremble, but I was too drained to care today.

"The girl was hungry, Micah. Cut her some slack," Sage said. "Besides, she's in Tueri surrounded by a hundred thousand protectors. I think she's okay to take a walk without you holding her leash."

Micah stood gaping at us for almost a full minute. Clearly offended that his best friend was taking my side, Micah stormed out of the cafeteria, not even bothering to get breakfast.

I looked at Sage with wide, terrified eyes, but she just smiled at me. "He'll get over it. He always does."

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© Dawn Norwell