Yamal stood frozen as the goons were cut down. Bones crunched. Figures slumped, and through it all, Maiya moved with deadly grace.
Before long, there was only one left. The boy from before. The fool who’d announced so daringly that he’d kill Maiya.
Kill Maiya? Her? Yamal thought wryly. What an absurdity.
Maiya approached the boy slowly, twirling a dagger in her palm.
“So, Camas? What were you going to do to me, again? I’m just a dumb, weak little girl, you see. My memory is just so fleeting. Can you help refresh this girl’s memory?”
A dark splotch appeared on the boy’s pants, and an acrid smell filled the air, punctuating the existing smells of urine and dung.
“H-How? M-Maiya? Is it really…”
“Is it me?” Maiya laughed derisively. “Not the helpless little girl you thought I was, huh? Is it so hard to believe? Well, I can’t blame you. Even I wouldn’t believe me if you told me I’d end up like this a year ago.”
“Please don’t kill me!”
“Kill you? Why, I’d never! No, death would be too easy for someone like you. Your punishment must be more severe! Much more severe.”
Yamal gulped. Was this truly the same Maiya he knew? She had every right to be as callous as she was, but he’d thought her gentler. Incapable of such brutality.
“W-wha-what w-w-will y-you d-d-do—”
“What will I do to you? Well, for starters, how about this?”
Maiya slammed her leg down on Camas’ shin, breaking it with a crisp snap.
The boy howled in pain.
“That was for me. For saying all those nasty things, and for looking at me like I was beneath you.”
For looking at… By Adinat! Yamal gulped. Is this my fate if I anger her?
Maiya stomped up to Camas, placing her boot between his legs.
“And this? This is for Vir.”
The boy’s eyes shot wide in terror.
“No! N-no! PLEASE!”
His scream tore through the alley, and Yamal was sure it reached the farthest reaches of town. For it was the most terrible wail of pain that Yamal had ever heard.
Yamal’s whole body shivered as a cold sweat broke out. Oh, Yuma! Oh, Adinat! She isn’t a woman. She’s a beast wearing human skin!
Maiya was simply far too dangerous to grow close to. Yamal understood that now. To do so would spell his doom.
At the same time, he pitied her. People like Maiya were forever destined to be alone. For what freak of nature would ever be comfortable being friendly with such a monster? With… The Crusher.
He couldn’t think of a single sane individual who would.
Maiya left the boy there, clutching his crotch, and walked over.
“Oh, hi,” Maiya said casually with a wave. “Didn’t notice you guys there. How about we grab a bite to eat? I’m famished.”
Yamal fell to his knees, laughing like a broken doll.
Maiya didn’t need help. She hadn’t ever needed their help. For what use were normal people like him and the Silent One, next to a highly accomplished mejai like her?
75
ORIENTATION CAMP PART TWO (MAIYA)
“Maiya? What in all the realms—”
“Not now,” Maiya said, cutting off Yamal. “We should leave before people start asking questions.”
“Aren’t you worried they’ll just tell everyone what happened here?” Yamal asked, looking at the pile of groaning bodies on the ground.
While Maiya hadn’t killed anyone, she’d certainly roughed them up. Many would require medical treatment.
“Not in the least. Can you imagine what people will think of them if they admit they all ganged upon a helpless girl… and lost?” Maiya asked innocently.
Yamal took a half step back, prompting her to roll her eyes.
“I’m not some feral beast, you know? I don’t bite. Well, I won’t bite you,” she said with a wink, walking over the bodies.
Yamal exchanged a nervous glance with the Silent One before following their mistress.
Maiya hastily departed the alley, ensuring to flip up her hood. Attacking the group had been a risk on her part, but overall, it fit with her goal. If she could take control of Camas’ little posse, it’d give her additional arms and legs within the organization.
Now I just need to make a favorable impression on the Sisters… Wonder how I’ll pull that off.
The clanging of a bell in the distance cut off her thoughts.
“We should probably check that out,” she said.
“Attention. Attention!” A priest was on a raised platform in the town’s central square, waving Initiates down. The platform was a simple wooden affair that looked like it’d been erected specifically for this camp.
“Your next Trial will begin momentarily. Please form up!”
“To be honest… I thought we’d catch more of a break between these Trials,” Yamal commented. “We barely just got done with the last one. The way they’re going makes you think they’re in a rush.”
“Guessing they’re trying to minimize the time they’re here,” Maiya said. “Longer they linger, the more likely the Children will be spotted by passersby. Or at least, that’s what a rational person would do. Who can say with these people?”
“True. So, er, how’d you do?” Yamal asked. “On the Trial, I mean?”
Maiya smirked. “What do you think? No issues here. How about you two?”
The Silent One nodded confidently.
Maiya realized he must’ve written down his responses. It was a good thing he was literate, or his life would’ve been much harder.
To this day, she’d learned very little of the man. He only wrote his thoughts when absolutely necessary, generally preferring to stick to basic gestures to communicate his intent.
That didn’t fool Maiya for an instant. From the way he carried himself to how his eyes sized up every situation before them, the Silent One was intelligent. Perhaps incredibly so. Well trained in the art of combat, too. Many mysteries abounded around the man, and Maiya was determined to get to the bottom of them.
“I think I did alright,” Yamal said. “Your study sessions helped greatly. I’d surely have failed, otherwise.”
“I don’t really think you can fail these Trials,” Maiya said. “They’re using them to determine the pecking order. That’s all. If you do poorly, you’ll likely be relegated to a janitor. Or those people who have to dye the walls with blood.”
Yamal paled. “I’ll be sure to give it my all.”
It only took a handful of minutes for the rest of the Initiates to form up before they were led out of the square, and then out of the small town entirely.
“You don’t think this’ll be like the death march in Jatan Forest, do you?”
Maiya shrugged. It certainly looked like they intended to march them somewhere.
“They’ve covered Knowledge of Doctrine already, which leaves Devotion and Closeness to Ash. A death march certainly sounds like it could be a test of devotion.”
“You don’t sound convinced,” Yamal commented.
Maiya pursed her lips. It was true—what was the point in having them repeat the same exercise? No, she suspected this Trial would be something else entirely.
The group of about fifty Initiates continued their long march, though Camas and his lackeys were conspicuously absent.
Soon, their destination became apparent. Past a copse of trees—too small to be considered a forest—rose a tall cliff that shone brightly under the harsh sun. The prominence was the only one of its sort, rising a hundred paces above the nearby flat scenery.