Chapter 25: Kick The Stranger Out.

AUREN'S POV

"Eat something."

Maelis slid a wooden bowl toward me before sitting across from me.

"I am not hungry."

"You don't have to be, you would need the energy for your training."

She picked up her spoon without looking at me.

"Go on."

I picked up my spoon and my gaze moved round the dining hall, it buzzed with quiet conversations.

Warriors filled the long tables after morning patrol. Hunters laughed over something that had happened before sunrise, a group of young wolves argued over who had finished training first.

Yesterday, I would have smiled listening to them.

Today...The moment I stepped inside, the room had gone quiet.

I wrapped both hands around the warm bowl, steam curled into my face.

My stomach twisted, a few warriors entered carrying fresh bread, one of them looked toward our table.

He started walking over, his friend caught his arm, they exchanged a glance.

Then both of them turned toward another table instead, the empty seats around me stayed empty.

Maelis pretended not to notice.I wished I could do the same.

"You should eat before it gets cold," she said softly.

I forced my spoon into the stew. It tasted exactly the same as every other morning.

Yet somehow, I could barely swallow.

Across the hall, an elderly woman stood with a tray.

Her eyes met mine, she hesitated,then she quietly walked away.

Something inside my chest tightened, a chair scraped across the floor, a little girl ran toward our table carrying a small loaf of bread.

Before she reached us, her father caught her hand.

"No."

"But Papa—"

"Come."

He gently guided her away, she looked back over her shoulder, confused.

I lowered my eyes, the stew blurred.

Maelis finally set her spoon down and placed her hand on my shoulder.

"This isn't about you."

I laughed once, itsounded hollow.

"It feels like it is."

"They're afraid."

"They're afraid of me."

"No."

She shook her head.

"They're afraid of what they don't understand."

"That doesn't change anything."

"No." She sighed. "It doesn't."

Silence settled between us.

***

When breakfast ended, every warrior carried his own bowl to the washing station before leaving.

Nobody left a mess behind, another Emberfall tradition of shared responsibility.

I quietly placed my bowl beside the others, as I turned away, I heard someone whisper.

"I wonder when the stranger amongst us would finally leave us in peace."

Another voice answered.

"You heard what happened at the eastern woods?"

Someone else spoke.

"The Moon Seers pointed at Emberfall"

My feet carried me out quickly, I didn't want to hear the rest.

***

"Training!"

Maelis tossed me my wooden staff.

I caught it awkwardly.

"I thought we would skip today."

She stared at me.

"Why?"

I looked toward the training grounds.

"They don't want me here."

She walked past me.

"Then give them another reason to be wrong."

***

The morning drills had already begun, warriors circled the practice field, pairs sparred while older instructors corrected mistakes.

Near the eastern fence, younger wolves practiced balance by crossing narrow wooden beams.

Every mistake earned another attempt, not punishment.

Maelis pointed toward an open space.

"Same stance, straight up, do not bend or flinch."

I planted my feet.

"Wider now."

I adjusted.

"Bend your knees now."

I obeyed.

"Again."

The staff felt heavier than yesterday.

My arms still ached.

"Strike!"

I swung, it was too slow.

"Again."

Another strike.

"Again."

Sweat rolled into my eyes, my grip slipped, the staff hit the ground, a few warriors glanced over.

Nobody laughed this time, some simply looked away, that somehow hurt more.

I picked it up again.

"Again," Maelis repeated.

My shoulders burned, my breathing lost it's balance.

I struck the wooden target, it was weak.

The sound barely echoed, a voice drifted across the field.

"Why are we wasting time?"

I froze.

An older warrior stood near the weapon racks, his arms were crossed.

"If the eastern border is under threat, shouldn't we be preparing warriors who can actually fight?"

Nobody answered him, he looked directly toward me.

"She's an outsider."

Another warrior shifted uncomfortably.

"We've all got families, I hope the elders are aware of that."

The older warrior nodded.

"Exactly."

He looked toward Maelis.

"We're risking everyone."

Silence spread across the field, I lowered my staff.

Heat crept up my neck as my feet suddenly felt too heavy to move.

Footsteps crossed the sand, every warrior straightened immediately.

"Continue." Ronan's voice wasn't loud.

It didn't need to be, the older warrior bowed his head.

"Alpha."

Ronan picked up a wooden training sword from the rack.

Without another word, he walked to the center of the field, he faced one of the captains.

"Fight with me."

The captain nodded, their wooden weapons collided.

Fast, sharp and controlled. Every warrior stopped watching me, every eye followed the Alpha instead.

The lesson wasn't spoken.

It didn't need to be.

When the spar ended, Ronan lowered his sword.

He looked around the field.

"Danger doesn't wait for anyone, If we stop preparing because we're afraid..."

He rested the wooden sword back on the rack."...then we've already lost, stop pushing blames like cowards, no one here is"

Everyone echoed loudly "Yes Alpha" They bowed their heads and adjusted themselves.

Ronan moved closer to us and stopped one step away from me. "How is training going?"

I swallowed and looked at Maelis, who smiled back at me, like I had impressed her with my terrible moves. "What can I say?, it's been tough but fun".

Ronan nodded and patted my shoulders, "I have been watching you and you are doing, keep it up" He moved closer to me and whispered into my ears "Don't let anything distract you, keep your eyes on what's important"

I nodded and he walked away. Training resumed immediately, everyone moved to their positions, no one said a word till his footsteps faded down the field.

The older warrior who had questioned Maelis quietly picked up his own weapon and returned to practice, nobody talked about me or looked my way again.