Episode 8 - Feelings

–– RED TEAM POV ––

– Luna! Luna!

Luna was sleeping on her bed. As much as they called her, she couldn't get up. She was tired both emotionally and physically, and there were still a lot of rounds to come. She could only dream about going back home and have a normal life. But those dreams didn't last long thanks to the reality she was living in. Everyday she had nightmares where she died in a match. Everything was starting to be very pressing on her.

– LUNA, WAKE UP!

– H-huh!?

Zorn's scream was enough to scare everyone else. Luna got up the bed as fast as she could.

– Finally! You woke up! Come on, we should go to train.

– Y-yes… y-you're righ… —yawn— you're right, Zorn.

– A good warm up will wake you up.

While Luna scrubbed her face in an attempt to fully wake up, Ethan stood in front on her.

– Are you better?

– Better?

– Wh-what are you doing! I can walk by myself… —she said with a blush—.

– Don't worry, you must be tired from the battle. I was told you didn't have previous training like us, it must've been harsh on you.

Luna's cheeks became red with a blush remembering that particular event.

– Y-yes I'm better! Thanks.

– Great. You couldn't train in that state.

Ethan walked away. Luna stood dumbfounded. But that memory was enough to bring her back to earth. When everyone had their bellies full, they made their way to the training center. There they walked to an empty space. There were a few weapons on the floor and training dummies.

– Ooooh, Ethan!

– That voice…

Regina pounced on Ethan, right in front of everyone.

– Ethan I can't keep up without all of you! I'm ALONE!

– Regina… don't worry…we'll find a way…

– Excuse me… —Luna stood in front of her— I'm sorry, but my team must go to train.

– Sorry?

– Girls, don't start…

– R-Regina… —a sweet voice said behind Regina— let's go to our team…

– Tch.

Regina rolled her eyes and turned back to walk away. Agatha tried to calm her down, but her voice was so light it didn't have any effect. Luna and Ethan just sighed. Team 1 started their training with all of their energy.

–– BLACK TEAM POV ––

Selene stood in front of the door and looked at her team. Breathing in deeply she cleared her throat before starting to talk.

– So… the next round is Siege. Is anyone familiar with this term?

Someone raised their hand.

– Me. —said Stephen— is about conquering the 3 points in the map.

– Good, from what region are you from, Stephen? Is noticeable you know a lot about this. —questioned Selene—

– .… I prefer not to say it. —he looked elsewhere—.

In a corner of the warehouse there was a shadow. Said shadow was squatting down in the floor, looking towards the wall. Selene got closer to her, posed her hand on her shoulder and noted how she was strongly shivering. The girl raised her head and looked at Selene terrified. Selene didn't know how to react. Internally, everyone was going through the same, it was just that some could hide it better than others.

Those eyes filled with terror made Selene back out. She felt how those feelings were being transferred to her. She closed her eyes and gulped down. She couldn't allow the fear to overpower her. She was a leader. She needed to be an example for her team. She couldn't show weakness in front of them.

– Don't worry! We all are the strongest soldiers of our regions, right? That means that all of us are equally strong. So I trust in all of us.

– You're really optimistic, aren't you? If all of us are the strongest soldiers, shouldn't we train to be stronger than them? —questions Stephen—.

– Yeah but… —Chad looked to the floor, he felt as if all the optimism was snatched from him—.

– Guys, don't fight. —intervened Selene— I'll go out to get some fresh air.

Selene took her violin and got out of the warehouse. She stood in front of a tree that was in front of the warehouse. Taking out her violin, she put it on her shoulder and started to play. The coliseum was empty. All the teams were training or planning their strategy on their respective warehouses. The sound of the violin resonated in all the place. The tall and concise walls helped to create a perfect echo for it to be heard everywhere. Selene has always been a music prodigy. But her region was attacked and she was forced to become a soldier. She swore on her life to become the strongest soldier of Raela. And she did exactly that.

– Brings back memories hearing you play, Selene.

Selene turned around at that voice. Seeing him, she smiled brightly.

– Me too, Dorian. Remember when were all together? We went to school and were happy, no soldier business.

– Yes… —he got closer to her and stood next to her, looking at the sky—. I remember it, Selene…

– And I remember him too…

Selene looked down. Sadness took ahold of her. She noticed how tears started to pool on her eyes. At that, she tried to dry them. Dorian got closer and hugged her. Feeling his warmth, she couldn't hold on her tears anymore and started to cry. Amidst that, she noticed a figure getting closer to them and opened her eyes in surprise, quickly moving away from Dorian.

– Z-Zorn…

– So it was you who was playing the violin. It could only be you.

– S-so you heard it too…

Zorn looked up to the sky, smiling.

– It brought back memories. Thanks to you I had the best childhood I could ever have.

A new bout of tears started to flow. Selene was full of emotions in that moment. She felt sad, happy, scared, angry… as if everything was just one big emotion.

– Zorn. —Dorian got closer to him— I can't believe I'm gonna say this but… —he stretched out his hand— good luck on the battlefield. I won't lose to you.

– You haven't changed at all, Dorian. —he shook his hand— may the best one win. —he smiled—.

Zorn continued going on his way. Dorian felt great sorrow. He couldn't imagine having to fight a life or death battle against Zorn, his best friend.

– Selene, let's go back.

– No… —she cleaned her tears— I'll take a bit more time.

Selene took her violin again and put it on her shoulder. She closed her eyes, still filled with tears, and started to play. Her songs just made the wounds of her heart to open up again. Tears fell down at the same rhythm of the song. Dorian couldn't leave her alone, so he just stayed behind her, appreciating the melody that resonated in the coliseum.

Kiera got up the corner she's spent almost all day in. the melody was enough to make her confident in herself. She ran out of the warehouse and seeing Selene playing, she ran up to her and hugged her tightly. Selene opened up her eyes in surprise and stopped playing, turning around to see who hugged her. She felt her heart skip a beat seeing it was Kiera, the same one who filled her with terror, the one who was behind her, crying, and hugging her with all her strength.

Selene smiled. Gave Dorian her violin and gently hugged Kiera back. She caressed her hair, letting her know that was safe in her arms. Kiera was crying loudly. She was scared, but that melody made her remember why she was there, why she became a soldier in the first place. And everything was for a sole purpose: to save her region.

The match's day arrived. The Red Team and Black Team met each other in the coliseum. Both teams were in front of their respective pods, ready to enter the virtual world. They were just waiting for the robotic voice to officially start the match.

Zorn turned quickly to where the Black Team was. He got closer to Selene and hugged her tightly.

– Thanks for everything.

Selene gulped down. She did everything she could not to cry. So, she smiled. Zorn walked back with a smile on his face. Selene did the same. She said goodbye to him with the best smile she could give him.

TO BE CONTINUED.