I walked to the training area feeling worried. I don't know how many rounds I have run. I stopped counting after a few rounds. I became out of breath and I knew I couldn't complete a simple task assigned to me. I fucked everything up. I just prayed to God that Amir forgive me. I somehow doubt that he had forgotten my falling fiasco. I went inside but didn't touch the equipment because I knew that I had no permission to be practising here. I will try and talk to Amir and if he let me I will finish my rounds. Then I could happily practice. I only hope that I don't fall like last time. Lucien caught me on right time otherwise I might have been injured or something.
I passed my time by watching the birds. I was attuned to nature. I was mostly calm during my visits to the forest for hunting. Those days seem like an activity of the past. Today I only have to sit before the table and the food is served. I hardly doubt it involves at least one per cent effort from my side. Earlier it was me who collected fruits and hunted meat. I was even involved in the process of cooking and cleaning. At the end of the day, it tasted better than anything in this world. On the other hand best food prepared by chefs here doesn't make me smile like my grandmother's cooking. I only marvel at its perfection.
I saw the trainees who were coming to train none of them was surprised because they always saw me first here. I waved at them and a few waved me back.
I saw a tall black guy coming towards me. He was one of the few who would give me passing smiles and is nice to me. He looked like the guy who could give Lucien competition for looks but I think he doesn't want women to be his audience. His killer dressing sense had hinted to me he was gay. He walked towards me and sat near me. I looked at him with an equally friendly smile.
"Are you OK?", he asked me. I nodded my head in response.
"Amir left after you started rounds. I guess he forgot about you and lost track of time. I knew I should have gone to him but you made it to 90 so I thought you will finish it. My bad we all forget that you are human unlike us and built differently", he said.
"Thanks for keeping the count for me Sam I wondered how many rounds I did", I told him.
"I saw someone walking towards me speedily. Boy! They move fast. It was none other than Amir. I stood up to see him better.
"I got worried about you Mara. I wanted to visit you but Lucien would have killed me ", he said slightly touching his jaw. There was a bruise forming there.
"It was a gift from Lucien for being an asshole to you. I deserved it a hundred percentage. I only regretted not talking to you later", he said.
"Mara you are the only human I have trained so I sometimes forget how hard it is for you to catch up with us. You do your training better than those morons over there. I was worried that you will never come to train", he said breathlessly.
"I would never do that. You are the only person who had trained me without because I was a human and a selected girl. You made me believe in myself. I only regret I couldn't complete the task you gave me", I said.
"Don't worry about it I only meant to scare you. I haven't done a harsh punishment on anyone. It's not my style. That's why Lucien hates here he says I'm too lenient on them and I did it to his girlfriend. He is pissed at me. I'm lucky to be alive" he said with a smile.
I decided to ignore the girlfriend comment and chose not to fill in on our relationship status. It will only confuse him more hell I was confused myself. I couldn't put a name on our platonic relationship. I can't even lie that we are friends. In the end, I decided to steer our conversation to safer topics.
"So what am I going today?", I asked him.
"I think today you have to take some rest and return tomorrow. I promise to not make you run rounds or jump fences ", he said with a hearty laugh.
"Please don't make me go back I'm sure of taking a rest. I want to do something ", I begged him.
"Alright Mara, I won't force you to go back but you can't do anything. Just sit here and watch them train", he said.
The idea wasn't bad maybe I should take it easy today. Though they were acting as though I took a heavy blow on my head. But in reality, what happened to me was a mild scratch nothing more.
I decided to sit on the bench and watch the guys when I saw Lucien coming towards us. He was a little angry. I missed him a lot I wanted to hug him but I held myself in check.
"You are supposed to rest ", he said looking at me.
"She is a fighter. I told you she will be back on her feet soon", said Amir.
"I wasn't talking to you", said Lucien his voice dripping with hostility.
"I'm sick of sitting in my room all day long. I want to watch training that way I won't be bored", I told Lucien pleadingly. This was the first time I have spoken guy to him after many days.
" Do whatever you want", he said not pleased. After casting one warning look at me he left. Amir looked at us back and forth.
"Is everything Ok between you?", he asked me. I hesitated for a second. I didn't know the answer to that question.
"We are ok", I said. At least I hoped for us to be ok, if not today someday in future.