Ramon gasps, waking up with cold sweat dripping down her face.
There's a gentle hand that taps her shoulders--Ramon turns her head to see Clarke, sitting by her bedside, a newspaper forgotten at the side of Ramon's bed.
Ramon looks around her--at the white bed she lies on, the small dresser beside her, and the dark curtains hiding her from the world. She realizes that she is in the infirmary and that by the way Clarke is patting Ramon's shaking shoulders, trying to calm down her beating heart, she is alive.
"What happened?" Ramon asked, grabbing Clarke's hand and squeezing it. "Where is Zayn, and shortcake, and chicken-guy--and-?"
"Zayn is with the captain; Amur and Clarke got a day off from training and--." Clarke pauses before she continues. "There weren't any other survivors except for you four."
Ramon stares at Clarke, then her scratched-up and bruised hands, clenching them into fist as she closes her eyes, her short and round eyebrows scrunched up in emotions.
"I'm assuming you saw the fox..." Ramon asked. "I lied on my application about my magic. Cursed magic is looked down upon, so I'm assuming I'll need to pack my bags soon."
"You can, if you'd like." Clarke said, offering Ramon a friendly smile. "But you are a very talented knight, who so far has not used their power for evil. I'd have nothing to punish you for."
Ramon blinks, her eyes wide as Clark points to the twin swords sheathed at her back.
"One of my swords is legend to have a cursed demon inside it." Clarke said. "It was gifted to me, but I still use it. I wouldn't be any better."
Ramon nods but stays silently.
"However, my next question determines much of what happens next." Clarke asked, sitting up straighter with her hands folded on her lap, her black armored shirt causing her movements to sound heavier. "How long do you have left?"
Ramon looks away, eyeing the ground beside her.
"We both know cursed demons take life spans." Clarke said. "And it appears to me this isn't your first use."
"I've summoned about five of them..." Ramon mumbles. "The nine-tail was the last one so far. I'm not sure, but probably a few years."
"You do realize continuing as a knight could have dire consequences." Clarke said, her face mixed with worry. "Is your life worth risking for knighthood?"
"You've asked yourself the same question." Ramon said. "What answer did you conclude?"
Clarke sighs, running a hand through her short red hair.
"A born knight would act the same." Clarke said, a small smile on her lips. "Yet, be aware there is nothing wrong with enjoying the years you have left in peace."
"My clan, nor my life has never known peace." Ramon said. "So why not just use this life to give someone else more borrowed time? I'm a lost cause, anyway."
Clarke smiles at Ramon, yet this smile seems saddened and damped in pity.
"This week, recruits are going to be assigned a squad." Clarke said. "As you know the process, once recruitment ends and the knights settle in, they now are selected by each squadron's leader as a part of their team."
"Yes..." Ramon said, raising an eyebrow. "I forget that's this week."
"Right, well I did have some thought, and summoning a nine-tail fox requires extreme magical talent." Clarke said. "I am not sure if Lia would be willing to, but she may be invested in teaching you some summoner magic."
Ramon raises an eyebrow, beckoning Clarke further.
"I-I'm a bit confused." Ramon said. "Where is this conversation leading to?"
"Well..." Clarke smiles, pointing to herself. "You'll already know the other recruits invited, but how would you like to join Squad I with me?"
Ramon opens her mouth to speak, but only responds with "Huh?"
...
"Since the coronation will be at the end of the week, please take notes as I break down the ceremony for you." Tex said, fixing his glasses and checking off a list in his hands. "Please pay attention as I-."
Zayn sighs, meeting eyes with Jeremiah--who's offering her a look of pity--and Miuoi, who's gone to petting his leopard, Kronos, Zayn notes, as Tex teaches Zayn the importance of the coronation and step-by-step what to expect.
It is the day after Zayn learns that she is a nisf daw--a demigod walking the earth as the successor of the God of Gods, Balian, which is not what Zayn signed up for, but I guess she should have expected it since she is wielding the God's weapon.
"Keep in mind that the notice of the coronation will be placed all over town by the end of today." Tex said. "Good thing you wear a helmet, so you can still enjoy your freedom from fame."
Zayn groans, rubbing the back of her helmet as Excalibur plops on the sofa she sits on and perches himself back, not far enough to touch her, but enough to illuminate his body heat.
"This is all for a small metal?" Excalibur asked. "Humans waste so many resources on such petty indifferences."
"I agree with you." Zayn mumbles. "I can do without all this fancy stuff...this is a bit much."
"Nonsense!" Tex roars, pointing to his piece of paper. "You are now the symbol of Avia! The hero of the world and the hero of this country! This is much less than what history has done in the past-!"
"Here we go again..." Excalibur said. "I liked it better when I was in your head."
...
After a long day with Tex, Jeremiah, Miuoi, and an annoyed Excalibur, who eventually had enough of today's antics and reverts to inside Zayn's brain, Zayn completely skips dinner to lie in her bed and sleep.
When she wakes up, Amur is beside her, her small hand resting on Zayn's shoulder's as she worriedly nudges Zayn awake. Chase is beside Amur, sitting on the edge of the bed as he waits for Zayn to stir, which she does.
"Zayn." Amur said. "Skipping dinner isn't like you. What's wrong?"
Zayn turns her head to Amur before she reaches forward, hugging Amur's waist and burying her face in Amur's stomach.
"Zayn?" Amur asked, but then her eyes widened, hearing soft crying coming from Zayn. "Zayn?! What's wrong?! Are you hurt?"
"I'm overwhelmed..." Zayn sniffs. "And I'm sad--because I failed so much, and n-now I feel like I have the whole world on my shoulders, and I'm scared-."
"Hey..." it's Chase who rubs Zayn's shoulders in comfort. "You never need to be scared. We'll always have your back, Zayn."
"B-but Chase!" Zayn cries. "B-but-."
"Tell us what happened lil' sis." Amur said, her eyebrows furrowed. "What's on your heart?"
And Zayn tells them about today, about the rushed Coronation, the fears she has with the expedition and treaty, and the scares that fill her with the news of Aliashmiazazz and what role she may need to play--of how scary and new everything is and--Zayn is afraid, trembling under the rings of failure and expectations she doesn't even know she can manage.
"We'll be with you through all of it, Zayn." Amur said. "You're not in this alone. We'll be here to help, right Chase?"
Chase nods, giving Zayn a thumbs up, causing Zayn to snicker, then heartily laugh.