We were sitting on the floor, catching our breath after the latest rehearsal. The air in the room felt warmer than usual, heavy with that shared exhaustion that only comes after a long day of serious work.

  Neyra stretched her arms with a dramatic groan.

  —You know what? I’m not even surprised they’re training us so hard… This isn’t just a mission. It’s like they want us to forget who we are. Start over. Like… a second origin.

  That word.

  Origin.

  It hit like a muffled shot in my memory.

  I blinked. The silence stretched, and I didn’t even realize I was staring into space until Velka nudged me with her elbow.

  —Lyss? Did we lose you?

  —No, I just… remembered something —I murmured.

  Caelia lifted her gaze from her notes.

  —What is it?

  I swallowed. It wasn’t a clear memory, but enough to spark something deep in my gut.

  —During the counterintelligence mission, when I was undercover at the military academy… I found something. A document.

  —Classified? —Neyra asked with curiosity.

  —No, that’s the weird part. It wasn’t hidden at all. Just tucked in an old shelf, buried under dusty folders. Almost like no one had touched it in years. The writing… it was strange. Poetic, even. It talked about “the Thirteen Mothers.”

  —The what? —Velka raised an eyebrow.

  —Thirteen Mothers. That’s how it named them. According to the text, they were… important figures. The language was very symbolic. It said they “gave their names to the abyss to protect what they loved.” That from their sacrifice, what we have now was born.

  Caelia frowned.

  —And something like that was sitting in a forgotten bookshelf?

  —Exactly —I said, crossing my arms—. But I also thought… sometimes the best way to hide something is to leave it in plain sight. If no one thinks it matters, no one looks twice.

  Velka nodded, a crooked smile on her face.

  —Like hiding a ring in a cereal box. No one would think to check there.

  —Do you remember who signed it? Or any date? —Caelia asked.

  —No. It was anonymous. No official seals. Just a symbol at the end: a scorched flower with thirteen petals. I haven’t seen anything like it since.

  Neyra rested her chin on her knees.

  —Do you think it’s real?

  —I don’t know —I admitted—. But it didn’t feel made-up. It felt… emotional. Like someone was confessing something they couldn’t say out loud.

  Silence returned, thicker this time.

  —Do you think it’s connected to all this? —Neyra whispered—. To us. To why they’re pushing us so hard?

  —I’m not sure. But I do think it’s strange that none of us have heard of them. Not in training, not in lectures, not even in old mission records. It’s like… someone erased them.

  Velka tapped her fingers against her leg.

  —Or maybe their story didn’t fit the one they wanted to tell… so they buried it.

  No one spoke after that.

  But the echo of those words lingered between us. Like for the first time, we were staring at a past we were never meant to know.

  The room fell silent again, heavy with the echo of those last words. No one seemed eager to break it… until Velka, in a tone that wasn’t quite teasing, spoke.

  —And since we’re already talking about secrets from the past… Caelia, how did you know what she was? —she said, tilting her head slightly—. I mean the thing we fought in Seravenn. That… witch.

  The air thickened.

  Caelia lifted her gaze from her folder. She didn’t look annoyed, but her jaw tightened slightly. Her eyes searched the floor, like the words were too sharp to pull out all at once.

  —That wasn’t the first time I saw something like that —she finally answered, her voice low.

  Velka narrowed her eyes, sharp.

  —Was it during your time with the other squad…? —and then, like a crack breaking open—. With Irhena?

  The name hit like a stone dropped in water. Caelia took another moment before she nodded.

  —Yes —she said. Just that word, but weighted.

  The way she said it gave me chills.

  —It was during an operation near the southern front —she continued, speaking slowly, almost too carefully—. We were tasked with evacuating several villages caught between two advancing armies. It seemed simple… until we entered a ruined house. One of those places where the trees grow through the walls and the portraits hang in pieces.

  —What happened there? —Neyra asked, holding her breath.

  —Everything changed the moment we stepped inside. One of our teammates… she threw up, without warning. The air felt poisoned, wrong. In the basement… there was a girl. Or something that looked like one.

  Her words sharpened.

  —She was hunched over, muttering incomprehensible things. When we approached, she attacked. Not with weapons. With presence. With hunger. It was a slaughter. Maren, one of the best in the squad… was devoured alive. Irhena turned her to dust before it could kill the rest of us.

  No one said anything. Neither did I.

  —When we asked for answers, no one spoke. No one… except Mother Venesse —Caelia went on—. She told us what it was: a Dominus. Or as some ancient records called it, a Witch.

  —What does that mean, exactly? —I asked, my throat dry.

  —It’s what happens when a magical girl strays from her core emotion —Caelia replied—. Or when her bond with it is corrupted, twisted, broken. The girl ceases to exist. Only the echo remains. An empty entity that doesn’t seek to save—only to consume. Her emotion becomes hunger. And her magic turns to poison.

  Velka muttered something under her breath. Maybe a prayer. Maybe a curse.

  —They’re rare. Very rare —Caelia added—. That… was the first I saw. And the one in Seravenn… only the second.

  My heart skipped.

  —Caecum —I whispered.

  All eyes turned to me.

  —The Blind Witch —I clarified—. The day of the parade. That girl… it was her. She wasn’t fully turned yet, but… the power, the presence… it was the same.

  Neyra wrapped her arms around herself.

  —So there might be more… —she whispered.

  —Maybe —Caelia said—. But we don’t have answers. Only warnings. Venesse told us if we ever saw one… we don’t hesitate. It’s either you kill it, or it kills you.

  We all fell silent.

  It was like her story had sunk beneath our skin, chilling every bone.

  Caelia ran a hand through her hair and changed the tone, though her voice stayed firm.

  —After all this… I think it’s time we begin emotional training —she said, not looking at anyone in particular.

  Velka raised a curious brow.

  —Emotional training?

  Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

  —We’ve been refining our covers, our gestures, our words. But the front doesn’t break you because of how you walk or talk. It tears you apart from the inside —Caelia explained—. If any of us lose control of our feelings, if we overflow… no cover will save us.

  Neyra nodded.

  —That makes sense. The emotional part… the real part. That’s the one you can’t fake.

  —I agree —I said softly, feeling a different kind of tension creep in—. If we’re going to become someone else… we better make sure we’re still ourselves inside.

  Caelia looked at us. Not harshly, but with something close to respect.

  —Good —she said—. Then let’s begin.

  We sat in a circle on padded flooring. No mirrors. No devices. No weapons or masks. Just us… and what we carried inside.

  Caelia asked for silence. No one objected. We closed our eyes.

  —Breathe —she whispered—. Don’t cling. Just observe. Whatever you feel… don’t judge it. Don’t push it away. Let it speak.

  The air felt heavier.

  My mind began to dissolve into images. But they weren’t mine—not at first.

  I saw Caelia, standing before a war table, surrounded by shadows whispering her name with contempt. Every voice gave a different order. Every face, a lie. Someone offered her a sheet to sign. Her hands trembled. Doubt devoured her. But then I saw her grit her teeth… and refuse. The world shook, but she didn’t move.

  Then Neyra. Alone in a white room. Silence pressing from all sides. In front of her stood a distorted version of herself, perfect, untouchable. Neyra stared at her, tears on her cheeks, whispering: “If I look like you, maybe they’ll love me.” But the figure said nothing. And the more Neyra tried to imitate her, the more she vanished. Until finally Neyra broke, sobbing, “I want to be me.” The illusion vanished. She was alone—but breathing.

  Velka… Velka knelt with her back to us, facing a nameless headstone. In her hand, a burned letter, unreadable. She muttered something with a broken voice. I barely made it out: “Im sorry I should have just follow the path.” Every word seemed to tear another piece from her chest. Her remorse was so raw, it felt like watching someone beg for a second chance that would never come.

  And then… I saw myself.

  Standing in a ruined square, surrounded by people. They didn’t touch me, just pointed. Screamed. Accused me of things I didn’t understand. Until I saw the faces.

  Silas. Caelia. Neyra. Velka.

  And then… Silke.

  Silke stood before me, laughing, hurling cruel words like blades. “You were never enough.” “They’re all using you.” “You’re just a weapon in disguise.”

  Rancor flooded me like a tide. My hands shook. My throat closed. I wanted to scream. I wanted to burn everything down.

  And then… I felt it again.

  The burning.

  In my abdomen. Like fire coiled deep inside me, writhing to escape. I doubled over—even in the trance. I saw the black blade. The same one from my dream. The same one I had ripped out of myself in that helicopter.

  Blood Crown.

  That voice. Whispered and brutal. It pierced my chest. And I knew—it wasn’t just rancor. It was rage. A deeper fury I didn’t know I carried.

  My breathing quickened. My vision burned red. But before the fire could consume me… I made a choice.

  I didn’t draw it.

  Not this time.

  I let it stay.

  And the trance broke.

  I opened my eyes. Sweat drenched me. My hands trembled. Beside me, Velka cried silently, her face hidden in her knees. Neyra covered her eyes. Caelia kept her head bowed, breathing deep, brows knit tight like she was still inside it.

  I didn’t say anything… until Velka looked up.

  —Lyss… —her voice was barely a whisper.

  —I saw it again —I said, only slightly louder.

  They all turned to me.

  —In the trance… it appeared again. The sword. The black one. The same one I saw in the helicopter. The one I pulled from my body. I don’t know what it is. But I feel it. Like it’s a part of me.

  —Again? —Caelia asked, tense.

  —Yes. In the dream, it hurt… I had to tear open my belly to pull it out. In the trance… it just burned. But I didn’t draw it. I felt like if I did… I wouldn’t come back the same.

  Velka didn’t say a word. She just hugged me—tightly. No teasing. No jokes. Just warmth.

  —You don’t have to tear anything out, okay? —she whispered into my ear, voice trembling—. No one’s going to make you do that. Not while we’re here.

  I returned the hug. I didn’t know if I wanted to cry or laugh. Neyra came next, still teary, wrapping her arms around both of us. And finally, Caelia. She didn’t speak, just placed a firm hand on my shoulder.

  Her way of saying: I’m here.

  And for the first time in days… something inside me loosened. Not the rancor. Not the sword.

  Something deeper.

  The certainty that I wasn’t alone.

  After the meditation, the air was heavy. None of us said it aloud, but the red eyes, deep breaths, and long silences spoke for themselves.

  Then Caelia stood up slowly, stretching her arms with a quiet sigh.

  —We need to release some tension —she said—. No more introspection... Just something stupid.

  —Like you? —Velka joked, and we all let out a short but needed laugh.

  —Hand games —Caelia proposed, ignoring her—. Whoever loses gets doused with ice water.

  —Now? —Neyra asked, her eyes still a little puffy.

  —Now. Right here. No excuses.

  We looked at one another… then nodded.

  —I accept your ridiculous challenge —Velka said, raising her hand—. I challenge you, Neyra!

  The duel began. Slaps, claps, dodges, nervous laughter. Neyra transformed. Her obsession to win lit up like a beacon, and her hands moved with surgical precision. Velka tried distracting her with teasing comments, but it failed. A misstep, a double slap out of rhythm, and she was done for.

  —Defeated! —Neyra declared, raising her arms as if she’d just won a war.

  —This is emotional cheating —Velka grumbled—. Your emotion is like a magnet for concentration.

  —You accepted the challenge —Neyra smiled, clearly satisfied.

  —Next! —Caelia said, turning to me.

  I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or tremble. Caelia had steel reflexes.

  But I focused. Palms, wrists, twists. She was fast… but so was I. At the last moment, she hesitated between moves. That hesitation was all I needed.

  —I won! —I exclaimed, surprised even at myself.

  Caelia blinked. She didn’t seem upset. She just nodded slowly.

  —I’ll get my revenge in another life.

  —So, the losers—Velka and Caelia—will face the icy shower gods —I said, laughing.

  —I feel betrayed by my own body —Velka groaned, crossing her arms.

  —And by mine too, if it helps —Caelia added, with a faint smile.

  That’s when a soft ping echoed through the room. A notification lit up the wall screen.

  A transmission. A message from Venesse.

  “My beloved daughters… I’ll be with you soon. The Queen has kept me busy, but I long to embrace each one of you again. Not a day goes by without thinking of you, of how proud I am of how far you’ve come. I love you all with every part of my heart. I’ll be by your side soon, just like before.” —Venesse.

  Neyra sighed, her shoulders relaxing.

  —Mama is coming back…

  Velka smiled, softer than usual.

  —About time. I miss her sharp voice.

  Caelia nodded slowly, saying nothing.

  Me… I just watched them. I had never met her. To me, Venesse was just another name in a structure I barely understood. But seeing them like this… something in me softened, too.

  —Come on, goddesses —Caelia said—. We’re expected at the medical wing. Bloodwork today.

  —Again? —Velka raised her eyebrows—. Isn’t bleeding on the battlefield enough?

  —Protocol —Neyra replied—. Lyss, it’s your first time, right?

  I nodded, a little uneasy.

  Medical wing

  We entered the white room. A nurse in a dark uniform and a kind face awaited us.

  —Line up, please.

  I ended up right next to Caelia.

  Neyra went first. No issues. Then Velka. Not a single sound. But when Caelia sat down, I noticed something… off.

  She was stiff. Her back straight, but her fingers clenched her thighs. The nurse approached with the needle… and Caelia trembled.

  —Are you okay? —I asked softly.

  Velka answered for her.

  —She’s afraid of needles. Like, collapse-level fear.

  —Velka… —Caelia muttered with a frown, eyes locked on the ceiling.

  It surprised me. Caelia—the strongest one. The commander. The rock. And yet…

  I took her hand.

  She tensed even more… but then relaxed just a bit.

  The needle went in.

  Caelia didn’t make a sound, but her jaw was rigid. Her gaze fixed on a stain on the ceiling. She squeezed my hand so hard my fingers went numb, but I didn’t let go.

  When it ended, she exhaled like she’d just come down from battle. She released my hand and murmured:

  —Thank you.

  I just nodded, still a little stunned.

  Afterward, we all sat on the hallway benches for a few minutes. Quiet again.

  —I guess we survived —Velka finally said, stretching her arms.

  —The blood and the emotions —added Neyra.

  —But there’s still rehearsal —Caelia reminded us, now calmer.

  We looked at each other… and we all smiled at once.

  A little more united. A little more cracked. A little more ready.

  The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of repetitions and corrections, as if time folded in on itself. Each rehearsal became stricter. Every gesture, every pause, every line of dialogue had to feel natural—like we had truly lived this borrowed life we were meant to portray. The mentor watched from her corner with arms crossed, like a statue from another era.

  —Once more —she said, never raising her voice—. Susanne wouldn’t sit like that. Show confidence, but without vulgarity.

  Velka huffed but obeyed. Neyra repeated her gestures with terrifying focus. Caelia corrected even the tilt of her gaze. And I... I tried not to think about how much my back hurt from holding Carolin Schulz’s posture.

  When the session finally ended, we nearly dragged our feet out of the room.

  —Alright —I said, a mischievous smile creeping onto my face—. Time for punishment.

  Velka’s eyes widened in exaggerated horror.

  —No! No need to torture me! I’m too young and beautiful to die of hypothermia!

  —You agreed to the rules —Caelia reminded her with a flat tone.

  —Yes, but I never thought I’d lose —she grumbled—. It was a glitch in the Matrix! A cosmic anomaly!

  —Silence —Caelia ordered, though with a slight smile.

  We entered the communal showers with a clear plan. A bucket, courtesy of Neyra, waited—brimming with icy water.

  —Who’s first? —I asked.

  —Caelia —Velka said immediately, pointing with delight—. Let the commander suffer first!

  Caelia raised an eyebrow but didn’t protest. She walked with dignity to the center and stood still.

  —Do it —she said.

  Neyra didn’t hesitate. The water hit with a freezing splash and a choked gasp. Caelia shuddered but didn’t move.

  —Not... that... bad —she muttered through clenched teeth, clearly lying.

  —A national hero! —Velka cried, applauding.

  Then came her turn.

  —Sweetheart —I said—. Ready?

  —No, never! I’m a creature of fire and desire! This is inhumane!

  And with that, I dumped the water over her. Her scream echoed through the showers.

  —AHH!! My ass is frozen!!

  We all burst out laughing. Even Caelia.

  Later, already calm, dressed in pajamas, we nestled into our shared dorm room. The lights were soft, the warmth familiar. Velka and Neyra joked about something silly, Caelia read a small paperback, and I… well, I was thinking.

  About Silas.

  About the way he looked at me when he kissed me. The way he cupped my face with a tenderness that still burned in my chest.

  It slipped out before I realized it.

  —Hey… have you ever… you know… um… done it…?

  Velka turned her head, mischief sparkling in her eyes.

  —Sex?

  —Yes! —I blurted, almost covering my face.

  Caelia nodded with ease.

  —Yes.

  Neyra raised her hand.

  —Once —she said—. It was nice… kind of awkward.

  Velka, wearing a wide grin, sat up straighter.

  —A few times. No regrets. Though there’s all kinds.

  I swallowed the knot in my throat.

  —I didn’t mean Silas —I lied. Horribly.

  Velka looked at me with amusement but didn’t push.

  —If you ever want to —she said gently—. What matters is that you feel it. That you truly want it. And when you do… dress up, wear a bold lipstick, something that makes you feel powerful.

  —And safe —added Caelia, closing her book—. It’s a moment of connection, not just physical. Something to share with someone you really trust.

  —And with protection —Neyra said very seriously, raising a finger.

  We all laughed. Even me, though I felt like my face was on fire.

  —Thanks —I murmured, smiling genuinely—. I was just curious.

  —And that’s perfectly okay —said Caelia, settling under her blanket.

  Little by little, the giggles and whispers faded. Each of us took our place among the soft bedding and familiar breath of sleep.

  And me, as I closed my eyes, I could still feel the gentle pressure of Silas’s lips on mine. And the sweet burn of possibility.