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Morai

M orai jerked her hand back. The dart sailed past and lodged itself into the wall. She spun around, ready to fight whoever had shown up, only for her stance to relax a little. She scowled at the intruder.

“What are you doing here?” she asked. Luka Heathrow, the almost bane to her existence, grinned at her as he pulled on the rope that was attached to his dart, dislodging it, and sailed back to him. He wiped it and sheathed it back on his belt with other numerous darts.

“I should be asking you that, shouldn’t I?” he asked, looking around the room, a lock of his black hair falling over his eye. His sliver gray eyes finally met hers, and he grinned again. Morai rolled her eyes even as her heart sped up.

“I was here first,” she said, folding her arms across her chest.

“And yet the elixir still stands,” he said. Morai turned a fraction to look at the elixir, wondering how she could take it before Luka got to it. To be fair, she was closer to it than he was, but she knew he always had a trick up his sleeves. Morai shut her eyes, thinking through scenarios, she opened her eyes to find Luka watching her.

“Thinking of a scenario?” Luka smirked when Morai glared at him instead of answering. “You know I’ll get it before you do.”

“I’d like to see you try.” Morai lifted her chin, and Luka grinned.

This is as another reason she wanted to move, while she didn’t mind a bit of competition, Morai and her siblings were carrying on the legacy of rivalry, and now Morai felt she was way in too deep to pull out. Because she wanted to. She wasn’t just tired of constantly competing; the real reason, though it horrified her to admit it, was that she liked Luka—more than just liked him. Imagine her horror when she found out why her heart raced whenever she saw him, or that she wanted to run her fingers through his curly jet-black hair. And his silver-gray eyes that now twinkled at her, daring her to make a move. Morai swallowed, glancing back at the elixir. This was something she was absolutely not going to admit to anyone, especially to Luka. She knew her family would throw a fit if they found out. She threw a fit when she realized her feelings for him so much so that she went on a thieving spree in the neighboring kingdom. At least she got paid for it, and it helped her to save enough money to almost reach her goal. But Morai was hoping that if she put an end to the competing spirit, she might have a chance with Luka. In truth, she had considered giving up and trying to forget him. Her parents' disapproval was one of the reasons she had considered it, but that didn’t sit well with her. They had taught her to go after what she wanted no matter the cost, and she couldn’t fathom giving up without at least trying. That’s why she had devised an elaborate plan to save enough money and hoped her presentation to her parents would help her make the move.

“You didn’t answer my question. What are you doing here?” Morai tried not to be self-conscious about her attire. Luka had seen her numerous times in it, but that never stopped her from feeling self-conscious. She wore her usual light attire, a long-sleeved shirt with a drab color, with matching pants, and ankle boots. Her curly hair was maneuvered into a huge bun at the nape of her neck. While her clothing was drab, it was practical, and easy to move in. Thankfully, the sweat had dried, but she still felt icky.

“You didn’t answer mine either.”

“Luka?”

“Morai?” His eyes shifted from her to behind her.

“Looks like someone decided to pit us against each other again,” he said with a tsk. Morai lifted her chin with a grin.

“This wouldn’t be the first time,” she said to which Luka smiled.

“When did you get yours?” she asked. Luka’s smile turned into a beam as he waved a parchment in the air.

“A week ago.”

“A week?”

“Yep. When did you get yours?” She wasn’t going to tell him she got hers a day ago. Her silence made him smile.

“Ah, looks like I won.”

“Uh, no. I got here first, and would have taken it if your stupid dart hadn’t been in the way.” Luka full on beamed this time.

“But I didn’t cut you now, did I?” Morai fumed in silence. Luka unfortunately had a scar on the back of his hand when she’d thrown a dart at him, when he’d tried to steal something, she had her sights on. While she succeeded in stealing it, mostly because Luka was writhing in pain, she’d felt bad for wounding him. She’d been training to be more accurate ever since.

Luka frowned at the dais.

“Don’t you think it’s suspicious how it’s just out here in the open for anyone to take?” Morai nodded. Turning away from Luka, she faced the dais. It was probably a bad move, but she didn’t care. Perhaps someone had set up a trap that would be triggered if anyone took the elixir. She wasn’t surprised that Luka was here, just annoyed. Knowing about their rivalry, people would give them the same jobs and then bet with each other to see who would get it completed first. What bothered her was that she got the job a week after Luka. Was he visiting…she squashed the thought before it could grip her mind. There had been a rumor years ago that Luka and a girl in a neighboring city were courting. But Morai had never met the girl, and since Luka neither confirmed nor denied it, the rumor had died. But that didn’t stop Morai from occasionally worrying about it. And she’d rather cut out her tongue than ask. Morai shot out a hand, halting Luka in his tracks as he approached her while she was deep in thought. She took a deep breath, inhaling the woody spicy scent that clung to him. Shaking herself, she asked,

“Why did it take you a week to get here?” The mage tower was in the center of the city and wasn’t that far from their guilds. Luka shrugged.

“Was on another job when I got it. But I wanted to complete that first.” Morai frowned up at him, she had to tilt her head back to do so, since he was standing behind her. He flashed a smile.

“I wouldn’t lie to you, Morai.” She scoffed, looking back to the dais.

“You’re not thinking of getting it first, are you?” she asked.

“Was just getting a closer look,” he said. Morai gave him a doubtful look.

“It’s true. Something seems off.” Too bad neither of them could use magic to see what the trap was. Magic was more like a talent. Either you were born with it, or you weren’t. Of course, with enough schooling, one could use magic but learning to use magic if one couldn’t use mana was difficult and most didn’t succeed.

“There aren’t any traps,” Luka said. Morai glanced at him again.

“And you know this how?” He shrugged.

“I just do.” Morai sighed, she wasn’t going to push him if he didn’t want to answer. She had more important things to do like steal an elixir.

“Maybe we should grab it and see what happens,” she said.

“Be my guest.” Morai tensed. She knew if she reached for it first, Luka would do something to stop her. Well, she could stop him too, if he tried anything. The tense silence stretched on, and Morai was well aware of his presence behind her. Then Luka sprung towards the dais, but Morai was ready for him. She tripped him with her foot, and reached for the elixir, but Luka grabbed her foot, pitching her forward. Using her hands, she stopped her head from hitting the dais.

“Are you trying to kill me?” she asked as Luka, who was still holding her foot, got up from the floor before letting go.

“I wouldn’t dare. What would I possibly do without my Morai.” Anger flashed in her eyes just as Luka knew it would. The first time he’d called her that was when she was still confused about her feelings for him.

“I am not yours,” she said. Morai could just grab the vial, but Luka yanked her back towards him, using the back of her shirt. His arm wrapped around her waist, pinning her in place as he plucked the elixir off the dais.

“You retard,” Morai said. She could feel the heat rise up to her cheeks at their closeness. What she wouldn’t give to stay in his arms just a little longer. Morai blinked; she really had it bad. Luka released her with a smile and was about to say something when a bellowing, like a horn, sounded.