Sublime

I opened my eyes just in time to see the final two orbs ricochet into the basin. To see Zeryth, Nura, and the third Valtain pushing themselves up from the floor. To look down and see my Stratagram smeared in my own blood beneath me. And to hear a familiar voice shouting from the balcony: “What. The FUCK. Was that.”

“Do you understand where you are?” he asked. That was a stupid question. Maybe he was used to being cowered at. I did not cower. Why should I? I’d already met death three times now. So far, the fourth was a bit of a disappointment.

By far the greatest gift of the Mother is resilience. Resilience is one of the most important qualities a human being can possess. It’s inevitable that life will knock you down—you