reflections / lucia [day 3]

[eulalie blake 1a 🍒 tris]

l u c i a valentine .

She watches her reflection as she journeys through the labyrinth alone.

It's funny, now that she can only see herself staring back, she yearns for another glimpse of Sylvia. As much as the idea of her twin being in the arena frightens her, it would make pulling herself together easier. For her sister, Lucia doubts there is an obstacle she would back away from. But left to her own devices, searching for an exit while trying to make sure she doesn't wander too far from her allies, she does not feel so capable.

She places a palm against the glass, smudging a handprint across where her face stares unimpressed back at her. Sighing, she turns to survey the path she has taken, crossing her arms over her chest and trying to make sense of her surroundings. Looking at it like a machine helps to calm her down, convincing herself that this is a puzzle that can be solved if she just approaches it with a level head.

That, and the maze doesn't seem to be wholly misfortunate. Nori and Vera found treasures of their own in the twisting halls, two very wicked swords that Lucia is certain will only make her allies all the more fearsome. Her body still aches, but she is fully bandaged and has been keeping pressure off her broken bones. Not that it helps much, just breathing is enough to trigger her damaged sternum.

But she holds her tears as her cuts start to dry, the healing process will happen. If not tonight, she will do what it takes to see her skin become smooth again. Years from now, a lifetime away, she will see a life where she does not feel weighed down with doubt and fear. Living means facing this, learning to adapt to the trauma. No matter how many times the world knocks her off her feet, Lucia will pick herself back up. Stopping is not an option.

The only way out is forward.

lucia scavenges the glass labyrinth
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[eulalie blake 1a 🍒 tris]

l u c i a valentine .

She makes her way back to camp, scanning the area for valuables as she walks. Empty handed, she wishes her head could feel the same. But her mind races with thoughts and impulses, wanting to run and run until she eventually finds a bit of land that isn't trapped between sheets of glass. But she doesn't want to leave her allies, she refuses to be the one to break the oath.

So she licks her wounds, telling herself that all the bad things will eventually become things that happened. If she can bury this in the past, if she gets the chance to survive being eighteen and lost without a clue, she will only look back on these moments to see the good. And the best things to be found here are Vera and Nori. They are her stars in the dark.

She glances up, sees the glint of silver and gold circled around her head. Everywhere she goes, they will follow her. Letting them go is not an option.

Through all time, until the very end, this loyalty will not yield.

lucia scavenges the glass labyrinth
1f8UDcFs8u1-6

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