“Take a couple steps back.”

“Uhh,” I looked behind me at the sheer drop. The ground had to be a hundreds of feet below. “What?”

Lowell crossed his arms, unfazed at how close he was to the edge. His amber eyes stared through mine, he was not someone who liked repeating himself.

“Oh wait, you mean metaphorically!” I breathed a laugh. “You know, maybe you’re right. I am putting a bit too-“

“No,” he said. “If anything, you’re not working hard enough. Now step back.”

My gaze turned from him to straight ahead of me. I almost wished I didn’t come to the floating mountains in the first place, but no, I need be here, I need this.

The breeze blew slightly as I swayed a bit and contemplated. One step and I would plunge. There was a reason Lowell was making me do this, a test of some sort, but am I supposed to actually step back.

“Skira,” he placed a hand on a knife strapped to his thigh.

If I asked he wouldn’t tell me why. And there’s no way he would kill me, too many people would get mad. Unless, it would look like suicide…no, it’s not that. I trust him.

The air trembled as a breathed.

“Glad I could finally daunt you,” Lowell scoffed. He pulled out the dagger, “But it’s either you do it, or you can spar me again.”

Sparring wouldn’t put my life on the line, but he would beat the shit out of me, even if it’s been months since last time. Not feeling like having another broken leg, I grinned. “Well in that case…” I stuck my middle finger up at him as a leaned back and fell right into the wind.