Isa stands on the dock, focusing on her hand placement. It seems summoning shadows is easier than controlling them. The only times she can seem to successfully use her abilities is when adrenaline is pumping through her body. But during practice, it seems impossible.
"You need to relax," Tolya tells her. He walks behind her, carefully repositioning her. Isa's heart starts to pick up. He seems to radiate warmth, which is nice given how cold it is.
"Maybe I'm just not cut out for this Grisha shit," she jokes.
"You managed to do the Cut on the first try," he points out.
"That's what I did?"
"Yes. And it's a difficult move." He walks back around and she drops her hands. "What were you thinking about when you did it?"
"Keeping our idiot captain alive."
"Well then focus on that. Focus on trying to keep people alive."
"I don't think it works like that if there's no clear threat."
"Just try."
She quietly mimics him before holding up her hands. Facing towards the ocean, she repeats the hand motions she had used before. Her thoughts focusing on people she cares about. Her crew and her cousin. Shadows weave together before flying out over the water for a short distance. It wasn't exactly like before, nor would've it done any damage, but it's a start.
"It was a good attempt," he tells her.
"Should I try again, teacher?" she asks, looking at him.
"If you feel up to it. You actually did something this time."
Taking a deep breath, Isa turns back to the ocean and tries again. Once again failing at it. Of course she failed. She should expect nothing less. It's not like she's had been successful during any of their trainings. It's been one failure after another for two years. She's lucky she had succeeded when in dire situations before.
"If you're not perfect at what is expected of you, people will walk all over you," she could her mother saying. Something she would say often when Isa would mess up on anything. "They will just think you're useless. Prove you're not useless."
Anger seems to take over her as she keeps trying. She's not useless. She can't be useless. Not when they are going to most likely have to fight her father soon.
"Isa," Tolya warns. She ignores him and tries again. She keeps going, trying to perfect the move. "Isa! Stop!"
Tears are running down her face in frustration. The shadows hover around above the ocean. She wasn't perfect. As her frustration and anger continues to fester inside of her, the shadows seem to grow and move around. She can feel her heart slow down and her body feel limp. The shadows start go decrease as she sinks to her knees. Tolya's arms wrap around her.
"I apologize for using my abilities on you," he tells her. A few tears are still running down her face.
"Don't be," she manages. "I was losing control."
She hadn't done that since she was little girl. Back when her mother had her first learning how to control her powers. How to hide that she was Grisha and when she needed to use her abilities to stay healthy. One thought keeps running through her head on continuous repeat. The thought of 'I fucked up'. It starts getting harder to breathe as a pressure grows in her chest.
"It's okay," Tolya calmly tells her, his voice low. "It happens."
"I could hurt someone," she sobs.
"But you didn't and you won't."
"You don't know that. I have no control."
"You were never taught control. There's a difference." He gently turns her head so she's facing him. "And when we get to Ravka, we will find you the best teacher to help you. So you don't have to be afraid of yourself and what you can do."
Ravka. Now the second half of the plan seems more real than before. Meaning Isa will have to swear allegiance to a country that may try to kill her just because of who her father is. That, to find a teacher, the world may know a secret she has been hiding her entire life. And was she actually ready for that?
"Breathe," Tolya gently orders. "Everything will be okay. Just breathe."
She looks up at the stars and try to listen to his advice. The stars above shine bright, even with the full moon.
"Tell me a story," she requests, leaning more into him.
"Will it distract your mind?" She nods her head. "Do you have a preference?"
"Not the one about Sankt Grigori."
He softly chuckles.
"I already promised you I wouldn't repeat that one."
He thinks for a moment before reciting the Epic of Sankta Marya of the Rock. She lets her mind wander as she listens to the story; her breathing returning to normal and tears stopping.
~~~
Days and nights pass with the same routine. Alina practicing while the sun is up. Isa practicing while the moon is up. As the distance between the ship and Ravka shrink, the more nervous Isa is. If she loses control at the wrong moment, things can go horribly wrong. But if she stresses about it, it makes it harder to control her abilities; creating quite a conundrum.
Isa walks up on deck, carrying her bag. Only a select few are also doing the same. A small ship is sitting near them, completely empty. The name Hummingbird painted on the side. Sturmhond had spent years working on this ship and it is one of his most prized possessions. And with them right by Ravkan ports, it's perfect time to switch ships.
"You're also abandoning me, Beautiful?" Privyet jokes from the wheel. He's staying behind and pretending to be their captain while the plan is underway. She smiles up at him.
"I have to make sure the real Sturmhond doesn't get himself killed," she jokes. The captain walks by, muttering how he was just fine before her. "Plus, wouldn't I just be in your way if I stay?"
"Ah, but it would be weird if Sturmhond is sailing without his Koja?"
Mal stops in his tracks and looks at the red head.
"You're Koja?" he asks in shock. "The fox pirate?"
"Don't act surprise, Pretty Boy," she teases, before turning back to Privyet. "You'll be fine without me."
"If you say so, Beautiful."
She blows a kiss at him before walking off. Her hand grabs a dangling rope, stepping up on the edge of the ship. She gracefully swings across; her feet hitting the wooden deck with a thud. Others soon follow her onto the ship and she places her bag below deck. Once back up, she notices Alina and Mal looking at her and talking in hush tones. Alina's eyes wide in shock. Isa takes a steadying breath before walking over towards them.
"You're Koja?" Alina asks in shock.
"I am," Isa smirks, leaning against the railing. "Sturmhond came up with the name."
"It's based on The Too-Clever Fox," the young captain says as he slings an arm over her shoulder. The Ravkan story about a fox who kept trying to get out of tough situations. Though, the lesson is on how just because succeeded escaping a trap once doesn't mean they'll escape the next.
"Why?" Mal questions, raising an eyebrow.
"She got it because she kept getting out of sticky situations," Sturmhond joke.
"Don't you mean getting you out of sticky situations," she quickly snaps back; a smirk painted on her face. She turns back to the other two. "Though I haven't been called Koja in a little while."
Sturmhond removes his arm as he turns to look at the rest of the ship.
"We are good to go," he smirks. The captain turns and starts giving orders to the crew. Soon the smaller ship separates from the other and starts sailing to Ravka. Isa heads over to where a map is laid out on top of a barrel. A couple of the crew members are studying, including the twins.
"We should probably activate the flight system here," Tamar states, pointing at the map. Isa nods her head, agreeing. The shorter of the twins go off to talk to the captain. Tolya leans against the railing as Isa sits on it. The two of them start talking about different Epics as they sail along the sea.
Time seems to fly by because it feels like none had passed when Sturmhond motions for everyone to get into position. He moves to where a cockpit is nestled and flips the lever. The Squallers quickly move into position and start blowing wind into the sails. The vessel shakes as it starts to lift from the water.
Tolya quickly move his arm around Isa, grabbing the railing next to her to ensure she doesn't fall. Though it also pulls her closer to him physically. Alina and Mal are leaning over the side, watching in joy as the ship rises into the air. Soon they are flying over Ravka. Isa couldn't help but look over her shoulder at the country below.
"I can't believe we're flying!" Alina shrieks in joy.
"I'm glad we got it to work," Isa jokes. "Let's hope our captain doesn't crash this one!"
"Ha ha," Sturmhond sarcastically responds, looking up from the cockpit. "Now Alina, we're going to need you to summon the sun while we go through the Fold."
"Are you crazy?" Mal snaps. "That's impossible."
"Improbable," the captain corrects before getting out onto the other part of the deck. "Plus we have set a some back up plans."
With that, he reveals a set of guns he had been developing and Mal looks absolutely thrilled. The tracker quickly takes the seat as the Fold comes into view. A massive wall of darkness is before them. As they start to enter, Alina quickly summons a sphere of light that envelopes them. The light illuminates only so far in front of them. Just enough to see Volcra, creatures of the Fold, flying towards them. Guns start going off as people kill them. The creatures start to fall as they are hit with bullets. Though they keep coming towards them. It almost seems like they are flying towards Isa. That's nonsense though. They have no reason to just target her.
"We have to be about halfway through by now," Tolya states. The light starts falter as Alina falls down.
"Alina!" Isa shouts as she quickly slides off the railing, starting to rush towards her. A disgusting screech fills the air as Tolya tackles her to the ground. Gun fire goes off as a Volcra that almost grabbed Isa is killed. Gun fire rings out as more Volcra fly towards them.
"Hang on!" Sturmhond orders. Tolya wraps an arm around Isa, pulling her close to him, before grabbing a rope tied to the mast. Tamar pulls Mal and Alina up and pushes them into the cockpit before taking cover herself. The ship starts to plumet as they break through the Fold and into sunlight. Isa's heart reaches her throat as the ship continues to fall.
The vessel hits the ground, and Isa's body slams against the wooden deck. It skids across the land before stopping in a lake. Alina and Mal are the first to get off of the ship as the others get up. Sturmhond stands up, shedding his iconic blue coat. He's in a military uniform and his normal features are starting to return. The blond hair and hazel eyes. He leaps off of the ship and the crew quickly follows. A set of soldiers are present, all aiming their guns at them. Sturmhond walks forward.
"I am Nikolai Lantsov, Second Son of the King of Ravka," he states.
"Yeah right, boy," the Major responds.
"Did I not leave an impression when I served with you?" the prince chuckles. The Major studies his face before kneeling. The rest of the soldiers quickly follow suit. Nikolai turns towards his crew, smiling.
"Welcome to Ravka."
Alina quickly moves towards him, punching the prince in the face.