The moment I stepped a foot into the dining hall, all the noise coming from the crowded place faded away. At first, the Grisha thought that the Darkling was joining them since he was the only Grisha who was allowed to wear black; however, when they saw me in his colour, whispers began to raise.

Four long tables were arranged in a square at the dining hall's centre and there were divans in the corners. On the corner of the square which was the furthest from the entrance stood a large ebony chair. Around the table to the right of it, the Etherealki were seated and to the left of it sat the Corporalki.

If I had been wearing my blue kefta –my old kefta –I'd join the Etherealki table without any second thoughts but right now, I had no idea what to do. I just stood at the entrance as my jade-green eyes searched for a familiar face among the Etherealki and I heaved a relieved sigh when I saw Iwona waving at me.

I could feel literally everyone's eyes on me while I walked towards the Etherealki table and took the seat Iwona had saved for me. I was sitting between her and an Inferni –there were red embroideries on her blue kefta –with long, ginger hair and blue eyes. The Inferni was probably the prettiest woman I've ever seen in my life but I couldn't understand why she was glaring at me.

"Hey, Iwona," I said as I sat down between the two Etherealki. "Thanks for saving me a seat."

Iwona smiled at me, "No problem, Val." she said, then she lowered her voice. "You didn't tell me you were going to wear black, which is freaking cool! I've never heard the Darkling sharing his colour."

Her words caused me to blush. "I didn't know about it either. He wanted to surprise me, I guess when he sent the black kefta to my room this evening."

Radoslaw, who was sitting on Iwona's right, winked at me. "You look amazing in black," he said. "Suits you better than blue."

Iwona nodded at her boyfriend's words, then motioned the Inferni sitting to my left with her head. "Valkyrja, meet Shura Kolacka –she's one of the most skilled Etherealki among us."

I turned left with a small smile on my lips to introduce myself to Shura, who was looking at me with an obviously fake smile –I could still see the hard look inside her blue eyes. I didn't know the reason but it felt like she hated me already.

"So, you must be the new Shadow Summoner." Shura said as we shook hands. "Is it true that you're a descendent of the babinki?"

"I'm sorry?" I asked with a frown on my face. Babinki was a Ravkan word that meant barbarians and was mainly used to refer to the Fjerdans.

The weariness in Iwona's voice showed that Shura's indiscretion was something they came across quite often. "Shura, for the Saints' sake!"

Shura shrugged indifferently as she reached for her fork. "What? You all know that I'm right –her nation burns us and hunts us down."

Shura's words were causing my stomach to be knotted and it made me understand how the Darkling felt when he was blamed for the Black Heretic's mistakes. It was not the same, of course, but I could empathise with him better.

The atmosphere was disturbingly tense and we were barely talking but after Shura left the dining hall, I found myself being drawn into a pleasant conversation with Iwona and Radoslaw. Which made me understand that Shura had been the one spoiling our mood.

Iwona and Radoslaw told me about how things worked for the Grisha in Ravka. All the Ravkan children were tested when they were around four and the Grisha among them were taken from their families to be educated here, in the Little Palace. They went to a special school where they learnt about the Small Science. After they finished school, most of the Grisha became members of the Second Army or they were sent to the great houses to serve with noble families. The best, however, were chosen to remain at the Little Palace to finish their education and join the Darkling's service.

And apparently Iwona, Radoslaw and Shura were among the best in their year with a few other Corporalki I haven't met yet.

"Hey, the Summoner squad, what's up?"

I raised my head to look at the owner of the voice, who was a sweet-looking Corporalki with slanting eyes that resembled the Shu. Her accent, on the other hand, was pure Ravkan –she was probably part Shu that grew up in Ravka. Her red kefta had grey embroideries, so she was a Healer.

Radoslaw spoke when the Healer sat the empty place on my left. "Since when are the Corporalki allowed to socialise with us?" The sarcasm in his voice showed that he was simply teasing her.

"Very funny, Rad, why don't you tell this to your best friend as well?" she imitated the sarcasm in Radoslaw's voice and then turned to me with a warm expression on her face. Her straight, chestnut hair was reaching her chest. "Hi, I'm Anita Banaszak. You must be Valkyrja Nørgaard. Iltsakad renshi ye."

Yes, she was part Shu –she told me it was nice meeting me in her native language.

I smiled back at her, "Tongyang de," I spoke in Shu as well, telling her that it was likewise.

"Speaking of my best friend," Radoslaw said and we both turned our head to look at him. "Where is Leon?"

Anita motioned the window behind us with her head. "Outside, wrestling a Materialki. He'll be there soon." she said and raised an eyebrow. "The real question is –where is Shura?"

Iwona rolled her eyes as she put down the fork in her right hand –we were finished with eating. "Where do you think she can be?" she responded with a question, which earned a snort from Radoslaw.

"She's having a hard time accepting the fact that she's no longer someone's favourite plaything." Radoslaw said as he sent me an allusive look. I had a confused expression on my face for I had no idea what he was trying to imply.

Iwona kicked him under the table, "Do not call her a plaything, that's freaking rude!" she scolded him with a frown on her beautiful face. "She has been our friend since we were children, you bloody idiot."

Radoslaw rubbed his left leg with a painful expression on his face –so Iwona did hit him hard. "But he was stringing her along –everyone knows that, Iwona. Do you find it more comfortable to lie to your best friend?" he said. "The Darkling enjoys playing the field."

My eyes widened –so he was talking about the Darkling all along? Then there was… something between Shura and him. And judging by the way Radoslaw was looking at me, he thought that I was about to take Shura's place as the Darkling's favourite.

Well, now I understood why she hated me.

Before Iwona and Radoslaw could continue arguing, a Grisha wearing a red kefta with black embroideries approached us. "Well hello, people. Did you miss me much?" he spoke as he pushed back the blonde hair falling in front of his green eyes. He was tall, though not as tall as Radoslaw but he was way more handsome. I could see some of the Grisha literally drooling while they looked at the Heartrender.

"Why are the Corporalki invading our table tonight?" Radoslaw said as he stood up and hit the Heartrender's shoulder playfully. "I heard you were wrestling a Materialki."

"I bet he got his ass kicked!" Iwona was laughing as she spoke.

The blonde Heartrender showed Iwona his middle finger. "I'll show you who got their ass kicked, Iwona." he said, then a small smirk formed on his lips as he laid his green eyes on me. "Black kefta? Now, this seems interesting –are you a Shadow Summoner?"

I nodded as extended my right hand towards him. "Valkyrja Nørgaard." I introduced myself.

Instead of shaking my hand, the Heartrender brought it to his lips and planted a small kiss on the back of my hand. "Leon Godlewski, at your service." he spoke with a deep voice. "But you can simply call me darling." Radoslaw began to laugh loudly as Iwona giggled and Anita rolled her eyes.

"Good luck dealing with him, Val." Iwona whispered in my ear. "Leon is a hopeless womaniser and he simultaneously flirts with a dozen Grisha."

Upon seeing that Iwona was whispering at me, Leon pushed our seats away from each other. "Hey, no evil plans and conspiracy theories!"

I let out a loud, sincere laughter.

[Time Skip]

The rest of the evening went absolutely pleasant and for once, I was becoming a part of a group of friends. They were so fun to hang out with and it felt so nice not being cast out because I was Fjerdan –they were so quick and eager to welcome me into their little group and I couldn't be happier.

Of course, this meant that I was going to be spending much time with Shura as well but I had nothing against her –at least as long as she kept her disturbing opinion to herself. I knew she was jealous of me because of the special attention I was getting from the Darkling, hence she never missed an opportunity to snipe at me.

It was around ten when Shura joined us once again and she didn't bother hiding the grin on her beautiful face as she sat next to Leon –we were seated around the divans. It had been more than two hours since she was gone. Radoslaw immediately understood the reason behind her grin and began to howl like a wolf.

I wasn't an idiot, of course I knew why she had been gone for so long and whom she had been with. And what they had been doing –it wasn't hard to guess. But the weird part was the unpleasant feeling growing in my chest. I couldn't quite explain it –I mean, what did it matter if the Darkling slept with Shura? Why was I feeling somewhat… sad?

"Miss Nørgaard?"

I leapt up in my place upon hearing someone calling me. As I raised my head, I saw a Heartrender standing behind me. Our group had stopped talking and they were looking at the Heartrender with questioning eyes as well.

"Yes?"

"The Darkling requests to see you at his war room." the Heartrender said and immediately, my heart started beating faster. Even hearing such a small thing was enough to excite me and it left me feeling like a little, foolish girl.

I stood up and turned to my friends. Shura was sending me red-hot glares and I swear her jealousy was so dense that it felt like it could materialise any moment. "I'll go to my room after seeing him," I said and waved at them. "See you at the breakfast."

The Heartrender didn't utter a word on our way to the war room. He knocked at the door when we arrived and opened it after hearing the Darkling's voice telling us to come in. "You may leave us, Jacek." he told the Heartrender, whose name was apparently Jacek.

Jacek closed the door behind himself and left us alone in the war room. The room was pretty much occupied by a huge table, on which a sizeable world map was laid. There were miniature troops placed all around the map.

I cleared my throat, "You wanted to see me?"

The Darkling was leaning on the table with his arms crossed over his chest, his slate-grey eyes were wandering on my black kefta. "Did you like the colour I chose for you?" I asked as the edge of his lip curled upwards in an attractive way. I simply nodded. "Black suits you even better than I have imagined –you carry it just… perfectly."

I knew I had to stop going red in front of him every time he complimented me. "Thank you." I said with a low voice. "I wasn't really expecting you to share your colour with me, though."

He sent me a charming smile. "I'm a man of surprises, Miss Nørgaard." he said. "Botkin was truly impressed by you today –apparently, he didn't assume that you would be able to complete the endurance drills in the first place."

I raised an eyebrow as I approached him with slow steps. "Botkin told you that?" I asked and the confusion in my voice caused him to let out a small laughter. "I thought he hated me already after I talked back at him. Both in Ravkan and in Shu."

"Well, Botkin has his way of telling things. I'm sure you'll advance in your studies and in your training when I'm away."

"You're going?" I asked, I was sure he was able to tell the disappointment in my tone. But I was disappointed –I didn't want him to be away!

The Darkling raised an eyebrow, "I'm the Leader of the Second Army, Valkyrja. My place is with my soldiers." he said, which caused me to regret the way I reacted. I turned my eyes away but I couldn't keep my next question to myself, either.

"When will you be going?"

He straightened as he spoke. "Right now, actually." he said and walked towards the door. "Come, I'll walk you to your room before leaving the Little Palace."

I didn't know why it made me this sad but the more I thought about the fact that I wouldn't be able to see him for the Saints' know how long, the more upset I became. It was odd because we've only known each other for two days –it was too soon for me to get used to his presence.

My room wasn't very far from the war room; hence the walk had been quite short. We were standing in front of the white door before I knew it. The Darkling sent me one last look, nodded at me and turned away as he headed towards the stairs.

Then, I remembered something I was meaning to ask him since the morning.

"Wait," I called from behind him as I walked with quick steps to reach him. "There's something I want to ask." The Darkling was standing on the second upmost stair when he turned to look at me. His slate-grey eyes were telling me to ask right away. "When Baghra held my arm this morning, something strange happened. I…"

He didn't let me finish my word as he interrupted. "Your power simply broke free, didn't it?" he asked with a small smirk on his lips. Since he was a lot taller than me, I preferred standing on the upmost stair to minimise the height difference between us.

Meanwhile, my new friends were leaving the dining hall. They stopped when they saw the Darkling and me talking at the stairs.

I nodded quickly, my raven hair moved. "What happened there? It wasn't like before –it wasn't caused by rage or fear. It was something else."

"Have you read about theAmplifiers yet?" he asked me, which I nodded again.

"Not much, but I understood the main point."

The Darkling's slate-grey eyes wandered on my face for a moment before he talked. "Baghra is a living Amplifier, Valkyrja." he said and my eyes widened with shock –from what I read in the library earlier that day, Amplifiers were objects that increased a Grisha's powers. They usually consisted of bones, scales or teeth of animals –not humans, let alone living beings.

Then, the Darkling reach for my right arm and slowly lifted up the sleeve of my black kefta so that my wrist was exposed. I was watching him with questioning eyes, my heart was beating like crazy and my breaths had become deep. After lifting up my sleeve, he gently held me from my wrist and I gasped with the feeling his touch brought.

Just like it had happened that morning, the power within me wanted to be free and I immediately let it –this time I knew what was happening. Soon, the entire place was surrounded by my shadows that caused the darkness to absorb the light flowing from the oil lamps.

The Grisha watching us from downstairs began to whisper at each other and Shura was trying to kill me with her eyes but I wasn't aware of any of this. All my focus was on the Darkling, on the feeling his touch brought and on the power I set free.

"You, too, are an Amplifier." I whispered at the Darkling, who still had a small smirk on his lips.

"I told you, Miss Nørgaard," he spoke with an attractive tone as he let my wrist go. "I'm a man of surprises."

He's going away (sad emoji) but the army needs him tho / (well so does Val but that's another thing eheheh)

As always, don't forget to leave reviews!! I really want to know how you've found the story so far!!