Hewn had a sense of high regality to it, the houses were built over-hanging and into the very mountain itself. Rock stacked over one another creating narrow cobbled streets, steam came from spitting cooking oils of the slums, the sprawling underground city was full of the most inquisitive eyes.

The Ladies and Lords lived high above, far too dignified to mingle with the lives of the bustling daily life that became of the merchants and blacksmiths and those that were covered in dust and soot by the end of their days. Down there, the dark crept tangled in fear. The streets became narrow and uneven the feeling of uneasiness crept in your gut eyes watched from the shadows prowling the streets with nightmarish glee

The city didn't bother Kol nearly much anymore as it did when she first arrived, she had Richon, and she looked scary enough to not pick a fight with especially with a sword drawn. The smell of crude oil, strong aged wine and dust became nothing more than an afterthought months came by swiftly ending. Kol spent her time on the night shift usually bored, fatigued and half-awake at most. A result of the uncommon hours that she awoke for her shift.

The quiet halls and streets that always held a cold and damp chill went down her spine through the leathers. With only the sprinkle of people that dared come out from their homes in the early hours of the night, it was quite a boring but necessary job. Those who did were stragglers from the dirty grime filled brothels and bars or trudging to work. This work for long but it kept her sane.

Kol raced down the curving stone staircase boot clanking and echoed as she hit the uneven stony floors avoiding the fourteenth stair since her last tumble down it. She crept down the long vastly boring carved stone halls into the broadly lit expanse of a room with rusting swords pledged on both sides. She crouched down examing the craft of the blades, of course, one that sat on her hip via a hard black leather belt giving a pressing but the familiar weight was her favourable sword she rather not dull it so for sparing there wasn't any better, created by skilled blacksmiths of Hewn in crevices riddled with soot and raging fire. She'd ask for daggers next time she thought, that would be cool.

Richon stepped in ducking his head through the archway he had an expression of inquisitive happiness, mouth quirked in a small noticeable smile that Kol hadn't cracked, but, in finding her fast sprint quite amusing he had run down at the same pace if a bit slower. The dust jumped in surprise as he landed hard on the dusty flooring of the training floor, he was built like a great brick wall tall and strong, he pulled his long greatsword from his side. It screeched with delight for its owner had finally sought to use it once again.

"I'd never take you for a sword wanker" He shot her a slow smile at her staring at the sword with such an intense look. Kol rolled her eyes at the comment, it was very Richon indeed. Kol threw an inquisitive brow and removed her belt and sword it clattered to the ground hard on the stone and granite then grabbing a new one by the cold hilt, she tested the weight in her hands, it was unbalanced slightly but I'd have to do for the time being.

"You ready?" Richon asked,

Kol nodded holding her sword tighter. Richon swang forward, Kol ducked low barely missing the clean swipe.

"K, pay attention ya' bastard, you'd be dead,"

Richon swung forward his blade once again missing Kol as she rolled away she grunted as her forearm struck the ground. "What are ya' stupid? Look at your footing" Richon grumbled annoyed even though he secretly loved the thrill of teaching someone lesser. Richon came from a robust family of seven, he was the youngest and the punching bag for his bully older brothers who were trainers in the mountains. When he had the chance to insult someone or give a snarky remake he used it but was otherwise a decent bloke. Kol liked that, there wasn't many of them here.

"Footing," He struck forward sending Kol crashing down into the training pit dust flew up like smoke in a fire. Richon came marching forward offering a hand smirking "Let's try again? eh," Richon gave a barking laugh. Kol nodding accepted his hand up, ignoring the ache in her limbs especially in the arms, her armour had finally decided to fit and her muscles defined and grew.

"Again."

She nodded she stretched her muscles out, they moaned in protest.

Richon readied himself to parry her attack.

After the vigorous training sweat ran down her face, Kol found herself dragging her feet up the stairs and cursing the author. Who would have thought that waking in a forest on a snowy Illyrian mountain top memories attached with confusion would lead to her living in the scariest place in Prythian? Of course, Sara J Maas hadn't described it to much detail. It was damn horrific in the flesh. The books had been slowly creeping up, things had started to change, Hybern was on the horizon. It scared the hell out of Kol to know she'd be fighting. She looked over at Richon who was running a hand through greasy hair, her friend would be there to, the thought of that swirled and tightened her stomach.

"Are you well?" Richon had touched her shoulder his brow turned downwards.

"Yes," Kol said walking faster to loosen the feelings she had heels of her shoes clicking against the floor as she walked further in. The bed frame creaked a little when she sat down.

"I just need sleep," She laid on the bed turn away from Richon's eyes that held a hint of concern.

"Where did you get your eye colour from?" He asked curiously trying for conversation. Kol's lips turned up in a small smile. She had blue eyes, it was uncommon here.

"My mom," Kol laid down "She had them too." They fell into a warm silence''

After a brief silence, Richon laid down as well "They're nice eyes, my mom's dead been a couple years, I was raised mostly by the older brothers we all pretty much look the same,"

As she drifted she let the dark take her away she muttered "Thanks, haven't talked about them in a while, my family. I miss them."

They both fell asleep content.

Kol trained with Richon who she ever grew close to knocking down a few pegs, she was more than willing to kick his ass when she got the chance, which came rarely reluctantly shown by the peppering of bruises on her body. Never the less she grew stronger and her technique improved with every swipe delivered.

In the mess halls, she was never bothered, the bandana covering her face made most stay away and if they dared to venture closer Richon scared them off, even the older guards. Rest to say she had her vegetable slop in peace. Though some gave her looks of question they never voiced it. A couple had even become somewhat friends, even if they all had broken morals.

She rarely saw Pyper, when she did she found a new look in his eye. It scared her to think such a boy could have a look of a killer, but by his smile, she knew he'd come to enjoy it like many of the new trainees. So she watched him with a steady eye.

"So Kol you got anything new to say?" Richon says sitting down roughly on the stool beside her soup flying out of his bowl. She shrugged, the same as ever she supposed. She never was one to talk now like in her last life, it caused too much of stir to state your opinions than to remain a silent bystander.

"No." She said lowly and gave him a pointed look to say 'when have I ever?'

"Okay bastard" Richon grinned and chuckled slamming his shoulder playfully against hers, 'bastard' became his favourite nickname for her from her lack of skills with a blade he assumed she wasn't taught because her parents hadn't taught her, it was all in good fun so no hard feelings. He wasn't correct, but she wasn't going to correct him and say she wasn't even from this world.

He leaned in whispering into her ear.