CHAPTER 51: BENEATH THE FALLING WATER

[The Waterfall— Euphoria]

"I knew I’d find you here."

The voice came from behind Valkyrie, calm but certain— like he had been tracking her soul everywhere. Valkyrie turned to know who it was— though the voice sounded familiar, she turned back looking unimpressed when she discovered it was Sky.

She sat at the edge of the cliff, legs folded, staring down at the waterfall crashing endlessly against the rocks below. Mist floated in slow waves, brushing her face as if nature itself was trying to soothe her.

She didn’t answer him.

Sky stepped forward quietly, boots barely crunching the forest stone behind her. He waited a moment, then spoke again— not louder nor softer, just...there.

"Can I sit?"

She still didn’t speak. Instead, she shifted her gaze to an empty space beside her, just once, then turned back to the waterfall. That was all the invitation he needed.

Sky sat beside her, leaving just enough space to keep things comfortable. He rested his forearms on his knees and looked down at the endless drop before them.

For a long moment, neither said a word. The only sound was the thunder of the waterfall, roaring like distant war. Birds circled above. Sunlight peeked through clouds and time slowed.

Finally, Sky broke the silence.

"You know," he said, eyes still forward, "I didn’t expect this view to look this good from up here.... Who knew a waterfall could look this beautiful..." Sky said, testing the silence...

It was a harmless attempt. A small outreach and a quiet offering of peace.

Valkyrie didn’t react— not with words, not with a smile. But her eyes flicked once more, softer this time, taking in the view like she was actually seeing it for the first time after Sky pointed it out.

But he didn’t push harder—

—Another breeze passed by. Seconds turned into a full minute.

Then Valkyrie finally spoke— her voice was steady but lazily empty.

"I know you see me as a monster now too."

Sky didn’t move. He turned slightly, observing the weakness in her voice. He tried not to flinch. His voice remained calm and collected.

"No...Hell naw!"

Valkyrie looked at him then, confused...not because of what he said, but because he had answered without hesitation.

Sky continued, "I don’t think you’re a monster. Not even close."

"You saw what I did..." she said flatly. "I could’ve killed her."

"You didn’t..."

"It doesn’t matter. The power...what came out of me...I didn’t control it. I didn’t even know I could do that." Her hands clenched. "People don’t care if it was an accident. They saw something they didn’t understand...and now they’ll never forget it."

Sky finally turned his head toward her. His eyes held something she didn’t expect— truth.

"I don’t think you’re a monster," he repeated. "I think you’re a person who was pushed too far. And honestly?" He shrugged lightly. "I think you held back."

She stared at him, caught off guard by the certainty in his tone.

He went on, "What I see is someone who fought back...not because she wanted to hurt someone, but because she had something worth protecting."

He nodded gently. "That bracelet must have meant a lot to you."

Valkyrie looked down, jaw tensing. Even now the memory hurt. The way Stephanie crushed the last thing that tied her to her sister Debby... the anger that came with it... the darkness that slipped out.

"It wasn’t just a bracelet," she said quietly. "It was a promise. Something I had to protect."

"Yeah," Sky said, nodding. "I figured as much."

Valkyrie let out a bitter breath. "Well, if I was trying to make friends... I’m doing a terrible job... Everyone thinks I’m a freak"

Sky huffed a soft laugh. "Who cares what anyone else thinks? The truth is simple— your friends didn’t leave your side. They ran after you. They still care about you"

She shook her head. "Yeah" then continued "We share a special kind of bond together...but sometimes I just wonder...what was I made for? What am I...really? A lot of strange things have been occuring in my life lately, now this?..."

He didn’t miss the words she used. "What I am— not who am i?. His eyes narrowed slightly.

"What does that mean?"

She froze, realizing what she let slip— and shut down. "Forget it."

"Valkyrie..."

She ignored him, her gaze fixed back on the crashing water below.

Sky leaned closer slightly, not pushing further. "For what it’s worth... I think your friends are lucky to have you."

She scoffed softly. "Lucky? You saw today. I lost control. I let my emotions explode...

literally...i am the lucky one here, My friends are not just friends to me. They are...sisters"

"True, but I didn’t see someone losing control," Sky said. "I saw someone who reached their limit. Someone who don’t let people step on her. And someone willing to go through any length to protect the things she love"

His voice dropped just a little serious now. "What Stephanie did was cruel— and she knew exactly what she was doing. What you did? That was a reaction. And the only people who will condemn you for it..." he paused, "...are the same people who would’ve done worse in your place."

She fell silent again. But something softened in her expression— barely, but real.

After a moment, she asked, "You don’t... hate me...do you?"

He looked at her directly. "Why would I? You’re like my favorite friend Val." She blinked— surprised by the honesty in that.

Sky continued, "You think people will hate you now... Maybe some will. But people love easy stories— villains and heroes. Black and white. And when they don’t understand something, they choose hate because it’s easy."

He let out a short exhale. "But I don’t buy easy stories cause I’ve known you Val, you’re not a monster"

Valkyrie lowered her gaze. "Then what am I?"

"That," Sky said, "is something you get to decide...on your own"

They stayed quiet after that. The wind picked up, brushing her hair gently, as if the world itself waited.

Finally, Valkyrie asked, barely above a whisper, "My abilities, I can feel them growing stronger everyday...what if mastering my abilities... means hurting people around me?"

His voice was steady.

"That is why we’re here, right? To train, master and control our powers so it don’t overwhelm you...you just have to go easy on yourself."

She met his gaze, and he held it— grounded and unshaken.

"Don’t let people decide your story for you," he continued "They’ll twist it. use it against you. And try to turn you into something you’re not."

He tapped his chest lightly. "Only one voice should write your story....yours."

She looked away again, not because she was dismissing his words— but because they were getting too close. It was becoming too real, and too deliberate. She didn’t want things between them to get mixed up again.

A small silence stretched again— but this time, it wasn’t heavy. It was peaceful.

"Sky?" she asked suddenly.

"Yeah?"

She swallowed, voice quieter now. "Why did you follow me?"

He didn’t answer right away. He took his time thoughtfully.

"Because everyone else was reacting," he said. "Pointing fingers. Taking sides. Shouting. And Judging... But nobody..." he paused, "...asked how you felt."

That shouldn’t have hit her as hard as it did— but it did. Like someone had finally seen the invisible weight she carried and didn’t run away from it, it felt really really good...Her breath rose and fell slowly. She liked that more than she expected.

Minutes passed. The sky deepened to gold as the sun lowered. Leaves rustled. Water roared. Peace found them again. immediately...A bell chimed from the front camp. Moments later, cheers exploded across the grounds. Something was happening— and we were about to find out what..."