How I Became the Strongest Sovereign

-Malia's POV, that day in the morning-

I shivered, holding my mug to my lips and gulping down the warm water.

I felt someone's eyes on me and I instantly looked up, feeling a pull at my heart as my eyes latched onto Zeref's across the field, behind the fence. He was so far yet he felt so close from just eye contact.

His face was one of worry and his lips were slightly pulled downwards only the smallest amount, like a tiny frown. My body locked into place as I clenched my jaw, the urge to shift resurfacing. My mug nearly fell out of my hands as I shut my eyes, fearing the golden glint would flicker in them.

My senses expanded as I heard chattering in my ear and exhales of people around me. 

So loud.

I shivered, trying to concentrate on my own breathing but then I heard something else. 

Zeref. 

His heartbeat was calming and as soon as I opened my eyes to look at him again, all the other noises faded out and the only thing I could hear was Zeref's heart… beating.

He gave me a reassuring smile but I knew he was worried. I also knew that there was nothing he could do to help. 

"ZEREF!" his instructor interrupted my senses, making my ears ring as I winced.

"Stop wasting time and GET IN!" Zeref was pushed into the bathroom as I sighed, finishing off my water in one chug.

Our sessions started late today since apparently we had an inspection by the head of the camp, first thing in the morning for an hour. Although I tried to protest to my instructor that I was sick, she insisted I had to join in. She was scared I'd make our group look weak and it would make her look bad.

A hand laid on my shoulder as I froze in the process of trying not to flinch. I was shocked out of my train of thoughts as I looked to my side.

"How are you feeling?" Sara asked, taking the mug out of my hands. I nodded, my throat aching like someone had shoved sandpaper down it.

"I'm sorry I can't help much. I don't know what else to do." she sighed guiltily with a sorry look on her face. 

"It's not your fault," I pushed the words out of my voice, rubbing my throat afterwards because of the dry pain. 

Soyeon leaped over the log in joy, sitting next to me. She didn't say anything, instead she took her palm and placed it gently on my forehead.

"That is one hell of a fever…" she winced, withdrawing her hand from the heat. I groaned, leaning my head on her shoulder as she put her arm around me and rubbed my arm.

Sara sat on my other side, putting her arm on mine. 

"I'll go try and find you some medicine." she said before walking off.

I let out a cough as it was just me and Soyeon now. I could hear her heart racing. 

She was nervous.

"Malia… I heard the underground safety tunnels…" she stopped, hesitating or thinking on how to word her sentence.

I looked up at her, my nose nearly touching her chin as our faces were so close. It made it easy to hear her rigid breathing pattern and the fiddling of her fingers.

Why is she nervous?

"Uh… I heard the underground tunnels are suffocating. Y-you…" she hesitated again.

"Just do not go down there since you are sick. It'll make you even more ill and I do not want you to hurt yourself."

Why would I need to go to the underground safe place?

"Okay?" I agreed, furrowing my eyebrows at the random mention of the safe grounds.

She cleared her throat, her arms wrapping tighter around me like a blanket. I felt so secure, like I could fall asleep all over again but I was shaken out of her arms by the loud whistle blowing directly above us.

"Get up! We are going!" our instructor yelled as Soyeon groaned, helping me up.

**

We were running laps after Miss Elena had inspected us. I was not expecting her to be the owner of this camp. It seemed too cruel to be under someone so kind. Sara arrived empty handed, shaking her head at me meaning she didn't find anything to help me. 

"Why are you late?!" the instructor yelled, as Sara rolled her eyes while ignoring her.

"Hey! I am talking to you! Seraphin-"

BOOM!

An explosion ran through the air as I screamed, covering my ears from the loud noise. My ears were highly sensitive to any noise from the urge to shift so I felt this more than anyone else did. I could feel the vibrations run through my head as everything started to go muffled like I was underwater.

"Get to the safe grounds!" someones blurry voice yelled but I was on the floor with my eyes shut. My ears burned and it felt like every nerve in my body was popping.

People ran past me, screaming as the instructor led the group underground.

Someone grabbed my arm, holding it up while trying to help me.

"Malia! We have to go!" Sara screamed as Naz helped her pick me up. My head spun as I squeezed my eyes shut and groaned. 

I could feel their presence but it hurt too much to look or focus.

"No! I'll take her to the nurses underground layer. You guys can go!" Soyeon said, followed by muffled protests. They argued before I felt my body fall into someone else's arms.

"Malia, I got you." Soyeon whispered.

"Be careful…" Naz stressed before her and Sara's footsteps disappeared.

Soyeon hugged me, her heart racing and her breathing heavy as she looked around.

"I need you to open your eyes and run with me," she spoke hastily. I had never heard her this worried.

"I can't! It burns!" I clenched my fists, scared.

"We don't have much tim-" she was interrupted by a growl, causing her to gasp. She slowly placed my limp body to the ground as my breathing intensified.

What was that?

Open your eyes!