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chapter thirty-eight, The Conclave: Part 1

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NOVA AGREED TO FIGHT FOR SKAIKRU. Octavia was upset, but she was glad Nova was doing it because she knows she good at fighting as well. Nova was getting ready she put wraps around her knuckles and removed her handmade jacket, leaving her in her tight black tank top and leather jeans and black boots.

Nova sword laid on the wooden table beside. She lifted her head and saw Fio walking up. "Please, spare me the lecture" Nova sighs as she looks away from him. "I don't think you're ready, your wounds have not healed-" Fio begins, and Nova raises her hand, and he stops.

"Nova- I believe you can be a leader, and I know you can fight but this is too much for you. This is a conclave not a one-on-one battle you will have multiple people coming at you at once. That's a lot of blood on your hands, are you ready for that?" Fio speaks and Nova looks up at Fio.

"I already have enough blood on my hands, what's a little more?" Nova questions and Fio sighs.

"Fine, but if you're doing this, you need war paint," Fio declares, dipping his hands into the black paint. With deliberate strokes, he begins to transform Nova's face. He starts by drawing dark circles around her eyes, giving them an intense, almost haunting look. His fingertips trace three bold lines down her neck, creating a striking contrast against her skin.

Next, he carefully outlines her lips, adding a small line just beneath her bottom lip for emphasis. His attention shifts to her eyebrows, where he draws a pointy line over one and three sharp spikes at the top. Underneath her eyes, he mirrors the design, adding three more spikes that accentuate her fierce expression.

Finally, on her other eye, Fio paints one long line along her eyebrow and another long line beneath her eye, completing the war paint with precision. Each stroke is deliberate, each design element adding to the intensity of her look. The transformation is complete; Nova's face now a canvas of battle-ready artistry, reflecting the strength and determination within her.

Nova looks in a mirror and admires the face paint drawn on her. "Does this mean something?" Nova questions and Fio sighs, "It's mine" Fio says, and Nova looks to Fio and smiles.

"I hope you wear it with pride and win the conclave" Fio prays, and Nova nods her head hesitantly.

"I hope I do too" Nova says putting the mirror down.

"Nova, there's something I have to tell you" Fio says, and Nova furrows her eyebrows as he looks genuinely shocked to tell her.

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GAIA WAS ON STAGE ANNOUNCING PEOPLE who were participating in the conclave. Nova kept cracking he knuckles as she waited for her name to be called.

"Nova from Skaikru, step forward. Accept the sigil of your clan and fight with honor as their champion" Gaia calls out and Nova steps to the stage accepting the sigil. Nova stands on the stage waiting for the next person to be called.

"'Iris from Trikru, step forward. Accept the sigil of your clan and fight with honor as their champion,'" Gaia's voice rings out, and Nova can hardly believe her ears. Iris! Iris is fighting in the conclave.

Nova feels her confidence waver. During those three months Nova had been away, Iris had been the one teaching her how to fight better and how to use a wide array of weapons. Now, she is facing her trainer in combat, with any weapon of her choice.

Nova's eyes drift to Clarke in the crowd. Clarke's expression is one of shock, her eyes wide with disbelief. Nova can sense Clarke's lack of faith, and it stings. Iris steps up next to Nova, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

"We fight or we die. Looks like you'll be dying," Iris says, turning away from Nova.

Nova's breathing becomes uneven, and she cracks her knuckles harder than ever before, then looks forward, steeling herself for the battle ahead.

" ...Conclave. A battle to the death within the walls of Polis. These warriors will fight until only one remains. When that warrior collects all the sigils from the fallen and delivers them to me, they will be declared the victor. This final champion alone will tell us which clan is meant to survive in the crypt of Bekka Pramheda, and which clans are meant to perish in Praimfaya. We honor those who fall by the sword but follow the One who wields it best." Gaia explains and Nova takes deep breathes until she sees Luna stepping forward.

"That would be me. I'm Luna kom Floukru and I'm the last of my clan" Luna states and Nova looks to Iris who smile fades away rather quickly.

"We know who you are--the natblida who ran from her conclave" Gaia says looking Luna up and down. "I'm not running from this one" Luna states as she gets in Gaia face.

"Accept this sigil, Luna kom Floukru, but with your clan gone, who will you fight for?" Gaia asks as Luna takes the sigil.

"I fight for no one. I fight for death. When I win, no one will be saved!" Luna states and Iris and Nova lock eyes and are both in disbelief but they know they have one job to do. Don't let Luna win the conclave.

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THEY DECIDED TO GIVE THE WARRIORS more time to prepare. Fio and Bellamy met up with a Nova as she paces back and forth. "Oh, hey" Nova greets as she stops and looks at how they look scared, but also eager.

"We have a plan" Fio voices and Nova furrows her eyebrows.

"And that is?" Nova questions with worry.

"When the starting horn blows, just stay out of sight and let the others thin out the competition" Bellamy answers and Nova furrows her eyebrows in confusion.

"Hide? How does that help me?" Nova questions and Fio and Bellamy lock eyes for a moment. "You don't need to go up against the strongest warrior from every clan" Fio states and Nova crosses her arms over her chest.

"I thought that's what the whole point of this was. Fight" Nova states and Fio sighs. "You don't have to kill all 12 warriors" Fio says.

"You just have to kill the last one" Bellamy adds and Nova looks to the both of them.

"I'm not hiding from this. If a fight comes my way, then I have to" Nova says as she looks over at Iris, who sends her a mischievous smile as if she was listening to the whole time.

"Ambassadors and advisors, to the tower. Champions, to your flags" They call out and Nova pulls Fio into a hug. Fio doesn't let go for a while until Nova gently pushes him away.

Nova looks to Bellamy who reaches out his hand and Nova places hers in his and they shake hands.

"May we meet again" Bellamy says and Nova nods. "We will. We better" Fio states as she pats Novas back while she pushes past them and goes to her flag to begin the conclave.

Nova stood by her flag, the emblem of Skaikru fluttering beside her. She took deep, steadying breaths, clutching her sword tightly. Her hand absently rubbed her stomach, where the wound still throbbed. She couldn't let it stop her, not the pain in her leg or the burning in her belly. This was her chance to prove she could fight, to show everyone she was no longer a kid.

Lost in thought, the sudden blare of the horn jolted her back to reality. The sound echoed through her ears-time to begin. Hide or fight? She decided to fight, her determination solidifying as she moved through the tunnel, ready for the conclave. The sounds of screaming and clashing weapons filled the air.

Roan, Luna, Ilian, and Iris were all in this conclave with her, each fighting for their clans. But there would be no saving anyone; Nova knew that.

With a bloodthirsty scream, she charged out of the tunnel, immediately confronting a warrior from another clan. He was a hulking figure, armed with a large sword and shield. Nova braced herself, lunging forward to meet his attack. Their swords clashed, the sound reverberating through the air.

He used his shield to block her strikes, leaving her unable to land a blow. With a powerful swing, he pushed her against the wall, the impact driving the breath from her lungs. Nova groaned in pain, locking eyes with him as he raised his sword to deliver the final blow.

"This was easy," he taunted.

With a fierce resolve, Nova jabbed her fingers into his eye. He screamed, dropping his shield and clutching his face. Nova seized the opportunity, kicking him square in the face. He fell to the ground, stunned.

"You're right. This was easy," she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. With a swift motion, she swung her sword, decapitating him. As his lifeless body hit the ground, she bent down and took his necklace, wrapping it around her own neck as a trophy.

She scanned the battlefield, spotting Luna, Roan, and Iris each locked in combat. Deciding to avoid a larger fight for now, Nova slipped past them, disappearing into another tunnel to bide her time and plan her next move.

While Nova was hiding out in the tunnels, she came across no one, but when she turned one corner, and Luna was standing there with her large weapon and more necklaces around her neck, causing Nova to swallow harshly as she looked off in front of her.

"Didn't take you as the hiding type" Luna states and Nova grips her sword tightly. "For Fio's sake I'll make your death quick" Luna says with a smirk on her face.

"I don't plan on dying so it might be hard" Nova replies and Luna lets out an airy laugh.

"Just because you don't plan something doesn't mean it won't happen" Luna says, taking a small steps towards Nova. "

Are you scared?" Luna questions and Nova shakes her head, "Never was" Nova answers and Luna sighs. "Why do you have to do this? Octavia told me once, Lincoln believed we were one clan. We can have that" Nova states and Luna looks to Nova.

"Lincoln was a fool and so is Octavia for believing that crap" Luna states and Nova tilts her head.

"This is what mankind chooses to do with its final days" Luna says, motioning around.

"I'm sure you used to believe people were worth saving" Nova says and Luna nods, "I did but I was wrong. Your clan taught me that people are cruel... and violent" Luna says, getting closer to Nova with every step she takes.

"I think everyone made us that way" Nova states and Luna looks Nova up and down. "It took me awhile, but I think everyone here right now is worth saving. I don't know what changed but- I do" Nova believes and Luna scoffs.

"I know what changed. You became weak," Luna declared, her voice dripping with disdain. Nova shook her head slowly, defiance in her eyes. "Fio would be so ashamed," Luna continued, swinging her weapon towards Nova.

Nova moved swiftly, dodging the blow and letting the weapon crash into the ground. Seizing the moment, she swung her elbow into Luna's face, forcing her to stagger back. Luna wiped her nose, smirking, and Nova took the opportunity to swing her sword. But Luna was too quick, ducking and dodging each attack with ease.

Luna lunged, delivering a powerful kick to Nova's stomach that sent her sprawling to the ground. Gasping for breath, Nova clutched her stomach, coughing harshly. Luna stood over her, a predatory gleam in her eyes. Summoning her strength, Nova kicked out with both feet, sending Luna stumbling back.

Spotting a bucket of water nearby, Nova grabbed it and hurled it into Luna's face. As Luna turned away, momentarily blinded, Nova noticed a cluster of pipes hanging above her. With a swift slash of her sword, she cut the string holding them up. The pipes crashed down on Luna, scattering across the floor.

Luna, undeterred, kicked the pipes off and rose to her feet. Realizing she was wasting precious time, Nova scrambled to her feet and bolted down the hall.

"You can't hide! We'll find each other soon!" Luna's voice echoed behind her as Nova ran, determination propelling her forward.