Page 16 of Lucent Academy 2: Trinity Awakens
I glanced around. We were standing in front of a fountain in the shade of a beautifully blooming tree. Not the special place I had been visiting some nights to summon my own mates, but another section of the gardens that was relatively private. "Well, go on then. We seem to be alone for the moment, and we should have a few minutes before the bell rings."
I watched as Amber closed her eyes and took a deep breath. I could feel her magic gather inside her and all around her, a heady swirl of potential that she was as yet only scratching the surface of. A familiar light broke through the trees, the light I recognized from the Hestawyn Realm, where Vaerath was also from. The Phoenix appeared in his human form, bronze-skinned and alight with a fire in his eyes. The more we summoned our mates, the less dramatic their appearance in the Human Realm.I had also noticed that with my own mates, summoning them became easier, and I could sustain their presence for longer.
A sunny smile broke on Amber's face as she went over to let him fold her in his arms. I watched them for a moment as they whispered together, and I felt a bittersweet ache in my heart when he kissed her so gently on her forehead. It reminded me of Caelan. Pyrrhus had the same quality about him that was almost reserved but was in fact a sign of deep respect and affection. I suddenly missed my Fae Prince with a keening feeling that was hard to define.
I smiled and turned away, deciding to give the lovers this private moment together. I hooked my arm through Oliver's, and together we walked back in the direction of the castle, passing fountains and streams, marble statues and beds of sweet-smelling, brightly colored flowers.
Later that night, the room grew quiet as everyone else came to bed. The lights were switched off, and soon our dormitory room was bathed only in moonlight. When the only sounds were those of people sleeping deeply, I got up quietly and grabbed the purple shawl my mother had sent me. It had become one of my favorite items of clothing, and I kept it handy for nights when I couldn't sleep, which had been happening quite often.
I folded the shawl around my shoulders and crept out quietly, not wanting to disturb anyone. I took the familiar route and walked down the same hallways and flights of stairs. In the last few weeks, I had taken the route every time I felt overwhelmed when sleep eluded me. It was very late, and I didn't see anyone as I made my way outside to the section in the garden where I had found the bench under the elm tree.
This had become one of my favorite parts of the castle. Whenever I was feeling down, I came here to think. Knowing it was protected by magic and I could summon one of my mates here if I wished had drawn me here again and again. I had to be careful to give myself time to rest in between, to recover. But just knowing it was here had made this a place of comfort for me, like a special sanctuary even on nights when I just sat here alone.
The branches of the large tree seemed to whisper a welcome as I took my place on the bench. The air was chilly, so I pulled my legs up and covered them with the shawl. Then I closed my eyes and thought of the one person I wanted to see at that moment.
I felt the old, familiar pull, the doorway opening from one world into another one. There seemed to be a tearing sound, a shifting of reality, and bright sunlight turned the inside of my eyelids red. I smiled at the warmth on my face, welcomed the smell of fresh rain and of green things growing.
"You've summoned me, my Queen," said a voice that was cool and formal.
I opened my eyes and saw Caelan, my Fae Prince. My breath caught a little in my throat. Though I'd been expecting him, though I had summoned him, I was still surprised.
On nights when we'd sat on this very bench, holding hands and sharing whispers and kisses in the dark, I had never grown accustomed to his platinum-haired, green-eyed beauty. His sudden appearance in our world, a being of extraordinary grace and power, always snatched my breath away.
He came to sit with me on the bench and held me. He gave me comfort by listening to my secret thoughts and feelings that I couldn't share with anyone, not even Oliver or Amber. Night after night, I summoned one of them. Not always, but often. Wetalked of their homes, of their Patron Gods, and I made mental notes to add to my essays to be handed in to Miss Whips at the end of term.
My three mates brought me comfort and gave me counsel. They made me feel less alone.
While we talked and kissed and sat on the bench, letting time pass us by, I was unaware that someone else was watching. From behind a thick clump of bushes, where I couldn't see them, someone was spying on us. Someone who had heard I was leaving my room, someone who had wanted to see where I'd been going when I left the dormitory and wandered in the castle's quiet hallways. Someone with ill intent was watching me with a pair of hostile eyes.
Chapter 9: A Show of Skill
The morning of our mid-term demonstration, I rose with a sick feeling in my stomach. I sat at the breakfast table and stared at my plate of food. I was feeling sweaty and uncomfortable, as if I was coming down with a fever.
Ursula passed our table with the trolley, gathering empty dishes, when she noticed my pale face and my full plate.
"What's wrong, dear?"
Beside me, Amber shook her head. "I think she's just very nervous. We're supposed to be giving our first demonstration today for our midterms. I tried to get her to eat something, but I don't think she's been able to swallow more than a few bites."
"Please don't speak to me as if I'm not in the room," I said through gritted teeth. I knew they were just worried about me, but I felt like if I tried to eat just then, I would be sick. "I just don't feel like eating, that's all."
"It's more common than you think," Ursula said kindly. "Lots of students come down with an upset stomach the morning of their first practical demonstration.
She stuck her hand into her apron pocket and pulled out a candy bar from her secret stash, which she always handed out as treats to the students. "Here, take this and put it away. Chances are, in a few hours you'll be feeling much better, and then you'll realize you're as hungry as a wolf."
I took it gratefully and tucked it away in the pocket of my jacket, because I knew that Ursula was probably right.
She noticed Amber's big, silently pleading eyes and laughed. "Fine, Miss Cole. Here you go." From her other pocket, she took out another candy bar and handed it to Amber. "I swear, the two of you will drain a person dry if they let you."
The bell rang, and we made our way to the Grand Colosseum. It was even larger than the one we had been practicing in before. Seeing Amber and the rest of the students mirroring my awe, I realized I wasn't the only one intimidated by the setting, let alone the task before us. Thinking of demonstrating the spell, my stomach gave a sickening lurch, and I instantly regretted the few bites of breakfast I had consumed just a short while ago. It would be just the cherry on the cake if I threw up in front of everyone instead of demonstrating a simple bit of fire magic.
I swallowed back the bile wanting to rise in my throat and willed my stomach to settle. Taking deep, shallow breaths through my nose, my feet moved mechanically as I followed the group to one end of the arena where targets had been set up.
Principal Lucius and the instructors were looking at us expectantly, waiting for us to settle down. Next to Caleb stood Trina Swift. As I watched her, I remembered what Oliver had told us and wondered if there was any truth to the rumor that they had been lovers once, before discovering they were both Manaborn. In the past month, I had caught glimpses of her around the school and in the library with the students she was mentoring. Each time she took note of me, it was with that same hostile expression on her face. She had no reason to dislike me so much. She didn't even know me.
Trina's mate, the Rashasa, made her an exceptional Manaborn, a rarity among our kind, even here in the Academy. That was, until the current batch of students had arrived. In a typical year, the Academy saw maybe one or two gold-ranking students across allgroups. The current group of first-years was exceptional. It was only because in the year we had been born, there had been an Equinox Supremis, a special alignment of stars that had caused the world to experience a massive mana dump.
Is that why Trina had regarded me with so much hostility before? As part of the Mind Mages and a member of the school's staff, she would know all about my status as the Trinity.
