Page 22 of Lucent Academy 2: Trinity Awakens
I was losing consciousness. But why?
I slipped back and fell from the horse onto the ground. The passive protection my mates gave me made me feel like I was falling back onto a bed of soft feathers. Before I had even a moment to think about what all this meant, a darkness so complete it may have been a facsimile of death swallowed me whole, and I was drowning in nothingness.
Chapter 13: The Visitor
Light dancing on my eyelids drew me back into the waking world. I opened my eyes and immediately recognized the room. I was in one of the suites in the recovery wing. When I tried to sit up, I realized my head felt heavy, and I brought my hands up to cradle it. I groaned and closed my eyes. The room was spinning, and a feeling of nausea was overwhelming me.
One of the staff members, a matronly healer, bustled over and told me to lie back down. I realized she must have been looming over me a few moments before I had woken up fully. "You took quite a spill from your horse. You may have a concussion. You're lucky, it could have been much worse." She gave a disapproving cluck. "Why they let first years ride off on their own, I'll never understand."
Something clicked into place at the mention of my horse. My eyes flew open, and I grabbed the healer's hand. "Chance, the horse, is he okay? There was something in the woods, a monster."
The healer patted my hand. "There, now. The horse is fine, and you'll be fine, too. You must have gotten a fright all alone out there in the woods. It's alright, you're safe now."
A wave of frustration washed over me because she didn't believe me, but I was in no state to argue. I lay back, and the world grew dimmer, less important as I floated away and let sleep take me.
***
"She took a dangerous knock to the head. When she woke up, she was babbling about seeing a monster on the riding trail."
"Impossible. With her level of passive protection, there's no way a fall from a horse could have harmed her so easily. Did she say what kind of monster she saw?"
Voices whispering, trying not to wake me. I heard someone move around close by, heels clicking on the stone floor. The second voice belonged to Principal Lucius.
"I think she was just confused. There's been no vomiting, no other signs of head trauma, but I'll keep a close eye on her tonight."
I kept my eyes closed. I didn't want to see the Principal. Given how terrible the magical lessons had gone of late, I felt too embarrassed to speak to him.
"Keep me updated on her condition, please, Ethel."
I pretended to sleep until I was sure the Principal had left. When I opened my eyes, the room wasn't spinning, and I didn't feel like throwing up anymore. I sat up carefully, trying not to move my head too much. My neck was stiff, and my head felt too big on my neck. The world still seemed a little fuzzy around the edges. Maybe it was just the lights in the room, or maybe it was because of my head injury.
Then I remembered what Principal Lucius had said about passive protection. I had felt dizzy before I had fallen from my horse. The world had been spinning, and I'd been losing consciousness before I had slipped off. The fall itself had been feather soft. It hadn't harmed me.
"Ah, you're awake." The healer, whom I now knew was called Ethel, said as she placed one cool hand against my cheek to measure my temperature. "Do you think you'll manage to eat something?"
I didn't feel hungry, but my throat was parched. I licked my lips and discovered they were dry, a sure sign of dehydration. I asked Ethel for something to drink. She smiled kindly. "I'll bring you a tray of food just in case, and perhaps some fruit juice and chicken broth if you don't feel like you can risk eating anything heartier."
By the time I pushed my empty plate aside a while later, the healer was back. "Well, well, I'm glad to see you discovered your appetite after all."
I nodded. "It smelled so good, I couldn't help myself. Thank you." I meant it. Of all the fantastic meals I had eaten since coming to the Academy, the tender chicken thigh, crisp green vegetables, baked potatoes, and corn-on-the-cob was definitely one of my favorite meals. I had even eaten the broth, which had turned out to be meaty with only the lightest suggestion of garlic and tomato. It had been satisfying enough to be a meal on its own under the right circumstances.
"You seem much better," Ethel said. "Are you up for a visitor? One of your friends has been waiting in the visitor's lounge for more than an hour."
A visitor? For me? I wondered who it could be. I knew who Iwantedit to be, but didn't dare hope for too much.
"Yes, please. I'd like to have a visitor. But, are you sure I have to stay here all night? I really am feeling better."
"Tut, tut," Ethel shook her head and gave me a stern frown. "Best not to take any chances. You'll sleep here tonight, and I'll hear nothing more about it. Now, excuse me. I'll send in your visitor and have some tea in my office."
When the healer returned, I was delighted to see none other than Amber following in her wake. My friend was looking at me with the strangest expression on her face.
Ethel took a timer from her pocket and turned the wind-up lever on the little clock's side. "You can visit for an hour, nothing more. Your friend needs her rest. Once the alarm goes off, I expect you to leave, Miss Cole."
Amber nodded and waited until Ethel had excused herself before turning back to me. She took my hand and gripped it tightly.
"Gods, Leah. I'm so sorry. I went with Natalie and Kristen to the library. You shouldn't have been out there on your own!"
Amber bent over and hugged me delicately at first, but more tightly when I returned her hug with as much strength as I could muster. I assured her I was just fine.
