Page 36 of Alchemy of Souls

Two things happen at once—Eloise’s blade ricochets off Pierce’s shield and Pierce’s blade lodges into—Is that a piece of wood? It takes me a moment to realize what she’s done. Instead of throwing up a magic shield to block his dagger, she Alchemied a small wooden one. She not only judged his aim and got it right, but she just gained herself another weapon.

She doesn’t do things the way my friends would, using sheer magical strength to blast an opponent. Yet somehow, while being trapped in midair, she found a way to acquire not one, but two weapons.

She plucks the dagger out of the small wooden shield with a triumphant smile, one Pierce obviously doesn’t appreciate, because the very next moment he breaks the band holding her waist and Eloise free-falls toward the floor, blade in one hand and shield in the other.

There’s no time to react, no time for Eloise to craft a spell. She might be a creative fighter, but a fall from that height with a blade could be lethal.

My hand shoots out of its own accord; I don’t even know if I make the decision to cast or if I’m riding on pure instinct. But in a flash of a second, Eloise’s fall is cushioned by my wind spell. It doesn’t stop her from hitting the floor entirely, but it softens it like she fell on a bed instead of unforgiving wood.

Eloise launches to her feet, armed with the dagger and ready for battle. Pierce’s face twists in annoyance as he steps forward to cast, but Akari stops him.

“Enough,” she says, and the command in that one word has us all go still. “Who was this fight between?” Akari says gruffly.

“I’m sorry?” Eloise asks in confusion.

“You heard me.”

Eloise swallows, glancing briefly at the crowd. “The fight was between me and Pierce.”

“Correct. Which is why I’d love to know where that wind spell came from,” she says bluntly, and whispers fly through the room. “Because as I understand it, wind is not your specialty. And to cast one that quickly while falling would be a challenge even for my fourth-years.”

So, she cheated?someone says.

Why is it that every time this girl gets tested, something like this happens?

I know I should regret it, but the feeling just doesn’t arrive. An injury of that magnitude would cost us serious time, I tell myself, and I almost believe that’s the entire reason I helped her.

It takes point five seconds for Eloise’s eyes to find mine and even less for them to turn accusatory.

“I cast that wind spell,” I say, not afraid to own it.

Grayson? Helping Eloise Belrose? But why?

All eyes turn my way. I’m pretty sure Naomi curses.

Akari pins me with her gaze. “Unacceptable,” she says in a way that feels like a blow to the balls. “I shouldn’t have to explain to you, Stone, why you’re forbidden from interfering with another student’s training.”

“I understand,” I reply. But I wouldn’t change a thing.

“It seems you do not. But you’ll learn. You and Eloise will report to this room at ten o’clock sharp this evening.” Her words ring like a bad omen, and I know without a doubt that whatever punishment she has in mind is going to be hell.

CHAPTER 22Eloise

The moment I say goodbye to Maggie after class, Grayson’s there.

“Look—” Grayson starts, but I cut him off.

“Don’t youdare,” I say in warning, because I’m embarrassed and frustrated. And the last thing I want is to fight with him in the middle of the hallway and start yet another rumor. I pick up my pace.

“Be angry all you want, but you’d have broken something or stabbed yourself with that dagger,” he says with zero remorse.

“Which is absolutely none of your business,” I reply with a huff.

“Right now, you are my business. The entirety of it,” he says.

“Stop following me around, Grayson Stone!” I whisper-yell at him. “And if you ever interfere with one of my fights again, I’m going to fightyou.”

His eyebrows shoot up. “If you don’t want me to interfere, don’t put your life in danger.”