Total pages in book: 214
Estimated words: 195876 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 979(@200wpm)___ 784(@250wpm)___ 653(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 195876 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 979(@200wpm)___ 784(@250wpm)___ 653(@300wpm)
An ominous whistle of gathering energy fills the hall as the currents of air pick up. It rushes past all of us, buffeting Malakai and his people until they have to squint and raise a hand, covering their faces.
And then the magical wind stops suddenly, the stillness feeling unnatural and dangerous in its wake.
"I've been tasked with observing first-year progress for my father. All first-years." Bastian’s emphasis is subtle but unmistakable.
Serena's hand drops and the shimmer of heat fades, but smoke still curls from her long, elegant fingertips. "Are we supposed to know who your father is, legacy?"
"Someone like you? I imagine you wouldn’t. He sits on the tri-emperor’s inner council. One of their many tasks is monitoring operations here at Confluence Academy. They have the power to intervene in cases that threaten the integrity of the academy. I’ve been asked to keep an inside eye on proceedings here. To monitor."
Malakai’s group takes a collective step backward, expressions going pale.
Bastian's smile is pleasant, as if he's simply sharing information and not stepping between a possibly violent encounter. "Apparently, the tri-emperors have been displeased with some of the more recent graduating classes of primals. They’re seeing increasing amounts of brutality and a lack of cooperation. It’s causing issues on the war front. It's difficult to say, but they may be considering less ideal assignments for students who are reported to be excessively violent." He shrugs as if none of it is too deeply important, but the implication hangs between them.
Malakai and Bastian stare at each other for several heartbeats. Something unspoken passes between them—a history or understanding I'm not privy to. Finally, Malakai inclines his head slightly.
"Nothing here should warrant the attention of the Council," he says, voice soft but edged. "Come, Serena. We'll continue this discussion another time."
As they retreat down the hallway, I notice movement in the shadows of an adjacent corridor. Raith stands there, watching the entire exchange, one hand resting on the hilt of the sword he's been wearing at his hip since we selected our weapons yesterday. Our eyes meet for a moment, and I realize with absolute certainty that had Bastian not intervened, Raith's solution would have involved that blade and significantly more blood.
But also… what the fuck?
One minute, I think he wants to kill me. The next? I'm certain down to my bones that he would've stepped in and slaughtered everyone in this hall to keep me from getting harmed.
Raith gives me an almost imperceptible nod before melting back into the shadows.
"You should be more careful," Bastian says quietly, once Malakai and his followers are out of earshot. "They're looking for weaknesses, and you've given them reason to look harder."
"I didn't ask for your help," I say, though the words lack heat.
"No, you didn't." Something flickers in his eyes—concern, maybe, or calculation. "But I gave it anyway. Don't waste it by being careless. Do you mind giving us a moment?" he asks Ambrose, Beck, and Mireen.
The three of them practically fall over themselves in such a way that it's comical. Mireen's bulged eyes in my direction promise she's planning to ask if I'm sleeping with Bastian later. Ambrose looks like he wants to vomit out of fear from even being spoken to by a legacy. Beck looks like a loyal dog trying to decide if it should bite the much larger animal potentially threatening its friend.
I smile at them. "It's fine. He's not going to hurt me."
I hope.
"We'll wait right over here," Mireen says, taking the others down the hall far enough to give me privacy.
Bastian shows no sign of even noticing the effect he has on people. Instead, he fixes his nearly white eyes on me, face serious. "Were you able to figure out the key?"
"Yes," I said. "I only have a little spare time each day, so it's slow going, but—"
"Good," he says. "And you've hidden it somewhere safe? Separate from the key?"
I nod. "The book is in my room. The key is here," I say, touching my left breast before I think how odd that must look. The key is folded small and tucked into my bra, but Bastian doesn't know that.
He squints.
"Sorry," I say quickly. "It's just… It's on me. I'm keeping it with me at all times."
"Okay. And Nessa? About the trials this weekend."
This weekend? That's already more information than Sestra gave us. That means I only have three or four days to prepare.
His jaw flexes as if he's trying to decide whether he wants to say something. Finally, he gives my arm a soft squeeze. "Be careful. It's going to be dangerous. There are rumors of a rogue elemental near campus. If you see or sense anything of the sort, you run. Don’t try to fight it. Don’t try to reason with it. Just run."
With that, he walks away, leaving me with more questions than answers.