Chapter 21. Grayson
Grayson
Wrapped around Eloise’s waist is a wooden brace crafted from a damn good Alchemy spell, connected to the floor by a pole that is ever-growing in height. It doesn’t stop until she’s twenty feet in the air, trapped and disoriented.
To be honest, anyone would be caught off guard. Pierce led with Elemental and Illusion, leading Eloise to expect those spells. In fact, I’d bet she even threw up a shield designed for one. But Pierce is an Alchemist, like her. He used the other spells to throw her off that fact.
Eloise waves her hands in front of the wooden brace, but whatever spell she casts does jack all nothing. Pierce’s magic is stronger.
Even if I couldn’t scent him, his pinched expression tells me he’s pissed she bested him physically and wants to punish her for it. In two seconds flat, he crafts a dagger and pulls back to throw.
Eloise places her palms in front of her, but as Pierce releases the dagger, I already know her shield won’t block it—because he’s toying with her.
The knife rips through the air headed for her ankle. Thinking quickly, she lifts her leg and it thuds into the sole of her boot. The rubber absorbs most of the blow, but it must have drawn blood because the metallic scent of pain wafts my way.
Pierce spellworks another dagger and Eloise bites down on her discomfort, leaving nothing but challenge in her eyes.
Only she doesn’t move her hands in a way I expect, extending her shield past her feet.
Instead, she drops them. She effing drops her shield, and quick as lightning, pulls the dagger from the bottom of her boot.
They both throw their blades.
The entire room leans forward.
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.