Chapter 8
We returned to the room when it was already fully dark outside, and the cafeteria—which I still hadn’t even seen yet, considering I’d spent all this time eating in Airis’s room instead—was already closed.
Airis mentioned that it operated until nine in the evening, then closed until two in the morning before reopening again at seven.
I didn’t get the chance to ask why the schedule was so strange because the moment he informed me he was going to find us dinner, he quickly slammed the door behind him.
And with that slam, three familiar figures materialized.
The very ones I’d been waiting for ever since we stood on the cliff.
“Where were you?” I immediately asked, first looking at Moirz standing near the bookshelf, then at Louis, who for some reason had started bouncing on Airis’s bed beneath the canopy, and finally at Aars, lounging on the desk with one paw crossed over the other.
“The seals stopped us,” Moirz shrugged.
“They stopped you,” Aars corrected lazily, examining his claws.
“I simply chose not to go any farther.”
“What seals?” I asked, walking deeper into the room before stopping in the center.
“After death, if a soul still has unfinished goals or attachments in the world where they lived, a seal is created,” Moirz explained.
“It binds them to the place of their death. In Louis’s and my case—the grounds of Istmond.”
“And Istmond only occupies a small part of the forest you walked through.”
“But during the Selection,” Louis added, “those seals weaken. For one month, trapped spirits are allowed to explore other territories—as long as they remain within the world where they died.”
I swallowed, trying to process that.
Trying to burn away the crushing feeling of pity that came with it.
Even back in Vuduarus, whenever I encountered spirits, they spoke about eternal existence as if it were some meaningless curse.
Just observers.
Nothing more.
“Alright, maybe you don’t need to know everything about spirits,” Aars interrupted, placing dramatic emphasis on the last word as excitement lit up his eyes.
“But the Twelve Energies? Those you absolutely need to know about.”
“Why?” I asked skeptically.
Honestly, it felt more like this little dragon-cat just wanted to show off how much he knew.
“Because they’re still alive in Noveris,” Aars said proudly.
“Most of them simply remain hidden.”
“Exactly. All of them except the two-headed creature that created Istarus and Airis’s harpy stay hidden because—”
“What?” I cut Moirz off immediately.
“Airis’s harpy? You mean that guy is connected to an ancient harpy that created one of the worlds?”
“The First Energies belong to no one,” Aars shot me a sharp glare.
“But they can form agreements with mages,” Moirz continued.
“Like the air harpy Thari did.”
“And that’s exactly why Airis has so many privileges,” Aars added, counting them on his claws one by one.
“Member of the Strongest Twelve, representative of Istarus, chief lieutenant protecting Vuduarus…”
He paused thoughtfully.
“Though I doubt the title of the academy’s most desirable ass came from the harpy.”
Ignoring that entirely, I looked back at Moirz and Louis.
“So what exactly is this agreement?” I asked slowly.
“Does it just give status and privileges?”
“No.” Moirz shook his head.
“The agreement is protective in nature. An Energy chooses the strongest mage connected to its element—the one most capable of advancing further through the knowledge it can offer.”
“So basically...” I raised a brow.
“It becomes a personal mentor?”
“In a sense, yes,” Moirz nodded.
“But beyond that, the bond grants the mage immunity from certain laws. It also allows them to attend gatherings of Noveris’s rulers and access any information connected to the world created by the Energy tied to them.”
My heartbeat quickened.
“So hypothetically,” I began carefully, “if I formed a bond with the Energy that created the world of death… I could get information about my birth?”
“If that information exists within the world of death, then yes,” Moirz nodded again.
“Though your primary element is fire,” Louis pointed out, finally stopping his bouncing and sitting on the edge of the bed instead.
“So it’s unlikely the Serpent of Death would choose you.”
“What serpent?” I frowned.
“Every Energy chooses a true form when it comes into existence,” Moirz explained.
“They can change appearances throughout their lives, but they always return to their original form eventually. The Energy of Death chose the shape of a serpent.”
“And how—”
The creak of the door instantly silenced me.
My gaze snapped toward Airis, who walked inside carrying a tray while another floated beside him, holding two bowls filled with some kind of stew.
“Talking to yourself again?”
“Obviously.” I nodded.
“Maybe I rehearse my insults before throwing them at you.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
After closing the door behind him, Airis walked over to the table.
“So? No poison tonight either? Or did you decide to make an exception?”
“What, getting treated well starting to bore you already?” he asked calmly, setting the bowls down across from each other.
“I never doubted this was your limit.”
“The stew’s going to get cold if you keep talking.”
“Don’t tell me a wind mage from the Strongest Twelve can’t warm it up?”
“I can’t heat air,” Airis replied as he sat down.
“But if my powers were combined with a fire mage’s, there’s a chance.”
“Wait, they actually teach you how to combine magic?”
I perked up instantly, quickly crossing the room before dropping into the chair across from him.
Airis nodded.
“Combined powers can matter more than the strength of a single mage. Especially when preparing for war.”
He chewed slowly before continuing.
“That’s one of the ways candidates for the Strongest Twelve are chosen. Though individual strength matters too.”
“So the magic of all twelve members works well together?” I asked.
Airis nodded again.
“And what happens if one of them dies? Do they search for someone with similar abilities? Or someone closest to the former member?”
“No one from the Twelve has ever died,” Airis answered.
“But every five years they go through trials to prove they can continue fighting together. Usually against other groups of elite mages competing for their place.”
I scooped up some of the vegetable stew with my fork, chewing thoughtfully as I processed his words.
“And when was the last trial? Was it broadcast publicly?”
“Two years ago,” he replied shortly.
“And yes.”
“The Strongest Twelve also hold special courses for powerful mages once a year,” Louis added, and I barely managed to hide my surprise before Airis noticed.
“And most likely, Fireling,” Aars mocked in a perfect imitation of Airis’s tone, “you’ll end up in one of those groups.”
That part didn’t surprise me at all.
Honestly, it had been obvious from the start.
Not because I thought I was particularly gifted.
Far from it.
But they didn’t treat ordinary people the way they treated me.
“Though this year, the system’s changing,” Moirz added.
“No more questions?” Airis arched a brow.
“No more things to tell me?” I echoed, mirroring his expression.
“You two are ridiculously entertaining to watch,” Aars declared.
“Shame spirits can’t enjoy luxuries like popcorn.”
“If I were you, I’d ask more questions,” Moirz added.
Easy for him to say.
He only had to observe the asshole—not deal with him directly.
“Soon the rest of the students preparing for the elite groups will start arriving,” Airis said.
“You’ll move into the student dormitories then.”
I still couldn’t read the emotions behind his voice.
“Hopefully you won’t miss this too much.”
“Oh, I’m absolutely thrilled that nobody’s going to snore next to me anymore.”
“Don’t act like you never bring other girls here and that you’re upset I’m currently taking up one of their spots in your bed,” I scoffed.
“And for the record, I do not snore.”
I shot him a mildly offended look.
“How do you know?”
“Because somebody would’ve told me by now.”
“I’m telling you now.”
That infuriating smirk appeared on his lips again.
“People like you don’t count.”
I smiled sweetly, pretending to be perfectly calm.
“And why’s that?”
“Because I know your type. You’ll always find something to complain about.”
“Judging by your past relationships?”
I froze.
My fork suddenly felt too heavy in my hand, as if it wanted to return to the plate on its own.
My mouth went dry.
And not because of the stew.
My heart lurched painfully.
Like the past—the one that left the deepest scars behind—had found another way to crawl back inside me.
“I’m full,” I muttered, wiping my mouth with a napkin before placing it back beside the plate.
How did he keep finding my weak spots so effortlessly?
“Listen...” Airis started, and I physically felt his voice soften.
But I refused to react to it.
I wasn’t going to open up to him any more than I already had.
“I’m tired,” I said quietly.
“And I want to sleep.”
Even though going to sleep had been my idea, I couldn’t relax enough to actually fall asleep.
My thoughts kept circling back to the past, refusing to let my mind rest.
Airis’s words had awakened something I’d hoped was buried deep inside me.
Because of my anomaly, getting close to people had always been difficult.
First, I was terrified someone might discover my abilities.
Second, I wasn’t only capable of hurting people with words—there was also the fire I would’ve gladly given away for free if I could.
And third...
I hated saying goodbye to people I’d grown attached to.
I had always wanted love.
But eventually, I stopped dreaming about finding my soulmate.
Because I knew I’d have to hide an important part of myself from them.
And physically...
I didn’t think I could ever truly be with anyone.
I always remembered that moment—when my magic had awakened in the middle of desire and burned Kevin.
It had been impossible to control.
And if there was no control...
Then it was better not to risk it.
Those had been my thoughts until I met Kai.
But after him, they returned with terrifying speed.