Chapter 24
“So? Did you enjoy wandering around Magicslan without my permission?”
It was the first thing I heard after washing up, getting dressed, and getting ready to leave the room.
“When exactly did Tarven manage to complain to you?” I asked as I stepped through the doorway he was holding open for me.
“Right after I got back.”
He raised a brow.
“Or did you think I would come straight to you first?”
I scoffed.
“I’m more surprised you didn’t decide to stay in Mataarus longer just to avoid me.”
Meeting his gaze, I decided to use his own weapon against him.
“What?”
“Miss sharing a bed with me that badly?”
A smug smile spread across Airis’s face.
“You say that like you weren’t affected by it too.”
I pressed my lips together, already preparing a comeback, when another voice interrupted us.
“Flirting this early in the morning?”
“Was sharing a bed all night not enough for you two?”
Stasia looked nothing like she had yesterday.
The playfulness was back.
So was the lightness.
Though that didn’t save her from my murderous glare.
Unfortunately, she ignored it completely.
So I decided to attack verbally instead.
“And you’re in such a good mood today because you share a bed with your mentor too?” I asked, raising a brow.
“Obviously.”
She smiled.
“But unlike you two, our relationship is completely platonic.”
She sighed dramatically.
“Practically familial.”
“Like siblings.”
“And incest really isn’t my thing.”
I let out a slow breath.
Honestly, saying nothing sounded like the healthier option at this point.
“Want to grab breakfast together?” Tarven asked.
“Or do you already have plans?”
Only then did I realize he had been standing beside her the entire time.
His dark green suit contrasted surprisingly well with his tanned skin and the muted tones of the corridor walls.
“Of course,” Airis answered before I could, clearly choosing the first option.
“I’d actually love to hear more about your little trip to Magicslan.”
The irony in his voice was unmistakable.
Naturally, Stasia already had a response prepared.
“Oh?”
She smiled sweetly.
“Want to experience the shame of being a terrible mentor firsthand?”
She was especially dangerous today.
“What are you talking about?”
“Ria’s from Vuduarus,” Stasia replied.
“She knows practically nothing about Noveris or Istarus.”
“At least she didn’t.”
Her eyes flicked toward me for a moment.
“And instead of showing her the world, you locked her inside four walls with endless lectures.”
I glanced at Airis.
His hands had clenched ever so slightly.
His jaw was tense.
He didn’t answer right away.
God.
Did she actually manage to make him feel guilty?
And worse...
He was letting her.
“Training took up most of the time,” I said with a small shrug.
I had no idea why I was defending him.
“Can we please just go to the dining hall already?” Tarven cut in.
“I’m starving.”
Resting a hand briefly on Stasia’s shoulder, he guided her toward the stairs.
Airis and I followed in silence.
******
“Any ideas for today’s training?” Tarven asked lazily as he picked at the roasted vegetables and meat on his plate with a fork.
I’d only been to the dining hall twice so far, but I had to admit—
The food here was almost suspiciously good.
“For example, not leaving any more injuries on my protégé’s face?” Airis arched a brow.
I froze slightly.
Tarven fell silent.
So did the rest of us.
He looked at Airis with obvious guilt while I tried very hard not to let my imagination run wild.
“Oh, come on.”
Tarven waved it off.
“If it weren’t for that exercise, I never would’ve seen her fight.”
“You borrow my analytical ability all the time, but admit it.”
“The original owner still does it better.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked immediately.
I remembered the agreement the two of them had made.
“I thought your pact only allowed you to use each other’s magic,” I added.
“Not your abilities as well.”
“Wait.”
Stasia raised a brow at Tarven.
“Is this some hidden gift I don’t know about?”
I was honestly impressed by how calmly she asked that.
Especially while hiding a secret powerful enough to destroy not only their friendship—
But potentially her entire future.
“Through the Balakla bond, we can use each other’s developed cognitive abilities as well,” Airis explained.
“I can access Tarven’s analytical thinking.”
“And I can use Airis’s strategic thinking,” Tarven added.
“Yes, but analysis and strategy are skills, aren’t they?” Stasia asked, taking another bite of her chicken.
“Can they really count as additional abilities?”
“They’re skills,” Airis answered flatly.
“I disagree,” Tarven countered immediately.
“I think they’re closer to innate abilities refined through practice.”
He leaned back slightly.
“People are born with different ways of thinking.”
“Mine, for example, was never naturally suited to strategy.”
“Anything can be mastered,” Airis replied calmly.
“It doesn’t matter whether you start with natural talent or not.”
“With enough discipline, consistency, and effort, anyone can master any skill.”
“Yet your analytical thinking still lags behind mine,” Tarven smirked.
“Because strategy always mattered more to me,” Airis shrugged.
“When people don’t want to put effort into something difficult, they hide behind excuses like talent and natural ability.”
The air around the table seemed to tighten.
Stasia and I watched them in silence.
Either afraid to interrupt—
Or simply too entertained to stop the argument.
“Or maybe,” Tarven said with a smug smile, “people just hide behind what they call priorities.”
“There you are.”
The unfamiliar voice behind me made me turn immediately.
Mr. Shiford and Eugene stood beside our table.
“Did something happen?” Airis asked, his shoulders visibly tensing.
For some reason, that unsettled me.
Because he almost never showed even the slightest hint of fear.
“Several more students arrived today for the Strongest Class,” Eugene explained.
“And because of that,” Mr. Shiford continued with a polite smile, “Draxsen decided to open additional rooms.”
Then he added,
“You’re moving.”
No one answered immediately.
Something inside me tightened too.
Something fragile pulled painfully tight inside my chest.
My eyes instinctively found Airis’s.
His were full of unspoken words.
But his lips remained silent.
And the tension in his posture seemed to say far too much.
The problem was—
I didn’t understand the language he was speaking.
Or maybe...
I was simply too afraid to.
******
I packed my things while Airis stood against the wall with his arms crossed.
Silent.
Silence between us had already become something familiar.
But not this kind.
This one was filled with hope and expectation—
Things I had never expected to feel.
But damn it.
I wanted so badly to hear that he was just as upset as I was.
My thoughts kept circling back to him.
Not my future roommates.
Not what would happen next.
Just him.
And it irritated me.
These feelings scared me.
And even more frightening was how quickly they had begun to feel normal.
“Hopefully you won’t burn down your new room just to come back to me.”
My lips pressed together.
I really needed to get my thoughts under control.
Especially now.
Pulling myself together, I answered coldly,
“Don’t worry.”
“I remember what you said.”
A pause.
Our eyes met.
“No one will touch me unless I become a threat.”
Something flickered in his eyes.
Or maybe that was just wishful thinking.
“I said that the day we met.”
“And that’s supposed to excuse it?”
“You have far more of my protection now than you did then.”
I scoffed.
“Keep it.”
Another pause.
“I can handle myself just fine.”
Without you.
Shoving the last of my things into my bag, I swung it over my shoulder and headed for the door.