Chapter 33
The moon hung low and bright behind thick fog, its diffused beams of light filtering through the treetops.
We were walking just outside the city, on our way to a clearing at the border of the Reyanthe Valley.
The scent of fresh rain and pine and sap lingered in the depths of the wood, ebbing and flowing in the cool evening breeze.
Briar and Raine were giggling amongst themselves as Osta and I navigated the damp earth below our feet, avoiding tangled roots and slippery patches. A near permanent grin had been etched onto Osta’s face ever since I’d arrived home after training.
Nerves prickled the back of my neck. I kept looking around to make sure we weren’t seen or followed. I had a bad feeling about tonight, made even more intense by Osta joining us.
“So how many of the initiates are going to be there?” I asked, peering in Raine’s direction.
“I’m not sure exactly. I only spoke to a few of them about it,” she said nonchalantly, keeping her attention on the path ahead. I noticed Briar nudge her side before hiding a smile.
I pressed my lips into a hard line and mentally groaned. It was too late to turn back now, not like Osta would allow it at this point. Her excitement was annoyingly unmatched.
I exhaled sharply. She hugged my arm tighter and leaned over to whisper in my ear, “Fia, please don’t be so grumpy tonight. Let’s have fun. Stop stressing. Please, for me?” she pleaded, eyes reflecting the bright moon above.
“Let’s just see how it goes. If it gets crazy, we’re leaving. Agreed?” I said quietly, out of earshot of Raine and Briar.
“Agreed.” She smiled and picked up her pace, dragging me along beside her.
“Do you think you’ll show anyone your focus tonight?” Osta asked hesitantly.
“Well, I’m not exactly trying to murder anyone. So, it seems unlikely.” I laughed through the nerves.
A subtle rumble from the ground stopped Osta and I in our tracks.
“What was that?” I hissed toward Raine, who slowed down, turning to face us as she walked backwards down the trail.
“Maybe a few people got there early?” She shrugged, holding out her arm for us. “We must be almost there.” Osta rushed to catch up with them.
“Briar, couldn’t you fix the terrain just a bit?
I feel like I’m about to trip over a root with every step I take,” I grumbled.
Navigating uneven forest floor was not something I particularly enjoyed, nor was I any good at it.
Briefly, my mind wandered back to the night when everything had changed outside the Grove.
If it hadn’t been for that damn fallen branch, my life would look vastly different…
“No can do, love. I’m saving all my energy for the festivities,” Briar sang, cutting through my thoughts.
As we trudged on, I began to notice glimmers of light dancing down the path in the distance. We must have been getting close. The ground rumbled again, and I almost lost my balance .
“What could they possibly be doing?” I asked, glancing over at Raine.
“No idea, but it sounds pretty damn epic.” She grinned.
As we approached, the murmurs of conversation heightened. I squinted, turning my head to the side to listen better.
There was a crowd. And Music.
We neared the edge of the clearing, and the sounds became undeniable. I narrowed my eyes at Raine, who peeked over at me nervously.
“I guess word got around?” She shrugged before stepping out into the clearing.
I huffed, and followed my three friends, taking in the sight of what must have been one hundred Aossí dancing, socializing, and sparring.
By the looks of it, recruits and initiates from all factions of the Guard–Base, Scales, Fang, and even Immunity were in attendance.
Plus, team V. Besides us, there were maybe ten initiates from our sector.
Their black uniforms were easy to make out through all the white shirts littering the expanse.
Tables filled with liquor and elixir bottles lined the edges of the clearing near the lake.
People passed them around, clinking the glasses together before indulging.
Lights danced, weaving through the crowd and soaring to illuminate the low-lying mist above the treetops.
Music pulsed, sending thrums of energy through the dancing bodies.
I gritted my teeth.
This was a fucking party.
With alcohol.
And elixirs.
And drunk idiots doing magic tricks.
Only Fírinne knew what else.
Heat rushed through me as the ground beneath us rumbled yet again, even stronger this time.
My head whipped left as a giant chunk of earth flew into the sky.
It hovered for a moment before shooting back down at full force and exploding.
The crowd cheered, raising their glasses.
“Another!” Someone shouted in the distance.
My jaw fell open.
“I guess you’re not the only nature wielder here tonight, Briar!” Raine teased, nudging him.
He gave us all a devilish grin. “That was nothing. How do you feel about a grand entrance?” he asked in a low voice, a strange twinkle in his eye.
Briar lifted his hands from his sides. The ground began to rumble and shake. I grasped onto Raine to keep my balance.
Out of the corners of my eyes, I saw what looked like hundreds of tangled snakes flying off the ground, pummeling towards us. They were coming from each side.
As they neared us, I realized they were tree roots being manipulated by Briar’s focus.
The two sides slammed into each other with a loud crunch, and the snapping of wood ricocheted through the space as the roots twisted and braided themselves into a raised walkway directly in front of us, leading to the center of the crowd.
Everyone’s eyes were on us now, and the clearing had grown eerily quiet.
Briar held up his hands, stepping up onto his creation and clearing his throat. He looked at the sea of Aossí and shrugged apologetically. “Sorry we’re late!” he yelled, and the crowd erupted in chaotic cheers. The dark feeling I had only intensified as we stepped onto the platform.
Two hours later, I stood on the edge of the clearing with Raine, who was still reeling from her lightning performance. I had to admit; it was the most impressive thing I had seen all night.
She lit up the heavens, creating sparkling embers that shot through the clouds above as streaks of light cracked across the horizon. The entire clearing stood aghast, watching in amazement. She got more cheers than the illusionists and the fire wielders combined.
I leaned against a tree, waiting for Osta to bring us the drinks she insisted on getting. My eyes followed her and Briar through the crowd, never letting her out of my sight. A sigh of relief escaped me as the two finally made it to the table closest to the lake.
“I told you this would be fun.” Raine looked at me, raising an eyebrow in expectation.
“It’s fun. Doesn’t mean it's not dangerous,” I snorted, still keeping my eyes on Osta. Raine let out a deep chuckle and leaned her head back.
“You’re so stubborn, Fia. I caught you smiling earlier when those twin initiates were racing.” She elbowed my side.
I stole a glance at her and tried to bite back a smile. “I mean, it’s not every day you see something like that. They moved so quickly; they were nearly invisible.”
“We were given these gifts. It’s a shame not to use them. Especially when it’s harmless,” Raine said.
“Speak for yourself,” I laughed. There was nothing harmless about my gift .
“Erm–well, clearly you’re the exception.” She grinned at me. “Mind shredder.”
I had never told Raine about the incident in the woods.
The one that changed the entire trajectory of my life.
And she had never asked. There were several occasions where I considered telling her everything, but just as the words were on the tip of my tongue, I couldn’t force them out. Some-day, maybe.
My eyes returned to the tables near the lake, searching for Osta.
She and Briar had moved away from the drinks and were standing at the river’s edge.
Osta looked up at me and waved, smiling brightly.
The distance between them grew as Osta sidestepped a fallen branch and Briar struck up a conversation with a group to the left.
I waved back just as specks of muted orange formed behind her silhouette.
I began walking closer, trying to get a better view. Raine’s footsteps crunched twigs behind me.
“What was that?” She asked, curiosity peaked.
“I don’t know, but let’s find out.” I picked up the pace.
Suddenly, a roaring torrent of fire soared across the river.
“Osta!” I shouted, sprinting in her direction. I wasn’t going to make it in time. Osta was in the direct path.
Horror overcame me as the fire crackled inches from Osta, heat blasting me in the face.
I screamed as Osta stumbled over the rocky terrain.
She fell, bracing herself, and threw her arms over her head just as a man raced out between her and the explosion.
The flames seemed to hit a wall and ricocheted off.
The man stayed, unmoving, until the fire subsided into the night.
I blinked trying to readjust my vision, my legs still pumping as my feet hit the damp earth below. The entire clearing was quiet as I finally slid down to Osta’s side. She was breathing heavily, and her body still trembled with fear, but she was otherwise unharmed.
“Osta!” I said, grabbing her hands.
“I–I’m fine,” she managed to whisper, but her attention was on the figure ahead.
I looked up to see Nazul staring down at us.
Nazul?
I looked back and forth between the two of them before standing up.
I reached down to offer Osta my hand at the same time as Nazul. Without even thinking about it, I shot him a scowl, which he ignored.
Osta took his hand and slowly rose to her feet, trying to keep her balance. He steadied her with his other hand.
“Osta, right?” he asked in the softest voice I had ever heard from him. She merely nodded .