Chapter 16 #3
He takes the bait, leaning his weight, tipping closer to me. We are a mere whisper apart, amplifying the storm crashing between us. Never breaking his gaze, I arch my brow right back.
He’s shown his cards. I can wield his infatuation with me to his weakness, luring him into a trap. Oh, the delicious irony of his moth to a flame remark. He has no idea how close he’s flying to the flames that will consume him.
A new face arrives in the group. She’s a tall Elarian-Naturalist with long, forest-green hair, growing with various leaves and flowers. Her skin is pale as birch, with almond-shaped ombre eyes, fading from grey to blue.
The contrast of her features is striking. Our white battle leathers almost match her complexion. She darts towards us, so eager she collides with me—knocking me into S?las.
Velvety shadows wrap around me, catching me with his powers. The sensation is overwhelming. Magic crackles beneath my skin, aching to be released on his shadows. Fucking great. Even my power is betraying me for him. Nothing about this can be good.
The shadow prick must think this doesn’t count as breaking his promise about touching me.
To be honest, his Celestial Gift is the only thing I don’t mind about him.
The shadows have always kept me safe. Fuck.
Not that I’m thinking I feel safe with him or anything like that.
I regain my balance and roll my shoulder, slipping away his shadowy embrace.
“Oops, sorry about that, and hi, everyone. Name’s Juniper Stormfel.” She smiles brightly, petals floating on an invisible breeze around her. Now our full Chivalry is here.
“The last two members of Zenith Wing are right behind me. Kivi Shaw and Atlas Ailanthus,” Juniper says as she turns, beckoning them this way.
The first to arrive must be Kivi. Her dainty, thin body is strewn with various breeds of mushrooms growing through moss-like armor. Her skin appears a faint beige color. Her eyes and lashes remind me of the lilac bioluminescent spores that dance through the Mysticwoods.
Power radiates from her as blue spores swirl about; a Helios healer is quite the magical sight to behold.
Appearing like part of the forest with thin white mushrooms blossoming from her head of lichen in different shapes and heights.
Her pointed ears have thread-like gills, the kind you’d find on the underbelly of mushroom caps.
I thought I was already awestruck, but my eyes widen as our last member approaches from behind Kivi.
A Müra, a moth-Faeanoid species. He’s a tall, lean male, with a taupe tunic beneath his battle leathers.
His skin dusted in fuzz, the color of the pages of a book.
His maroon eyes set into two upside-down moth wings, as if you are looking at a moth’s back as it rests on a tree.
Instead of the illusion of eyes to warn predators, his are real.
His head is decorated by various moth wings, coming out at different angles and shapes.
Two feather-like antennae jut out of his forehead on either side of the wings framing his eyes.
They can glow in the dark, providing their own light to read.
I catch a glimpse of the moth wings that fold on his back.
I inhale deeply, taking in the view of him next to Kivi. It’s fantastical.
They greet us in a coordinated bow. Kivi speaks first.
“I am Kivi Shaw. It will be my honor to heal you through battle.”
“You may call me Atlas Ailanthus. Celestials Blessings to you all.” The grace in his movements reminds me of the ballet dancers I glimpsed in the town outside Gildorea, sneaking in the wrong back door searching for Pip after he scurried off one night.
“Looks like the whole gang’s here. What a bloody sight we are. Let’s give them Emberhell in the sparring arena tonight,” Seraphina cheers, raising her fist into the air.
“Let's get to class first, before we end up on dish duty for being late,” Kissa scolds as she turns to lead the way through the large ornate doors of the Gilded Auditorium. We all follow suit, finding several rows empty, marked with ‘I. Zenith Wing’ on gold brocade.
I’m glad S?las is seated behind me and not next to me. His glare is distracting enough; I can’t even imagine what it’d be like sitting next to him. I happily settle between Kissa and Orion.
A short, wispy Müra sashays on stage, taking the podium. The upside-down wings that mark her face are golden fawn, her eyes a shimmering indigo, with skin shaded slightly darker than her wings. She’s dressed in a parchment-colored tunic embroidered with gold, matching her golden feathered antenna.
“My name is Professor Polyphemus Gloomnight. Welcome to Countering the Wuvon, a course focusing on learning their strategies and tactics so you may better prepare yourself for the battles once you leave these hallowed grounds of Gildorea Universitás of War. Let’s start simple.
What are some of the strengths of Wuvon in a fight?
When called upon, please introduce yourself to your fellow classmates before answering the question. ”
Enthusiastically, Fenwick raises her hand, practically bursting out of her seat. The professor nods at her.
“Hiii, my name is Fenwick Brightspar. Wuvon are extremely powerful magic wielders, even stronger than our best Ellian Knights, due to their black-magic enhancements from ingesting different parts of magical creatures, which is super gross.” She sticks out her tongue, physically disgusted by imagining the taste.
“Correct. Next time, personal commentary is not needed. How does this put us at a disadvantage when in battle?” Professor Gloomnight queries.
She calls on a girl I recognize from my third trial, the one who failed because I passed. Her short, dark brown hair is slicked down the center; I can see the jagged scars along the sides of her shaved scalp.
“Farrah Sinvoy. If alone, it’s almost impossible to take one on with casting alone, hence why we have a group of Ellian Knights for each Wing and we train to work as a team.
If we try to beat them alone with casting, we will burn out, using up all our magic in one battle.
In addition to magic, we are trained in combat, and the Knights bond with magical creatures, giving them the aerial advantage, along with the powerful magic of the Arcane Glyph.
The goal is to damage their hands or cut off their head to interrupt their casting.
The strength of their magic is why Bloodline pairings are so important, creating stronger and stronger generations of Ellian Knights to combat their corrupt power. ”
“Excellent. Your team is your greatest asset. Later this year, you’ll receive a unique piece of Rune Tech.
A button on either side. The purple button allows you to communicate with the entire Command.
The blue button allows you to communicate with your Wing.
Conversation among team members, especially your Savant during battle, helping you turn the tide, creating coordinated attacks.
The closer your team works together, the better you all fare.
Your deepest bonds should be to your entire Wing.
If you get singled out, call on your team for help.
If you burn out your magic because you are too proud to ask for help, you’re worthless and a liability to your Wing.
Teams with the strongest bonds are the Wings who excel in the end-of-the-year Fortress Battle. ”
As she continues, I don’t take notes. Sully has imparted his wisdom from his education here.
I reposition myself, my quill rolling off the desk onto the floor.
As I drop down to pick it up, a smoky shadow wraps around it, raising it to my hand, where it lingers before retreating.
Okay, now he’s pushing it with the not-touching-me Ritherin-shit by using his powers.
I turn around, casting a hardened glare at him, like molten ore dropped in a cooling bath.
He, of course, winks at me, unaffected by my gaze. I want to set him on fire right then and there, but I take a deep breath, steeling my face and emotions. My distraction doesn’t go unnoticed as I hear my name called by Professor Gloomnight.
“Savaé Entropaé, what is another fatal mistake when encountering the Wuvon?” Her tone is evidently perturbed by catching me distracted by the Celestial-forsaken shadow prick, who's clearly proving my point about being a liability.
“Entering the Blackwood. Their magic is at its strongest there; they can manipulate the forest around you. Never mind all manner of monsters they can choose to devour you.”
“Beauty and brawn but no brains. Such an obvious answer,” jeers Chet from behind me.
His posse lets out a sound that makes it seem like he had just leveled a great insult.
I don’t bother to glance his way, remaining sitting up straight in my chair.
His words mean nothing to me. I know he’s just trying to restore his bruised ego.
“Just because Savaé made a fool out of you on the first day doesn’t mean you get to be a twat in class, Chet,” Orion sneers, flipping him a middle finger.
“Enough! Ensign Chet Bragen, since you seem to know so much, please enlighten us to the knowledge you think is superior to that of your counterpart,” Professor Gloomnight reprimands.
“Letting them injure or kill your bonded magical creature. It takes away your aerial advantage and your enhanced powerful magic.”
“I dare say, that is yet another obvious answer, and one that only applies to Ellian Knights, for the most part. I would expect a more in-depth answer from the son of Commander Bragen. Your answer, while elementary, is correct. Losing your bonded magic creature does create a huge weakness for the Wing, as Ellian Knights are the main attack front. If you find yourself caught in the Blackwood, your team should consider you as good as dead and not merit a rescue. This would put the entire Wing in jeopardy. There is another clear advantage they have that has not yet been stated.”
“Letting those fuckers fuck with your head if you’re caught with your shields down,” Seraphina calls out.
“Language, Ensign Seraphina Denova! You are correct, though. Their mindtraps are extremely powerful. If they catch you with your shields down, they can not only obtain endless amounts of classified information, putting the entire warfront at jeopardy, but they can compel you to attack your teammates. They will know your weaknesses because they have been in your head and have seen your training. There is no greater pain than having to kill your Wing member, realizing they have been compromised by compulsion.”
Her eyes cast down to the podium, as if reliving a painful memory and speaking from experience. Her wings nervously flutter before she settles, focus returning to the rest of the class. She inquires, “What are some of the favored monsters of the Wuvon manipulation?”
“Why don’t you ask Savaé? That badass bitch has already defeated two of them,” Seraphina boasts.
Fucking stars above, I’m tired of being singled out. I’m jealous of S?las’ powers, wishing I could slip away into the shadows, unseen. But it’s far too bright for my Shadowblending. So I settle for glaring back at Seraphina like a whetted dagger. If only looks could kill.
She shrugs, giving me two thumbs up. I huff, turning around. I appreciate her compliment, but this is neither the time nor place.
“Ensign Seraphina Denova, you will respect the decorum of Universitás while in these hallowed walls. This is your final warning. Surely, there is someone other than Ensign Savaé Entropaé who can answer my query.”
“Winx Ashfel. Ritherin, Pykavow, Crowven, Merdervin, Ocularis, Feverin, Eskera, Manasin, Rowwer, Scorphia, Slairix, Zikra, Fakatyia, Horisp, Spindhorrow. To name a few,” she answers before turning back to give me a smile.
“Thorough answer from the exemplary Ensign Winx Ashfel. I expect nothing less. Remember, a Wuvon who can tame a Crowven is your top priority. They even the playing field when it comes to your aerial advantage. Crowven beaks are made of obsidian, sharp enough to pierce even dragon skin. What is their weakness?”
Another student answers as I answer in my head.
A Crowven’s weaknesses are their wings and their neck.
Additionally, heavy rain can take them out of flight but will also take out any other heavily feathered flying magical creatures, so this is only an advantage if you have multiple flesh-winged creatures on your team.
Unfortunately, the many different breeds of dragons have stopped seeking bonds with Ellian Knights.
Too often their riders die. Dragons form strong bonds with their Knights and are unable to rebond after the loss of their rider.
The advance of the Wuvon has meant more and more riders are dying, so most remain in their breeding grounds, high in the Dragon Spine Mountains.
The thought reminds me of the dragon that would fly over Eldoria, the tallest peak in Cascara, right next to my home village of Estrella.
A white dragon, with four wings and an eel-like tail.
As the dragon flew through the sky, you could see lightning emanating from its wings.
The townsfolk said the beast was a bad omen, but I could never understand how something so beautiful could be a harbinger of darkness.
I remember lying in the snow, closing my eyes, and imagining myself flying next to her as a bird.
Enjoying the gusts created by those enormous wings.
I envision the way my stomach might dip, flipping and diving towards the ground before pulling up.
What it would be like to be uninhibited by my Fae form, to leave behind the pain of my existence, to be truly free.
The brisk winter air dancing its way between my feathers and nipping my feet.
To be able to fly through the sunset clouds of pink and blue as their moisture condenses ever so lightly on my beak.
Even though I know I should be paying attention, I lose myself to the freedom of my beautiful daydream as the professor’s words fade away.