Chapter 26 #2
He elaborates on several other flower Dracos with far less menacing descriptions; one even has wings that look like rose petals melded together.
He finishes with discussing a Sunkissed Draco, a creature with heavy, armored spikes across its chest and a tail shaped into a circular metal shield.
It has eight pointed horns, giving its face a star shape.
It’s golden like the sun, occasionally seen basking near the cascades of the Dragon Spine Mountains.
I find myself wishing everyone in our Zenith got the chance for a Celestial Bonding.
The Sunkissed Draco seems like the perfect fit for Fenwick and her light magic.
Then there are the different breeds of phoenixes, covering their unique colors: carmine red, burnt orange, amber, boric green, violet, lilac, white, and even black.
Next, he reviews the species of Chimera, creatures with the head of a lion but with horns and dragon-like wings, some of which even breathe fire.
Their skin is a mix of scales and fur. Some have jagged, sharp spikes that jut off their legs, while others appear to blend in to the natural foliage around them, growing leaf-like objects off their body.
The creatures less likely to show up for the Celestial Bonding Day are covered more quickly to leave time to get to know the more likely candidates.
Lastly, we review other types of flying mammals, like the Orcalia, which has the body of a killer whale but giant fin-like wings covered in feathers.
It’s believed they can wield ice magic. Or the Alpe, a species of flying wolf, typically with the silent wings of an owl, though some are graced with dragon wings.
The chimes come and go.
I wait for S?las at the top of the stairs to escort me to lunch, which is the typical schedule.
I’d felt his presence behind me in class, but now he’s nowhere to be found.
A finger taps me on my shoulder; I spin to meet Cinder’s amber eyes as he brushes his unkempt bright orange hair back with his other hand.
“S?las has somewhere he has to be during lunch and dinner. He asked me to take over his escort for the rest of the day.”
“Did he say where?”
“He’s being even more cryptic than me with his answers today. I didn’t bother pressing him on the issue. The guy needs some sleep. He’s more grumpy and broody than usual. He’s kinda stealing my vibe,” Cinder gripes.
Black, tarry regret slowly seeps out of the box I try to hide the stirring emotions in. I quickly envision another box around it, chucking it out the mosaic window, leaving things tidy and under control. It’s for the better we have some space after everything that happened this morning.
We all eat lunch together, minus S?las. Seraph seems to be in a mood as well; she isn’t her typical boisterous self. I catch her leaving halfway through the meal.
Orion’s suspicion only grows, as if she can see my Aura frozen over in ice.
I watch Fenwick tease Juniper animatedly about which magical creature she will bond. “Maybe you’ll bond a gross worm, or even worse, a giant flying spider!” Fenwick teases.
“Praise the Celestials, no flying spiders exist.” I sigh in relief. I loathe spiders.
“I like spiders. Their silk is so beautiful and strong. It kind of looks like your hair, Savaé.”
I cringe, gagging on my drink at the thought of my hair feeling like sticky spider webs on my flesh.
Kissa looks less than amused with our conversation.
“I am pleased to announce, mine and S?las’ hypothesis was correct, and Savaé has manifested Chaos Magic as her Celestial Gift. It is uniquely tied to her emotions, rather than how we conjure: picturing in our minds and moving our hands to release our power.”
“And what exactly is Chaos Magic? Atlas… are you just making shit up because you’ve run out of things to read in the archives?” Eko quips.
“Entropy, otherwise known as chaos, is the natural disorder of the universe. The degradation of matter and energy, the change of state from ordered to turmoil.” Gearin twirls the side of his mustache beneath his golden spectacles, his biomechanical jaw glinting in the sunlight.
Kissa spits out her drink at his statement.
“You’re telling me that the most tightly wound one of us here gets the magical ability to create disorder?
And this emotionless ice queen has to use her emotions to cast?
We’re going to be totally fucked on the battlefield.
The Fates must be laughing themselves into tears with this one. ” She cackles at her own remark.
Bitch. I shoot her a dagger-like scowl. “Yeah, yeah, real funny,” I disparage with a flat tone, wishing I could slink away from this conversation. I barely understand my magic myself.
“There’s always a balance to magic.” A small twist kicks up at the side of Kivi’s mouth as she continues humming.
“She should also be able to wield hot and cold, transferring them to create an equilibrium, without the use of fire or ice magic.” Atlas’ eyes crinkle with amusement, likely planning his next manuscript.
“That’s skraith. Savaé, why do you always have to be an oddling? I’m glad I got magic that makes more sense.” Vex sighs as she twirls her red finger through one of her black ringlets.
“Oh yeah, because being able to fast-forward and rewind time three seconds is so simple and straightforward, Vex?” mocks Eko.
“It is to me!” She lets out a humph, crossing her arms.
“I’m the oddling? When you’re using words like ‘skraith’? What in the stars above does that even fucking mean?”
“Maybe if you didn’t go around snarling at everyone but us you’d know.” Vex rolls her eyes.
Flint whispers to me, “It means not normal. Winx and all her friends from Riicah use it.” I give him a small smile in thanks for not making me feel any more like an oddling.
“I think it’s neat, Savaé. We’ll make a nasty combo together. If I remember from physics correctly, you should even be able to manipulate the plasma I can wield.” Fenwick beams. I can’t believe she has the same Celestial Gift as Raeya. She only ever practices with her light magic.
“Now that I would pay to see,” Cinder says as a smirk curls on his lips.
“It hasn’t been wielded since before the Celestial Dimming, so we will become enlightened together.” Curiosity blazes across Atlas’ face. Ugh. He’s definitely planning to write his next textbook about me.
“I can’t wait for you to enlighten me during combat magic,” Kissa teases. “C’mon, it’s time to head to the Warded Hollow. All hail the wild Chaos Magic of Savaé Entropaé.” Kissa’s practically drowning me in her sarcasm.
“Laying it on a little thick, aren’t we?” I roll my eyes at her.
“Just how I like my males.” Kissa winks as she darts in front of me to the door of the Grand Conservatory.
“Well, that was an overshare.” I laugh.
I hear a wild cackling behind me. It’s Eko. He’s laughing so hard, he can barely walk. “Entropaé has entropy magic.” He gasps for air in between fits of laughter.
“I don’t get why you find it funny. It’s quite convenient to have one’s last name match their Celestial Gift. Imagine how organized things would be if we were all born knowing our gift.” Gearin taps his mouth in contemplation, Eko’s sarcasm flying right over his head.
Orion drags her hand down her face at Gearin’s comment before placing it on her hip.
“Eko has a point. Does seem a little too on the nose to be the work of the Fates. Although requiring her magic to be powered by emotions when Savaé would rather cut off her own hand than feel anything… Definitely the Fates laughing their asses off.”
“Glad I can finally make everyone laugh.” I huff.
Flint walks to my side and adds, “It’s unique, just like you.” He is simply the sweetest.
I muster a smile. “Glad I know I always have you on my side.”
Highin joins us. “I concur with Flint. Don’t let the racket of the others get to you.”
“Or maybe you should. I am pretty sure anger is the only emotion I’ve seen on you,” Eko jabs as he catches up to us, still wiping the tears of laughter from his eyes.
“Don’t antagonize her, Eko. She can use her magic to literally rip you apart, bond by bond,” Gearin deadpans.
I level a crippling glare at Eko.
He adjusts the collar of his battle leathers. “Well, when you say it like that, it definitely loses its humor. I rather like all my parts bonded the way they are.”
Now I’m the one laughing as we make it outside.
We head to the gardens of the central courtyard.
The site of the Warded Hollow still takes my breath away.
The golden orb structure is covered in guilloché golden enamel, laced with intricate platinum runes.
My skin buzzes with the power radiating from it.
There’s an oval-shaped door carved into a hollowed-out space along the side.
As I step through, the potent spellwork tickles my senses.
The unique magic here can simulate reappearing practice dummies that move all about, target ranges, illusionary combatants, and battle scenarios.
The inside is exponentially larger than the outside, changing the illusionary environment depending on what’s required for practice.
For marksmanship, it creates long distances with moving targets and distractions.
It even can recreate the Blackwood, Wuvon, their monsters, and all.
It allows us to hone all our magical skills in an illusionary environment before we face any real threats.
It’s also warded, so if we lose control, we won’t kill each other.
Professor Alaric Teak is required elsewhere today, so his understudy is filling in. Assistant Professor Layla Emberleaf marches to the center of the room. She is an Arabellian with short white hair and snow-white skin.