Chapter 57
Asymphony of anxious chatter clots the auditorium’s air after yesterday’s attack.
I plop down, melting into my seat, grateful to be off my unsteady feet.
I almost throttled S?las after the sixth time he asked if I was sure I didn’t want him to carry me.
I’d never fucking live that down, being carried into class like a princess or someone too weak to merit being here—never mind being in the leading Zenith Wing assignment.
Dread curls along my spine as Professor Gloomnight’s parchment and gold wings flutter frantically, like she’s readying herself to lurch from a predator’s maw.
“Good morning, everyone. We have decided to move up Fortress Battle… to today. Given the scouting party that occurred last night, we think it's safest to move this event up even further. This way, you will not be so close to the wards when there’s a chance of another attack.”
Murmurs crescendo into an uproar, curdling the room with palpable panic. Typically, this event is held as a final at the end of the school year, assessing our progress and team dynamics.
Professor Gloomnight raises her pale, dusted hand, conducting the crowd into silence.
“This battle pits each Wing against one another. The goal: whoever brings the spelled flying Golden Pearl to the top of Rayea’s Fortress wins.
However, your Chivalry cannot simply fly it to the top.
It must be passed off to your Ground Units battling in the field in front of the fortress.
This is a test of your ability to work together as a team. ”
S?las grips my hand. “If you are not feeling up to this, I will find a way to get out of it.”
I shrug in response. “I suppose it’s time we figure out how strong I really am.”
“There’s that reckless confidence from when we first met. Glad to see it’s finally back. Celestials, it’s sexy,” he purrs with a smirk I’d love to kiss off his full lips.
Professor Gloomnight continues, “There will be no deadly blows. This is about magical restraint, flight dynamics, and team coordination. Primary Command will go first. Please note, there is a patch of Blackwood near this location. Should a member fall into the area, there will be no search and rescue; consider their life forfeit. Summon your flying magical creatures to the southern field. Professor Reska will lead you to the northern region around the stronghold and release the Golden Pearl. This will signal the start of the game, which is meant to be competitive and fun. There’s no benefit to losing your life in this battle.
You are dismissed. May the games begin!” She bows before darting off stage.
Clearly having no intention of answering questions about the attack last night.
We make our way to the field, my Zenith encircling me, adopting a new walking formation, as if someone might spring an attack at any moment. Just as I’m about to sling a snide comment, Calais’s unease washes over me, twisting me up with worry the closer I get to her.
She flaps her four enormous wings, constantly shifting her weight like a pinned-down, wild animal.
I stroke the iridescent scales of her leg, shifting colors with her every movement.
“We will be okay,” I hum, trying to soothe her.
“They are being reckless. I have half a mind to set your professors and the Chancellor on fire in the hope their replacements have more sense.” She huffs, smoke billowing from her nostrils. “Let’s go before I lose my last thread of control and do exactly that.”
I laugh while summoning my air magic to glide onto her back.
“Save that fury for the battle. I want to win this game today,” I say, giving her a reassuring pat on the neck.
Which I immediately regret as she takes off like a bat out of Emberhell towards the sky, almost catapulting off with only one hand gripping on.
I cast air magic to brace myself down towards her body against her breakneck speed.
She finally slows down, and the rest of our Zenith catches up, shifting into formation once more.
Calais and I are at the top, drifting in and out of the clouds dotting the sky, her iridescent scales shifting to blend in.
I set my Chaos Magic free, charging the atmosphere.
Hot air smashes into cold; lightning erupts, weaving into Calais’ conductor spikes.
I tip over to see S?las in the middle of our five-pointed star.
To his right is a red wyvern with an elongated snout, giving it a mixed look between a wolf and a lion.
Its warm red colors match its rider, Vex, with her vermilion skin.
Her horns of her Infernai descent are rounded to her skull compared to the long straight ones of her wyvern.
In its merlot mane, bat ears twitch in all directions.
Vex is positioned with the best tactical view to ensure the best use of her Battlesense Arcane Glyph, marked by a silver infinity symbol on the back of her neck.
She coordinates her random glimpses of battle with Atlas to determine our next move.
Reserving her rare Chronosense for only the direst of circumstances, given how draining it is on her magic.
Just below whirls a mess of forest-green braids perched on an eddying kaleidoscope of colors: Juniper flying on her Hypnosis Drake. She’s situated closer to the ground to make use of her Naturalist abilities.
Cleaving the air next to her is a chimera of teal and indigo with Kissa’s feline form on top. Above her, to S?las’ left, Cinder rides a black phoenix. An epic, fire-powered assault team. But for today’s game, he’ll be playing a more defensive role.
Professor Reska commands the Chivalries to hold their current positions while the rest of the Ground Units are dropped off by Pegasuses at the edge of the battlefield clearing before Rayea’s Stronghold.
The point of this Fortress Battle game is to work together with your Wing as a cohesive air-ground team, outsmarting your opponents to win. No one strong player can triumph; it takes each member working in seamless tandem.
We are one or none at all.
Normally, we’d have multiple drills in mock scenarios in the Warded Hollow prior to the game to prepare us as a team, learning how to play to each other’s strengths and weaknesses in a fight.
This year, we won’t be gifted that luxury.
Instead, we’ll be relying on a handful of practice sessions in the Warded Hollow combined with everything my Zenith has already faced because of me.
The corner of my mouth kicks up. We’ve been forged into more than just a team by facing those challenges together. In my newfound, reckless hope, I see us more akin to a family, bound together by adversity rather than blood.
I raise my golden mental shields, reinforcing them while only partially shielding my Fated mate bond to S?las. It will only serve as a distraction to feel each other’s emotions during the battle and risk faltering our mental shields for a Persuasive to take advantage of.
Crisp air charged with electricity puffs up my lungs, arcing lightning through my veins, mind poised to strike. The weight of the universe may be on my shoulders, but today… today is a game I know the rules to. Today is a game I know exactly how to play.
Time to make Sully proud, using everything he taught me.
I press my button on my Rune Tech ring. Magic zaps a communication link to my brain, allowing us to speak at will to our Zenith.
“Reska is behind us. When she releases the Golden Pearl, S?las should Shadowweave with Scáil to claim it, then portal it to me. I’ve charged the clouds with lightning, and I doubt anyone will risk getting too close.
I’ll get it to the field. Cinder, Juniper, and Kissa should fly ahead to prepare for when I descend from the clouds, losing my protection,” I suggest with the few minutes we have to plan.
Juniper replies hesitantly, “We shouldn’t break up. Your plan puts too much risk on you. Plus, you can’t strike a deadly blow, which means they’ll be willing to risk your lightning.”
“They’ll be expecting us to stay together as trained. Splitting apart allows us the advantage during descent. S?las will be with me. Have Cinder stay slightly behind you two, giving me extra cover.” Attempting to reassure Juniper before continuing my plotting.
“Orion, can you create an illusion as I fly out of the clouds?”
“If you’re close enough, I can. Whatcha have in mind?” Orion’s voice curves with a devious smirk.
“I want you to create as many copies as you can of Calais and I. Every other Wing will be gunning for me once I leave the protection of lightning-charged clouds.”
Atlas interjects, “Clever. However, I’m wary of it being just you and S?las.
You are both driven to protect one another by the bond.
If something were to happen, you could lose sight of the objective.
Kissa, stay back with them and shift into the form of Calais; her natural form will absorb any lightning.
This also adds another target to throw them off—one that can actually interject if something goes wrong, unlike Orion’s illusions. ”
It’s a good idea, a great fail-safe for my plan. My team continues to impress me with our abilities to complement one another, forging us stronger as a whole.
“Why do I always get stuck with the lovebirds? Sitting next to them in class is punishment enough,” Kissa groans.
“Quit your whining, pretty kitty, or we’ll find out how powerful my shifting powers are,” Seraphina teases, only to be met with a growling hiss from Kissa.
I roll my eyes. “You two really need to fuck and make up later. S?las, cover us in shadows. Kissa, fly up here, and shift. Orion, can you create one illusion of Kissa riding in formation while Fenwick shields you so you can focus?”
“You sneaky little vixen. This way they’ll think Kissa as Calais is the illusion,” Orion muses.
“Precisely,” I purr.
“Fuck, you’re sexy right now,” a smoky voice growls along my mind.