Chapter Eight
EIGHT
I was forced to sit out of the entire two-hour class.
No one was allowed to train with me or speak to me.
At one point, one of the new acolytes looked like she was going to walk over to me out of pity, but another of her friends yanked on her arm and pulled her away.
She didn’t spare me a single glance for the rest of the class.
I got up at some point to find myself a wooden stave and an empty mat, figuring that if they wouldn’t let me train with them, I’d train by myself. But the second I reached the rack on the wall, people rushed over and grabbed every single stave that was left. I know it was him. Sebastian.
They were shutting me out, cutting me off from learning – from training – completely.
Eventually I gave up, and instead found a spot against the wall to lean on and simply observe.
I noticed a white ring of what looked like salt sprinkled around the mat that Sebastian and I had fought on.
I hadn’t noticed the salt ring before, but it had to be how the no -magic rule was enforced.
It’s the only mat with a ring around it, likely for the benefit of first years still learning to harness their element.
I watched and listened to the instructions the older students gave the younger ones.
I watched how Sebastian moved around and parried with his opponents; his footwork and where his eyes went seconds before an attack came.
I silently took note of the corrections and guidance he offered the others, storing it all for later.
When it was time to hit the showers, everyone filtered off in different directions.
According to my timetable, I have two official classes a day, a break in between, and free periods set aside for training.
It feels unfair that my first day’s already been cut short.
I missed my first class and showed up late to my second. Now I’m unsure of where to go next.
I need to get back into Malachite, I know that for certain, if only to find out where all my belongings were placed and what room I’ll be sleeping in.
But the problem I’m facing is that I need a Malachite student to grant me access.
There’s no way for me to get into the dorms without someone else, and seeing as Sebastian won’t let anyone speak to me, I’m effectively locked out.
A heavy sigh falls from my lips as I leave the Training Centre. I wonder if I could find Tilly, but I have no clue where to look other than the Opal Unit’s tower, which I can’t access either.
Instead of heading across the manicured lawn toward the Grand Hall, I decide to wander for a while.
I’m not quite ready to face more students and I’d rather enjoy the peacefulness of being outside.
Whenever I have felt overwhelmed or like there’s too much happening inside my head at once, the one thing that’s always brought me comfort is nature.
I’ve always loved the outdoors and have often found peace just from breathing in fresh air and listening to the melodic sounds of birds chirping among the gentle sway of tree branches.
It’s why back home, even though I hate the cold, I’d find myself choosing to walk through snow across the city just to clear my head, instead of taking the carriage.
I eventually find myself at the Malachite tower and start to wonder if there’s another way to get inside – from out here.
There can’t just be one way in and one way out; surely that’d be a safety hazard.
I’ve almost made it around to the other side of the tower – no door or secret entrance in sight – when a coarse but feminine voice calls my name.
I whirl, bracing for some form of verbal or physical attack, because apparently I’m now developing post-traumatic stress disorder.
Fabulous.
But the girl jogging over to me stops a few feet away and points up to the tower. A gust of wind blows her hair back, revealing two pierced eyebrows that light a spark of recognition. She was in the room when I was attacked by Harley. She’s the one who warned me that I shouldn’t be there.
‘If you’re thinking of climbing the wall, just know you’d probably fall and die,’ she says, her dark eyes lifting to the tower behind me.
‘If that’s some crappy attempt at reverse psychology, just know, it won’t work,’ I reply flatly.
Her lips quirk. ‘Look, I’m about to head inside if you need someone to let you in.’
My eyes narrow as suspicion creeps up my spine. ‘Why would you help me?’
She shrugs, lifting a shoulder. ‘Because it takes guts to stand up to someone like Zain. Not to mention the backbone it takes to stick around after that humiliating display of mat work. You’ve got grit, and I respect that. So do you want my help or not?’
I stare at her for a moment, trying to gauge whether she’s genuine or not. But I need to get inside and if this is my only chance, then I guess I’ll have to take it.
‘I’m not going to say thank you,’ I state.
‘I wouldn’t care if you did.’ She jerks her chin, gesturing me to follow her.
We walk in silence with a healthy distance between us as we head in the direction of the Grand Hall.
When we enter and pass the now-empty seats and dais, I spot two girls passing through Opal’s archway and a boy with thick-framed glasses and a heavy-looking book in his hands going through Agate.
It’s frustrating how easy it is for them.
What the hell is so wrong with me that I failed at this?
By the time we’re tucked inside the cove to Malachite’s gate, my hands have begun to sweat with anticipation. I look up at the slab of stone. My skin prickles remembering the last time I stood here and the words Sebastian said.
‘I’m Lillian, by the way. I’m in third year,’ the girl with the eyebrow piercings says conversationally.
‘Good to know.’ I keep my eyes trained on the stone wall, though I still manage to see her shoulders shake with silent laughter. It’s probably for the best that she finds my bluntness amusing, but it wasn’t supposed to be funny.
‘If you hold onto me, I’ll make sure you don’t fall on your face again.’ Lillian offers her arm.
‘No thanks,’ I reply stubbornly. I’ll have to do this on my own eventually. I’m not going to learn by holding someone’s arm.
She nods, something akin to approval settling in her eyes before she raises a hand and presses it against the stone.
I watch in surprise as an orange flame licks from beneath her palm and slowly seeps into the stone, nothing like how Sebastian had sent his fire blazing into it with a raging burst of heat.
Lillian’s element bleeds into the stone, controlled and calm.
‘Go on.’ She juts her chin toward the stone. ‘Walk through.’
I hesitate, giving myself a second to hold my breath and brace for the pulling sensation I felt the first time.
Tentatively, I lift a foot and check that I can go through the door first. My foot disappears and, as if the stone can feel a presence penetrating its surface, the gateway latches on with greedy talons and yanks me into it.
That pulling sensation hits me again, causing my stomach to twist and knot. Seconds later I’m spat out on the other side. My arms flail as I lose my balance. I’m about to fall forward, dizzy from the gate’s magic, but a hand bunches in the back of my shirt and tugs me back up.
Lillian chuckles as she pulls me back. ‘I did offer to help.’
I shrug free, moving a few steps away and dusting my hands over my shirt. ‘I had it.’ I definitely did not.
‘Yeah. Sure.’ Amusement sparkles in her eyes.
‘Look, Nocthare, what I’m about to give you stays between us.
If you tell anyone, I’ll take it back.’ She reaches behind her head, and it’s only now that I notice the leather cord peeking out from beneath her collar.
Lillian unties it slowly, then dangles it between us.
My eyes fall to the stone hanging from the cord – smooth and a deep green that matches the gate we just walked through.
‘It’s malachite. It’ll help you get inside the tower on your own if you press it against the gate. But like I said, if you tell anyone, I’ll take it back. Understood?’
I stare at it, not reaching for it. She’s giving me access to her unit.
She’s giving me her malachite stone. Isn’t that forbidden?
Don’t they have to earn their stones over the years through their training?
At least that’s what Lukas said. ‘Why would you give that to me?’ I ask, wary. ‘You don’t even know me.’
She shrugs, though there’s a tightness around her mouth. I can’t quite get a read on her, and something tells me that’s exactly how she likes to be. ‘I was friends with your brother, and I owed him a favour. This is me clearing my conscience.’
‘You were friends with Lukas?’ Surprise hits me hard. I’ve only met one of his friends and that’s Sebastian. He never talked much about the students he met while he was here, as if he wanted to keep that part of his life a secret.
‘Stars, don’t make this a big deal. Just take the damn necklace.
’ She pushes it into my hands, practically forcing me to take it.
I don’t complain though, because at the end of the day, I need this necklace.
Being able to come and go from the tower without relying on someone else …
My hands curl into fists, tightening around the stone.
‘How do I know this isn’t some test or set up?’ I still find myself asking.
Lillian scoffs. ‘You think I have time for that?’
When I don’t reply, her dark eyes roll. ‘Look, if you don’t want it, give it back. Otherwise go through that door.’ She points behind me.
I look over my shoulder and spot a wooden door nestled between two high-backed velvet emerald chairs.
‘That’ll take you to the stairs. You’re on the fourth level. This is the first. So just keep walking up until you get to a third door. Once you get to it, go through and your room will be the first on the left.’
Third door, fourth level, first door on my left.
I try to make sense of her instructions, repeating them in my head a few times before I give her one last wary glance and nod.
I stuff the necklace into the front pocket of my pants; I’m not putting it around my neck.
It’s not mine, it doesn’t deserve to hang there.
‘Don’t make me regret helping you, Nocthare. Keep that hidden.’
‘I will,’ I vow, then turn and stalk toward the door. I’m reaching for the handle when she calls out a final time.
‘One last thing you should know.’ She pauses until I spin to face her. ‘They gave you your brother’s old room.’