29. Answers without questions
Answers without questions
ALEX
It’s been four days since Kyra went missing for hours, and my mind went from simple questions, to images and plotted vengeance.
Fear led the charge. My magic within grew monstrous, and I hunted through the Academy, leaving one sigil after another deep in search.
But the one thing able to calm me was knowing someone would find a far worse fate for hurting her.
It wasn’t until a memory of the fay I once was reared its head, and I recalled a time when my internal devil let loose for me to find my resolve. Dismantled body parts laid waste at my feet while warm blood clung to my skin and lips until I became a layer of unrecognizable shame.
The vampiric nature of my order was a plague released onto this realm, devouring souls and beasts alike. Bones crushed beneath my strength whilst ciphering their magic through the punctures of my fangs. A nightmare of exponential proportions.
A tragedy I swore to never repeat, until the day Kyra vanished from Rebirth.
She is more than a mere soul birthed in the realm of mortals.
But since reclaiming her fay blood here, everyone outside this Academy has been aching to knock down the doors for a glimpse at the one who extinguished the torches during the Awakening.
Placed to a vote, it resulted in a split decision between the Elders. Half demanded the public to bear witness to the mortal. Wanting to see what makes her so unique, she was allowed to stay at the Academy.
Little word has gotten out about Kyra’s magic, which brought suspicion upon Rebirth. The other half of the Elders stood against their colleague’s decision, opposed on all fronts during our council’s meeting the morning after, bringing a final vote down to Ethan and myself.
Being the only two students on the council, our vote matters not, unless the Elders can’t make up their minds.
Of course, Holland disagreed and raged, but he was out-voted.
There was no surprise for Ethan showing up; what astonished me was his opposing decision for Kyra to be interviewed by the public.
He loathes Holland as much as one can loath anything and often contemplates removing his head at every possible chance. Arriving solely to piss him off was not unordinary. However, he never cared about anything long enough to decide.
Whatever reason he has for keeping Kyra hidden is enough cause for concern. And this alone begs the question of why he went missing with her that day and the morning after.
Trust isn’t the issue. Kyra has yet to give me a reason for such an offense. But questions still need answering, and our Elders grow weary of discovering students leaving the wards. I’m fronting this charge in finding suspects, not to reprimand, but to ensure more laws aren’t broken.
If our Queen gets wind of this, she will undoubtedly send a team. In doing so, discovering secrets I’m not ready for our realm to know. It will be more to worry about besides the public’s interest and other regions’ incredulity over her not being a problem. Specifically the glooms.
After searching around campus the day they vanished, I know Kyra returned to her room, low of magic, low of aura, and with a scent unlike her own.
Mixed with Caspian, Ethan, and something I couldn’t pinpoint, it held me still.
Every ounce of me wanted to demand answers, but her alluring eyes invaded me with a sense of trust. She was safe, alive, and breathing.
These feelings I since thought died a long time ago, resurfaced in the boardroom upon her first day here.
Logic tried making a compelling argument for this reason, but every throb of her pulse made my fangs itch until I longed to taste the warmth of her savory blood.
How every breath made her heart pause for a second’s fraction, left me in suspense and awaiting for its drum to restart.
But there is a downside–eternal bonds, Eros’s gift to us fays.
Once a name is written in the Book of Bonds there is no escaping it, and soon, Kyra shall embark on this path, writing hers and awaiting the call.
If by some reason the Gods deem me fit to form a romantic connection with Kyra and her eternal happens to arrive, Eros himself won’t be able to pull my hands away from that fay’s throat.
So, it’s best my distance remains along with this overwhelming pressure of claiming her as mine.
It’s been a full rotation around the sun since my name was written, and the start of this year is more unmanageable than the previous. This game Eros plays for me to find my eternal is cruel and unjust, yet it proves the single soul I’m destined for is my eternal. A choice of free will.
Gods help those who decline his offer, opening a new set of rules with risks of untold desires.
The training room doors open, and a quick glance reveals a gaggle of students walking in from both House Life and Death.
My training session ended about twenty minutes ago with year three instructors, leaving enough time to clean up and ponder if Kyra will appear in my class before everyone arrives.
There is always a chance of unexpected events pulling her from attending.
Over the past days it’s been proven, and I’m appreciative of Rebecca’s return to announcing the House points.
Along with it, she informs which student has contributed the least, and despite our training, Kyra has cost House Death a great deal of points. So, I need her to attend.
Though she never misses our one-on-one sessions. Intriguing.
Students enter, each one reducing my expectation of seeing her, and my thoughts stir for a reason why.
“Hey, Alex, what’s wrong?” Alise asks, approaching from my right. I’m perched upon the stage’s edge, which is centered and protruding from the marbled wall. The entrance door is to my left, and I’m watching more and more students saunter in without Kyra in sight.
“Nothing’s wrong. I’m simply waiting for everyone to arrive.
How was your class?” I ask, trying to shut off this uncomfortable feeling of…
her. I’m not sure why or when I found myself obsessed with Kyra’s day to day, but a book within my library may hold the answer.
This urge is a hindrance and possibly my undoing if the prophecy has anything to do with it.
“Same as always. Nothing to write home about, but I heard a few students went on a mission earlier.” She takes a seat beside me, threads a few strands of pink hair behind her ear, and gazes upon the mingling crowd.
“You’re correct, within the Langlia Region.
Fays there care more about their looks and appeasing the Gods, rather than attending missions.
Darleris Academy will forever remain number four for this aspect.
But let’s hope those same Gods are watching over Rebirth’s students.
Losing one to a gloom can be hurtful to our goals. ” I give her the courtesy of my focus.
“Agreed. Every time I’m forced to take the life of a student changed by those vile creatures, it reminds me why this Academy is so cut-throat.
And why we spend hours upon hours training.
If you can’t make it within these walls, out there will devour you.
” Alise huffs. The softness of her voice is a clear contrast from the aura she presses against me, reliving her nightmares. And I reassure her of her ideals.
“Which is why we’re trespassing into other lands. They need assistance.”
“I agree again. Besides, beauty is more than captivating an audience with ethereal beings, plus, I’ve been waiting for another mission.
” She huffs. “My aura’s been full for days with no real outlet.
Then again, no one here would survive a sparring session with me, so practice is a rare occurrence. I’m not trying to hurt anyone.”
Despite being a second year, she attends these sessions out of curiosity. Even the third and fourth years can’t fend off her abilities, so we’re still on a hunt to fix this problem. Though something tells me a solution is right around the corner.
Another crack of light spills inside as more students breach the entrance, and my vision presses against the corners of my eyes, searching, but she isn’t a part of this group.
Using my natural order, I lean into my hearing.
Enticing it further into the distance, I catch a melody of laughter, which quiets the rage building within my core. She’s coming.
“I’ll attain a mission for you soon, but until then, continue your control. Though no fault of your own, we can’t afford another accident. I’m aware you’ve been holding this burden closely,” I confide, tilting my head in Alise’s direction.
Being an elf with a descended bloodline makes her an enigma. Add on her natural order and she is destined for Godhood. Her one flaw is being timid and unsure.
“Understood,” she says, standing and joining the others.
Around the room, babble is whispered about the Book of Bonds and its apparent arrival day, which piques my interest. Everyone is beside themselves, hunting and planning for their eternals, preparing for whatever bond magic is gained after signing.
It’s a reminder of my first year when hope took on more than fate was willing to give. Pitiful. With each passing year, the chance of an eternal dwindles in my search, and it won’t be long until year three approaches.
Giggles announce Angie and Ryan’s entrance with Kyra and Horus not far behind. Angie grasps Ryan’s arm, holding it up and twisting it back and forth, examining for something whilst ignoring his somewhat painful expression.
“Stop acting like a fayling. If I can’t figure out how to remove this sigil, you’ll have something more to cry about than me tugging on you,” she blares.
His arm rotates, displaying a sparkling gold symbol, which Ethan must have placed for an undeserving reason. Past the two of them, Kyra is locked in conversation with Horus. Their laughter continues to linger, and my breath freezes into a mass of solid ice.