Chapter 3 #2
“Always trying to play the peacemaker, brother,” Aiden murmured, his eyes shifting away from me and now settling on Alaric.
“Well, someone has to be the adult between you two,” Alaric replies nonchalantly, casting us both a pointed look. Aiden’s gaze narrowed at him.
“Maybe you wouldn’t have to be if Aiden just knew when to shut up,” I snapped, my eyes locking onto Aiden.
He looked back at me, glare sharp as ever.
But I stood my ground, tilting my chin slightly in defiance.
There was a beat of silence. Then, of course, he smirked.
His eyes dragged slowly down my body, and an involuntary jolt of awareness sparked beneath my skin.
I clenched my jaw. Without a word, he pivoted and walked away, disappearing down the path as if he hadn’t just irritated every nerve in my being.
“Gods, I hate him,” I muttered under my breath, only loud enough for Alaric to hear.
“I know,” he replied with a knowing grin. “Anyway, forget about him. Where were you headed?”
“The medical ward,” I replied, the tension slowly easing from my shoulders. “Going to see my aunt… and maybe bask in the life I should have had.” I gave a half-smile. “What about you?”
“Library,” he said, holding up a book. The title reads Fundamentals of Magical Channeling. “Trying to get ahead before training kicks into full gear.”
“Ooo, look at you, scholar and warrior,” I teased. “What kind of magic did you obtain?” He scratched the back of his neck, a faint blush creeping up his skin.
“Ah… third tier. I can manipulate my surroundings: fog, confusion, disorientation, that sort of thing.” He smiled modestly. It’s pretty cool, actually.
“Alaric, that’s amazing,” I said, eyes widening with genuine admiration. “Your dad must be proud.” His smile faltered just slightly.
“Yeah… he is. But it’s a lot, you know? Living in his shadow.” His gaze drifted in the direction Aiden had gone. I reached out and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
“Hey. He might be strong, but you’re third tier. That’s incredible, Alaric. Don’t sell yourself short.”
He looked at me, and his eyes softened. “Thanks, Ryn. It’s good having you back.” His expression turned thoughtful. “Just… take it easy, alright? You were never exactly built for combat.”
I gasped, feigning offense. “Excuse me! I may not have begged to spar with you and Aiden growing up, but I can still kick ass.” I bumped his shoulder, making him laugh.
“That’s true,” he replied through a chuckle. “But let’s be real, if you don’t get some meat on those bones, you’re not kicking anyone’s ass.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I rolled my eyes, but I was smiling.
“I’ll be okay.” I pulled him into another hug, holding him close for a moment.
His warmth, his steady presence, grounded me.
I didn’t want to let go. “Anyway,” I said, stepping back, “I should get going. I really want to see my Aunt Mira, and maybe even have a chance at making some healing salves to help her out and feel somewhat normal.”
“Well, have fun, I’m sure she would be excited to see you.
” We parted ways, and he disappeared inside the tower on the other side of the bridge.
My heart squeezed a little. I’d always had a crush on Alaric.
And now, after all these years, being reunited with him felt right in a way I hadn’t expected.
Maybe something could come of it; maybe not.
For now, I shoved the feeling down and turned toward the medical ward.
Inside, the air carried the scent of antiseptic and burning sage.
The low ceiling gave the space an even more hushed feel, like a sacred cocoon of care.
Beds lined both sides of the long room, each surrounded by pale blue curtains that could be drawn for privacy.
Five nurses, all dressed in crisp white uniforms, moved swiftly and quietly between patients.
Mostly second years nursing bruises and cuts from their kind of “challenges” I’d soon be facing myself.
My gaze swept the space, searching for one person in particular.
And then I saw her. Her wavy blonde hair bounced with every step, shining against her warm tan skin and white uniform.
As soon as I noticed her, my chest grew lighter.
“Aunt Mira!” I called out. She turned, and the moment her honey-gold eyes found mine, they lit up with familiar warmth.
“Rynlee?” she gasped before rushing over and wrapping me in one of her signature, all-consuming hugs. Her scent, chamomile and something citrusy, wrapped around me like a memory. Calm washed over me instantly.
“I didn’t know your father had enrolled you,” she said, pulling back with concern etched across her face.
Her blonde brows drew together, much like my mother’s when she used to worry.
But that was no surprise; Aunt Mira was my mom’s identical twin.
Being around her sometimes felt like staring through a window into the past. It was strange… but comforting, too.
“Well, he can’t exactly have his only child breaking tradition,” I replied with a dry smile, stepping back.
She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Your father is so stubborn.”
“You’re telling me. Even Grandma couldn’t convince him,” I muttered, remembering that argument before summer ended, my defiance, his dismissal.
“And to make matters worse, I actually was accepted to the Verdant Sanctum of Sylvara. But that was ripped away, too, so… I guess I’ll just pretend for a little while in the medical ward. ” I forced a small smile.
“You got accepted?” Mira’s brows shot up, her voice breaking with surprise. “Rynlee, that’s—” But she stopped herself, shoulders softening as the weight of it settled. “I’m sorry. You deserved to follow in Mackie’s footsteps.”
Her words cracked something in me, and before I could respond, she pulled me into a hug.
I swallowed the rising lump in my throat.
Mira was right. I did deserve that future.
And it had been stolen. I pictured the life that might have been green robes as opposed to brown leather, the scent of herbs and oils filling my days rather than blood and steel.
Healing hands, not bloodied ones. But that path ended the day my mom died.
And my dad, my once warm, steady father, seemed to die with her.
What was left was someone harder, colder, a man who thought shoving me into war would make me stronger.
Perhaps he was right. Or maybe he just couldn’t bear the thought of me following her path, because it reminded him too much of what he’d lost.
“Thanks,” I whispered, hugging my aunt back tighter, clinging for a moment to the warmth my father could no longer give.
“Well,” Aunt Mira said, trying to soften her frown, “as much as I hate the reason, you’re here, I am glad to see you.” She gave me a small smile. “Now let’s put you to work. Do you remember what Mackie taught you?” She arched her brow.
“Of course,” I replied, smiling as I pulled on a pair of thin healer’s gloves.
The familiarity of this place, the sense of purpose, it felt right.
As I grabbed a salve jar from the supply tray, movement near the far wall caught my eye.
Aiden. He was standing a few feet away, talking to the Ares unit leader, a man with red curls that were cropped close, untamable even when disciplined.
Freckles marked his skin like constellations, betraying a boyishness that didn’t quite match the calm, assessing gaze in his eyes.
His jaw was strong, but not severe. There was something about him that made leadership seem natural, not forced.
The Ares student appeared to have some sort of injury on his right bicep, and the two of them actually seemed…
relaxed. Maybe even friendly. Weird. I tightened the lid on the salve and casually made my way over. Without warning, I nudged Aiden’s arm.
“I didn’t know you had friends,” I comment, voice syrupy-sweet, smile in place. Aiden didn’t even flinch. He just rolled his eyes.
“What do you want, Ruin?” he muttered.
“Nothing,” I replied with a shrug. “Just thought your friend here might need some pain salve.” I leaned in slightly, exaggerating the word friend, watching his jaw twitch. It was the little victories.
“Does it look like he does?” he snapped, nodding toward the Ares unit leader. I turned to the guy, his arm looking swollen and red. I gave a casual shrug.
“Well… do you?” I asked, offering him a warm smile.
“Uh, sure. Thanks,” the redhead replied, clearly caught between confusion and amusement. I glanced up at Aiden, flashing a closed-lipped grin that practically screamed, told you so. A muscle in his jaw twitched.
Perfect.
“I’m Rynlee Yarrows, by the way,” I said as I carefully unscrewed the lid and went about applying the cooling salve to the inflamed skin on the guy’s bicep. The area was red and raw, likely from a miscast flame ward.
“He doesn’t care, Ruin,” Aiden muttered through gritted teeth. Oh, he really didn’t like me talking to his friends. Which only made this more fun.
“Brandon Fellowes,” the Ares unit leader replied, throwing a quick glance at Aiden before refocusing on me. “My little brother, Clive, started this year, too.”
“Oh, Clive’s in my group.” I smiled. “Nice to meet you, Brandon.” I finished applying the salve with practiced ease, capped the jar, and met Aiden’s gaze. I gave him a slow, smirking wink, and relished how his shoulders stiffened behind me. It was way too easy to get under his skin.
Over the next hour, I worked alongside Aunt Mira, helping her sort ingredients, crush dried herbs, and whip up fresh batches of pain-relief salves and sleep tinctures.
The rhythm of it, grinding, stirring, bottling, was familiar.
Calming. Like slipping into a version of myself I wasn’t allowed to be anymore.