Chapter twenty one- Aidens Warmth, Kaels Ice
Ashwing hit the ground with a force that rattled the earth beneath them.
His talons carved deep grooves into the dirt as he absorbed the impact, wings flaring wide to shield Liora from the wind and the dozens of eyes fixed on her.
Liora clung to his feathers, breath sharp and uneven.
Her ribs screamed with every inhale. Her vision blurred at the edges.
The world felt too loud, too bright, too close.
Ashwing lowered himself slowly, carefully, until Liora's boots touched the ground.
Her knees buckled instantly. She would have collapsed if Ashwing hadn't pressed his warm body against her side, holding her upright with trembling protectiveness.
Students shouted around them—some in shock, some in fear, some in morbid fascination.
Mira reached her first, but Ashwing reacted instantly. A sharp, defensive chirr burst from his throat, wings twitching outward in a warning flare. His tail lashed once across the dirt, cutting Mira off mid?step. She froze, eyes wide.
"Ashwing—" Liora gasped, clutching his neck.
He didn't hurt Mira, but he made it unmistakably clear: no one touched her.
Mira lifted her hands slowly. "It's okay. I'm not going to hurt her."
Ashwing chirred again, feathers rising. Liora stroked his neck with trembling fingers.
"It's okay," she whispered. "She's my friend."
Ashwing's feathers lowered a fraction. Just a fraction. Mira stayed where she was, breathing fast.
Aiden arrived next, and Ashwing's reaction was even sharper. He stepped between Liora and Aiden, wings spreading wider, tail lashing again. A low, warning rumble vibrated through his chest.
Aiden stopped immediately, hands raised. "Easy. I'm not a threat."
Ashwing didn't believe him. He chirred sharply, protective and tense.
Liora pressed her forehead to his neck. "Ashwing... please. Let him come closer."
Ashwing hesitated, then slowly, reluctantly, shifted aside just enough for Aiden to kneel in front of her. Aiden moved carefully, like approaching a wounded animal.
"Liora," he whispered, voice cracking. "Look at me."
She lifted her gaze. Aiden exhaled shakily.
"You're alive," he breathed. "Thank the gods."
He reached out slowly. Ashwing flicked his tail in protest, but didn't block him. Aiden brushed a strand of hair from her face with trembling fingers.
"You scared me," he whispered. "You scared all of us."
Liora's throat tightened. Ashwing pressed closer to her side, but didn't interfere.
Master Thalen stormed across the field. "Everyone back! Give her space!"
Students scattered.
Kael landed last.
He dismounted in one fluid motion, boots hitting the ground with controlled precision.
Ashwing turned his head toward Kael and reacted—a low, uncertain chirr, a small flick of his tail, a subtle twitch of his wings.
He was wary, protective, on edge. But he did not step in front of Liora.
He did not block Kael. He did not flare his wings.
Kael walked toward Liora as if the dragon's reaction didn't exist. Unfazed. Unbothered. Unmoved.
Ashwing watched him closely, feathers tight with tension, but he allowed him near.
Kael stopped a few paces away, gaze flicking from Liora's trembling form to the torn strap dangling from Ashwing's saddle. Master Thalen held up the broken leather.
"This was cut."
A ripple of shock moved through the students. Aiden swore. Mira gasped. Seris crossed her arms.
Kael's voice cut through the noise. "Who had access to the equipment racks?"
"Everyone," Thalen snapped.
Kael's jaw tightened—barely.
Aiden stepped forward. "Someone tried to kill her."
Kael's gaze shifted to Liora. "Did you see anyone near your saddle?"
Liora shook her head. "No."
Ashwing pressed closer, feathers brushing her arm.
Kael's eyes moved over her ribs, her posture, the way she held her arm. "You're breathing unevenly. Your left side is compensating. That indicates pain."
"I'm fine," Liora whispered.
Kael didn't argue. "You're injured."
Aiden bristled. "She just fell, Kael. Maybe don't—"
"I'm identifying the injury," Kael said calmly. "Not criticizing her."
Ashwing chirred softly—uneasy, but not hostile.
"You need the infirmary," Kael said. "Now."
Liora tried to walk. Her legs buckled. Aiden moved to catch her, and Ashwing chirred sharply, wings twitching, but Liora touched his neck.
"It's okay."
Ashwing settled.
Aiden helped her stand. Kael walked behind them, silent, cold, professional. Ashwing stayed glued to Liora's side, but didn't protest again.
The infirmary was warm and quiet. Ashwing stayed close. He let Aiden help her onto the bed, though he flicked his tail in mild disapproval. He let Mira approach, though he watched her carefully. He let Veyra examine Liora, though he chirred anxiously every time she winced.
But Kael? Kael stood near the wall, arms crossed, expression unreadable. Ashwing reacted to him only minimally—a small tail flick, a soft chirr, nothing more. Kael remained completely unaffected, as if the dragon's protectiveness were expected, as if he'd seen it before, as if it didn't matter.
Hours passed. Aiden stayed beside her bed, holding her hand gently. Ashwing watched him, but didn't protest. He only chirred softly when Aiden moved too quickly—a reminder to be gentle. Aiden always slowed down, always softened, always checked with Liora first. Ashwing approved. Barely.
Night settled over the Academy. Aiden eventually drifted to sleep in the chair beside her bed, head resting on his arms, still holding her hand. Ashwing curled against her side, feathers warm and steady.
The door creaked softly.
Liora's eyes snapped open.
Kael stood in the doorway. Silent. Still. Composed.
Ashwing lifted his head, feathers twitching—a low, uncertain chirr rumbling in his chest. He didn't block Kael, but he watched him with wary eyes.
Kael didn't react to the dragon at all. He stepped inside.
"What are you doing here?" Liora whispered.
"Master Thalen asked me to check on you."
Her heart twisted. "So you're only here because someone told you to be."
"Yes."
He stepped closer. "They finished the investigation."
Liora's breath caught. "And?"
"They found nothing."
Her stomach dropped. "Nothing?"
"No fingerprints. No witnesses. No blades with residue. No one acting suspiciously."
"So... they don't know who did it."
"It doesn't matter who did it."
Liora stared at him. "How can you say that?"
Kael's eyes were cold steel. "Because half the nobles in this Academy want you gone. Some quietly. Some openly. Some for reasons you don't even know yet."
Liora's throat tightened. "So what am I supposed to do?"
"Learn to protect yourself."
The words hit harder than the fall.
"I'm trying," she whispered.
"I know."
He glanced at Aiden asleep beside her, then back at her. "You can't rely on anyone to keep you safe. Not the instructors. Not your friends." His gaze flicked to Ashwing. "Not even your dragon."
Ashwing chirred softly, feathers ruffling.
Kael didn't react.
"You survived today because of luck," he said. "You won't survive the next time unless you're prepared."
Liora's breath shook. "I don't know how."
Kael's eyes locked onto hers. "Then I'll teach you."
The words were simple. Cold. Direct. A promise wrapped in steel. Not emotional. Not comforting. Not soft. Just truth. Just necessity. Just Kael.
He turned toward the door.
"Kael..." Liora whispered.
He paused.
"Thank you."
Kael didn't turn around, but his shoulders shifted—the smallest reaction, almost invisible. Then he left. No pause. No second glance. No softness. Just cold truth. Just distance. Just absence.
The door closed behind him with a soft click.
Liora's chest ached. Ashwing pressed closer, sensing her pain. Aiden murmured in his sleep, still holding her hand.
Outside, the Academy slept.
Inside, Liora lay awake.
Between Aiden's warmth, Kael's cold truth, and the shadow of someone who wanted her dead.