55. Revelations #2
“I would like to ask you to consider the severity of the punishment,” Master Sorrel said with a sneer.
“This does not account for the trauma he has caused. This is not the behaviour of a Support. I vote that he be expelled from the academy, dishonourably discharged.” His voice was shrill, and he spoke without a second glance at Aeden.
Aeden had thought Master Storme disliked him, but Master Sorrel was a whole different game.
Was this all because he had challenged him in his recent class?
“Well, luckily for Harrington, this decision falls on me, and me alone. It isn’t down to a vote, that isn’t how this works,” Director Vale said sternly.
Master Sorrel scoffed and turned his head away in an act of petulance that made him seem more like a young child rather than the most experienced master at the academy.
“No doubt when the Blackthorns get in touch, they’ll want to see you flogged, but given that Kael received the same punishment for your attack, they’ll have to accept that we’ve dealt with both of you consistently.
” Director Vale shifted about in her chair uncomfortably, her body language changing.
“Which brings me on to the primary issue at hand. The Sable twins.”
Both Master Sorrel and Mistress Jara looked nervous. Master Storme moved to stand opposite Aeden beside the cartography master, folding his tree-trunk arms in front of him.
“What the academy has done in protecting you and Nyra will be seen as a direct act of defiance to our enemy. I have no doubt that an attack will be imminent. I have reluctantly sent message to the Conclave asking for support,” Director Vale said with a worried expression.
An attack on the academy? Why would there be an attack on the academy?
Other than Orion and Rosheen and the master they seemed to serve, Aeden had no clue who the enemy was.
“Who are they, and why did you protect me? Protect us? I thought you hated Nyra for what she is. ”
The director looked at the rest of the faculty members before giving them a subtle nod. She then pushed back her chair and stood up.
“I’ve been keeping a close eye on you ever since you came back from that training exercise with your Aer-Kin.
As you know, I asked Master Ember to conduct a thorough examination on her, including her breed and bloodline, which he has so far been unable to ascertain.
” The director reached up for a brown leather book from her case and slid it out.
It was a thick tome, and she needed both hands to hold it.
She turned and placed it onto the table.
“That said, the way your powers have manifested and the powers you are displaying, followed by the mysterious nature of which you were bonded, leads me to one thing.” Director Vale opened up the book and flicked through the pages until she stopped on a particular page.
She traced her finger downwards, stopping on one paragraph. “The similarities are too great.”
“For what?” Aeden said, confused as to what the director was alluding too. She was talking in riddles, and that didn’t help.
The director lifted her head, shame on her face. “I have not been entirely honest with you or your peers.”
Master Storme let out a dry cough and raised a closed fist to his mouth.
“New and old,” she corrected herself with a sideways glance.
“There is a force outside of this academy, outside of Nevaria, that holds more power over us than the Conclave, than the Queen herself,” Director Vale said.
She kept her voice low, as if she didn’t want to be overheard.
“Someone that I am ashamed to say has held more power over me than I should have allowed.” She stopped short, as if there was more that she wasn’t willing to share at this stage.
“When the Sable twins arrived, Orion used his powers on me. He subjugated me to allow him to freely move around the academy. Even now, I do not know exactly who they were looking for, but I know that is why they were here.”
“We can, however, theorise,” Mistress Jara said.
“Even if it proves to be just that – a theory,” Master Sorrel added.
“What’s going on?” Aeden asked. “Why are you telling me all of this?”
“Because I believe you are the key to helping this academy and its riders become strong enough that no enemy territories will ever cross Nevaria. The key to bringing an era of peace not heard of for centuries. Imagine what that could look like.”
That information hit Aeden like a sucker punch, and he stood confused by what the director had just said. Why would they think that of him? Up until this point, they had all chastised him.
The director referred to the tome. “I believe that the Sable twins were here for one thing only. To find the person linked to the prophecy and end the bloodline with them.”
“Wait, what? A prophecy?” Aeden said. The conversation was descending into lunacy.
“A prophecy,” the director repeated. “There is something I want to share with you, Harrington, about your parents. You see, the Battle of Weir was a massacre implemented by the Sable twins’ master many years ago for the same reason they are here at the academy.
But you are not stupid, and I have no doubt you have already figured this out. ”
Aeden nodded. “I overhead them talking when I was down in the archives trying to research the Battle of Weir, but the battle report was torn from the codex.”
“See,” Mistress Jara said, giving a sideways glance to the other masters. “He is resourceful.”
“Although I am not at liberty to tell you where the battle report was taken, I will tell you that it was us that moved it. If the Conclave found out?—”
“Be careful what you whisper aloud, Director,” Master Sorrel said, “these walls have been known to be thin, and we still do not know who we can fully trust.”
The director nodded before saying, “There is more going on in Nevaria than you could understand right now, but that doesn’t mean you won’t.
What I want you to know as of right now is about the prophecy.
” She paused for a moment, staring deeper into Aeden’s eyes than anyone ever had before.
“I believe you are the key to all of it.”