by J E Mueller
Aylum let out a tired breath. “I thought white mages were less crazy and dangerous than this. There’s no exploding runes or random bouts of intense flames. Yet somehow they can apparently completely swap injuries.”
Soleia laughed. “White mages play offense, that doesn’t make them less deadly, just more creative with how they strike.”
Aylum groaned. “Apparently.” He muttered something else I couldn’t hear, his voice low.
Soleia replied equally soft, the conversation continuing at an octave that was too soft to make out. Instead of trying, I let sleep carry me away, knowing I needed a short nap if I wanted to do anything else today.
Chapter Nine
I stepped back outside just before lunch. Groups were laughing loudly, making the bird song in the distance hard to hear as they worked hard to try and make something edible. The professors looked exhausted, but if that was the worst of it they weren’t doing too bad. Wrangling twenty students who rarely cooked or may not know how to cook would reasonably tire anyone.
At least it was nice out. A few puffy clouds hung lazily in the sky and a gentle breeze kept the area cool. As I slowly took in the scene I realized I was a number off. Cressida wasn’t out here. She should be perfectly fine by now. I took on her injuries so aside from shock, dizziness, and humiliation, she would have been fine within a few minutes.
As I wondered, Professor Winfield walked up to me. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired, but more or less normal,” I supplied. “I suspect magical drain will linger for a few days.”
“Don’t do anything like that again on this trip.” Professor Winfield crossed her arms and gave me a firm stare.
“Being out of commission for a short time instead of a student dying saved the entire school a lot of grief. I will continue to be mindful. I hope you won’t try and ask more of me,” I replied with a level tone.
We both knew that unless my parents got involved, there was nothing more that could be done. “Rejoin your classmates.” She waved me off, ending the conversation.
“What happened to Cressida?” I couldn’t let that curiosity go. I was certain everyone had an answer by now.
“Several students noted you warned her about the moss. No one saw her examine it closely for herself. Failure to act appropriately on top of the events that occurred after left us with only one choice. She was sent home early and given a heavy load of homework to complete.”
Satisfied, I nodded and joined the others. Some were hanging around where the cooking was going on, but it looked as if most were done with their tasks. Effie, Fenella, Kismet, and Neveah seemed to have what was left to do under control while Tedric, and Biorn chatted with them.
“Hey, look who’s with the living!” Keti called, causing just about everyone to glance my way.
I gave a small wave. “Were there any doubts?”
Soleia motioned for me to join her by the fire. “Only on how long you’d sleep. No one guessed this short.”
I gave a small shrug as I sat down next to her. “Fast recovery is my entire mantra.”
Aylum and Delmar joined us but not before Keti sat in the spot by my other side before Aylum could.
“You looked miserable. What is ocin like?” Keti’s curiosity got the better of her. Others milling about moved closer to hear.
“As miserable as you’d think.” I shrugged, well aware everyone was listening. “It’s almost spot-on for what the texts say about it. It causes severe swelling, making breathing difficult as it travels down your throat. It starts to shut down organs with all the fast pressure it takes, but since we stalled the spread on Cressida, I didn’t experience the entire thing, just her specific ailments. With my fast healing, I’m almost perfectly fine.”
“Magic should not work like that.” Neveah scoffed. “It’s weird, but bless the Four that it did. The poor fool would be dead.”
“Bless.” Keti nodded. A few others nodded as well, conversation once more resuming its normal tone as people stopped caring about eavesdropping.
Effie cleared her throat. “Lunch is officially done. Now, how the heck do we serve this out?” Kismet standing next to her just shrugged, equally without an answer.
While mild chaos ensued with the professors and students figuring out how to serve the student made soup, and the actual meal brought from the school, I sat. It was peaceful to just observe and be.
At some point in the chaos, both Aylum and Soleia asked me what I’d like and I told them both soup. I wondered if either noticed the other asking, curious to see how this would play out.
Keti brought me a bowl of soup first. “The others were trying to decide if you needed other food too, but I said you only needed soup. They weren’t happy with that, but I’m betting that’s exactly what you asked for.”
“I love how everyone questions the healer, like it’s something I’m not good at.” I chuckled as Aylum and Soleia returned with arms full, sitting on either side of me as Keti walked away laughing.
“Neither of us think soup’s enough.” Soleia sighed. “But it seems all the healers think it’s perfect after this type of healing and magical drain so…”
“We brought more soup, so hopefully you can fill up enough on that.” Aylum nodded agreeingly.
I dropped my voice, “You silly dragons thinking someone needs a whole horse to recover.”
Soleia snorted. “It makes more sense that way.”
“Well, how else can your body get the energy back?” Aylum looked surprised on the callout.
“Sleep?” I shrugged. “Not overusing my magic. Probably eating an entire horse.”
Soleia gave another laugh. “I’m just glad you are okay.”
“I can agree with that.” Aylum nodded.
“Of course.” I laughed, amused by their added concern. Hopefully, it wouldn’t last the entire trip; they needn’t worry. I’d be fine in no time.
We chatted and talked as we ate. As people started to finish eating, a ball was dragged out that the men tossed around. Most of the women ran commentary or tried to clean up the area. There was little that could be done for spilled food outside though.
“Our next event is a scavenger hunt,” Professor Brentwood stated about an hour later. “You’ll divide into teams of five, and every team will have a list. The first to mark down where all the things are and make it back to camp without any mishaps, or causing any mishaps, won’t have to clean up from dinner.”
Everyone was divided the moment she had said scavenger hunt. The number just solidified it. I glanced around at the four I had been eating with. Of course, Soleia and Aylum would be on my team, and to no one’s surprise so were Delmar and Keti. Teams stood at the ready, antsy to launch into the woods while we waited for the teachers to hand out the paper.
“I am genuinely surprised no one tried to steal you away.” Keti snickered as she looked over the list. “This would be a cinch for you with your potion and herbology expertise. I bet you know where everything lives.”
“I might” I laughed. “But I’m not the only one good at those classes. Calum and Parlan can usually hold their own. At least in potions.”
I caught sight of Gawin glaring at me while talking with Nobin and Thorfin. I knew that look too well, but he wasn’t likely to make a scene when so many people were around. Avoiding him shouldn’t be too hard on this trip.
“Can you stop being good at everything?” Keti nudged me playfully, pulling me back into the conversation.
“I’m terrible at a lot of things. I’m just really great at healing and potions since they relate so well to healing.” I shook my head, “Remember that one time-”
“With the cake?” Keti laughed.
“Oh no. I forgot about the cake.” Soleia joined in, snorting at the memory.
“What cake?” Aylum gave us all a bewildered look.
Delmar took one look at Aylum’s confusion and lost it, laughing hard. “Just because you can use spell-saying to make a cake better, doesn’
t mean you should.”
My eyes were tearing from laughing so hard. “It wouldn’t have been so bad if I hadn’t mispronounced something. Or several somethings. It was several years ago.”
“What happened to the cake?” Aylum asked, looking slightly fearful and very concerned from our laughter.
“Begin!” The professor called. Three teams went running off.
Keti shoved the paper at me. “Quick, what would be closest?”
My eyes scoured over the list before I started walking westward, back toward the stream. We’d be going more upstream this time. “Begnita grows in fresh streams.”
“Usually where there is a bit of a clearing correct?” Aylum tried to recall as he hurried to keep in step with me.
“Yes, but it wouldn’t like the ocin, or at least wouldn’t grow for several miles downstream. There’s more likely to be more ocin in that direction though. We’re better going up.”
Soleia put her hand out for the list as we walked fast, trying to weave through the trees and brush without falling. “Oh and brentwarts should be just about everywhere this time of year. They prefer very low light right?”
We chatted as we slowly adventured around. The brentwart was the first find we reached. Soleia was correct. The thing was nearly everywhere. I tapped the paper to it, channeling magic from the paper to the brentwart, a magical line appearing through it, confirming we did in fact find the right thing.
And off we went to the next item.
The group started to space out as we chatted, everyone keeping an easy eye out for what the list requested we find.
“They’re cute,” I whispered softly to Aylum, glancing over at Delmar and Keti in the distance. They were doing a bad job hiding their flirting, but it wasn’t anything over the top. Just simple and sweet.
“I’ve been trying to encourage him more.” Aylum smirked.
“Good.” I smiled. “He’s hardly shown any interest in anyone. Much to the dismay of many broken hearts. He’s likely too good for the lot of them.”
Aylum chuckled before letting out a sigh as he bent down and picked up a plant I could not see. “I’ll be honest, you had me terrified earlier.” He fiddled with the plant behind his back while he gave me a concerned look.
I let the silence grow for a moment before finally shrugging. “That wasn’t my intent, but I’m sure it was clear that I couldn’t just let someone die when I was capable of saving them.”
“I understand that. I likely would have done the same if I had the right abilities. It terrified me though and, well, I think I’d rather give this to you now.”
I stopped walking with him and gave him a confused look. “Give what? You don’t have to give me anything.”
“It’s what we do for Kelipse Day. Gifts for those we care about,” Aylum stated, a shy smile crossing his face.
“Oh, um.”
He laughed holding out a psutheria flower. Its star shape glowed red. A beautiful flower that was highly valued for its many abilities, and used frequently as a sign of love and affection—when it could be found. Aylum tucked it behind my ear before pulling out the pendant in his pocket.
“Oh.” My hand rested over my pocket. The pendant I had carved for him was almost screaming, demanding that now would be the perfect moment. The flower behind my ear and this added gesture made it impossible not to blush.
I pulled out my gift to him, clutching it needlessly hard in my palm. “It almost seems silly giving you this after you’ve already seen it.”
He chuckled. “You weren’t bothered about me seeing it before. What did Soleia say about it?”
I blushed fiercer, the redness darkening my cheeks more than I liked, or at least felt like it was. “Nothing useful to be honest. She is just very good at unsubtly pointing out that I should know what it means.”
Aylum smirked, the shyness fading now that he was too amused by that statement. “And do you?”
My heart was already beating much too hard. “Just take it.” I thrust my hand out, feeling a bit too flustered to be having a conversation of this magnitude.
That just made Aylum chuckle more, his smirk nowhere near leaving as he put out his hand to accept the gift. I dropped the pendant into his palm and quickly laced my hands behind my back. If feelings could make a being explode, I was nearly there, waiting for that one last ingredient to set off the reaction.
Aylum happily put it on, the cord easily going over his head. “And yours.” He offered out his palm.
Part of my brain protested taking it, the other curiously demanding to see the creation, the wood transformed with magic and blade. I hesitantly reached out, wondering how my heart could race any faster, and yet it seemed to have no problem tripling its beats.
Aylum dropped the pendant into my hand. My heart tried to skip a beat, stumbling over itself in its rapid rate. It was so similar to mine. I held it close seeing the only difference was instead of the one side curling in on itself it became a shield. It didn’t matter that I didn't know the entire meaning of it, what all the little symbols together could mean or say when put together this way. It was similar enough that I knew he felt the same.
The bundle of feelings I was suppressing, trying to ignore while I dealt with being Promised to someone terrible for me tried to unleash itself. The emotion wasted no energy breaking board and brick as it screamed at me to react. Instead, I stood there, transfixed and mesmerized by the pendant.
“In other words,” Aylum stated softly causing me to look up into his blue eyes. “I feel exactly the same.”
My brain came to a crashing halt, hearing the words instead of just hoping they were true, that this pendant meant exactly that. The silence carried on for a pregnant pause before I could speak once more. “I don’t even know what to say.”
“May I?” He motioned to the pendant and I handed it back to him.
I let him put it on me before hugging him tightly. I had no words, but I had too much feeling not to say something, somehow. Aylum hugged me back just as tightly. I leaned my head against him, enjoying his warmth. Being this close to his chest I could hear his heartbeat just as fast. For several moments we just stood there before moving a half step away.
“I know things are complicated right now, but, I am glad I got to be honest with you.” He was too pure. I didn’t deserve him. How could everything I wanted be answered so easily?
But if I were being truthful to myself, there was still a battle ahead to be able to even keep him.
“I don’t know how I feel. It’s almost as if this just makes things even more complicated.” I sighed, hating the truth made whole by my words. I couldn’t pretend things were wonderful, couldn’t ignore the facts as they currently were.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” he asked hopefully, an earnest look in his eyes.
Nothing came to mind. There didn’t seem to be much that could help. “I wish there was,” I finally admitted.
“I’m sorry.” He frowned. “If anything comes to mind, please, let me know.”
“I will,” I agreed, hugging him once more, not wanting this moment of peace to end.
He hugged back tightly for a few moments before moving back slightly, trying to say anything. “Kareia, what would make you happy right now?”
What would indeed. That felt like too much honesty given the current moment. “Just to enjoy the day with you, but we have to get back to our group.”
How long had we been away? Where were they anyway?
Aylum nodded, glancing around seeming to reach the same conclusion I had. “They aren’t too far away. I think they’re giving us some space.”
“If it wasn’t obvious before it certainly is now.” I sighed.
“Oh well.” Aylum chuckled, not the least bit perturbed.
“That’s one thing I don’t enjoy. Gawin will give me no peace if he figures it out.” He already gave me no rest, endlessly telling me how terrible I was for not being better for my Promised.
“If he
does, I will set him straight,” Aylum replied confidently.
“I don't know if that will make things better or worse.” I didn’t want to imagine what Gawin would say or do if something became even more unacceptable to him.
“I’ll choose my words carefully, rest assured,” Aylum stated in a way that actually did put me at ease. I had seen him dispel arguments and turn heated conversations into something more productive time and again. Maybe this would be no different.
I didn’t dare say so, in case my words would turn against me. “We should join the others.” He nodded but hesitated. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m not ready to rejoin them yet either,” Aylum freely admitted.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “What a mess. Should have done this another time.”
“Patience was not on my side today.” Aylum chuckled. “It rarely is.”
“You always seem patient to me.”
“I try.” He gave a slight shrug.
“When are you not?” The idea amused me.
“Now, though I would rather not cross any lines.” He admitted with no hesitation and a fierce blush.
The blush caught me off guard, making my heart dance, and every fiber of my being more curious than I had been before. “I don’t think there is a bad line you would cross.”
Aylum leaned in close, his breath mixing with mine. “Some lines are fuzzy, and I’d rather be sure.” His hand caressed my cheek and my brain finally figured out exactly what he wanted.
My cheeks flushed not at the thought of him wanting to kiss me, but at the realization that I wanted exactly the same thing.
He seemed to know my thoughts and leaned in closer. Our lips met and for a moment everything was perfect.
Chapter Ten
We weren’t the first group back, yet we managed to pull out the win. The group that beat us back, by a half-hour no less, had tried to cheat. They magicked the paper to show the lines as if the teachers had never seen that trick before. Not a single professor was impressed and I wondered how much additional homework would be handed out from this trip alone.
