"Well you're new here, but the entire reason we even train at this school is for the great war. So trust me, you want to be beat up so you can become better than the dark fae you'll be facing."
She twists open her water bottle and takes a long drink as if what she just said doesn't mean a thing. People die every day fighting in that war after training for years. I doubt being beat up will help me much against demons who are literally only spawned to kill people.
"How can you be so nonchalant about it all? Doesn't the idea of fighting a war terrify you?"
Cyrena taps her chin, "Well, I guess so, but it's been all my family has talked about since forever. It kind of becomes second nature at some point. And who knows how anyone will actually feel on that battlefield, ya know?" Terrified, you'll feel terrified! My inner voice screams, but all I do is shrug. These kids seem to have no concept of what killing and dying means. Or maybe I just don't understand how they were raised to expect this.
We chat for a bit longer, our empty lunch trays forgotten. I learn that she's lived in the fae realm for her entire life with her parents before transferring to the academy and that her powers manifested at age four. The more we talk the more I enjoy her company. She's smart, funny, and nice in a way I've found most students around here aren't. A guy slides onto the bench next to Cyrena, and she blushes hard.
"Tiana, this is Hal one of my suitemates. We met last week at orientation and hit it off."
He smiles at me and gives a little wave, I smile back politely. As another air fae he looks similar to her but with platinum blond hair that falls softly around his face. When she glances flirtatiously at him I look down and stir my peas. That seems to be the general color scheme of the air fae, blonde or red hair and green eyes. It makes me wonder what the master of the air fae looks like. When I look up again the two are whispering quietly with each other. It makes me feel like I'm intruding, so I gather my stuff, stand up, and make my way to fire training.
***
The training center at the back of the fire fae dorm is warm. I pull on the choker around my neck, feeling a bit suffocated by the heat. Orin isn't here yet because our session doesn't start for another twenty minutes. After setting my stuff down I walk around the space, exploring all the different equipment.
The space is mostly made up of fire resistant mats, suits, and weaponry. Maybe that would make me more comfortable here. I move closer to the rack filled with fire proof suits. The material looks light and breathable almost like a tougher version of spandex. Selecting one that might fit me, I go into the girls' locker room.
When I change into the suit it conforms to my exact shape, hugging my curves. I almost blush at how exposed I feel in this thing. It leaves nothing to the imagination, but I can already feel my body temperature decreasing. After folding up my uniform and placing it inside a locker I wander back out into the training area while throwing my hair into a ponytail. Orin is standing over by the weapons rack, spinning a spear in his hand while looking at the other options.
He's wearing a similar suit to my own, yet his is a deep burgundy red with accents of gold running through it. It looks exactly like a slow burning fire. My cheeks flush when he turns to look at me and I'm reminded, yet again, how damn handsome these masters are. His long blond hair is pulled back from his face, giving me a full view of his gorgeous crystal blue eyes.
He smiles warmly, "Hey Tiana. I see that you've found a suit. Let's just jump right in."
He grabs another spear and holds it out toward me. I grasp it warily and try to mimic his wide stance. Orin walks around me, fixing my stance, adjusting my hips. Every time his fingers touch my skin a small trail of fire is left in its wake. By the time he's back in front of me I'm almost panting. What the hell is wrong with me?
"Alright, now that your stance is correct, try to summon fire to your staff. You can do this by imagining yourself pulling the power up out of your gut and moving it through your other limbs. You can even focus it to your arms." I close my eyes and try to do as he says. My power stirs at my call and begins to surge through me. "Yes, that's it Tiana. Call your fire, and only your fire."
I concentrate, thinking about warm nights and crackling embers. My body heats up, burning with the force of the element. When I open my eyes again there's a bright red hue coursing along my skin and fire rippling up and down the spear in my hands. I almost drop the spear before I realize that the fire isn't hurting me like it should be. Orin and I lock eyes, and mine widen at the red glow his are emitting. His body is glowing as well. But a deeper hue similar to his suit. He grins, moving back and forth, pacing. His fire seems to call to mine, beckoning me closer.
Right as I'm about to move toward him he lunges, thrusting toward me with his weapon. My body moves of its own accord, bending impossibly far back to avoid the attack. I shoot up and bring my spear against his. The impact clangs across the large space as we both grapple for the upper hand. Breaking away, we pace around each other again as I feel my canines grow. Instinct has overtaken my body as I lunge again, and we trade a series of blows so fast that my mind can't keep up.
Orin nicks my arm with his spear and I snarl, actually snarl at him. The wild side of me relishes the surprised look on his face, but the more human one is appalled. And yet, I can't seem to stop myself. Fresh blood spills down my arm as I charge again, beating against his spear over and over. The final time I push him my spear makes an audible cracking noise, splitting down the middle. Instead of stopping I twirl both pieces in my hands and move back again.
Orin says warily, "Alright Tiana, our hour is up, time to go to your next session."
My head whips to the clock and I gasp in surprise, immediately being sucked out of the moment. My blood-lust subsides taking the red glow and elongated canines with it. I look down at the broken spear and shudder. How do I have that much strength?
I whisper, "I don't know what just happened. How can I know to do all that without even trying?"
Orin steps up and pulls me to his chest, "You are something far greater than a regular fae, Tiana."
"Yeah, I know. I have all five elements, so what? All it does it make me feel alone. People hate me here just because I said I was a spirit fae."
He pulls back to look at me, "You said you were a spirit fae?"
"Yeah, I mean, I live in the spirit dorms. And I don't know if I'm ready to tell everyone that I can control not one, not two, but all five elements. I'm beginning to see that large amounts of power are more threatening than impressive around here."
He nods and holds me close again. I know that I'm complaining and probably sound childish to Orin but I can't seem to help myself. It's just been a rough first day.
"Alright, time to pull your big girl panties on and finish the day strong. Can you do that for me princess?"
He smiles kindly, letting me know that he isn't trying to mock me with his words. I nod, square my shoulders, and march into the girls' bathroom to collect my things. There are other people in there that I try to avoid as I edge toward my locker. Two girls look familiar to me, but I can't seem to place where I saw them. And the others look older than I do and are wearing a different style suit than mine. But they all stare at me and whisper together as if they have one big secret. So, instead of changing I put my clothes and other belongings into one of the plastic bags available by the sinks. I figure that I'll have to be prepared for more hardcore training that just can't be done in my girly restrictive uniform.
And then I'm off to meet the water master.
Chapter 6
The water fae dorms are the most alluring to me. They were the first buildings that I wanted to explore when I got here. Maybe it's because while fire has an exciting, almost overwhelming intensity to it, water feels soothing. When my back hit the wall earlier today and the magic flowed over me I felt incredibly at ease. I hoped that it would give me a similar sense as I walk into the training center. While this center has weapons and gear lining the walls as the other did, this one als
o has a giant man-made lake right in the middle. The large body of water is complete with sandy shores, trees, and birds circling overhead through the open ceiling. While looking at the water a natural calmness flows through me again, making me smile as I kneel in the sand.
Feeling stupid, I pull at the power well that's deep inside me and wave my hands toward the lake. The response takes me by surprise. A wave rises up and flows across the water to splash violently on the other side, soaking a rack full of swords and knives. I curse myself and look back and forth to make sure no one saw my colossal attempt at controlling water. When I don't spot anyone, I release a breath of air and try again. This time I attempt to control how much magic my well releases. At first, I send another wave smaller than the last one, but then I'm able to create small ripples.
"For someone who claims to have never used her powers before you certainly have a lot of control."
The voice comes from behind me toward the door. When I turn toward it there's a tall lithe looking man leaning against the wall. I have no doubt that he's the waster master by his smoldering good looks and wise eyes. He has light brown hair and bright, almost fluorescent, green eyes. And while the other masters I've met are large and bulky, this man has a runner's body, and he's much taller than the others.
While I'm studying him he walks up to me and kneels down at the edge of the lake too. He smiles at me, showing off his bright white teeth before flicking two fingers toward the lake. A funnel of water rises into the air, spins for a few seconds, and then drops back into the water so smoothly that it leaves no ripples behind. My mouth drops open at the display and envy burns through my chest. I'd love to create something half as beautiful as that, and all he did was barely wave his hand to make it.
I finally get the courage to answer, "Uh, I've always been a quick learner. But I doubt I can create something as beautiful as what you just did. You didn't even look at the lake."
"It takes an incredible amount of focus and discipline to be able to do magic without looking at the thing you're targeting. But that comes in later lessons. Today we will focus on creating a bond with your elements. Your power is all about control and telling your magic inside of yourself exactly what you want it to do. Magic is almost like a second soul within us, you must learn its tendencies and desires," He stops and conjures a ball of swirling water in his hand, "And while I have one additional soul, you have five. It will take some time to accept and understand your magical gifts. Close your eyes, go to that place deep within yourself that you have long repressed."
I do as I'm told and tunnel down into my magical well. I'm met with all five elements at once, hounding me, pressing upon me. A shout escapes me and I hear the water master from a distance telling me to communicate with them. In an attempt to do so I think, stop it! Give me some room! And miraculously, they back off and swirl around me instead. When they do I look around and find only blackness. This place is like a dark bedroom, I can barely see a foot in front of my face. And each element is represented by a ball of flaming light in the colors that I associate with each one.
I call to water and it responds by gliding in between my legs, twirling up my torso, and then coming to rest in front of me. The feelings I get from this element are the same ones I feel in the water training center. Calm, cool, and in control of everything around it. A quiet force of nature willing to protect and heal in any and all situations.
With sadness, I send it away and call forth fire. It surges toward me, engulfing me in its fiery glow. This element feels wild in nature. But the feelings behind it are full of passion, love, and protectiveness. The force of the emotions are almost unbearable. I send it away before it can overwhelm me entirely.
Then I call upon air and this element swirls around me playfully, full of happiness and amusement. It fills my chest with a joy so pure that I giggle. I reach out to it and it curls around my palms lovingly. It gives me the hunch that air will be one of the easiest elements for me to master. I send it away and call upon earth. As I suspected this element appears sturdy, sure, and peaceful. Like a friend that I can always rely on. It brushes up against me before fading away again as if the element is shy.
Without permission the purple orb of light glides up to me. While the other elements had been raging ever-changing balls of light, this one stays perfectly still and round. The purple glow pulses, almost as if it has a heartbeat. And the emotions are hard to place. Almost as if there aren't any for me to identify. All I can feel is a serene, almost tranquil atmosphere surrounding it. And I didn't need this experience for me to know that spirit will be the most trying of the elements. It feels closed off to me and almost sad.
It makes a sob escape my chest and I force myself to rise up and out of that well. My eyes fly open to see the open sky above me. The water master has me cradled in his lap and is stroking my hair soothingly. He hasn't noticed my arrival in the present yet.
I croak, "God, I feel like crap." His eyes move to my face as he laughs. The sound is so genuine and soothing that my previous feelings of sadness dissipate and I smile.
"Meeting one's elements for the first time can do that to a person I suppose. My name is Adrian, by the way. Sorry for the late introduction."
"That's alright, it's nice to meet you."
We smile at each other for a few more seconds before it becomes a bit awkward. I slide off his lap and stagger to my feet. So far today I've been beaten, yelled at, and now emotionally destroyed. If this is what every day at this academy is like I'm not sure that I'll survive. When I look at the clock, I'm not surprised to find that our hour together is up and that I have to move onto the air compound. I'm almost sad that I have to leave Adrian behind. He gives me a sense of peace that I'm sure will become addicting the longer I know him.
"Well, I suppose that I will see you again on Wednesday Tiana," He pauses and considers me, "Well, maybe tonight for dinner. The others were considering inviting you."
The thought of being in one room with all four of the present masters makes me wary. Are they good friends, I wonder? Probably. So all I do is nod and give a little wave before teetering toward the door
***
By the time I arrive back at the spirit dorm I'm already thoroughly in need of a nap. I shed my belongings on the way to my room and flop onto the bed. It's only four o'clock and I'm so mentally and physically drained that I don't want to move. Thank all the gods that are holy that I don't have to practice all five affinities in the span of one day. That might just about kill me. But instead of falling asleep right away I take a much-needed shower.
As I'm stepping out of the bathroom someone rings the doorbell and it kind of makes me thankful that no one other than a spirit fae can enter the building. Holding my towel securely around my body, I open the door just a crack. Damon is standing there dressed casually in jeans and a button down black shirt. My face flames at how handsome he looks in such a simple outfit. My naked body aches, almost begging me to drag him inside and incinerate his clothing with my fire.
He must be watching the rapidly changing emotions on my face because he smirks and says, "You know I can't come in there." Ugh, damn these men and their stupid intuition.
"I know that! What are you doing here anyway?"
I open the door wider to reveal my dripping hair and scantily clad body. His throat bobs noticeably as he swallows. It gives me a sweet sense of satisfaction to finally get a rise out of one of them. He stares openly and unabashedly for a minute before raising his eyes to mine. I jut out my hip and raise one delicate eyebrow at him.
"Uh, well, the other masters and I would like to invite you to dinner tonight. I-if you want to that is. You can also go back to the main cafeteria. It's pizza night!"
I hide my smile behind my hand. His nervous talking is both charming and hilarious. In a bold move I saunter closer and pull my earth power up from my well. It glows faintly over my skin, making Damon lick his lips.
"Are you," I trial one finger down his chest, "Attracted to me
right now?"
He makes an inhumane sound in the back of his throat and grabs my waist, pulling me against him. My soft chest hits his own and our powers mingle with one another. It's a sensation I've never experienced before and it brings with it a wave of lust so strong that I almost purr. Damon cups my face gently and leans down to rest his lips on mine.
Sensation explodes within me and I hear birds chirping, leaves rustling, and feel a cool breeze wrap around me. My towel sags but is kept up by our close contact. I attack him, kissing him with such a needy fever that he responds by pinning me against the wall and hoisting my naked legs around his hips. I've been with a man before, but never a fae that has such a connection with my own power. While his touch and kisses create desire, I would say the call that his magic makes to mine is even headier. It feels like a desperate plea for intimacy between us. To join our bodies in the most profound of ways.
A new voice, a deep soul caressing voice, states evenly, "Well, this is quite the first impression I have of our supposed savior." Damon lets me go and backs up, looking anywhere but at me. I scramble to hold my towel up as my face flames with embarrassment. When my eyes finally come up from the ground they lock with the man who spoke.
High Fae Academy - Year One: Fae Paranormal Romance Page 4
