Page 23 of The Fifth Soul

Her build is like mine, so I want to say she can learn like I did because her size or gender shouldn’t prevent her from doing anything. Especially in a world where magic is abundantly available to enhance abilities.

“You can work doing office stuff,” Santiago offers with a grimace.

“Having Alejandra boss me around would be a nightmare. I had enough of that growing up. I would rather live out my days in the heat of the kitchen ovens. It’s better than whatever hell she cooks up in her ranks.”

“You like what you do in the kitchens?” My question is mostly to prompt more information about what she does. I can’t help my curiosity.

“I like it well enough.” Her eyes don’t meet mine.

“She wants to teach.” Santiago looks at her with pride. “She volunteers in the local school outside the castle on the weekends.”

I see Sofia with a new perspective. Her smile is sheepish.

“Why can’t you do that full-time?” I think about the responsibilities and rules placed on people living at the castle. Would Brandon Oscuro and his people find the job beneath them? I lower my voice and look around to ensure no one is overhearing us. “Does Brandon not let you?”

They burst out in laughter again. “Brandon can be many things, but a meddler isn’t one.” Sofia looks down at the books before us and then back at me. “I haven’t been able to pass my certifications, so I volunteered to help you with an alternative motive. I figured helping you study beginner magic would also give me the best opportunity to study.”

I try not to get offended at the way her tone lowered while describing my level of magic, but I can’t help it. The opportunities I had where I am from is what held me back, not my lack of trying. Yet, I feel a rush of shame like it's somehow my fault.

Santiago beams at the idea. “Let’s get started. We only have two weeks.” He gestures to the first chapter of Deadly Defense.

I hope the title is an oxymoron.

CHAPTER 7

BIANCA

Week one of training doesn’t go according to plan. My group might not suspect I already have their most coveted spot on tour in the bag, but they notice Sofia and Santiago picking me up after every training session. It stirs curiosity about who I am. Eventually, it turns to insults and animosity between us. They see it as favoritism—and I don’t blame them, because it is—but it’s not like I can explain why.

The animosity only grows further as the days go by. A few times, I catch glimpses of fellow cadets lurking along the shadows of the library when I study.

Soon enough, they hiss the nickname ‘crown pet’ as I walk past them. If they only knew that I sleep every night at the crown prince’s suite.

The drama’s ringleader is a five-foot-two-inch-tall demon called Dora. Her appearance may be unassuming, with shoulder-length hair and glasses, but that's just on the surface. She has taken every opportunity to make herself a pain in my ass. My patience is running thin with her.

Today is the seventh day and our first sparring session. We’ve spent the past six days conditioning and learning different fighting techniques. We’re expected to perform at a certain level without magic. Alejandra decides what we focus on every day. I hope not to be the reason she has waited this long for hand-to-hand combat, though I appreciate the time it gave me to prepare.

Dora has been eyeing me all week, like she can’t wait to get her turn with me, but I ignore her. I’m not about to cry to Alejandra with my juvenile problems; she hasn’t brought up anything, if she even noticed. Nonetheless, I am pleased to hear Dora’s name called with someone else.

“Jose and Bianca,” Alejandra calls, and a scrawny boy steps forward. She nods for me to join him in the circle.

Jose is a young man with a father somewhere in Roman’s ranks. Because of its reputation as the easiest Royal Force job for cadets, his father pushed him to join Alejandra's team. He has no desire to be here.

He looks like a deer in headlights when I step forward. Because I feel sorry for him, I decide to take him to the ground quickly and painlessly. I can do this.

I go for the attack as soon as Alejandra tells us to go. My plan is to tackle him and ask him to submit. I didn't consider the possibility of my body being propelled into the air when I cage him on the floor. I go up and up. The wind holds me there for a couple of blinks before gravity takes effect, and I free-fall. A dozen spells I’ve practiced at the library over the past week come to mind. Momentum spell slows down a cup of water from sliding down the table to a stop. A wind bending spell allows me to change the page in my book. In neither of those scenarios was the object of my focus so heavy or large. Before I can even think about how to make it work, I watch the floor close in on me. Then, everything goes dark.

When I open my eyes again, all I feel is pain. A radiating heat comes from my arm and an insufferable voice in my ear.

“You can’t do a simple shielding spell?” Roman huffs in irritation. “Even children in grade school know how to do simple shields.”

I’m sure I broke my arm. I must have passed out because we’re inside the castle, moving quickly through the halls. Everyone gives us a wide berth as Roman, Jesse, and Alejandra rush with me in Roman’s arms.

Could anyone else have picked me up instead?

“How is this my fault?” Even talking hurts. I let out a muffled grunt, clenching my teeth.

Jesse scratches the back of his head. “Jose is a strong wind wielder. Did you see how high she went? He’ll be an outstanding defender. We need to move him to one of your teams.”

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