Page 38 of Phixmery

I hesitate for a moment before mentally shrugging. What the fates… It would be nice not being the odd one out in the lesson for a change. Every day it seems to get harder to distance myself from the fae I meet here. I desperately want a friendship with Ember and Roz, maybe eventually even the twins, if they don’t turn out to be part of a scheme with Banshee One and Two—which is now what I’m calling Cresida and Evera because the sound of their laughing grates on my ears.

Staying near them, I strike my flint and steel that’s attached to my belt and summon a fireball to my hand, letting it grow until it’s the size of my head before stretching it into a whip, lashing the ground a few times.

Deciding to also work on my fighting stances, I go through the movements, my body flowing through each limb and my fire an extension of myself as my magick stretches its metaphorical wings. My body feels great. Powerful. My movements are fluid like the push and pull of the oceans.

Suddenly, searing pain engulfs me as boiling hot water drenches my back, rear and legs. I muffle the scream that wants to let loose and suddenly the pain is soothed as blissfully cool water replaces the scorching heat coating my skin.

“What is the meaning of this?” Batsil asks as she strides over to me, but my mind is playing catch-up as I stiffly turn around.

Melissandre is screaming at Banshee One and Two and her brother’s hands are palm up, ready to douse me with more cool water, looking at me with a worried expression. Nero lands on my shoulder and I can feel him rooting around in our bond, similar to what we did in Wilderness Survival.

“Your skin has severe burns, Rav. Those bitches combined their elements and threw boiling water at you when you weren’t paying attention,” Nero explains quickly. “I’m going to heal you as much as I can, but it will probably still scar—I’m sorry, I’m still a bit tired from earlier.”

“Don’t hurt yourself, please,” I rasp.

“I won’t; the male was quick on getting cool water onto your burns as quickly as possible,” he tells me and my gaze meets Lennox’s.

I give him a nod of thanks as Batsil breaks up the screaming match between the females. With each pulse of our bond, the pain lessens until I’m stiff, tender and freezing from the arctic temperatures and wind.

“For disrupting my lesson with this nonsense, both of your squads will be in the damn gryphon stalls,” she snaps. “Do this shit in your free time.”

Cresida crosses her arms and pouts. “But it was an accident we let go, when we were just testing out combining our magick. It’s not our fault she was in the way, she should be more careful. Plus I already have gryphon duty.” Her icy gaze snaps to mine and a malicious grin slowly spreads across her face, telling me it wasn’t an accident in the slightest.

Captain Batsil growls. “Then maybe I should see if any of the dragons need their teeth cleaned. I’ll send word to your squad mentors, Cadet Fellowes. Lesson dismissed.”

Melissandre storms over to me. “Let’s get you inside and into the showers to get you warm. You don’t want to get sick. Shit, you’re shivering. Lennox, when lessons are over grab her friends, Yearwood and Stoll, and meet us back at the squad chambers,” she instructs while gently gripping my arm and pulling me inside.

“I need to get Nero food,” I chatter, my teeth clicking together painfully.

Lennox’s voice carries from behind us. “I’ll get him some fresh berries and meat.”

My steps are slow as I follow Melissandre inside, who keeps throwing me concerned glances. “How bad are the burns? Are you okay or should we head to the infirmary first?”

My head shakes vehemently, “N-no infirmary, N-nero healed m-most of it. It’s p-probably just r-red and tender n-now. I just n-need to g-get w-w-warm.”

She dips her head sharply. “Okay, I’ll drop you off at the bathing chamber and then run and get you some dry clothes. Unless you feel confident enough to dry and warm yourself with your fire?”

Fates, I’m such an idiot, I’m so used to not using my magick that I forgot I could do that. With shaky, numb fingers, I strike my flint and steel to summon a small flame, running it along the length of me, coaxing it to dry and warm my shivering frame.

“You know, for someone who thought they were a null a few months ago, you sure learned fast,” she praises, using her air to help dry my clothing now that I’m not shaking from the cold.

My body stills before relaxing as I laugh nervously. “Yeah, I’ve always been a fast learner. Come on, we should get upstairs. Nero is going to need rest and food.” I gently pull his dozing, feathered frame off my shoulder and cradle him gently against me as we make our way towards the South Tower.

I’m so done with how those wenches are treating me. I think it’s time for a bit of payback; these chores aren’t punishment enough to stop them from treating me like this, so maybe it’s time to take things into my own capable hands.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

THE NEXT NIGHT, NOW THAT Nero is rested up from healing the burns along my back and thighs, I wake up when the moon is high in the sky and slowly crawl out of bed. Symphonies of snoring and soft breaths drift softly through the room, and when I’m sure they’re all asleep, I slip on my boots and Nero stealthily hops down my raised arm from his perch onto my shoulder.

My steps are light as I slowly move across the rough stone flooring, and I hold my breath as I crack the wooden door open and slip out into the fire-lit circular hall before making quick work of the staircase. I try to keep my senses open this time; I do have a habit of not being overly aware of my surroundings, only paying attention to the obvious. When I lived in Shalo, it didn’t matter if I was aware or not, they always found a way to punish me. And maybe it was naivety on my part or lack of caring but it needs to stop. If I’m going to spend the rest of my days hiding out in the woods, I can’t be caught unaware.

I make quick work of making it over to the officer wing of the castle—not where their chambers are, but the hall that leads to their lounges—and head towards the spot where I happened upon the hidden door.

“Any sign of anyone, Nero?” I ask as I glance around, and when he doesn’t reply again, I catch him dozing off on my shoulder. “Nero?”

He jolts awake , wings flapping and slightly panicked. “Rav! Are we under attack? Eyeballs?” he hops around on my shoulder as I shake my head and slip behind the door.

I guess he wasn’t as rested as I thought he was. Maybe coming here tonight was a bad idea. The plan was to use him to keep an ear and eye out for things I may have missed, but if he was dozing… no, I’m sure it’s fine. I’ve been doing this for a while, and haven’t been caught yet, even being able to avoid the patrol that wanders the castle at night—we can’t be anything less than careful.

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