Page 37 of Phixmery

“Now, as I was saying… Familiar bonds, like most bonds, are soul-tied, meaning if one dies, so does the other.” I wince and realize my mistake, that I forgot to ask him to keep that information quiet. He pushes on, “Beings like familiars, dragons, gryphons, don’t choose their fae lightly, knowing that if their fae are truly weak, they won’t survive and have a long life. But like most, they crave companionship. It’s an honor to be chosen.”

He goes on to talk about most of the things I learned in the book, gesturing to Nero and I occasionally. I’m not truly sure why he’s making us stand up here as he teaches, but apparently he just wants us to stand here and be on display.

“Now, the reason I called Cadet Solace down here was for a really interesting demonstration.” He spins towards me, gesturing to my bandaged hand and the bruises on my face from Gregor’s hits. “Familiars are able to heal their bonded, although you do need to be very careful because it drains their life force—nothing that a little rest and food can’t fix—but if the injury is too grave, you will both succumb and return back to the fates.”

Fear and excitement race through our bond. “I can finally do something useful for you, Rav. You get injured way more than I care to admit for someone as powerful as you are. It’s embarrassing really,” he teases, nipping my nose.

A small smile breaks out, tugging at the corners of my mouth. “What? Threatening to take eyeballs isn’t enough for you?” I turn my attention back on Captain Reiner. “We have no idea how to do that. The most we are capable of is mental communication and feeling each others’ emotions through the bond,” I explain quietly so the rest of the fae don’t hear.

He nods expectantly. “I thought that might be the case when you asked permission to do some research first. Most would be paired with a tutor to learn these things when blessed with a familiar bond. No worries, though. I will walk you through what I know.”

My head dips in a nod, and I sense Nero paying him the utmost attention, wanting, no, needing to have this information.

“Feel for the bond between the two of you. Nero, you should be able to sense the pain she’s in—follow it.” He waits patiently as my feathered companion does as he asks. To my and Reiner’s surprise Nero nods when he’s found what he’s looking for, prompting the Captain to continue. “Now, I’m not one hundred percent sure on this, just from old journals, it could be different for you. But push your intentions through the bond towards the spots of pain you’ve targeted. Slowly. You don’t want to harm the bond.”

I feel the moment Nero begins pushing his life force through the bond. It’s light and free…soothing, even. My hand and face begin to itch and I unravel the bandage from my hand and watch as the gash I received from a stumble in the caverns below the castle begins to heal. Gasps rent through the room as the other fae witness him healing me. Nero’s excitement and exhaustion flow through the bond like a rapid river. I flex my hand and prod my cheeks—they’re completely healed.

“Great job, Nero,” Reiner booms with excitement before pulling some dried berries from his pocket and handing them to me. “For Nero. He’s going to be hungry and tired. I would suggest making sure he rests during your next lesson. Thank you for doing this today. It’s an honor to have you at Phixmery.”

I feed the berries to Nero to avoid the strange feelings of pride and awe from the captain and the rest of the cadets. But when I glance over to where my squad is sitting, Evera and Cresida’s faces are full of pure malice. I’m really going to need to watch my back with those two.

THANKFULLY DURING BATTLE Theory, Nero was able to rest peacefully even though he was preening at all the compliments Rozen was throwing at him. Even some of the others who usually avoided us in our squad were asking questions and were genuinely curious and friendly. It was strange, and gave me a small bit of satisfaction knowing that it pissed Cresida and Evera off.

Although now that it’s time for my Elemi magick lesson, my nerves are in my throat. It’s the only time of the day when Roz and Ember aren’t with me. Usually it doesn’t bother me, but my skin is still prickling with an annoying sensation that’s only gotten stronger since I walked through the door and sat down, waiting for Captain Batsil to begin.

Surprise jolts through me as the green-eyed Melissandre Amos sits down next to me, giving me a small smile before pulling her notes out and waiting for the lesson to begin. Her white hair is braided back like mine but the tips are as green as the brightest evergreen tree needle.

When everyone is seated, Batsil addresses the room, “Today we will be going out to the training yard. I want to see the extent of your magick now that we’ve been learning control and what each element is capable of. You will have the first half of the lesson to practice, and then I will be coming around to assess you. You may not be graded, but these things will be taken into consideration when we decide ranks and your position within the military.”

Without dismissing us, she strides out of the room, and heads towards the training yard.

Cadet Amos walks beside me. “Do you mind if I tag along with you?” she asks hesitantly, then adds, “Also, I’m sorry for being such a bitch to you. I, ah, grew up with Evera, but even though we never got along, I felt I owed her some sort of loyalty—”

“You don’t need to explain, and if you want to, I don’t mind the company.”

She sighs in relief. “Then you won’t mind if Lennox joins us too?”

I wince, thinking back on how Lennox almost drowned me in dirty dishwater. Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea. “I, ah—”

She grins, looping her arm through mine and practically pulling me down the corridor. “Perfect—I think we would all get along. We are a squad, and this is the type of bonding we weresupposedto be doing. Especially if we all want to make it through the trials alive.”

Nero’s wings flutter as he tries to stay on my shoulder. “Maybe you should have scared her off—this one talks a lot,” he mumbles, sounding slightly panicked.

We arrive in the training yard and she pulls me over to Lennox Adair who gives me an amused grin as he glances between Melissandre and me with neon blue eyes. “I see my sister has dug her claws into you, I don’t think she’ll be letting go anytime soon. Also, I’m sorry about the dishwater. I shouldn’t have listened to Evera or the crap she’s been spewing. Forgive me?”

My gaze bounces between the two as I brush past his apology, not sure if I should trust it. “Sister?” The only similarities I see are the white hair and coloured tips. Where hers are green, his are blue, each coinciding with their eyes.

She smiles brightly at me. “Yeah, twins actually, but father didn’t want me to have his last name. That’s why most people are shocked to find out.”

“I didn’t bring you all out here to gossip like ladies-in-waiting. Get to it!” Batsil snaps.

The snow crunches under my feet as I move away from them to begin practicing, and Nero takes flight to stretch his wings and then perch on the battlement where he can watch me.

“Wait, where are you going?” Melissandre questions. “Please stay. I want to get to know you some more instead of listening to all the rumors about you.”

I shuffle awkwardly on my feet. “Well, I work with fire magick. I don’t want anyone getting hurt.”

She waves off my concerns. “Lenny over here is great with water and fire, and I have earth and air. We can handle a few wild fireballs.”

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