Page 11 of Forged in Flame and Shadow

“Why did you have to pick that one?” I say, throwing my arm out. “There’s a dozen other rooms in this wing.”

He shrugs. “I wanted this one.”

“Youwantedwhichever room would show I have no power in this situation at all. Because you know I want you as far away from me as possible.”

“Just because you can’t stand the sight of me doesn’t meanI’mgoing to take my eye off you,” he replies. He doesn’t say anything else about this being what’s “best” for me, but I know he’s thinking it as he fixes me with a smug stare.

I pull my gaze away, refusing to play his game. Maybe he’s not deliberately trying to provoke me, but my aggravation grows all the same. I’m raw from my conversation with Etusca, and I still burn with rage every time I think about what happened at the border.

“Fine,” I say stiffly. “But don’t call me unless Gallis is ready to start teaching me.” If I can’t avoid him entirely, I can at least put a few inches of solid wood between me and him for the rest of the day.

Say what you will about the fae, but they have good carpenters. I enjoy how loud a bang my door makes as I slam it shut behind me.

“Now, His Highness tells me you are twin-blessed,” Gallis says to me the next day.

“Yes,” I reply. “I can orbit things, in addition to my sun beam power.”

The proctor settles herself down on a cushion on the floor, her robes pooling gracefully around her. She gestures for me tofollow suit, and I sit opposite her, crossing my legs beneath my skirts.

Because of the Lyceum’s scholarly image, I assumed my lessons would lean toward the academic side, with some practical exercises sprinkled in. But the room Gallis has chosen is laid out more like an arena or sparring ring. Rows of benches are stacked on one side, while the green floor is springy to the touch. When I look closer, I see it’s covered in dense moss.

Is that for comfort or for protection? Do people often get knocked off their feet in this room?

“I imagine you’re aware a celestial twin-blessed is most unusual,” Gallis says. “In fact, we have no record of another one currently in existence.”

“Is that so?” I say, unable to keep the wry note from my voice. I’m grateful for my power, but being a solari already makes me different enough. I’m not exactly thrilled to hear I’m even more unusual than I thought. In fact, it feels…lonely.

“Tell me,” Gallis continues, “do you find you lose strength quickly when conjuring your magic? That your magic burns out, leaving you physically drained?”

I nod. “I passed out the first time I orbited something.”

“Yes, that makes sense,” she says.

“It does?”

She nods. “It comes up often in the historical records of solari with multiple abilities.”

“So it’s tied to being twin-blessed?”

“To a degree, yes. In Trova, all twin-blessed are claimed by the Temple of Ethira, is that correct?”

I remember the cleavers with a shudder. “Yes. I’ve come across some of them. Being twin-blessed didn’t slow them down.”

“Because they’re probably trained to overcome it. You have only so much energy, and wielding different abilities uses it up faster. My studies tell me this is particularly true of solari. The source of our power is more directly connected to the gods—it’s purer and more unfiltered than the other three classes of power.”

I’d not considered it before, but from her words, I now realize celestial magic must be its own entity, separate from terrial, sensic, or viatic abilities.

“That means it can overwhelm the mortal body more easily,” Gallis continues. “Building up your control and stamina is essential. The good news is if others can do it, so can you, solari or not.”

She stands, picking up her cushion and carrying it over to the benches before returning to the middle of the room.

There’s a clatter as the training room door swings open.

“Oh good, we haven’t missed anything,” Stratton says as he strides in, followed by the rest of Leon’s unit…but no Leon, I notice. He escorted me here this morning, then left without a word. Maybe all my warnings about not wanting to be around him are finally starting to sink in.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

“You don’t mind if we observe, do you, proctor?” Alastor addresses Gallis rather than answering me.

---