Page 23 of The Scars Within
“Ah, hey, Scar!” Davis said, offering me a glass with liquid that sloshed back and forth.
I shook my head and replied, “Hey, Davis. How are you?”
He took a long gulp of his drink and let out a loud burp, pounding his chest. “Better now that I have an ale in my hand. Sorry ‘bout that.”
“Very appropriate, Davis,” said a girl who was already half-naked and soaking in the hot spring.
Shayde chuckled and turned to me, his eyes warm and inviting. “You’ll get used to him. Come on, let’s find a spot.” His presence and his confidence made the unfamiliar scene feel a bit more approachable. I followed him deeper into the cavern’s corner, where two large boulders sat. He set my plate down on one and himself on the other.
“Have you ever tried those with caramel?” Shayde asked.
I looked down at my plate, wondering what item he saw that would pair well with caramel sauce. “Tried what?”
“The sweet potato sticks,” he said.
I squished my eyebrows in response. That sounded gross.
“Don’t knock it until you try it,” he winked.
Shayde kept the conversation going, ignoring his friends. I envied how effortlessly he maintained eye contact. It definitely isn’t my best trait. He asked about my first few days at Mageia and how I was settling in, never once twisting the conversation to be about him.
“Are you excited for Intro to Fire Wielding?” Shayde asked.
‘Excited’ couldn’t describe the feeling I had about that class. Being close enough to the dragons. I would be happy with any elemental magic, but fire was definitely the one I wanted most.
“Beyond excited,” I answered with a grin.
Shayde leaned back, still holding my gaze.
“What?”
“There’s something about you, Scar.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks. With Rhodes, I felt an undeniable tension festering. But with Shayde, the feeling was more like a spark—a spark of hope, excitement, and the opportunity to get out of my own shell.
A few cadets grabbed instruments and made their way to the center of the space. The music reverberated through the cavern as they began to play an upbeat tune. I could feel the rhythm’s pulse through the boulder I was perched on.
Some dripping-wet girls pulled boys out of the hot springs and twirled them around, splashing water everywhere. The group erupted in laughter, dancing freely and chaotically. No one was entirely in sync, but no one seemed to care. Davis danced solo, waving his ale in the air.
The need to break out of my shell grew stronger, so I turned back to Shayde and asked, “Want to dance?”
“Oh no, no, no,” he laughed incredulously. “That’s where I draw the line.”
I cleared my throat as I tried to hide my disappointment. I gave Shayde a slight grin before turning back to the dancing cadets.
Since Sanctuary parties are held during the guards’ dinner break, I was headed to turn in for the night surprisingly early. The sun was just about to begin its descent. I had said goodbye to Shayde and his crew and returned my plate to the cafeteria.
With the night still young, I decided to dive back into my book. I was almost halfway to our hall when I remembered how peaceful the rooftop was.
With a spring in my step, I climbed the stairs to the roof. I was ready to plow through the iron door when I noticed it was propped open, and faint voices were coming from the other side.
Slowing my steps, I silently approached the door, staying hidden within the shadows in case the people on the other side were close.
“You can’t be serious.”
I recognized that deep voice immediately.
Rhodes.
