Page 94 of The Scars Within
I called out to her, hoping to redirect her focus. “Professor Maksimov, it was my idea. Please, don’t reprimand my peers. I’ll dismount and head straight to the War Chief’s office.”
I lifted my leg into a side-saddle position, preparing to dismount, when Roux’s footsteps halted me. She trotted over, raising her head to meet mine as I sat on Lakota’s back.
Roux’s shimmering golden eyes met mine as she gently nudged my legs with her snout. I reached down to pat her nose, appreciating her gentle encouragement. Taking her hint, I swung my leg back over, settling into the correct position for flight.
As I admired Roux, I noticed Maksimov conversing quietly with Rhodes, Cleo, and Laney. After a moment, she broke away and walked over to Tatum and me.
“As much as I hate to say it,” she began, her tone solemn, “Mageia is entering a perilous period. I worry about my students not having the chance to reach their full potential. If you two are willing, Roux and I will meet you here—secretly,” she emphasized, “for extended lessons. But this cannot interfere with your regular curriculum.”
Stunned, Tatum and I responded in unison, “Yes ma’am.”
Maksimov’s lip curled into a determined smile, a spark of resolve in her eyes. “Great. You can call me Allie. Let’s fly.”
Chapter 38
My stomach lurched as Lakota dove through the dense clouds, the turbulent storm ahead casting the sky in a dark shroud. The low-hanging clouds would hide our descent until the very last second.
The past two weeks have been a whirlwind, some of the best days I can recall. It feels like I’m finally starting to chip away at the fortress I built around myself, letting people in piece by piece. Yet, a part of me still clings to caution, a defense mechanism deeply ingrained—one I’ve come to rely on to survive.
Survival Training has quickly become my favorite class. Professor Lamport is an enigma. Some days, he’s approachable, the kind of person whose presence alone makes you feel like you can ask any questions without fear of ridicule. On other days, he’s all business, strictly focused on the task at hand, with no time for pleasantries.
No matter his mood, though, his lessons are invaluable. He’s taught us things no one else could—skills that don’t rely on our elements. This week, we even had a guest instructor. Aunt Cora dropped by to teach us how to identify edible and poisonous plants and which ones could be used to make emergency salves.
“Hold on!” Lakota called out.
I tightenedmy grip, my right hand gripping the saddle pommel while my left curled around a perfectly shaped spike. Allie and Rhodes drilled it into Tatum and me—find your grip, and always have a backup plan, just in case.
Lakota’s saddle, custom-made for him, was a masterpiece. Crafted from the finest materials in Kalymdor, it was designed for my safety and to protect him from the dangers of magical combat. Intricate runes line the straps that loop securely around his spikes. I’d lost count of how many there were, but each one hummed with power. It was also mind-blowing that the saddle was nearly invisible from the ground.
Lakota barrel-rolled to the left, the straps around my thighs tightening as the wind whipped past. I glanced back, catching a glimpse of his tail flicking in excitement.
We skimmed past Davis and Spear by just a hair.
Or should I say… scale.
“You really need to work on your jokes.”
“Stop reading my thoughts!”
“It’s hard when you’re literally attached to my back. And you’re awful at guarding your mental gates.”
Rhodes has been relentless this week, pushing Tatum and me to strengthen our mental defenses. Now that we are connected to our dragons, our minds are vulnerable to prying thoughts. He has been coaching us to raise and lower our gates, using our bonds with our dragons as practice.
“I’ve got movement on our right—orange,” I relayed.
“Got it.”
Lakota banked smoothly, diving through the thick clouds as we surged forward. Flying felt exactly how I’d imagined.
Powerful.
Unstoppable.
On top of the world.
Free.
Tatum and I were progressing faster than the other first-years, thanks to our brutal private lessons with Professor Maksimov. If Rhodes was tough, Allie was preparing us for war.
