Page 93 of Wings of Ash & Flame
Alaire’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“Really. She told me it has the power to keep monsters away—and to help you find the strength to face them. Because sometimes, the monsters we fear aren’t under the bed, but inside us, in the darkness we carry. This ring is your reminder to bring light to that darkness.”
“Alaire!” Kaia snapped her fingers in front of her face. “Where did you go?”
“A memory… about my mother.” Her voice was soft, almost reverent.
“That’s wonderful.” Kaia nudged her shoulder. “Fill me in on the way.”
Alaire cast one last glance at the portrait before pressing the book close again. Hope, loss, and love flickered inside her all at once, like sparklers on a cold night.
The whitewashed stone of the Obscurum Atrium gleamed in the afternoon light, ivy draped over balustrades where white blooms peeked through the greenery. Everyone settled into their seats. The walls of the Enchantment and Warding classroom were a soft cream, accented with intricate carvings of flowers and vines mirroring the ivy outside. At the front, an expansive stage was anchored by a wide chalkboard spanning the wall.
The black door slammed open as Professor Leslie strode across the platform. “Unfortunately, Professor Hale is ill.” Shetucked her hair behind her ears, revealing rows of hoops pierced along her helix—black on one side, gold on the other. The two colors of the Consortium.
“I’ll be filling in. Today, we’ll practice shielding, a pivotal skill essential for your upcoming trials.”
A murmur of excitement rippled through the room.
“Mental shielding techniques protect your mind from intrusion, control the feedback loop between you and your celestial, and help clamp down on rising emotions during battle.”
Everyone sat a little straighter. “Before the Voidshade Sovereign’s fall, intelligence suggested he and his high-ranking generals could mind walk—sifting through memories and compelling victims. It explains how they’ve amassed their numbers so quickly by convincing victims theywantto be turned.”
Narrowing her eyes, Alaire pinched her lips together. No one had bothered teaching humans how to avoid becoming weapons against themselves. As always, they were expendable. The Consortium hadn’t cared to share this information. She would, though.
“Unchecked emotions can be a weapon used against you,” Leslie continued, pacing the aisles. “Mind walkers exploit fears, doubts, desires—whatever they can to manipulate your thoughts. Let’s get started.”
“This promises to be intriguing.” Alaire exchanged a glance with Archer. His lips quirked.
“Meaning?” She arched a brow. She wasn’t exactly known for keeping her emotions in check.
“I’ve never met someone who feels things so viscerally. To simply switch them off?—”
“Everyone, close your eyes and clear your thoughts.”
Alaire obeyed, taking a deep breath. Warmth spread through her, grounding her.
“Anchor yourself in your mind. What you see will be different for everyone. It’s the center of who you are. Feel yourself there.”
Walls of flame immediately rose around her—red at the edges, but purple at the core, the same hue as Solflara’s tail. They didn’t scorch; they protected.
“Whatever appeared to you, that is your shield. Enforce it, make it impenetrable. Strengthen it with your will.”
The magic came naturally here, in this space in her mind, as she fortified her mental defenses.
Silence settled over the room as everyone concentrated. She didn’t dare break focus to check on Archer.
“Now,” Professor Leslie said, “imagine someone trying to break into your space. How will you protect your most vulnerable self?”
Something slithered along the outside of Alaire’s shields, probing for weaknesses before pushing harder. The pressure built.
Alaire refused to give in, her resolve hardening.
“Impressive,” she murmured. “Let’s see how you handle something stronger—worthy of someone of your pedigree.” She said the last word with a sneer; she was a mind wielder.
The attack intensified, striking from multiple angles. Her flames roared in defense, combating the intrusion. Alaire gritted her teeth, concentrating harder. Beads of sweat broke across her forehead as the pressure mounted, but at the last moment, her control faltered.
Heat crawled up her neck at yet another failure to master her magic. She opened her eyes.
