Page 11 of Phixmery

Phixmery Schedule

Cadet Solace, Ravina—Chamber 206: Squad Four

0500—Breakfast: Dining hall

0700—Physical & Combat Training: Room One B

0900—Battle Theory: Room One S

1100—Lunch: Dining hall

1300—Wilderness Survival: Room One C

1500—Magick for Elemi: Year One: Room One A

1700—Dinner: Dining Hall

I JUGGLE MY map and schedule trying to figure out where I’m supposed to be next. After a few wrong turns, I finally find Room One B for Physical Training, which turns out just to be a door, leading outside where the rest of the class is standing with their squad mates—well, the squadmates that are in this lesson, anyway. It looks like our squad is mixed with several others.

Recognizing four others from my Squad, I head over to stand by them before we get in trouble. Cadet Yearwood gives me a quick nod before focusing back in front of her. She’s standing next to an imposing male with black hair styled into a bun and piercing yellow eyes.

Peering around at the others huddled around the training yard, I notice Cresida and her squad. Cresida and the female with red eyes from my squad are standing together, talking animatedly to a tall male with dark brown hair that’s trimmed closely on the sides and longer on the top with a tattoo of a dragon etched on his scalp. He’s turned slightly away from our group, but from the tension in his broad shoulder muscles, he doesn’t seem to be enjoying the conversation. That’s when I notice that some of us are in tunics, while others seem to be in fighting leathers like the ones I have in my storage cupboard. Taking a quick look at the ones I recognize in my squad, I realize we’re all dressed the same, and my shoulders drop in relief, glad I didn’t miss a memo.

I watch the male, unable to stop myself from staring, and the burning along my sternum down the length to my belly button begins to burn again. He spins towards me, but is instantly cut off by Cresida and the other female, trying to get his attention. His golden eyes lock on mine and I freeze but not in fear. There’s something I can’t put my finger on. The urge to go to him worms its way under my skin but he snaps his gaze away.

“Seems to be a lot more here than just the cadets,” A voice murmurs thoughtfully to my left, and when I turn to look at him I see the male that made use of the bed across from mine. His hair is styled the same as the one talking to Cresida and the other female, but instead of it being brown, it’s a rustic red that reminds me of leaves when the weather begins to turn cold.

“What do you mean?” I ask him, unable to help myself.

He glances at me, his eyes widening slightly like he didn’t realize he spoke out loud. “Oh, well, there’s a bunch of second, third and fourth years here as well. I just didn’t realize this was going to be a joint lesson.” He shrugs. “I’m Cadet Stoll by the way, but you can call me Rozen.” He winks and I can’t help but roll my eyes.

“Cadet Solace, or Ravina.” I reply back hesitantly. “How do you know they’re in the advanced years?”

He points to the male with the dragon tattoo. “That’s Sergeant Talyn Craven. He’s in his fourth year, and he’s also the son of Lord Cavern of Allondë. He and the other two lords’ sons are in a wing together. How do you not know this?” He raises his brow in question, searching my face.

“Um, I lived in an outlier village. Never really paid much attention to politics,” I explain, giving myself a mental pat on the back for coming up with that so quickly.

He nods his head slowly like that makes sense. Thankfully, Nero takes that moment to swoop down from the training yard wall and land on my shoulder. A grin instantly lights up on my face as he nuzzles my cheek.

“Woah, you have a raven?” Rozen asks, holding his hand out to pet him.

Stepping back from Stoll, I pull out the bundle of berries I brought for Nero. “He doesn’t like to be touched by others,” I explain quickly before speaking to Nero. “I brought you something from the dining hall, so they might be a little squished, I’m sorry.”

“No worries, Rav. The berries are great, thank you. I’ve missed you. It was weird being so far from you last night.” His feathers ruffle as he croaks, catching the attention of others around us.

“Listen Nero, I’m not sure what the deal is with familiars here, but I don’t want to get my squad in trouble if you’re hanging around. I’ll come out here for lunch and bring you something. But let me talk to the officers, okay?”

Nero gives my nose a love bite before taking off to perch somewhere nearby, most likely to keep an eye on me.

Rozen’s gaze bounces between Nero in the distance and I before his eyes widen. “No…”

He doesn’t get to elaborate because a male in military gear, adorned with medallions and ribbons, stands in front of everyone, watching for a moment before he yells, “I am Major General Rune. Welcome back to hell, for those of you who have been here before. To all the fresh meat: you will arrive here ready and obedient and in your leathers. This is the only and last warning you’ll get. You will have time to change after your lesson. The word ‘no’ doesn’t exist in this class. You do as I say. The only way you get out of my lesson is if you’re dead. Now, fourth, third, and second years, fifty laps around the training yard and then line up.”

About a third of the fae in the training yard separate from the rest of us and start jogging in three single-file lines with three males leading the pack, one of them the dragon tattoo. But I don’t get a good look at the other two before they round the corner. The burning down my torso fades and I shake my head, confused by the mixed feelings that are waging war within me. He’s the lord’s son, someone we need to make sure we stay far from, and even though something intrigues me about him, it’s never going to happen.

My attention is snapped back to the front as Major General Rune continues with us. “Fresh meat. That’s what you are. You are fledglings and you know nothing. By the end of this year, you will be in better shape than you have ever been in before. Some of you may not survive the trials, especially the Choosing at the end of the year, if you don’t know your strengths. Now, I know commander Ashbluff explained that you may ask questions before we begin. So if you have any, do so now. I will not answer anything after this time.” He pauses, waiting to see if anyone will disrupt his lesson. When no one says anything he bellows. “Ten laps around the training yard. If you pass out, your squad will be on dish duty for the rest of the week. Go!”

I go to take off with the rest of the squads when Rune calls for me. “Not you, come here.” I move towards him, and when I stop he jumps right to the point. “Ashbluff seems to think you have a familiar. I wouldn’t have believed it, if I hadn’t seen that scruffy bird with my own eyes. Your bird can follow you to classes and the proper items will be sent up to your chambers to care for him. Make sure to keep him in line. Now go. An extra two laps for your squad for wasting my time: you should have asked when I gave you the chance.” His sharp eyes scan me, but I know with the twist of his lip that all he sees is a weak, small female. Which I might be physically, but after everything I’ve endured over the years, I like to think that I’m at least mentally strong.

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