Page 34 of Phixmery

We come up to a black steel door with etchings of a forgotten language embossed like script along the front of it. The door appears ancient and yet new, and a thrum of magick seeps from it, coaxing us to touch it, to unlock its mysteries. Jesper runs his finger over it the same way she did, but nothing happens. So I try, getting the same result.

“Do you recognize any of this?” he asks, peering closer at the unfamiliar writing, poking it again like maybe if he touched it a different way it would spill its secrets.

I shake my head. “No, just do that memorizing thing so we can show Talyn. I think he’s going to want to know about this,” I admit.

The wide grin spreading slowly across his face would be creepy if I didn’t know it was because he’s excited he was right. “I fucking told you so,” he laughs, his hands clasping together in victory before dropping to his side. “Let’s go. We’ve been down here awhile. It should almost be time to get up for the day.”

I nod, giving the door one last glance before following my slightly deranged brother out from beneath the castle.

Cadet Solace is definitely keeping secrets. The question is, will they ruin this realm or ruin Jesper? Either way, I can’t let that happen. If it comes down to it, I will send her personally to meet the fates.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

MY HAND STINGS AS I wash it under the warm spray of the shower. How did I not see that rock there? The deep gash in my hand pulses with a sharp, aching pain. I was just trying to find a spot to work out at night, to become stronger without anyone seeing the mess that I am—somewhere I can practice the full extent of my magick and not have to worry about being walked in on. Then I can move the little stash of dried food I’ve been collecting to this place, wherever it may be, for safekeeping, instead of storing it in the long-forgotten servant tunnel near the dungeon. After a bit of searching I found another path that leads there.

There’s also the other reason I’ve been searching the castle these last few moon cycles—to see about finding a way out of the castle with no one knowing. I think I came close this morning before seeing something that shouldn’t be here, something I vaguely remember hearing my parents talking about.

The empty void feeling fills me again and I now understand why. There’s a vessel containing some type of cursed magick down there that isn’t supposed to be here, and I’m going to have to figure out what to do with it. Whoever is keeping it down here, they’re treacherous or stupid. My mind drifts to the fourth year wing, but I don’t think it could possibly be them, although I’ve been mistaken about simpler things before. Whoever hid that down there has power and influence. It’s probably just down there for safe keeping anyway, but still, in the wrong hands it could be catastrophic.

I wish I could remember more of my childhood before moving to Shalo. I’ve blocked those memories out of sheer necessity and to avoid breaking my heart even further. But even if I did remember, who’s to say that my parents had any conversations of that much importance around me? I mean why would they? I was a child, meant to be playing with friends in the courtyard when they came to visit, not discussing things of the realm. The only reason I know what is hidden down there under the castle is because it’s something I’ve been taught about from a young age, barring the details. It seems this small piece of information was drilled into me, coming to the surface of my mind without any issues. I was always just told it was a curse and the fates’ blessings. Either way, I’m going to need to take it with me when I go, if I can find a safe way to get it out of here. I just can’t leave it in a place like this where it’s obvious nobody knows the danger in their midst. Though, even knowing it’s a danger, I don’t know why or even what it is. Stupid repressed memories.

Going through the motions of finishing up my shower and going to breakfast, I feel stuck in my head about everything. Is this why she didn’t want me to come back? To stay away? Was it because of that damn object that they died? But no, that wouldn’t be right because I would see the signs of its magick, I would have at least heard about it… right? No, it’s impossible. It’s probably just stored there, long forgotten about; and if that’s the case, no one will have to worry about the consequences of it.

“Rav?”

Someone nudges my shoulder, jerking me out of my head and making me jump an inch out of my seat. I really do need to work on paying more attention and save the musing for my dreamland. Which I haven’t been able to get back to since my dream dragon spoke to me for the first time.

I turn and give Ember my full attention. “Yes?”

Unfortunately, trying to distance myself from these two just hasn’t been working out like I thought. If anything, we’ve managed to grow closer, mostly because they keep Bracken away from me, which I’ve been told is just something friends do for each other. That male gives me nothing but sad eyes while staying in the company of Cresida and Evera. There’s so many other fae he could be friendly with; if he truly liked me like he said, then he wouldn’t be hanging out with my tormentors.

“I was asking if we’re still on for training tonight? You’re getting better, but I don’t want you slacking off now,” she states, a frown pulling at her lips as she searches my face. “You weren’t in bed last night,” she whispers.

My heart freezes before it slowly starts up again. “Yeah we are good for tonight,” I tell her, pretending I didn’t hear the rest of what she said and digging into my food.

She leans in closer. “I waited up for you to make sure you came back okay, even went down to the bathroom to check. You were nowhere to be found. You know you can trust me, right? Both of us.” She jerks her chin in Roz’s direction.

I plop a berry in my mouth, feeding one to Nero as well as I mull over what to say to her. Can I trust her with this? If her shields aren’t strong enough, it would just take one mentalist to pry into her mind to know what I’ve been up to. Gretchen trained me for years to use a mental block, but I’m not sure others went through the same process. And if she somehow puts together that I want to escape Phixmery after the first year is done, I’m done for.

“I’ll tell you when I can,” I reply. Maybe I should take them with me. It would be less lonely to have them by my side, but it would be selfish of me to do that to them. I’m going to need to figure out some sort of plausible excuse to tell them.

Rozen leans in on my other side. “Is it a male?” he wags his crimson brows at me.

It takes a moment for his words to sink in and I feel my cheeks flame. I shake my head calmly, unlike the beat of my heart which is pounding, but then I pause. Sneaking out to meet up with a male would be a good excuse. So I raise my shoulders until they meet my pointed ears and give him a playful smirk.

He gasps dramatically. “Who?” He begins glancing around at the other tables.

Ember leans around and punches his arm. “Leave her be. She will tell us when she’s ready to.”

I smile at her, grateful for her saving me from Rozen’s exuberance. She nods back before digging back into her meal, while the others in our squad speak quietly around us. I glance around the table and see Evera scowling at me and Bracken peering between Roz, Ember and me with a puzzled and anguished expression.

Fuck, I really hope they didn’t hear that. Knowing my luck they’re going to think it’s Craven.

“SQUAD FOUR, FORM up!” Sergeant Verlice snaps with a maniacal grin, his gaze lingering on me like he’s ready to pry into my soul and rip my secrets from me whether I want it or not.

His eyes keep darting down to my injured hand from this morning and I can’t help but want to tuck it away behind me.

Craven nods for him to step back before assessing us. “In two moon cycles you will be facing your next trial. It will be discussed more within your wilderness lessons, but we will be teaching you about certain scenarios, dealing with the creatures in the woods and how to survive their attacks to be more exact, starting next week. The chances of some of you surviving are slim.” His golden eyes land on me. “Only a third of your year will survive. And then only a third of you who make it through The Choosing will move on to be fully-fledged and respected members of the Damorleia Military.”

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