Page 50 of The Scars Within
A wave of relief washed over me when I saw Laney in my randomized team. In addition to my relief, we were paired with three cadets who have already channeled their elements—Hugh and two air elementals I quickly learned were named Waylon and Penelope.
We stood on the sidelines, watching as a few first-years tore into each other. For those who haven’t channeled an element yet, hand-to-hand combat is the only way to win. While several first-years have already channeled, most of us have not, leading to a brutal display. I saw more broken noses and busted lips in one morning than I’d ever witnessed before—not counting my own.
Someone suddenly grabbed me from behind, their arms wrapping tightly around my chest. Instinctively, I drove my elbow into their stomach and spun around, my heart racing. I could feel the stares of cadets around us.
Laney’s eyes widened as she turned to see Shayde doubled over, clutching his stomach. She glanced at me, mouthing, “What the fuck?”
My hands flew to my mouth as I started frantically apologizing. “Shayde, I’m so sorry! I didn’t knowit was you!”
He managed a strained laugh between coughs, his voice still cracking. “Hey, it’s okay,” he wheezed, “I’m actually impressed you can defend yourself like that.”
After apologizing to Shayde what felt like a thousand times, he gently spun me around to face the makeshift battlefield again and pulled me close. His firm muscles pressed against my back as his arm wrapped around my chest. Strong but not overpowering, he was a comforting presence I didn’t mind soaking in before chaos erupted.
Shayde leaned close to my ear, his breath tickling my neck as he gave me pointers on what to do and avoid during my simulation. Oddly enough, he knows a lot about each cadet in my year. But he informed me of elements channeled, fighting tendencies, and weaknesses, so I didn’t question his knowledge. The weight of what he was telling me was invaluable for a cadet like me who hasn’t channeled an element yet.
Before I knew it, my team was called to the field. Shayde gave me a good-luck kiss on the cheek before letting me go.
My group was discussing a strategy for maximizing our advantage of the three elementals when we turned to see our opposing team approach the field, their flags rippling in the breeze.
Shit.
Pehper.
At least I haven’t seen her channel an element yet.
A professor ran out to review the rules again and had us line up in formation. I looked up and spied Rhodes standing on the sidelines, away from the crowd. His eyes were locked on mine, his expression unreadable as usual, but there was a sharpness in his gaze that I hadn’t seen before. He was standing with his arms crossed, chin dipped, and in his black flying leathers like he was about to take flight.
A blowing whistle interrupted my thoughts. The battle was on.
The crowd erupted in cheers as we charged the other team. Waylon and Penelope kicked off our offense by channeling a powerful gust of wind that surged through the field, knocking the opposing teambackward into the grass. This gave us a brief opening, but the advantage was short-lived. An opposing fire elemental conjured a blazing line of flames that arced across the field, creating a fiery wall to stop us from advancing further. The fire roared and crackled, opaque and tall enough that we couldn’t see the other side.
The fire elemental dove through the flames at the end of the line and tackled Penelope with impressive speed. Before we could react, she ripped one of Penelope’s flags from her belt, held it aloft for everyone to see, and tossed it triumphantly onto the ground as she raced back toward her team’s side.
Her victory didn’t last long. Hugh, seizing the moment, summoned a thick vine from the ground that coiled around the fire elemental’s waist, dragging her to the dirt. I was the closest to her and didn’t hesitate. I dove toward the fallen fire elemental, the heat from the roaring flames close enough to make my skin prickle. My braid swung dangerously near the unpredictable sparks, but luck—or perhaps the wind—was on my side. A sudden gust blew the flames away just as I tackled the cadet. Without missing a beat, I yanked one of her flags from her belt and thrust it high into the air, feeling a surge of triumph.
With that, the score was even—four on four.
Hugh threw out his arm, conjuring more vines that shot up from the ground toward the opposing team. But their remaining fire elemental burned them to ash with a fierce blaze.
“Motherelemental!” Laney shouted in frustration.
“I’ve got this one!” Waylon called out, his focus intense as he pulled the fire elemental toward him in mid-air. They grappled fiercely, each trying to seize the other’s flags.
On the right side of the field, Pehper lunged at Waylon, but he twisted away, his wind element creating a gust that pushed Pehper back. Pehper growled as she struggled to her feet, refusing to take the loss.
Laney called to me, her eyes blazing with determination. “If we’re going to win this thing, we need to stick together. Those two haven’tchanneled an element yet, so let’s rush them and fight back-to-back.” Her voice was firm, measured confidence.
I nodded in agreement, and we bolted towards Pehper and the other female, whose name I still didn’t know. We moved purposefully, prepared to take on the challenge as a united front. I ran in the direction where Rhodes stood on the sidelines, but he wasn’t there anymore.
Back-to-back with Laney, we raised our fists, poised for action. I wasn’t exactly a hand-to-hand combat expert—my skills being mostly derived from what I have learned from the female heroine inThrone of Steel. The key, I’d learned, was to project confidence and make it seem like you are a skilled fighter, even if you aren’t. Convince your attacker that you’re not an easy target.
“Get her, Kate!” Pehper’s taunt rang out from behind me.
Kate surged toward me. In one smooth and calculated motion, she wrapped her arm around my neck and spun, pulling my back to her front and locking me in a chokehold. I dug my nails into her arm, but she tightened her grip on me, pulling the elbow at my trachea with her opposite hand to squeeze harder. White lights flashed in my vision.
My instincts had taken over just moments before this when Shayde spooked me from behind. But stepping onto this field against Pehper... I must have let her presence take a hit on my insecurities.
There was no way in elemental hell I’d let that happen again.
