Page 77 of The Scars Within
Yesterday, while we wandered through the vendors set up for trade, Laney suddenly tugged my arm and pulled me down a narrow alleyway. She pressed a finger to her lips, signaling silence, only adding to my confusion. Her parents were busy chatting with a baker around the corner, and I had no clue where she was taking me. We weaved through the rows of houses, using slim alleyways as shortcuts, our heels clicking against the cobblestone as we hurried along.
Laney finally stopped in front of an old, abandoned building. Thick vines clung to its crumbling façade, with wooden planks haphazardly covering the windows. The flowerpots on the sills held nothing but dried,wilted plants. The tan stone exterior was cracked, weathered by time and neglect.
With an exasperated sigh, Laney threw her arms out wide. “This is it!” she exclaimed.
I stepped up beside her, scanning the decrepit structure. “What... is?”
She turned to me, her hands gripping my shoulders, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Her smile could light up the darkest night. “Our future bookstore! Well, bookstore-slash-plant store. Oh! Maybe a bookstore-slash-plant store-slash-coffee shop!”
Before I could respond, she darted toward the side of the building. I craned my neck to follow her, just in time to see her disappear around the corner. I raced after her, finding her prying one of the wooden planks off a window before crawling inside. Not thinking, I jumped in after her.
The space was wide and open, with a worn counter in the corner. The building was two stories, but only half the upper floor remained, leaving a Juliet balcony that overlooked the bottom floor. Cobwebs draped from nearly every corner, and the sunlight that now peeked through the side window revealed the dust floating in the air.
Laney wandered around the space, her face illuminated with awe. The click of her heels echoed off the walls as if her excitement reverberated through the empty building. She spoke softly, as if sharing a secret. “I’ve always dreamed of opening my own bookstore. And then, after we started Herbology classes, I thought, why not also make it a plant store?” She turned to me, her grin widening. “And, of course, I’ll need someone to keep me supplied with caffeine all day.”
“I—” I hesitated, struggling to find the words. “But, Laney... you’re enrolled at Mageia. When and how would you ever have time to run this place?”
She waved her finger with a playful grin. “Once you graduate as a cadet, you can request to be stationed wherever you want. There’s a base just outside Lanorcoast. Depending on how things are in the world, you might be deployed at times, but mostly, you live where you’re stationed. We could request to be stationed here, and our apartment would be nearby. My parents would be thrilled to help if we’re on duty. Or we could hire reliable employees! What do you think?”
Her eyes shimmered with childlike wonder, her boots leaving faint, clean marks in the dust on the floor. She had clearly thought this through, imagined it all.
I swallowed, feeling the burn of emotion rise in my throat. “I think that sounds like a wonderful idea.”
Laney told me to keep the idea a secret because she didn’t want to jinx anything. Apparently, the building had been unoccupied for years. She’s convinced it is still for sale since it isn’t close to the bustling part of town. But she said that if you open a place as magical as her idea, people will venture out of their normal route to experience it.
And, of course, Laney and I stayed up far too late both nights, lost in our books. She even loaded my bag with a stack of fantasy novels from her collection to borrow. When it was finally time to leave, the Salvittos sent us off with tearful goodbyes and long hugs. Laney’s mom insistedon packing us lunches for the road and, despite my protests, handed me a coin purse full of money, refusing to let me leave without it.
Judge sat by their side, wagging his tail as they waved us off while we boarded the public wagon back to Mageia.
We returned to the castle just as night draped the sky. Lanterns flickered in the twilight as Laney and I trudged through the front entrance, our bags heavy on our shoulders. Cleo appeared on the stairs, her black hair catching the light.
“Hey, is anyone hungry?” Cleo asked, her voice casual but welcoming.
“I’m starving. What about you, Scar?” Laney turned to me.
“I’m fine. You two go ahead,” I lied, my stomach gnawing at me. “I’m going to head to the room.”
Cleo gave me a quick fist bump before they veered off toward the dining hall. The corridors buzzed with life as cadets shared stories of their weekend escapades, the sound bouncing off the stone walls. I pressed on, eager for solitude. Truthfully, I was hungry, but exhaustion was heavier than my need for food.
I reached our dorm and pushed open the door without knocking, half-expecting Tatum to be sprawled out on her bed. She wasn’t. The room was quiet, only her bags on the bed indicating she’d returned. I sank onto my mattress, debating whether to rest or go find her.
Rest could wait.
I changed into fresh clothes and retraced my steps down the dimly lit hall, past the cafeteria, where I caught a glimpse of Laney and Cleo laughing together over dinner. Still no sign of Tatum. My gut told me where she’d be.
The Bolthole.
I slipped through the halls heading towards the Bolthole. With a quick glance to make sure no one was watching, I opened the door and slipped into our secret spot. The air grew cooler as I entered the mini courtyard. Tatum was sitting on the fountain’s edge, her dark braids falling forward as she plucked petals from a flower and let them drift on the water.
“Hey,” she murmured, not looking up.
“Hey.” I took a seat beside her, the cool stone grounding me.
She inhaled deeply, then let out a long breath. “The Burn Trials are this week.”
“I know… but you’ve still got a few days to channel an element,” I reassured her, trying to inject confidence into my voice.
Her jaw clenched, eyes fixated on the petals floating aimlessly. “Or a few days to pack my bags.”
