Page 89 of The Scars Within
“Please, spare us, oh mighty mage!” she mocked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Every head in the courtyard swiveled toward us, and suddenly, the laughter erupted. It was deafening. Heat rushed to my cheeks as mystomach clenched with humiliation. My mouth went dry, my body trembling uncontrollably. It felt like my knees were about to buckle beneath me.
I turned slowly, taking in the faces around me—some I knew, some I didn’t. Faces of cadets I had shared meals with and trained beside. Even a few I’d considered friends. They all pointed, sneered, and laughed, relishing in my embarrassment.
Before I could face Pehper again, my gaze caught on something—or rather, someone. In the far corner, leaning against the stone wall were those familiar, warm brown eyes that once made me feel safe.
Shayde.
He wasn’t laughing. He wasn’t mocking me.
But he wasn’t standing up for me, either.
My heart sank like a stone. The sting of betrayal hit hard, burning behind my eyes. I blinked back, the tears threatening to spill, but the pain wouldn’t let go.
“Oh,” Pehper cooed mockingly, her eyes gleaming as she raised her hands to her mouth. “Are you going to cry?” She giggled, curling her fists by her face and twisting them with an exaggerated pout. “The big, bad mage is about to cry!”
The laughter around me intensified, but I barely registered it. My gaze remained fixed on Pehper, my pulse thudding in my ears.
“Let’s get out of here, Scarlet,” Laney’s hand tugged at my arm, her voice cutting through the noise. My friends urged me to leave, but their voices felt distant, like I was submerged underwater.
I stood frozen. My breath was tight in my chest. Gaining the confidence to take control.
Then, without a word, I turned and pushed through the courtyard doors. My friends followed. The heavy door slammed shut behind us, muffling the mocking laughter that was still echoing in my head.
I shut it all down.
“Are you okay?” Cleo asked, her voice soft but anxious. My friends gathered around me.
“I’m fine,” I muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose. The pressure did little to relieve the growing ache behind my eyes.
They started venting their frustration, throwing insults at Pehper and sharing embarrassing stories about the cadets who had joined in. Their words blurred, fading into background noise.
“I said I’m fine,” I repeated, sharper this time, pushing past them. “Just... follow me.”
They fell silent but didn’t protest, trailing behind me. I could feel the weight of their concern, but I needed a moment to clear my head. To shove the hurt away and focus on the task at hand.
When we reached the magical bookshelf, I checked the hallway to ensure no one was nearby. Then, huddling them close, I relayed everything that had happened to me in this very spot—leaving out no details.
By the time I finished, they were staring at me. I couldn’t tell if they were processing the information or if I had lost them with how I’d explained it. Or maybe... they didn’t believe me.
The silence was broken when Tatum finally spoke. “That’s fucking awesome. Show us.”
A wicked grin spread across my face as I turned to demonstrate. With just a little extra force, I pressed my hand against the bookshelf, and my body passed right through the illusionary barrier.
I turned back, waiting for them to follow, but nothing happened.
“Push a little harder,” I encouraged, watching them try again.
One by one, they pressed harder, then leaned with their shoulders and even kicked at the barrier with their boots. Still, nothing.
I tried it again, slipping effortlessly through.
“I don’t think we’re allowed entry,” Cleo finally voiced what the others must have been thinking.
“That makes no sense,” I said, frustration bubbling up. “How can I do it, but you can’t?”
An odd feeling washed over me then—a sense of resolve that didn’t feel like my own. It was strange, detached, like it belonged to someone else. Was I... sensing Lakota’s emotions?
