Page 91 of The Scars Within
In the veiled echoes of Mareki’s grace,
When the past unfolds anew,
The truth will come face to face,
As scattered elements entwine in the few.
The splintered shards will become whole again,
Once the forgotten realm is due.
The key lies within the Crimson Wraith,
Whose flames will guide what shadows pursue.
Cleo whispered the words aloud, and something clicked in my mind.
“Chief Kalluri mentioned a prophecy... and a—a wraith. This can’t be a coincidence,” I said, my voice tense.
They looked up at me. Laney was the first to speak, “I mean, considering where you found it, this isn’t just some random poem. What else did he say about it?”
I tried to think, but my mind came up blank. “Nothing. Professor Maksimov cut him off before he could say more.”
Tatum chimed in, “If this really is a prophecy, then we’ve got even more questions. A prophecy from whom? About what? And what is the Forgotten Realm? Our lands have never known any magic more advanced than elemental wielding.”
“That we know of,” I added, my thoughts heavy.
“Did you find anything else in there?” Laney asked.
It took me a moment before I lied, “No.”
Chapter 37
We decided to grab our dinner to-go, preferring the quiet comfort of the rooftop over being the center of attention in the bustling dining hall. It was the first time I’d invited my friends up there, and as we settled in, the cool breeze hinted at the subtle shift in the weather now that the Burn Trials were behind us. The temperature had dropped just enough to be noticeable—and appreciated.
The evening was still young, with the sky streaked in fading hues of pink and orange. So, with a renewed sense of excitement, I spoke up. “Tatum, wanna introduce them to our dragons?”
“Fuck yeah!” She replied as she jumped up and grabbed her belongings. “Wait,” she stopped. “What about the War Chief’s orders?”
“He said I couldn’t channel or fly without supervision. He never said I couldn’t visit Lakota.”
The four of us hurriedly ran back to the cafeteria to return our trays and escaped the castle without being noticed. On the venture to Dragon Valley, Tatum and I shared the exhilarating feeling of being bonded with a dragon to Cleo and Laney. They had so many questions that we couldn’t answer yet, but hopefully would be able to once we attend a few fire-wielding classes.
How am I going to manage both airandfire classes?
I glanced at Tatum, remembering how I hadn’t had the chance to appreciate her dragon the first time around fully. I’d been too busy running for my life from Lakota.
“Slowly running for your life.”
I ignored that.
Once we made it to Dragon Valley, Tatum released a sharp whistle, easily calling her blue dragon. I, on the other hand, reached down the bond to Lakota. “Come meet my friends,”I urged.
Almost immediately, I heard the steady rhythm of wings in my mind, Lakota’s response dripping with his usual dry humor. “You know, you really should learn to whistle. It takes way less energy than bonding communication—and honestly, you tense up so much when you reach out, it looks like you’re constipated.”
I rolled my eyes, already feeling the heat of annoyance rising. “Whistling isn’t exactly a trait you just learn, Lakota,”I snapped back.
He chuckled, the sound vibrating through the bond. “You humans and your excuses.”
