Chapter 19

Aelia

Another week came and went in a flurry of classes and training. After the attack from Arcanum Citadel, in which we'd luckily only lost the one Light Fae female, I'd doubled my efforts. I had more bruises than I could count splattered across my body, but at least I was becoming physically stronger. The one aspect in which I hadn't progressed at all was my rais.

I was no closer to successfully reading an aura than I was summoning a radiant shield, all basics that every other student at the Conservatory had already mastered. I was hopeless. My fingers drifted through the rippling crystalline water of the bathing pool as I stared to the open sky above. The canopy of ferns and mosses shielded me from most of the sun's brilliant rays. The bathing chamber was decidedly my favorite spot on campus. I spent any free moment I had floating in the tepid stone pools.

"Aelia!" Rue's voice shattered the peaceful tranquility an instant before she bounded into the lush space.

I dropped down below the water, so the whirling eddies covered my bare breasts.

"Oops, sorry! I still forget how prudish you are when it comes to nudity." She kept her eyes fixed to mine as she held out a scroll. "We've been summoned to the Hall of Luminescence by the headmaster."

"Right now?" I groaned. We only had one free day a week, and it seemed nearly every single one was interrupted somehow.

"Yes. The message just came through on the scroll."

"Oh, fine." I dipped my head beneath the warm water, dreading whatever news the headmaster was to impart.

Rue stood there watching expectantly.

"Well, give me a second so I can get out!"

She laughed. "Oh, come on, Aelia, I've seen your plentiful breasts on many an occasion."

That blasted heat tinged my cheeks. And I'd thought I had become accustomed to the Fae's liberal ways. My roommate frequently paraded around our chambers completely nude.

"You are beautiful and there is no need to hide that perfect form from anyone, least of all me."

"Is that why you're all so comfortable with nudity?" It made sense since most Fae were unfairly striking. "It's an issue of pride?"

"Honestly, I've never thought about it, but I suppose so. We should be proud of our bodies. They were created by Raysa herself, after all. And you are one of us now, so it's time to embrace it!"

My thoughts flickered to Reign, unbidden. Noxus had certainly gone above and beyond when he created that perfect male specimen. Stop it! Since the night of the attack, my professor had become oddly cold and unreadable, even for him. He'd maintained a larger distance between us, which I convinced myself was for the best.

And, still, I found myself ogling the male every time an inch of his flawless skin was on display. Which happened often in Combat class. He'd forced me to continue sparring with Belmore, which I despised. I would never admit it to my professor, but he'd been right. The reason I'd come as far as I had in combat was due to my utter hatred of the Light Fae male. I never would've been able to accomplish that with Rue.

Pinning my shoulders back, I swept my hair over my shoulders and stood. The water sluiced from my long locks in tiny rivulets across my breasts. Fighting the overwhelming desire to cover myself, I stepped out of the stone pool and faced my friend.

"You see? Was that so bad?" A satisfied smirk curled her lips. "You'll thank me for this one day, Aelia."

I didn't exactly see how being comfortable in my own skin would assist me in surviving my tenure at the Conservatory or accepting my Fae-ness, but for now, it was a small win. "Can you hand me a towel already?"

Rue laughed as she reached for the thick terry cloth and offered it to me. "Of course. Now hurry, we cannot be late."

* * *

An hour later, Rue and I were back beneath the arched rafters of the soaring ceiling of the Hall of Luminescence. Quiet murmurs echoed across the sprawling chamber as the initiates filed in. From the looks of it, our numbers had already dwindled from the original hundred and sixty. Eighteen of the twenty from Flare Squad were still standing. I could hardly believe it was approaching a month since my arrival.

"Look at Spark Squad," Rue whispered as we moved through the crowd to find a seat. "They're down to only ten members."

I gulped as I took in their weary gazes and slumped forms. Their squad leader, Jase, was known for his brutal tactics. I'd certainly lucked out being placed under Heaton's command. Our team leader was tough but fair, and I could confidently say everyone in the squad respected, if not admired him.

As if my thoughts had summoned him, Heaton appeared in the midst of the other Light Fae. His light blue-eyed gaze swung in our direction. With a tight smile, he summoned us to the front. Apparently, he'd saved us the entire second row. Curses.

"So glad you could join us, ladies." Heaton's smile widened as we approached.

"Sorry we're late," I whispered. "I got us a little turned around on the way over."

He shook his head, but the smile remained steady and unfaltering, much like our squad leader's character.

I scooted past Heaton, down the aisle behind Rue, and we settled in between Silvan and Phoebia. As Rue folded down beside the ashen-haired Fae male, I wondered if anything more had happened between them since the night of Heaton's party.

Most nights, after hours of training, Rue and I were so exhausted we collapsed in our beds without more than a quick goodnight. Surely, my friend would have told me if she'd been seeing the male, right?

"What do you think this is about?" Phoebia's whisper tore me from my thoughts. The Fae female from our squad wasn't quite as horrible as Ariadne, but still, she hardly ever spoke to me.

"I have no idea," I murmured back.

Ariadne, who sat on her opposite side, craned her neck in my direction. "It's probably about the trials."

"What trials?" I blurted, earning a glare from the row in front of us. Mumbling an apology, I pivoted my attention back to Ariadne.

"There are a series of trials we must pass in order to advance to the second term. My sister told me about them. Amely is a Royal Guardian of the Court. She graduated from the Conservatory of Luce with highest honors two years ago." A smug smile curled her glossy pink lips.

Of course, she did.

"I thought everything that went on at the Conservatory was supposed to remain a secret," Phoebia replied.

Ariadne shrugged. "Oops."

The sound of approaching footfalls sent my gaze to the entryway. Headmaster Draven, dressed in a trailing velvet robe, shuffled toward the stage, with Reign following a few steps behind the ancient Light Fae. A midnight tunic melded to his form, much like his shadows, and the dark leathers highlighted the defined muscles of his thighs. As if the mysterious professor had sensed my scrutiny, his dark eyes narrowed in on mine. The instant our gazes touched, a prickle of awareness zipped across my skin.

Mother Raysa, what the sun was that?

I'd hoped that with the increased distance between us as of late, the strange sensations this male incited would have dwindled. Instead, they seemed only more powerful. My lungs tightened as he stalked closer, and every breath became more difficult than the last.

Draven swiveled his head over his shoulder, his cascading white beard caressing the long sleeves of his robe as he turned to Reign, and my professor's gaze released mine. Now freed from that piercing stare, my lungs began to function once more. Was he using his abilities of fear induction? I wasn't frightened, not really. What sort of power did this male hold over me?

The hushed murmurs fell away as the headmaster crossed the stage and stood at the pulpit. "Good morrow, first-years. I am pleased to see so many of you have survived the first month of your tenure within these hallowed halls. Now that you've passed the initial probationary period, the real work will begin."

I barely suppressed a groan.

"For the next four months, you will train for the Ethereal Trials. These trials will prepare you for your first battle against Arcanum Citadel at the end of the term. I will warn you now, many of you will fall during the trials. Still more will not survive past the first battle."

"Such a positive fellow, isn't he?" Rue whispered.

I clapped my hand over my mouth to keep the inappropriate chuckle from slipping free. No wonder Heaton and Reign had been so angry when I'd wanted to fight the night of the party. The dismal picture the headmaster painted made it seem truly hopeless.

"I commend all of you for making it this far. You have outlived fifteen percent of your classmates. Well done. But now is not the time to celebrate. The stakes are now higher than ever. I have recently spoken with the King of Ethereal Light, Elian of Ether, and I'm afraid he has grave news." He paused as faint gasps rolled across the great chamber.

"Our enemies to the east, the Court of Umbral Shadows, grow restless, and the creatures of the Wilds are growing more bold by the day." The headmaster cast a sidelong glance in Reign's direction. "The attack a fortnight ago only confirms the king's belief that the Shadow Fae are fortifying their offenses. Therefore, we must do the same. No—we must do better."

A cheer erupted across the crowd of students, but a sliver of fear wiggled its way into my heart. Aidan was so close to the Wilds in Feywood. Was it true about the beasts of the Wilds? It almost seemed as if the Fae held the threat over us as merely a way to keep us in line.

"Our peace only endures as long as we remain vigilant against our foes. We must not let this false sense of security lull us into inaction." The headmaster paused again, swinging his bright eyes toward the only Shadow Fae in the room. "Don't you agree, Professor? You, of all people, have suffered the most at the hands of your Shadow brethren."

Even from this distance, I could make out the flutter of the coiled tendon in Reign's jaw as he nodded.

"The Court of Umbral Shadows is ruthless," the headmaster continued. "King Tenebris and Queen Vespera are complete savages. They will stop at nothing to ensure their supremacy and spill endless night upon all of us. It is up to you to keep that from happening."

Another round of whoops echoed across the chamber.

A twinge of pity speared my chest as I watched Reign. The proud slope of his shoulders softened, his dark gaze pinned to the floor. What had they done to him? Why had he been banished from his home court?

I vowed to find out somehow.

"In a week's time, you will each take part in a Conservatory tradition: the Choosing Ceremony."

A flurry of excited voices whispered all around.

"What's that?" I murmured to Rue.

"You'll see, listen." Her light eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Since the majority of you will not develop wings, and those that do, not until the age of maturity at around twenty-five, you'll need some way to combat our neighbors to the east on battle day."

My thoughts soared to the winged creatures the Shadow Fae arrived upon when they ransacked the dormitories and the beautiful phoenix that Reign had brought me to the Conservatory on. No… it couldn't be, could it?

Rue thrummed with so much excitement, she was practically vibrating in her seat.

"Each of you will be assigned a skyrider—or rather, by the power of Raysa, they will choose you. Should you not be chosen, your time at the Conservatory will come to an end."