Chapter 50

Aelia

"For Fae's sake, what is the king doing here?" The question popped out before I could muster the sense to contain it.

You've caught his attention, Aelia. Sol's deep grumble seeped into my scattered thoughts. He stood behind me like all the other skyriders lined up on the field in front of the Hall of Enlightenment.

It was time for the Skyrider Flight, the penultimate trial.

I scanned the field and the throng of Light Fae gathered. A nervous flutter battered at my insides, and it only escalated as I caught sight of Reign standing between Professor Lumen and Professor Litehaus. His dark gaze chased to mine for only an instant before Lumen spoke, drawing away his attention.

"Don't be nervous," Rue whispered. "You're going to do just fine."

"You've got a dragon, little Kin." Symon ticked his head over his shoulder at Sol. "Of all of us, you should have the least to worry."

"Umhmm," I mumbled, scanning the verdant field once more.

Forty first-years lined the field, four or five from each squad, depending on how many were left. Rue, Sy, Belmore, Ariadne and I were on deck for Flare team, each of us in the finest gilded armor the academy had to offer. According to Reign, it wouldn't help us if we fell, but it should provide some protection from blades and ethereal beams of rais.

Farther down the row, I could just make out the foreboding outlines of Kian and Lucian from Scorch Squad. Kian's dark gaze flickered in my direction, his silver hair illuminated by the first rays of the sun. A gruesome scar marred his face, running from his forehead down across his upper lip. Had Reign inflicted that wound? A part of me already was certain of the answer. Behind Kian stood an imposing gryphon, and beside him, a ligel, Lucian's skyrider. The half-lion, half-bird of prey was enormous, reaching nearly to Sol's shoulder. How had I never seen that creature before?

"Noxus's dick, when did Lucian's skyrider get so big?" Sy hissed, his gaze following my own.

"Maybe he's imbuing it with rais," Rue offered.

"You can do that?" I squealed.

"Sure, if he's mastered light infusion."

Stars, there was still so much I didn't know. Not that I particularly needed Sol to grow any larger. As it was, we could barely find enough for him to eat.

Headmaster Draven clapped his hands and a swirl of brilliant light burst from his palms, illuminating his sallow features. "Welcome, students, to the Skyrider Flight. Today's trial will test your abilities to control your mounts while facing an array of obstacles and live adversaries. This trial will come as close to the final battle with Arcanum Citadel as you will have the opportunity to experience. It is imperative you treat this exercise as if it were the real thing. We must defeat our enemies across the river this year."

Whoops and shouts echoed across the field, the loudest coming from King Elian and his Royal Guardians. What I wouldn't give to know what was really happening across the border. Was the peace between the courts truly as frail as rumored?

Why were these two elite universities so important?

A myriad of questions spiraled as the headmaster droned on about the importance of the event. I forced myself to focus as his speech began to detail the rules.

"The in-flight battle will last for thirty minutes." An immense floating sundial appeared just overhead. "Your goal is simple: ground your opponents by any means possible. You must remain within the gilded arena for the entire time or you will be disqualified." He paused and pointed up to the glittering golden boundary drawn across the sky. "Points will be given based on time remaining in the competition. The last student to remain mid-air will win, giving their squad one hundred bonus points. The first Fae down will cost their respective team one hundred points. Therefore, it would behoove you to play as a team, but as you know, today, all rules regarding the code of conduct within teams will be waived. May the strongest first-year triumph"—Draven's gaze drifted to mine for an instant before rising over my head to Sol—"and may Raysa be with you all."

Another wave of applause and the crowd roared. Again, the upperclassmen had gathered to watch the events. Hundreds of students filled the edge of the field, huddled behind the canopy beneath which stood the fine professors of the Conservatory, Reign included. Beside them, the King and his guards stood beneath a radiant awning of pure white light. Clearly, this would be quite a spectacle.

King Elian's unearthly turquoise gaze flitted in my direction. The cold blue skimmed over my skin and rested just over my head at the dragon poised behind me. His aura darkened, a twinge of deep green swirling through the brilliant alabaster. Envy… I was certain of it. The King of the Ethereal Court was jealous of my skyrider.

"Does King Elian have a dragon?" I whispered to Rue.

She slowly shook her head. "Not anymore. From what I understand, his was killed in the Two Hundred Years War. According to the history books, the king was trying to save his older brother and was nearly slaughtered himself."

"His brother?" How could I have been so ignorant about Fae history? They truly taught us nothing in the Kin schools, just as Reign had alluded to many times.

"Yes, King Alaric had been in power for many decades before him. My parents often speak wistfully of the former Light Fae royal. His death was a great loss to our people."

The blare of a sharp horn put an end to my friend's words and pivoted our attention back to the headmaster. "Students, mount your skyriders."

Rue reached out, squeezing my hand. "We stay together at all costs."

I nodded quickly, Symon echoing my movement. "Together."

My roommate's fingers tightened around my own. "Good luck, Aelia."

"You, too."

Symon snuck between Rue and me and pulled us both into a hug. "We've got this, ladies. Flare Squad for the win." He squeezed us so tight a nervous laugh tittered out.

Once he released us, he stepped toward Griff, the beast nervously pawing at the ground. "Just don't fall."

"Don't be an ass," Rue hissed.

As my friends turned toward their skyriders, dread pooled in my gut. "I love you, both," I blurted before I lost my nerve.

Both Light Fae whirled around, their eyes wide as if my sentiment were completely out of this world. A slow smile melted across Symon's face. "Cheers, my friend."

As Sy leapt onto his mount, Rue darted over, pulling Windy with her, despite her skyrider's reluctance to being nearer to Sol. "Love isn't a word much used in the Fae vocabulary, Aelia. Don't take it personally."

"Oh…" How sad. If there was one thing I always remembered about Aidan, it was his soft murmuring before I fell asleep as a child. You are so loved, estellira. My hand drifted to the medallion tucked beneath my leather armor as warm thoughts of my adoptive father filled my mind.

"It's barely even used with family. And honestly, I've only ever heard my parents say it to each other a handful of times my entire life." She shrugged.

Not to interrupt this poignant moment, but it's time, Aelia. Sol's gruff voice lanced through my thoughts and spurred me to action.

He was right. It was time.

With one last parting hug, I patted the dagger at my hip to ensure it was secure and clamored up Sol's leg. As I moved up the jagged limb, one of Reign's shadow minions curled around my throat.

"Good luck, princess. Whatever you do, do not fall."

"Thanks for the tip, Faehole."

"My, my, that curse was almost a grown up one. You better mind that tongue, princess, especially around the king."

"I'll try my best." I reached the summit of Sol's massive back and shimmied down his spine until I found my seat at the crest of his long, reptilian neck. "Do you have any worthwhile tips, professor?"

"Yes. Avoid direct confrontation with the others for as long as possible. You are the biggest target and the other first-years will have their sights set on you. I know you and your delicate mortal sensibilities will be hesitant to strike, but you must. Remember, it is you or them, Aelia."

My real name in that deep timbre of his, even through the murky whisper of his shadows, plucked a chord buried deep beneath the surface.

"Sol has the power to incinerate each and every one of your opponents. Don't forget that."

A gasp spilled out at the callous truth to his words. "It would be a slaughter," I breathed.

"Better them than you," he repeated.

I wouldn't. I simply couldn't. Half of my team was out there, my closest friends.

Reign is not wrong, Sol interrupted. I could exterminate the majority of the playing field at your command.

"I don't command it," I shot back out loud to be sure he heard.

Just know it can be done, if necessary.

Noted.

Another horn blared, the shriek sending my heart shooting up my throat.

That's the warning bell. One minute to go. Sol's massive wings beat the air into a frenzy, and my stomach dipped as we catapulted into the serene blue.

From the corner of my eye, I could just make out Sy and Griff on one side and Rue atop Windy on the other. We'd vowed to stay together, and I only hoped we'd be able to keep our word to each other.

"Let the trial begin!" Draven's voice boomed across the flight field.