Chapter 266: CHAPTER 266

Florian joined me in the evening and I threw myself into it just like I'd done the entire day.

Anything to not think about it, to forget that feeling of dismissal that clung to me like a stubborn smell.

Every time I found myself dissociating, I remembered the words I'd read, the future, and I snapped back.

My heartbreak didn't matter when there was doom to be prevented.

But Florian noticed that something was definitely amiss and suddenly stopped throwing the balls for me to fire arrows at.

"Alright, I have the perfect solution for this," he said, tapping Zephyr's scales.

"Solution for what?" I frowned.

"Your face. You look like you're planning my burial."

"Don't make jokes like that," I hissed.

"Sorry, I didn't know you loved me that much baby."

"Florian!"

"Okay, okay! I'll get to the plan now. So, I need you to go back to the house or hostel, wherever you have a nice outfit that you can fly with."

"Where are we going?"

"Nowhere. We're just going to fly around until you stop looking so forlorn."

I rolled my eyes, "I'm fine. Let's finish training."

"And I insist. Except you want me to dress you up? I can –"

"No Florian. I don't even like flying that much."

"Ouch," Orealeus said from under me.

"You're not flying alone baby, you'll enjoy it this time. Come on, go. I'm not taking no for an answer."

I groaned, "Florian, you don't understand. I need to keep training."

"You're running from something in your head, I understand that. But let's do that in a less stressful way."

"Training isn't stressful!"

"Go home, Alira."

My mind shut up as his mood suddenly changed.

It's rare to see this side of Florian so nobody had to tell me again to stop defying him.

With a loud huff, I directed Orealeus to drop me off close to the hostel and I went to change.

"Someone looks hot. Going on a date?" Akua asked with a grin.

"Florian insists on us going flying," I grumbled, tying my hair up.

"Leave your hair down if that's what you guys are doing."

"Won't it get into my eyes?"

She shook her head.

I blew her a kiss before heading out.

When I got back to the caves, Zade was there too, his new dragon coiled around him like a needy lizard.

"What's happening?"

"Florian told me you needed cheering up," he replied, smiling at me. "Sorry, I couldn't drag Draco out of his paperwork obsession. I know he's your favourite."

"Favourite? Why do you say that?"

"Don't worry, I'm fine with it. I fell out of your good graces earlier anyway so it's my fault."

"Nobody is my favourite and even if anyone would be, it's definitely not his bossy self. Where's Florian?"

"Right here," he called from his dragon as he flew from behind the mountain.

"Alright, you'll ride with me first and then him, deal?" Zade said.

I didn't argue, I climbed on top of the dragon that I'd not even had the chance to meet properly.

Zade positioned me in front of him and wrapped his hands around my waist, giving me a sense of security.

No matter how hard I tried, I'd never really gotten over the fear of falling, especially after the Trial ended like that, with my absolute worst fear happening.

Soon, the ground disappeared beneath us and I leaned back on Zade's chest.

"Open your eyes, Sunshine," Zade prodded, rubbing circles around my stomach.

I obeyed and I realised how different things were when I wasn't so terrified of another dragon ramming into me and throwing me to my demise.

The wind rushes through my body and forces me to relax.

"Whatever the problem is, you know you can discuss it with us, right?"

"It's just Draco. I think he hates me, but I don't know why."

"Ah. He's shutting in again, isn't he?"

"Again?"

"He likes dealing with things on his own. You're a bit like him in that regard and it scares the shit out of us. If you both shut us out, what are we going to do?"

"I'm not.. You're not getting rid of me that easily," I switched quickly.

Lying didn't come that easily to me.

After the flight, which ended because they decided to race and Zade is a sore loser, they took me to the school cafeteria.

There were still some students in there and they all watched as two of them fawned over me, feeding me without letting me touch anything. Not even the glass of water.

During the entire date, I arrived slowly at a decision.

A piece of me will always seek Draco out, and I want to chase after him and make him come back to me.

But I can't force him to do anything.

But I won't lose the people who cared about me in a bid to get the one.

Every time I smiled, Florian beamed wider and Zade was still struggling to stop believing I was upset with him.

So I stayed in the moment, letting them take care of me.

"Can you find me a new instructor?" I asked Florian.

"What for?"

"I stopped Miss Kira's class and I don't know if Draco will be willing to still train me."

They demanded the details of the fight and as I told them, they paid attention, asking for details and praising all my actions.

Unlike Draco who made it look like I was disturbing him.

"I'll get you a warrior to replace Kira," Florian said after clapping for me, "But as for Draco, I don't think he'll stop teaching or let someone else do it. Besides, no one else knows that style of training."

I sighed, "Thank you though."

"I can still get you personal trainers for the other classes. You seem to either be doing too poorly or way too well for each class."

"There's a disparity between her and most other students," Zade said, "her power makes her too strong for some things, and for others, her lack of experience with all things Drakkonian is pulling her back. But yes, personalised trainers will help."

"Draco won't kick against it?"

"Have you forgotten? I'm in charge of schedules, let's get you to bed munchkin."

"What sort of nickname is that?"

They laughed and kept teasing me with different weird ones until I went upstairs.

But my heart felt lighter for the first time in a while.