Chapter 34 CHAPTER 34
I didn't take it.
So we stared at each other, hatred and fear boiling in my eyes and a smirk with an unreadable expression on his face shining back at me.
"What's the problem, Kovar?" Instructor Corvus asked, a frown etched on his brows.
"I'm just tryna help, Sir."
"Let her climb up by herself. Let her have that feeling of victory. Did anyone deny you of that the first time you climbed?"
"Of course not," he retorted, moving back and casting one last glance at me, pride in his form as he walked away.
I felt the tightness in my chest loosen and I contained the tear in my eyes once more.
"Come on," Erin encouraged me from above. She was already at the summit, kneeling at the edge and reaching down toward me. "You're almost there!"
I looked up at the final obstacle. Just one more pull. One more push.
I grabbed the top edge with both hands, my new claws digging into stone, and tried to haul myself over. But my legs couldn't find purchase on the cliff face below. They kicked uselessly against smooth rock. I was dangling, all my weight on my trembling arms, trying to pull myself up and over the ledge.
My waist scraped against the sharp stone edge as I struggled. My bones felt like they were breaking, like my entire body was about to snap in half.
"Shit!" Erin cursed. "Hug the mountain! Press yourself flat against it!"
With tears blurring my vision, I did as she instructed, flattening my chest against the cliff face. The feeling of an impending fall reduced just enough for my brain to focus on getting me up.
"You should have let me help you when I gave you the chance!" Kovar yelled from somewhere behind Erin.
The anger I felt added fuel to the fear burning in my chest. I let it morph into adrenaline and with Erin's guidance, I clawed and pulled my body halfway over the edge with my hands until my legs could finally swing up and cross over.
When I rolled atop the mountain, I stayed still for a bit, the urge to scream, cry, or dissolve into tiny pieces overwhelming.
"She actually did it," someone said, and it seemed to pour hope and positivity into me, enough to get me to uncurl myself and I sat up.
"Here," it was Mira handing me a bottle of something.
I looked to Erin immediately, distrust in my eyes.
"I wouldn't poison you," Mira chuckled. "I haven't had this much fun at the expense of someone else in a while."
"Well, so long as I get to stay alive, I'll be sure to entertain you more," I grunted as I took the bottle from her hand and uncorked it, pouring the liquid into my throat.
And then bent over in a fit of coughs, earning loud, mocking laughter from everyone.
It burned like hell, but I knew it wasn't alcohol. It didn't smell like it. In fact, it had smelled so nice that I thought it was scented water at first.
"You take Terria slowly, Alira," Instructor Corvus explained to me and I nodded, finally getting my throat back to myself. I listened and sipped it carefully as I was desperate for any form of liquid at this point. "Good. Slow and steady, Terria gives us strength. Now, take a look at the reward of your hard work," he said, directing my head outward.
Towards the suns.
"Oh."
"Yes, it's beautiful, isn't it?"
Beautiful was an understatement.
It was the most breathtaking view I'd ever seen. Colors I'd never witnessed before, mountains, plains, rivers, greenery and the beautiful hues of the twin suns all splayed out before me.
Dragons flew around the air, powerful wings flapping with tiny humans perched atop them and all heading towards something in the distance that rose all the way to the sky.
The wall.
I'd heard them mention it before, but I'd never actually seen it until now. From here, it was impossible to miss.
"It's... Breathtaking."
"Every time you fly atop your dragon, you're blessed with this view. It's magnificent indeed."
"But how could anyone bear to burn any part of this?"
Everyone went silent, murmurs and chatter dying instantly like I'd said 'fuck the king' or something more ridiculous and traitorous.
"We don't burn it by choice," someone whose name I'd not learned said, their voice tight with anger. "But when the Fae break through and we have to choose between scorching the earth or letting them use our land against us..." They trailed off.
"So isn't it better we burn it ourselves and retain our freedom than have them do it for us and turn us to slaves?" Master Corvus asked quietly, still seated next to me, his hands curved around his knees.
"I'm confused. I thought they were at the other side of the wall?" I asked.
"They are," Corvus replied. "But many times they manage to get in, and we have to choose between our children and the grass that feeds them."
"War is evil," I shook my head, sipping my weird drink with its weird name because it was giving me strength.
I literally felt my injuries begin to heal and the pain dissipate.
For the first time since I fell into this world, I felt at peace.
Not because my problems were gone. The asshole was behind me as I watched. But the view before me was so captivating it didn't matter.
I tried blinking rapidly again. I mean since I'm so close to the sky, even though at a different mountaintop, maybe...
I stopped. It wasn't working.
I should accept my fate, but I just couldn't.
"Alright everyone!" Master Corvus's voice cut through the peaceful moment. "Rest time is over. We descend in five minutes. Same rules apply—don't look down, don't rush, and don't die."
A few nervous laughs rippled through the group.
My stomach dropped. I'd been so focused on getting UP that I'd somehow convinced myself the descent wouldn't be as bad.
I was wrong.
Looking at the sheer drop we'd just climbed made my head spin. Going down meant facing that emptiness, trusting handholds I couldn't see, lowering myself into nothing.
"Stay close to me this time," Erin said, appearing at my side. "Follow my exact path. Where I put my hands, you put yours. Where my feet go, yours follow. Got it?"
I nodded, grateful beyond words. Grateful that Kovar was letting me follow her.
Students began lining up at the edge, preparing to descend. Some moved with easy confidence. Others, like me, looked distinctly less enthusiastic about climbing back down a mountain we'd barely survived climbing up.
I took my position near Erin, flexing my fingers. The new claws felt strange, foreign, but they'd saved my life on the way up. Maybe they'd keep me alive on the way down too.
As I watched Erin lower herself over the edge, disappearing from view except for her hands gripping the stone, something occurred to me.
I had training with Florian tonight.
My stomach did something complicated and annoying. A flutter that had nothing to do with fear of heights and everything to do with those piercing blue eyes and that infuriating nickname he'd given me.
Princess.
I should be dreading it.
After today, the last thing I should want is more physical torture at the hands of a centuries-old instructor who seemed to hate me but was intent on making me stronger.
But as I lowered myself over the edge, following Erin down into the void, I realized with a mix of confusion and something dangerously close to anticipation that I was looking forward to it.
To seeing him again.
And that scared me almost as much as the climb.