Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Triad Trial.

∆§∆ LUNARA'S POV ∆§∆

I woke up wishing I hadn't. For one blissful second, I didn't remember anything. Then I tried to breathe.

I forced my eyes open, but immediately shut them again. Too damn bright. After a second, I tried again, squinting through the light.

Trees surrounded me. I was lying on soft moss in the middle of the forest. Still here.

The phoenix perched a few feet away, watching me with those glowing amber eyes.

“You,” I rasped, my throat dry as sand. “You tricked me.”

It tilted its head, almost like it was saying ‘Who, me?’

“The temple and the damn wolf-serpent. You knew that thing was waiting in there.”

The phoenix let out a soft screech. I could almost swear to the goddess that it was laughing at me.

“Why?” I tried to sit up. Fuck! That's a huge mistake. Pain exploded through my side. I dropped back down with a gasp.

It stood up, walked over, and gently nudged my hand with its beak. Again, I felt like I understood it and he was trying to say sorry.

“Don’t,” I muttered. “Don’t pretend to be sorry. You threw me straight into that fight, what if I had died? You wouldn't care.”

It made a low, sad sound this time.

I really looked at it. Its feathers practically glowed now—way brighter than before.

That red jade stone it swallowed must have done something to it and made it stronger.

“What even was that stone?” I asked.

This time, it didn't answer. It turns his head everywhere but at mine. Of course it wouldn't answer but I still went on badgering him with another question

“And that creature? A wolf-headed serpent? That’s not normal. None of this is normal. What was that creature? At least you owe me that answer.”

It gave me nothing. His head was now turned elsewhere.

“You’re really bad at explanations, you know that?”

It screeched, sounding offended. I would’ve laughed if it didn’t feel like my ribs were cracking apart.

Ten minutes later, I heard loud voices drifting through the trees. They were getting closer.

Bless the goddess, rescue is here.

“Search this sector!”

“The human has to be around here!”

I remembered the phoenix, I didn't know if it would be a good thing so I forced myself up, ignoring the screaming pain.

“You need to leave,” I told the phoenix. “If they see you, I’m screwed.”

It stared at me, then glanced toward the voices. One loud screech later, it vanished into thin air.

“Show off,” I whispered.

The footsteps got louder, seconds later, four figures stepped out from between the trees.

All four Cardinals. Roman, Tyson, Blaze, and Zeke.

They froze when they saw me. Roman spoke first.

“What the hell happened to you?”

I looked up at them, trying to act and sound casual. “I fell off a cliff. Remember?”

“That was hours ago,” Tyson said. He actually looked worried. “We’ve been looking everywhere.”

“Sorry. Got… distracted.”

Blaze barked out a laugh. “Distracted? You look like you went ten rounds with a bear.”

“Something like that.”

Zeke stepped closer, his face blank as usual. “You need a medic. I can smell blood on you.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re covered in blood,” he said, irritated.

“Most of it’s not mine.”

That shut them up for a second, they exchanged glances.

Roman’s purple eyes narrowed. “Whose blood is it?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yeah. It does.”

I sighed—big mistake. Pain shot through me again. “I found an old temple and I fought with something inside. Won. Barely made alive. Then the whole place collapsed.”

“A temple?” Tyson asked, eyebrows raised.

“Deep in the woods. It’s gone now.”

Roman crouched down in front of me. “You’re telling us you fought some creature in a hidden temple, survived, and the place just happened to fall apart right after?”

“Yep.”

“Convenient story.”

“Very.”

He smiled a little. “You’re a shit liar, Lunara. You don't expect me to believe that now do you?”

“I’m not lying.”

“Then prove it and I will believe you.”

I met his gaze. His intense eyes were trying to dig into my head and get everything. I quickly blanked my mind like uncle Kael taught me.

“No.”

His smile grew wider when he couldn't access my mind.

“Interesting.”

“Can we do this somewhere else?” I asked. “Somewhere with bandages would be nice.”

Tyson nodded. “She’s right. We should get her back to the academy.”

Zeke already had his phone out, but Roman stopped him.

“No transport. We walk.”

“She can hardly stand,” Tyson argued.

“Then we carry her if we have to.”

I frowned. “Why no transport?”

“Because the second we call it, everyone will see you like this. Questions will be asked and a report will be requested. You really want that?”

He had a point but walking was going to be a pain in the ass especially if I am carried by that purple creep guy.

“Fine. We walk.”

I pushed myself up, I made it halfway before my legs buckled. Tyson caught me fast, one arm around my waist.

His touch sent that weird electric jolt through me again. He felt it too—I saw it in his eyes.

“That thing again? What is that?” he whispered.

“No idea.”

He kept his arm around me as we started moving. I was grateful for his support.

Every step hurt like fire, but I bit my tongue. I chanted my usual slogan. ‘No complaining. Not in front of my subjects. A queen must never show weakness.’

Blaze took the lead. Zeke stayed quiet in the back. Roman walked right beside me, still watching me.

“You know,” he said after a while, “most people would be dead after something like this.”

I guess I must look really bad. “Good thing I’m not most people.”

“Yeah. I can see that.”

We walked in silence for a bit. Then he spoke again as if he wanted to keep hearing me talk.

“Someone must have pushed you off that cliff.”

I didn’t answer. He was too insightful for my own liking.

“Who?”

“I don’t know.” It was a lie but he didn't have to know that.

“You’re lying again.”

“Think whatever you want.”

He chuckled softly. “You’re the biggest mystery at this academy, Lunara. You make me want to solve you.”

“Not trying to be, leave me out of your dirty plans.”

He doesn't respond to that. I tried to enjoy the silence but we finally reached the academy through a side entrance, avoiding the crowds.

They took me to the infirmary. The nurse’s eyes went wide when she saw me.

I really must look horrible.

“Training accident,” Roman lied smoothly before she could ask.

She didn’t look like she bought it, but she helped me onto the bed anyway.

The guys waited outside while she checked me over.

“This certainly wasn’t training,” she whispered.

“Doesn’t matter. Just patch me up. Do not use magic or any of the Cardinals.”

By Cardinals, she knew I meant she shouldn't involve Zeke.

She sighed but got to work. She started by cleaning and wrapping me up.

She fixed my broken shoulder. It hurt so bad I saw stars, but I stayed quiet biting hard on a rag.

When she finished, I stood up on shaky legs and walked out.

All four of them were waiting.

“Done?” Roman asked.

“Yeah.”

“Good. We need to talk about what you really—”

The blaring school alarms cut him off. Every phone started buzzing. Roman checked his, and his face changed.

He turned the screen toward me.

EMERGENCY ASSEMBLY. ALL STUDENTS REPORT TO THE AUDITORIUM IMMEDIATELY. THE TRIAD TRIALS BEGIN TOMORROW.

My stomach twisted. This academy is a damn living hell. Why is the Triad Trials tomorrow and why are junior students participating in it?

How am I going to manage with this body of mine? Roman looked at me, and a dangerous little spark shone in his eyes.

“This just got a lot more interesting.”

And just like that, I knew shit was about to hit the fam. Which is me. Again.