Chapter 19 Magical conduit
Eloise
“I expect each first years to have formed squads by now. If you've not, make sure you do before the next Briefing. There will be an exercise for each squads. Class is dismissed.” Professor Geneva waved her hand and the projection disappeared.
The Shadowborn Heir cast one more glance at me before they all disappeared in thick black smoke.
“So should we form a squad?” I asked as the class started to dissipate. The four of us were still standing in the most awkward silence ever.
“No!”
“Not happening!”
Raihn and Aeron said simultaneously. My eyes darted between them and I wondered why they couldn't stand each other.
“I'll join your squad. We can find other members.” Lidia said to me. I gave her a small smile in response.
“I'll join your squad.” Raihn smirk at Lidia.
“You can't join our squad. We've been one since The Descent. The one you won by yourself.” Aeron scoffed.
I turned to Raihn, my lips parted in surprise.
“You won The Descent?” I didn't know it was possible to win at something like that. The trial was literally arranged to kill.
Raihn didn't spare me a glance, his gaze was fixed on Aeron.
“He found the exit in record time. Thirty minutes. The fastest exit after Heirs, which was twenty minutes.” Aeron's tone wasn't in admiration at all, but irritation.
Raihn seem to be over it as he snapped at him. “What is your problem with me?”
“You know darn well what my problem with you is.” Aeron seethed.
The two of them seem locked in a staring competition, completely oblivious of the whispering around them. Students were pointing as they exited the Briefing room.
Lidia drew a long sigh and muttered something about men and their stupid ego. She took my hand and dragged me away from the scene. Neither Raihn nor Aeron noticed our absence.
We walked in silence which seems to be more awkward than earlier. I didn't know how to interact with Lidia. She had seem different last night at the infirmary, more open to conversations. But now, she wore a stern expression.
If there's anything I had gathered about her, it was that she hated small talks. So I didn't attempt it.
“Where are we going?” I asked when we turned to a hallway I didn't recognize.
I felt goosebumps over my body as I remembered the last time I walked down a hallway with someone. I reminded myself that Lidia wasn't the royal guard. She wouldn't hurt me.
It felt stupid to trust someone I barely knew, but she had come back to save me at The Descent. Twice. It was only that thought that calmed the panic surging in me.
Lidia turned to me, surprise crossing her features. “Do you not know the class we have next?”
I shook my head. I hadn't check the class schedule Tina shoved in my pack. Raihn and Aeron's fight and distracted me.
“The next class is Elemental Magic taught by Aidas, the Waterborn Heir.” she said.
“Why are you taking Waterborn classes?”
Lidia sighed like she couldn't understand why either. “First years are required to take all the classes, Fireborn magic, Waterborn magic, and Shadowborn. It is said to promote a sense of ‘unity’ among the three kinds.” she rolled her eyes.
I nodded. It made sense. What didn't make sense was that the Heirs teach in the school. There were enough professors to cover all the subjects.
I didn't ask anymore questions and Lidia didn't offer any responses. She did scowl at a dragon who snarled at me. Her presence was slightly intimidating but soothing at the same time.
We'd almost got the classroom when we saw Raihn and Aeron panting heavily. I blinked in surprise. I was certain we left them at the Briefing room, but someone they had beat us here.
“Stupid Shadowborn magic.” Lidia groaned.
I didn't get to ask what she meant as they walked up to us.
Raihn was the first to speak. He looked mad and relieved at the same time. “Why did you leave like that?”
“We were looking for you.” Aeron added breathlessly.
“There's only so much fight a girl can watch.” Lidia shrugged. “Also, you're panting too loud.”
“How did you beat us here?” I asked.
“Shadowshifting. It's a Shadowborn thing.” Aeron said quickly.
“It's what makes them disappear into thick smoke.” Lidia added.
“Hey! You–” Raihn panted. “Nevermind. Do you have know how much power it takes to shadowshift?” he said to me.
I shook my head.
“That was a rhetorical question, dammit! Just don't leave my side again. I don't want to end up in trouble before The Binding.” Raihn grumbled.
Aeron snorted. “Trouble is your middle name.”
Raihn snapped at him. “Do you really wanna take a dig at me, kiddo?”
“Stop calling me that.”
“If you guys are gonna start fighting again, we're leaving.” Lidia Interrupted before they began another fight. She gave them a stern look.
They stopped bickering after that but they still glared at each other. I stared at Lidia and wondered how she was able to shut the two of them up with a single warning. I admired her.
The four of us strode into the classroom. There weren't much people here like the Briefing so there was enough seat for everyone. We took our seats at the middle row.
The Waterborn Heir was already inside when we got there. My very first class with him and I was late because Raihn and Aeron shouldn't stop fighting. I tried to avoid his gaze but like the other Heirs, he was magnetic.
I found myself looking into his eyes. Endless blue that seem to drown me the longer I stared. Unlike the other heirs, his power didn't scream danger. It was calm, luring you in.
If the word ‘kind’ could be used to describe any of the heirs, the Waterborn Heir would be the kindest of the three of them. His lips tilted up slightly in an almost smile before he looked away from me.
“I believe all of you participated in your first trial, The Descent. I want to offer my congratulations to you for scaling through, despite your varying level of preparations.” The class cheered after his last word.
“But I must warn you, The Descent is only the first of three tests. There are two more trials you need to pass before you can officially be recognized as warriors in training. This class would be preparing you for those remaining trails. For those of you who is just attending this class, don't worry, you didn't miss much.” Aidas glanced pointedly towards me.
I couldn't help but feel he was strangely fixating on me. He could be referring to Aeron, like Professor Geneva had, but everytime he looked away, I felt like he was addressing me.
I waved off the feeling and decided to focus on the lesson. Aidas flicked his hand and a ball appeared on each of our desks.
“What you're seeing in front of you is a conduit. It helps wielders practice each other's magic if imbued with the magic that wish you world. For example, a Fireborn with possession of a Waterborn conduit can wield the magic of Waterborn and vice versa. This is the main tool we will be using today.” He explained.
For the first time, I wasn't the only one who looked confused with his explanation. It was a huge relief.
“Let's practice some magic. Grab the conduit in front of you.”
I picked up my conduit and stared at him expectantly. He smiled like he could sense the eagerness in me. But at that moment, I didn't care enough to mentally shield myself. I was just excited at the thought of learning something new.
“Reach out to your magic. Soothe it and life it into the conduit. Don't force it, let it go in willingly. It's like using your elemental power except you are transferring it into the conduit instead of the environment.”
Aidas made it sound super easy but in reality it was actually hard. I hadn't been able to summon my magic since The Descent. There was no way I could do it now.
I closed my eyes and tried to do what he said. Like before, I couldn't feel the well of power inside me. But then suddenly, there was a busy of electricity and then… Crack.
My eyes flung open at the sound, my lips parted in surprise as I realized my conduit broke. The entire class was now staring at me with varying look of disgust and shock.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” Aeron asked, concern written on his face.
“Yeah, I'm fine.” I nodded.
I whipped my head to see Aidas strolling towards us. A flicker of surprise crossed his features before it quickly vanished.
“Why don't you practice with your friends conduit instead?” He said to me.
I nodded, embarassment crawled under my skin at the scene I had created. I avoided meeting anyone's gaze and focused on Aeron's conduit instead.
“I want to see you in my study after class.” a voice purred in my mind. I flinched at the sudden invasion of my mind. I hadn't felt anyone do that except the parasite in the cave.
I snapped my eyes open and immediately knew who it was that had spoken into my mind.