Chapter 26 The first fight
Eloise
To say Professor Geneva was pissed off was putting it mildly. She was livid. I was almost certain I could see the smoke emitting from her nostrils. It wouldn't be shocking if the classroom exploded in flames from her rage. Fireborns are said to have the shortest leash on their anger as it fuels their magic outlet.
Tina and Raihn stood on either sides of the professor, glaring at each other. Raihn's forehead was still bruised from where Tina had hit him with the block of ice.
Aside from the hostile expression on their faces, there wasn't a slight indication in their appearances that they had been in a brawl. I had been distracted by Aurelia and hadn't watched the fight, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't about a bit curious of how they moved. I'd yet to see anyone engage in a physical brawl since I got here. It's just been deaths.
For a war college, they seem to be more interested in killing students than actual war training.
“What, in Hearth’s name, is wrong with the both of you? Physical challenges start in a week. You couldn't wait till then before you start pummeling each other?” Geneva thundered, her arms folded and her feet stomping against the hard floor.
“Oh, they're in a lot of trouble.” Lidia whispered.
I agreed with her. The professor was scolding them in front of the entire school instead of Briefing like we were supposed to do. No one seem to mind that the class had technically been over before it even began.
“I hope Geneva gives Raihn an hour of detention scooping Hollowborn carcasses.” Aeron scoffed.
“It seems unlikely. They'd have to shadowshift out of school to an active war front for that. Geneva is already pissed that they wasted her period.” Lidia shook her head.
My head whirled towards the both of them so fast I was sure I drew Geneva's attention to me. Fortunately, I hadn't. “Do they actually do that? Whisk students away to a war front just to punish them?”
Lidia and Aeron stared at me like I was being ridiculous. As if what they said was totally normal. Just when I thought I had learned a significant amount of things about the dragons, I realize there was still so much I didn't know.
“Since neither of you are going to answer my question, you have two hours of detention with me this weekend. Go back to your seats.” She dismissed.
Tina threw me a concerned look before she made her way up the podium to join the rest of the third years. Raihn's face was still fixed in a scowl as he made his way towards us.
Aeron let out a smug smile as Raihn approached while Lidia merely gave him a shake of her head. I kept my mouth shut and my expression neutral. I had been the reason for their fight after all. I didn't want to rub it in.
Raihn snarled at Aeron who snarled right back. My eyes went to Geneva, hoping she didn't see their exchange, but she had her eyes closed and was working on her breathing. I had no doubt it was to keep her from exploding.
“Now that we've gotten out of the way, and successfully wasted half of our period,” she glared pointedly at Tina and Raihn. “Let's start with today's Briefing.”
My back straightened as she picked up a scroll. She would begin the class by first reading the death roll and then moved onto war Briefing. There had been fewer names on the death roll today.
“... Natalia Rivera, Liam Quinlan, Aubrey Vega…”
“Mother below!” Aeron gasped in surprise.
My ears roared as the name fell out of Geneva's mouth. I forced myself to not shiver, to remain very still, while my insides had gone into a turmoil. I wanted to see Aurelia's reaction at the mention of her sister but I couldn't bring myself to look. I wasn't ready for whatever emotion I would find.
“May the Hearth be with them on–” Professor Geneva was cut short by a powerful shriek and an explosion of Waterborn magic, sending everyone close to the wielder flying. I already knew who the power belonged to but I turned anyway.
Aurelia's face had gone as white as her hair. Her eyes were widened in shock. I tried not to shudder as she leveled her gaze on me. A loud thud resonated through the Briefing room few seconds before pandemonium broke out.
Aurelia had collapsed.
I didn't think, I jumped to my feet and hurried towards her. Geneva was screaming at the class to maintain decorum but only a few people listened to her. Excluding me.
I pushed my way to her. I placed her head on my lap and listened for a heartbeat. Relief washed over me as I heard it. She had just fainted from the shock. She was unconscious but alive.
It took me a while to a realize everyone was now staring at me. My relief over Aurelia faded, my skin prickled with self awareness. I didn't know how many students were in the Briefing room, but I assumed the combination of all three years would result to a significant amount of students.
“We'll take her to the infirmary.” I heard Raihn said loudly before scooping Aurelia into his arms. I scrambled to my feet and followed him.
“We'll be there for…moral support.” Aeron said to a fuming Geneva. He dragged Lidia and they rushed after us. My eyes caught Tina's with the other third years. She gave me a stern look that told me to stay put, I gave her a small smile in return.
If she hadn't been so far away and already in trouble, I was certain she would have followed us too.
“Come back here all of you!” Geneva screamed. A ball of fire headed for us but we narrowly escaped it and made it out the door.
“Two weeks detention for all of you!” Geneva's voice filtered into the hallway, no doubt amplified by magic.
“Two weeks?!” Lidia gasped.
“At least we'll miss physical challenges. They start next week.” Aeron said. “And also form our team for The Binding.”
“Oh yeah? Afraid you'll get your weak bones broken during your very first physical challange?” Raihn snickered.
“Why don't you call me weak one more time and find out what will happen?” Aeron countered.
“Oh for fuck's sake!” Lidia groaned. “We just landed ourselves in two weeks of detention. This can't wait until we're not rushing an unconscious girl to the infirmary while dodging a pissed off Fireborn teacher?”
Raihn looked down and seem to remember he was carrying an unconscious Aurelia. He increased his footsteps and began walking ahead of us. Aeron did the same. Soon they were both fighting to be ahead of the other.
“At least they didn't shadowshift away.” I muttered.
“No, they just decided to bore us with more alpha dragon bullshit.” Lidia scoffed.
“Do you know what happened between them? Why they're always fighting? They both grew up at the Dragon Keep together but they hate each other so much.”
It didn't made sense that Raihn and Aeron didn't get along when they'd grew up together. To be fair, I didn't think Raihn was close to anyone. He bickered with Lidia and Tina too, but he wasn't hostile towards them. Today was the first time he physically fought with Tina.
My insides churned as I remembered I was the cause of that.
“I don't know what happened between them. I've never been to the capital until I got into Drakmor. The only thing I've heard is that they used to be inseparable.” Lidia shrugged.
We didn't speak again till we got to the infirmary. Raihn and Aeron had already gotten there before us. They leaned on opposite sides of the entrance, ignoring each other.
“Where is she?” I asked. Raihn gestured to where Aurelia laid on the bed, a few healers surrounding her. Her pale face reminded me too much of how I found her sister. I tore my gaze away before I thought much of it.
“Why was Tina so mad that I left last night?” Raihn asked just as Aeron said, “Why did you run off like that?”
They stared at me, both expecting me to answer their question first. I turned to Raihn because Aeron's question was too complicated. It would mean I had to reveal everything that happened, including telling Raihn that I had tricked him.
I didn't know what his reaction would be and I didn't want to find out. But answering Raihn's question also meant lying.
“She found me having a breakdown last night after a nightmare. She was mad because I was by myself when it happened.”
It was half true. I had a breakdown last night, but the nightmare had been real, not what they all thought.
“What was the nightmare about? Dreamt you fell down your bed?” Raihn said sardonically.
“Raihn!” Lidia called while Aeron muttered, “Asshole.”
“What?” Raihn seethed. “I was supposed to protect you from physical harm not emotional ones. Your crazy, batshit friend lost it on me because I wasn't there, even though there was nothing I could have done anyway. I'm your protector, not your babysitter. This is a war college. If you can't handle one night by yourself then maybe you don't deserve to be here. Tuck your tail between your legs and run back to Thornwood. It's not like anyone want you here anyway.” He began walking away after that.
“Raihn!” Aeron called.
“I'm the asshole, right? Have fun playing bodyguards of the werewolf. I'm out.” He shadowshifted after his last word.
I didn't know if it was possible but I could have sworn a piece of my heart vanished with him.