I had a history of my own, but I did better than most keeping that under tight wraps. It would take a tornado to reveal what had driven me to the Academy in the first place.
When blessed silence engulfed me after Sol’s departure, I let out another long breath, wishing I could spend some time in meditation before starting the day. Today, however, there was no time for contemplation or reflection.
Excitement drifted through the air, palpable and enticing. Whatever energies this Half
ling brought with her, it was realm-changing, and I wanted a front-row seat.
In spite of Sol’s delay to my morning, I still arrived early to my conjuring class. This being a more advanced class, I didn’t expect to see the Halfling. It made me want to wander outside and see if I could spot her.
“Did you hear we have a new student?” Aerie asked me, one of the Air Fae who often indulged in the latest gossip.
“Quit stirring up motes,” I replied. Everyone on campus had heard about the new student. I didn’t live under a rock.
“She’s tried to kill Ignis twice now. First with her little show of fire power. Then by trying to drown her and Sickle and several others in the Fire Dorms. If Sickle hadn’t been there, she would have killed Ignis. I saw it all. Well, the first incident, anyway. The second one, I was in the Air Quad.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “Sounds terrifying,” I said, placating her. Last thing I wanted to do was goad a fae known to stir up trouble.
“It was!” She kept jabbering, but other students thankfully indulged her bullshit, giving me a chance to meander away.
Pretending to be engrossed in a piece of lint on my suit, I brushed it off before I took my seat, a floating pedestal three desks down that gave me a perfect view of the door. I liked to see who came in and out. Conjuring took place in an enclosed orb where anything summoned—intentionally or accidentally—couldn’t escape. It left the doorway as the sole entrance and exit.
With the clock nearly at the late-morning dial, the students started to stream in. Dark hair and uniforms made all the Air Fae look almost the same, but I could spot the small traits that set them apart. They liked to keep their hair short, which was why I’d let mine grow out. The last thing I wanted to be was just another Air Fae.
Then, there she was. I’d been talking myself out of the possibility of seeing the Halfling up close, but she was actually here. A bright glimpse of sunlight and golden hair as she eased into the room with her hands clasped in front of her thighs. The standard Academy uniform clung to her curves, which were far more sensual than an Air Fae’s and immediately made my eyes wander from her head to her toes. I could write a song about her grace, undoubtedly innate in the lithe movements of one who wielded the element of air, but there was so much more to her that had me mesmerized.
A flash of dangerous dark-blue eyes broke me from the spell. Exos, the notorious Royal Spirit Fae, instantly took note of me and glowered. “Eyes to yourself.”
An order.
I wasn’t used to those, but I knew better than to challenge the royal, especially after what he’d done to Sol. The Spirit Fae could manipulate one’s very will, and I had no interest in testing the strength of this particular royal’s ethical qualms about doing that inside the classroom.
The Halfling fidgeted while the Air Fae took their seats. I tried not to watch her, but it was damn near impossible. She was so utterly fascinating with her round ears and beautiful blonde hair.
Everyone took their assigned seats, leaving the usual circle of empty pedestals around me open. The Halfling took one of the chairs closest to me before glancing between Exos and me, murmuring something I couldn’t hear—which was impressive, given that air currents normally obeyed me and I could hear any whispered secret within my vicinity.
“Yes. That’s him.” The royal nodded, his words soft as he sat behind her, providing him with a clear view of her back and the entryway.
“Hi,” the Halfling said, startling me when I realized she was actually talking to me.
“Oh, uh, hi,” I said, resisting the urge to glance at the powerful Spirit Fae that was just at the edge of my sight. I didn’t care for his proximity, but based on the light tremors of power in the air, that was exactly what he wanted—for everyone to feel uneasy.
Definitely a warrior.
The Halfling smiled shyly, and it felt like sunlight was exploding all around me again. A warm breeze swirled around her that immediately called to my innate element, coaxing me to lean closer, so I did.
The royal cleared his throat. “Distance, Air Fae.”
Before I could reply—and with what, I had no idea—the professor entered and tapped a staff against the ground, sending light bursts of air fluttering through the enclosed room.
Professor Helios, one of the more ancient Air Fae, was considered a master of conjuring. He wore his dark hair long, a customary style for one of his age. The thick strands swept around him on an invisible breeze, giving him the illusion of floating. Lengthy robes added to the effect, and he surveyed the class with his inky eyes. Most Air Fae had darker-hued eyes, but not dark enough to overtake the pupil. Professor Helios, however, was powerful—and old—so he had an eerie kind of gaze that made it difficult to look directly at him.
He wasted no time and conjured an air sprite to his side. The Halfling let out a soft gasp that made something in me unhinge, but I managed to keep myself in one piece.
The small creature immediately began chittering and buzzed around the Air Fae’s head.
“Class, as you can see, we have a new student,” Professor Helios said with a sweeping motion. Wind was normally invisible, but when scented with power, it could send color through a controlled breeze. Helios’s power was dark, and a shadow swept over the Halfling, making her stiffen. The royal subtly reached out to stroke his fingers through her hair, whispering secret words that I couldn’t hear.
Strange. Exos was a Spirit Fae with an affinity for fire, not air. I should be able to hear them.