#11 Rivenstar

Rowyn Vale POV

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

What the actual…?!

Before I could even groan, the mattress tilted and dumped me right on my ass. I let out a low moan, tangled in my blanket like a damn burrito, while the castle lights flickered cheerfully.

“Rude,” I muttered, prying myself off the floor.

My eyes darted to the clock.

7:30.

“FUCK!” I shot to my feet. “Class starts in thirty minutes!”

I lurched toward the bathroom like a half dead zombie and slammed a toothbrush into my mouth, scrubbing like I was on a mission. My reflection looked like death mated with chaos and left their lovechild smeared across my face.

As I fumbled for my makeup bag, I muttered around the toothbrush, “Wouldn’t it be fucking amazing if I could just snap my fingers and my makeup and hair....”

The air shimmered around me like heat off pavement. I froze mid sentence, spit into the sink, and gaped at the mirror.

Oh. My. Gods.

My hair had been styled into perfect soft waves, pulled back on one side with silver skull pins that highlighted my long, pointed ears. My usual black lip chaos was replaced with a shimmering rose pink, and somehow… I didn’t hate it. My signature smokey eye was flawless, already done, glitter and all. And were those diamond studded nose and lip rings?

“Vaerion,” I whispered reverently, “you absolute magical bad bitch of a castle. I fucking love you.”

The lights blinked, smugly, if you asked me.

I yanked on my custom stitched uniform, tight black corset top, pleated skirt, and black thigh high boots over fishnet stockings. Tossed on my leather backpack, spritzed with vanilla and rose perfume, then snapped my fingers.

Thistle appeared in a sparkle of sass. “You look gorgeous!”

“Thanks, girlie.” I grinned, and we took off down the hall. It was 7:45. If I hauled ass, I could snag coffee and a croissant before class.

We barreled into the dining hall. And I do mean barreled, because I wasn’t looking where I was going, and BAM.....I slammed into a wall of abs.

Okay, not a wall. A Zephyr.

His arms wrapped around me like we did this all the time. “Watch where you’re going, little flame,” he murmured, his voice like honey drenched sin.

My ovaries detonated. My thighs clenched involuntarily.

Before I could snap back, Seraphina’s voice cut through behind him. “She’s so uncivilized. This isn’t the gutter you crawled out of, half breed.”

“Shut the fuck up, Sera,” Kalyx growled, stepping in. “Nobody gives a shit about your classist bullshit.”

Her face turned tomato red before she huffed and stormed off with her glittery clones.

Both boys smirked like I owed them something. I scowled. “Leave me alone,” I snapped, flipping my hair and storming off like the unbothered queen I was pretending to be.

I inhaled a croissant and burned my tongue on coffee while power walking to Combat Strategy & Weapon Summoning. I burst into the room at 8:05, panting.

Only one person was there. A tall, broad professor with warm amber eyes and a scar across his nose. He smiled kindly. “Class isn’t until nine, dear.”

I blinked. “You’re kidding.”

“Nope. It’s Tuesday.”

Of course it was.

Groaning, I thanked him and slunk back to the dining hall. At least now I had time for real food.

On the way, I ran into Aster, and we loaded our plates with eggs, bacon, toast, and more bacon. Okay, and another cup of coffee.

“So,” I asked between bites, “what house do you wanna be in?”

Aster giggled. “You’ll learn about them this week. But Thursday’s the Godblood Test, where they assess our magic and link us to our bloodline.”

“Magical paternity test?” I raised a brow.

She snorted. “More like divine ancestry. Some people awaken. Some get nothing.”

I hummed. “Whatever I get, I’ll use it.”

We scarfed our breakfast and made it to class on time. The room was a gym meets arena with a seating section up front.

We chose the front row. Professor Damaris was tall, built like a mercenary, had hair in a messy knot. He smiled as we arrived. His energy radiated power.

“You must be Rowyn and Aster,” he said smoothly.

“Welcome to Combat Strategy. I’m Professor Damaris. By the end of the semester, you’ll know how to win any battle before drawing your blade.”

Oh fuck yes.

Let’s go.

The Barbie Fae Hive slithered in. Seraphina’s bruise was blooming beautifully (you’re welcome), and she still had the audacity to hiss, “Try not to trip over your peasant boots, Vale.”

Aster stiffened.

Before I could clap back, Professor Damaris’s voice cut like a blade. “You want to talk shit in my class?” He pointed to the mat. “Settle it there. Otherwise, shut up and learn.”

Seraphina clamped her mouth shut so hard I swear I heard her pride snap.

“Gods, I like him,” I muttered. Aster snorted.

“Books out,” he said, and our massive magical tomes opened to Chapter One: Weapon Summoning.

“You’ll each bind to one weapon,” he said. “It will answer your call for life. You don’t choose it. It chooses you, with a drop of blood.”

He waved the book shut. “Up. Follow me.”

We followed him to the wall of relics. Swords, spears, glaives, bows… all of them buzzing with old magic.

“Fifty weapons. Thirty of you. Take your time. You’ll know.”

Everyone scattered. I didn’t. I was already moving.

Something pulled me, rib deep and unrelenting, straight to her. A war axe. Double headed. Ruby in the hilt. Wicked and perfect.

I reached out. She flew into my palm, sealing to me with a sting and a rush of blood, and I exhaled. Complete.

I twirled her, stepped onto the mat, and danced. A blur of slashes and pivots, cuts and power. When I stopped, the room was dead silent.

Damaris clapped once. “Rowyn has found her weapon. Keep looking, everyone.”

To me, he murmured, “That axe has waited five hundred years. Never chosen anyone. It was waiting for you.”

The chill down my spine didn’t go away. He snapped his fingers and the axe disappeared.

“Now summon it,” he said.

I closed my eyes. Thought of her. Felt her. She appeared in my hand before I opened them.

“Your weapon has a name,” he said softly. “Listen.”

Silence. A pulse. A whisper.

Rivenstar.

“Her name is Rivenstar.”

A few gasps. Damaris smiled, impressed, and maybe a little worried. “Welcome to the battlefield, Miss Vale.”

Across the room, Seraphina looked like she was chewing glass. Aster bounced over, glowing. “You were amazing!”

I smirked. “I think I’m in love.”

“With the axe?”

“With the violence.”

Damaris clapped again. “Alright, murderers. Bloodlines get tested Thursday. Try not to die before then.”

Rivenstar hummed beneath my skin.

I was ready.