Now that it was the first day of class, Clara wore Blaire Academy’s uniform. The two-layered skirt was white, high-waisted, and velvety, only reaching her mid-thigh. A white inner polo was tucked under it. And over it was a long-sleeved half mantle with three pairs of gold-colored buttons connected with gold chains. Pinned to her left chest was a gleaming ash gray pin, signifying she was a citizen of the Eirinia Empire, home of air-wielders.Clara trudged her way up the grassy slope where the bronze gate was located with Willow in tow. Clara practically jumped and bounced while biting her lip as excitement filled her to the brim. Her eyes twinkled as she waited for the gate to open. It stood on the edge of a cliff, the other side of it gave nothing but a high plunge down from the rock island. So she wondered how it would take them to the academy.“I hate to spoil the moment but how will you survive the academy without Ariah’s power?”Realization dawned on her, making her heart sink. Cl
“Haven’t you taken a bath before coming here? And of all places”—the prince waved his hand at the soft streaming water — “the lake. Really?” Alex and Willow searched for Clara around the campus when they didn’t see her emerge from the portal. They were about to send a report to the court when they heard a loud splash at the lake behind them.The prince was back from being grumpy and hot-headed. No sign of the gentle and caring prince who went after Clara at Rovenshire. Being an air prince really suited him—unpredictable and inconsistent.He stared back at Clara with the same intense amount of her glare. His face showed how bored he was, but she didn’t miss the sly smirk he failed to conceal. Clara removed her eyes from him to stare at her wet clothes.“What am I going to do? I can’t go in there all soaked.”Clara felt a change in the air around the prince as he brought his clasped fists up to his mouth and blew through them. A gust of wind blew past her, its warmth the same as the sum
As they reached the massive double doors at the front of the school, an elevated podium was the first thing to be seen, facing an open area where a large crowd could gather.Floorboards were carpeted. The walls and solid wood foundation were perfectly carved with intricate complex carvings. Aside from the huge chandeliers and a few floating crystal lights, the candle sconces lighted up the whole room.Alex started toward the staircase, but the loud chiming of a bell stopped him. He looked at his golden pocket watch from his vest. “That’s the bell that signals that breakfast, as well as the orientation, have started. Come on.”She followed him up the stairs which led into an adjoining hallway. They passed through a number of doors in the hall. A short while later, they stopped in front of a pair of red ornate double doors with glistening golden handlebars.He gestured his hand towards the door, but before Clara could speak, he was already bounding away down the right hall, waving an arm
Clara could hardly concentrate on what Holly was saying, for the prospect of the placement exam was starting to weigh on her. She imagined herself in the middle of unknown faces without anything—not even her powers—in case something went terribly wrong. The placement exam was supposed to be a measure of strength. It wouldn’t start in the next few hours, yet Clara feared she would flunk it.Holly showed Clara to a bathroom. It had a large bathtub, kidney-shaped and made of the smoothest white porcelain. The high ceilings were covered by enormous frescoed portraits, depicting Hiestora’s beginning of time—how it was created by the Guardian Deity. Against each of the walls—which were papered in elaborate swirls of turquoise, pink, and gold—was an oversized, lavishly carved wooden armoire.“I sleep in Chamber 5, Your Highness,” Holly said, leaning against the bathroom doorway. “That’s downstairs. In case you need me, there’s a communication system that’s set up in your bedroom. It’s directl
No, Clara didn’t know about it. Not a single thing about the problems this empire was facing. But there was one thing she understood. Right now, she was one of those who belong in the attuneless population, considering her inability to wield this body’s attribute.“Can I also have those marbles, Neith?” The two girls looked at her like she had said something unbefitting. A rift of confusion danced in their eyes. “Uh, first day jitters. Just like everybody else.” The side of her lips quivered from the forced smile. Holly did mention it was forbidden in the placement exam, but Clara would surely find a way to get past that hurdle.“Neith, can I?” she repeated when no one made a move.It was Neith who was first to recover. “O-Of course, Your Highness. I just happen to have the right one just for you. Although I think you’re strong enough on your own. Just a minute while I get it.”Neith disappeared behind the curtain that was beside the shelf. When she came back, she looked at Clara, her
The sun had kissed the horizon and the sky was tinged with a scarlet pigment. It went down and down until a soft glowing light brushed the atmosphere.Twilight was a foreshadow of the inevitable rising of the sun. And it only reminded Clara of the danger that would chase her even in a completely different identity.“The portals from the north, east, and west had all been checked. No malice was detected,” Maxwell informed first thing he arrived. Prince Alexander, Holly, Maxwell, and Clara were gathered in the academy’s open grass field. Even Willow was summoned from the Groven House. And the growing tension was thick.“And the south?” Alex enquired, a grim expression manifested on his face.“It hasn’t been opened since this morning, but I still checked. And I’m positive there’s no trace of energy from a suspicious entity,” said Maxwell, his stance guarded. He was stiff and very unlike the loud and fluid-as-a-water version of himself.Alex turned around, ever so slowly, taking away Clar
“Witch,” Willow called.“Can you stop calling me a witch? I am not.”Willow released a small wisp of sigh. “The Zephyrian council wouldn’t hold their tongue for too long. It’s only a matter of time before they bombard you with so many questions. How are you going to deal with that?”“Can’t you do something about it, Willow?” She tried to give the air spirit a puppy look even though she knew there wasn’t any soft spot in the Familiar’s heart.“Don’t try that on me. What happened to Princess Ariah isn’t something simple. They’ve been investigating the accident ever since, and now that they know she’s awake, they’ll be extracting answers from you in no time. The king and queen and the council had been generous to give you time when they thought you couldn’t remember.”She sighed. “Then I’ll just keep on pretending not to remember.”“And how long will you keep doing that? For all I know, they’re finding ways to help you remember. A divine healer will be coming from the south to treat you.”
A morning unlike all others.Emi rested under the shade of a mushroom, her bright blue eyes turning their gaze to the palace servants who each carried a harvest basket. If this was like any normal day in the castle, their laughs and jokes would shower the garden as the trees gift them with fruits in delight. Her skin that was naturally green turned blue, expressing her somber mood. And the little fairy’s perky pointed ears drooped to the sides of her head.She closed her eyes, drawing a shaky breath. Even nature had gotten silent this time. Their songs and melody turned into hushes of melancholy.Emi welcomed the cool and damp air, her face in the open and her delicate, transparent wings shivered. She could hear the silent cries of the trees, the flowers’ silent prayers which echoed the same wishes by the people of this kingdom.But when others saw gloom, she saw the world in silver blues. When there was freezing rain kissing the earth and grass, she saw coldness that brought her to a