Page 20 of A Touch of Stars and Stones (Kirrian #1)

twelve

. . .

Ever

I ’m not cut out for this.

“Come on, Ever!” Micah encourages as he keeps going. He’s last, clearly struggling, although not at the same rate I am, but he’s still got a smile on his face, and it’s a little infectious.

I force my weak and shaky legs into action and catch him up, thanks to him jogging on the spot.

I keep my head up and avoid eye contact with everyone as we run, giggling across the line where we all started.

Please, no more. No more running, I silently beg.

“Ever, I see you need to do some work on your fitness. We expect all trainees to be Warrior fit. Not being from Kirrasia, we’ll expect you to right this over the coming weeks.” Rowan nods at me.

My anger unfurls within my chest as I take in his words.

How is that fair? Will I be subjected to this in all my classes?

I’m at a disadvantage because I didn’t know anything about Kirrasia until a couple of days ago, and now I’ll have to work twice as hard to catch up or be punished or embarrassed in front of everyone.

My mind spins off into a panic at the prospect.

“Again! No stopping. There and back.” Rowan obviously didn’t hear my internal plea from a moment ago.

This time, I try to keep up. No more laughing with Micah, who seems to have lost his sense of humour as well.

My chest aches, my lungs burn, but I concentrate, focusing on my legs, willing them to move faster.

As my arms swing, helping to propel me forward, the pain lifts, the wall I was racing against lifts, and it’s…

easier. My stride evens out, getting longer, and I’m not fighting to keep up.

I’m doing it. I’m running freely. Fast. And I’m passing people until I’m level with one of the girls, and Ten, and one more trainee out in front.

It’s like my body just found another gear, having to go through the struggle like a phase, and coming out on the other side. A pulse of energy surges through me, charging my muscles, and I push against it, using it to run harder.

We all step over the line and turn to sprint back, and now, my legs are sure and firm under each step. I push. My toes dig in, and I urge myself on, running faster and faster.

And I fly.

Until I’m out in front, past the other girl, the world around me a blur, and I’m the first one across the line.

Looking back, I watch as they run towards me, and I see the expressions they have on their faces. Ten is confused, his hair messy and free from the style he wore the other night. The girl with long, golden blonde hair and a red-hued top looks like she might murder me, and I step back instinctively.

It gives her the upper hand, and I silently curse.

The other trainees all cross the line as I watch, and I wait for Micah, who doesn’t look so happy about being last this time.

“Ever?” Rowan comes to my side. “Come with us.” The woman with the long silver hair, Aurelia, I think, joins us, and they lead me through and into one of the classrooms in the training centre.

It’s like the one Micah showed me, a small bookshelf loaded with volumes near the front desk, and several lines of tables evenly spaced through the rest of the room. I find a seat on one of the wooden stools and wait, my heartbeat slowing now that I’m not racing.

Aurelia sits at the desk, which I presume belongs to the Custodian, and Rowan perches on the edge.

“Ever, can you describe to me how you felt on that last sprint?” Aurelia’s voice is calm and soft, lulling me into comfort.

“Um, yes.” I shift. “It was easier. Like a block had been lifted. My muscles didn’t hurt anymore, and my body just did what I wanted, like I had excess energy to run.” Did I do something wrong? I ask myself.

“It didn’t look very comfortable at the start,” Rowan states.

“No. I can’t remember the last time I ran.”

“Yet, you beat two Warrior trainees with the gift of speed.” Aurelia makes the point they’re clearly concerned about.

I look between them. “I’m sorry. Is that bad? I got the impression that you wanted me to run and excel at it. Isn’t that what you implied, Rowan?”

“It is. We’re just trying to work out if you were wilfully mocking us with your first attempt. Maybe trying to gain favour with Micah. Or if it’s something else.”

Are you kidding me? “Like what? And I wasn’t doing anything intentionally. It just… happened. One minute, I was struggling, feeling like my lungs might fail because my chest was squeezing so much. Then it was gone.”

They look at each other.

“Is this going to happen each time I join the trainees? Pulling me aside to quiz my performance?” I shift in my seat and grapple with my annoyance.

“Of course not. It’s just you’re exhibiting?—”

“What is the power I’m manifesting?” I blurt the question. It’s been waiting to be asked out loud for some time. First, with Lyle, maybe with Ten. But certainly now. “What is my Order? That’s what you call it, isn’t it? It’s why I’m here. Tell me?”

“We can’t. Not at the moment. You’ll need to?—”

“Wait for my Transference,” I finish. “Will anyone actually tell me something before this damn ceremony I know nothing about?” It was an infuriating feeling knowing nothing would become clear until it was set.

And nobody would budge until then. “Everyone here knew what their power or gift was before it,” I go on, “they have an idea before the Transference. So why can’t anyone tell me mine?

Is it weak? Has it not awakened correctly because I’m from outside of Kirrasia? ”

They look at each other again, “It’s not always that simple. With some people, yes. Others have a very different Transference. You’ll have to be patient.” Aurelia tries to settle me, but it only sparks more frustration.

My gut tells me to concentrate, focus, and direct my thoughts at both of them, as if in some mock staring contest. There’s no sense of energy from them, no heat or rush, not like with others I’ve been around. And that anger in the pit of my stomach festers and seeps through me as I stand and wait.

Rowan’s eyes level with mine. “What are you doing?” he asks, only it’s edged with accusation.

“Just trying to figure this out.” I stare back at him, my anger strengthening my backbone.

“Perhaps you should return to your apartment for today. You can join us for lessons another time.”

“Ah, right. Punishment for doing something you asked me to do, but not in the way you want? Seems fair.” I hop off the stool, feeling close to breaking—either into tears or something in my way, I can’t pick, and I march out the way I came, not waiting for them to follow.

To my relief, they don’t.

Micah is lurking near the entrance to the classrooms as I storm out, and I stomp right past him.

“What happened then?”

“I’m to return to my room. Training’s over.”

“Really? Wow. Easy day. Switch with me? I hate all the exercise and strength stuff, too.”

“I don’t get it. They want me to learn, right?” I turn to him.

“I guess.”

“But they won’t let me.” The anger evaporates, leaving an empty hole where knowledge should be.

“Can you help?” I ask, and I push the memory of the previous night away when I asked Ten the very same thing.

“You said there’s a library in The Tower?

Maybe that will provide some answers about people like me?

From outside of Kirrasia? Whose magic manifests differently? ”

“Ah, well, it’s kind of a special library. Only the Heads of Order and members of The Chamber have access.”

“Well, I’m their guest. Technically. I went to their stupid meal. I don’t see why I can’t use some books if they’re not going to help.”

His eyes dart around, and he pulls his arms behind his back, but then he smiles. “It’s not like they can expel us from training. Everyone has to complete it. At least until the first trial.”

His tone makes it unclear if he’s trying to convince himself or me. “You’ll help?” I confirm. The mention of a trial just makes me more determined to seek my own answers, and I’ll ask Micah to fill me in on those later.

“Sure. Come on. I would say we should run back to Court, but I’ve done enough of that for today. You, well, that’s another story. They don’t see many trainees like you,” he tags on.

We head off, but his comment lodges in my head.

And I can’t let it go. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re raw, that’s all. Some people channel their natural powers. Some know it through and through from birth. Yours seems to have hit you all at once. It’s different.”

At least his explanation makes sense, in a weird way, and I grasp onto that seed of knowledge.

“Where are you going, Micah Star?” One of the Custodian’s calls, but it doesn’t stop me.

“Escorting Ever back. Orders from Rowan,” he shouts back. I don’t turn around, but they seem to buy his answer.

“Will you tell me who the others are? The trainees? It doesn’t look like I’m going to get a chance to meet them today.”

“Sure.”

“Can you start with the blonde who looked like she was going to kill me?”

“Huh, that’s easy. She wants to kill everyone. Crimson Aster. Her twin brother is Calix. They are both Warriors, but her gift is speed. She’s usually the fastest and beats everyone. You beat her today, hence, the death stare.”

Great way to make friends. “How did I beat her, though?”

He shrugs. “Ascella is another Warrior. She’s smaller, lighter than Crimson, and way nicer. She’s fast, too. And would never want to kill you. She’d be a good friend.”

“Is she your friend?” I ask.

“Sort of.”

“And Ten? Are you friends with him?” I ask, unable to contain my intrigue. He’s occupied enough of my mind already, but I hope my question doesn’t let on to that snippet.

“Ten? You mean Aten Ciro? I guess you’ve already spoken with him if you’re calling him Ten. He’s not my friend. But he and the Aster twins are close. Calix has been his best friend since they were kids.”

“You’re all the same age? You all know each other?”