Page 18

Today was different than usual. It wasn’t just Warriors outside training this time. Everyone was here. The massive open space had been divided into sections as if it were an exhibition for Ascendants.

The rising sun bathed the grounds in gold light, and the sound of murmured chants, bursts of Celestial energy and weapons clashing filled the air.

I stood near the edge of the pit, arms crossed and feeling small amidst the crowd.

The Warriors, of course, were hard to miss.

Their section dominated the center of the grounds, where Ascendants were sparring with brutal intensity. Hunter was there with Silas as they both moved with skill and precision, their Celestial blades colliding with sharp metallic clangs.

I watched as Hunter ducked under Silas’s swing, pivoting with an ease that made it look effortless. It was terrible of me to want him to fail, but it was all I could think of as Silas lunged forward, and Hunter sidestepped, spinning his blade until the tip hovered at Silas’s throat.

I almost rolled my eyes before glancing towards the other sections.

To the right of the Warriors, the Healers were gathered in a quieter circle, their hands glowing faintly as they worked.

Marnie was among them, kneeling beside a volunteer with a nasty gash on his arm.

Her brows furrowed in concentration as she pressed her hands to the wound, and a soft golden light spilt from her palms, weaving itself into the torn skin.

Slowly, the tear closed, leaving only smooth skin behind.

“That’s incredible,” I whispered, unable to hide the awe in my voice.

“It’s amazing, alright.” Lucas came to stand by my side, and I nodded.

Farther down, the Guardians trained in a more shadowed part of the grounds. I watched as one of them—a tall girl with dark hair—closed her eyes, her hands moving in slow, fluid motions. It was honestly ethereal—all of it.

The Warriors.

The Healers.

The Guardians.

Even the Messengers worked in pairs, communicating telepathically, sending and receiving messages without a single spoken word.

I wrapped my arms tighter around myself, and every bit of negativity swirled across my mind. All I had to show these Celestials were my instincts. My will to fight.

But was that even enough?

“What are you two doing just standing there!” Marnie called out as she jogged over. Brushing a stray copper lock of hair from her face, she added, “Did you see what I did?”

I nodded with a smile.

“Impressive, Lewis,” Lucas admitted. “Hey, whenever I get ill, can you come over and heal me?”

Marnie chuckled, lightly slamming her fist against his shoulder, but her smile faltered when she glanced at me. “You’re doing that thing again.”

I balked. “What thing?”

“The thing where you compare yourself to everyone else and decide you’re not good enough. I may not read minds, but it’s written all over your face.”

I sighed, kicking at the dirt. “It’s hard not to when... look around, Marnie. Everyone here is extraordinary. It’s technically unfair. Why was I just cursed with endless clumsiness and the inability to sing?”

Marnie threw her head back with a laugh before coming to my side and wrapping an arm around my shoulder. “You have great taste in sweets if that helps.”

I shrugged, not entirely convinced. But before Marnie could say more, a loud clang echoed through the grounds as one of the Warrior’s swords hit the ground.

“Break’s over,” she said, nudging me lightly. “Come on, let’s see what else is happening.” I hesitated, glancing over at Lucas, who simply gave me an encouraging nod as I followed him and Marnie toward the other areas.

I rolled my shoulders, gripping the hilt of my sword tightly as Silas squared off with me again.

A cocky grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I swear, I’ll beat you this time.”

Which is what he always said.

I chuckled as he charged towards me. Our blades collided with a sharp ring, its force reverberating through my arms. He came at me again, this time energy circling his weapon as he aimed for my ribs. I parried, twisting my wrist and sending his blade off course.

“Huh,” I teased. “Not bad.”

He grunted in response, backing up for another attempt. But my focus wasn’t entirely on Silas anymore.

It was on her .

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Grace lingering near Lucas and that Healer girl. Arms crossed, her gaze darted between different groups, looking... lost.

I frowned, nearly missing Silas’s next wing.

“Oi! Eyes on me, pretty boy,” Silas said, puckering his lips in a mock kiss.

I blocked him again, this time with more force, sending him stumbling back. “Maybe if you were quicker, it wouldn’t matter where my eyes are.”

Silas smirked. “Ouch. Someone’s testy today—too soon?”

I ignored him, glancing back toward Grace. She wasn’t moving; she was just standing there like she didn’t know what to do with herself. She always looked like that, no matter where we were.

Silas sighed. “This is no fun when you’re not trying.”

I struggled to look back at him, and when I did, he pouted like a five-year-old. “You should practice using your enhanced strength,” I said, ignoring his previous tantrum. “Maybe then, you might win for once.”

Brandon scoffed, passing us by with thin daggers called Aetherion’s. Its purpose was that it remembered the movements of past wielders and guided the current person in combat. “What enhanced strength? The only thing he has to show for it is that six-pack, nothing else.”

“You fucker—” Silas lunged at him, grabbing Brandon in a headlock. “I won the last competition; what about you, huh? You haven’t even competed in any yet.”

Brandon couldn’t stop laughing as he tripped Silas up, and they landed on the ground. They were idiots. Idiots that I was sadly friends with.

Later, after Brandon and Silas had finally managed to stop bickering, I found Grace near the Healer’s circle, watching Marnie work her magic on others.

“Still just watching others do all the work?” I called out as I approached.

Grace turned sharply, her eyes narrowing as soon as she saw me. “I’m observing .”

“Right,” I said, crossing my arms. “Because standing on the sidelines is going to prepare you for what’s coming.”

She expelled a frustrated breath. “Why are you here? Don’t you already bother me enough back at the dorm?”

I shrugged, unwillingly enjoying how she became this other person when I was around. I aggravated her. She angered me. Yet, I couldn’t stop. “I’m just making sure you’re not planning to sit the whole of training out. Wouldn’t want you to break your perfect record of doing absolutely nothing.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, I thought she might actually swing at me. “You’re insufferable.”

“And you’re defensive,” I countered, taking a step closer. I didn’t care about the Healers suddenly watching us.

Grace’s eyes flared. It almost made me grin. Almost . “I don’t need to prove myself to you. I’m here for a reason. Deal with it.”

I blinked, surprised by her confidence. The smirk slipped from my face, but even as I was about to respond, I couldn’t. Marnie glanced over at us, wiping her glowing hands on a cloth.

She came to Grace’s aid, linking arms with her. Her eyes didn’t leave mine as she said to Grace, “Shall we go?”

“Yes, please,” Grace said quickly, and Marnie wasted no time leading her away.

It was only for a second that Grace seemed to hesitate, glancing back at me before giving me one raging look and a middle finger that caused my smirk to lock back into place.