Page 19

Grey clouds scattered the sky, casting shadows through the arched windows of the classroom as I tried to keep my focus on what Sariel was saying.

A few days had passed since the training exhibition, but I still couldn’t shake any of it off.

Every time I closed my eyes, I either saw how the Celestials looked at me or how Hunter did with that never-relenting stare.

“Today, you’ll be pairing off to practice controlling visions,” Sariel announced, and the room instantly buzzed with excited whispers.

“As a pair, one of you will be the guide, controlling the vision, while the other anchors them back to reality. This isn’t just about tuning into your sights but also about trust. Something Celestials admire. ”

I glanced around the room, watching as everyone stood from their benches and began to pair off.

Sariel continued speaking while I shifted in my seat, unsure of what to do or where to go.

I knew I should have avoided this class; instead, I’d listened to Sariel’s advice and attended it because I was curious. .. and stupid.

“Veronica,” Sariel called out, her sharp eyes narrowing. “Where’s your partner?”

Veronica shrugged. “Don’t have one.”

Sariel’s gaze drifted towards where I was, and I froze. Please don’t choose me. Please don’t choose me. Please don’t— “Then Grace can be your anchor.”

The universe hated me.

Veronica’s icy gaze landed on me. I could practically feel the disdain radiating off her as she folded her arms across her chest.

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from huffing.

Of all people, why her? The last thing I wanted was to be responsible for anchoring her during a vision.

But there was no way I could argue with Sariel.

I was already on a thin line with the Angelic Council.

So, swallowing my frustration, I nodded and made my way over to Veronica.

Veronica didn’t say a word as I stood in front of her, but the way her black-painted lips curled into a tight, unimpressed frown said everything.

“This should be fun,” she muttered under her breath, and I forced a neutral expression as we sat down, cross-legged, facing each other.

Sariel walked between the pairs, giving us the instructions we needed. It was quite simple, really. Veronica would reach a state that could trigger a vision, and I would be responsible for keeping her tethered to reality. But the way she was glaring at me told me this wasn’t going to be that easy.

“Visionaries, close your eyes,” Sariel instructed. “Anchors, remain as you are.”

Veronica gave me an eyeroll before doing as she was told, and I tried to steady my breathing as I mentally prepared myself.

“Now,” Sariel said, “Anchors. You may touch the visionary.”

Then it started—a subtle shift in the air, as people grabbed each other’s hands or arms. I watched, mesmerized, as faint golden threads began to shimmer around the pairs. They danced and twisted, stretching into infinity, some as thin as spider silk, others thick as ropes.

“Futures,” Sariel murmured from the front of the room, her voice low but resonant. “Possibilities. This is the gift of Guardians—to see and to guide the world accordingly. But ... futures are never fixed. They can change. In fact, they are always changing.”

One pair, a girl with a sleek braid, seemed caught in an argument with herself. The threads around her shimmered erratically, flashing from gold to silver to a dull grey. The Guardian frowned, muttering under her breath as her anchor steadied her with a firm grip.

“The harder the choice,” Sariel continued, “the more volatile the threads. It is the duty of Guardians to weigh these futures, to find the path that serves the greater balance.”

I hesitated, my fingers hovering over Veronica’s hand. She already looked annoyed, her sharp green eyes narrowing as if daring me to mess this up.

“Just do it,” she snapped, her voice low enough for only me to hear. I swallowed hard and clasped her hand, bracing myself for whatever might happen.

As soon as I did, her body jerked, and her face twisted in pain for several seconds.

“Veronica?” I whispered, unsure if I was supposed to speak or not.

She fell silent for a moment, the threads around us darkening into an inky black—then, without warning, she screamed.

I jumped as her panicked voice echoed through the room.

“Something’s happening to my brother! I can’t change it—I—I can’t stop it. No!”

My blood ran cold. “Ver—”

“This is all your fault!” she cried, her eyes snapping open but still glassy as if she were lost in the vision. “You did this!”

I stumbled back, the accusation slamming into me with full force. “What—”

“You shouldn’t even be here!” Her voice was filled with rage as her fingers clawed at the floorboards, drawing blood. “You’re just as bad as a Riftkeeper!”

I looked around the room, panicked about what to do. Sariel was moving toward us, her usual calm demeanor replaced with urgency.

“Leave the classroom,” she said to me, kneeling in front of Veronica.

“What? But—”

“Now!” Sariel repeated in a way that left no room for argument.

Veronica continued to scream with tears streaming down her face as she cried out for her brother. My stomach sank as I stood and stumbled toward the door, barely able to breathe past the agonizing sounds.

I ran across Celestia’s hallways, the words, ‘ this is all your fault’ repeating in my mind like a curse I couldn’t shake off.

I didn’t know where exactly I was going, but I just wanted to get out of here. I wanted—

Stumbling to a stop, I blinked as I almost crashed into someone. I stared at a crisp, clean blue suit before my eyes slid to Azrael’s face.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, a pathetic apology. My head was throbbing.

“It seems you lack spatial awareness as much as you lack the skills to be a Warrior.”

I didn’t care for the insult, at least not at that moment.

“Perhaps,” he continued, straightening the collar of his shirt. “You should watch where you’re going. Would hate for you to get lost one of these days.”

My brows furrowed at the meaning behind that, but when I went to ask, Eden appeared.

“Grace.” She smiled from behind Azrael, though her smile quickly morphed into concern. “Are you alright?”

I wasn’t sure if I had nodded or not.

She looked at Azrael and cleared her throat. “How is she settling in with the Warriors?” Her question seemed innocent, something to ease the tension from the air, but it didn’t work.

Azrael turned to face her properly, giving me his back.

“You already know what my opinions are, Eden. No need to start meaningless conversations.” He shouldered past her, and she shook her head, before plastering on a wide smile as she focused on me.

She cleared her throat and changed subjects.

“So... have you been to the library yet?”

I shook my head.

“Oh,” she said, suddenly beaming. “Well, then you’ll absolutely love it.” She hooked her arm through mine and started dragging me across the corridors. “Come, let me show you. It’s the perfect place to unwind; hardly anyone goes there, and I can tell it is exactly what you need right now.”