Page 57 of The Scars Within (Twisted Thorn #1)

The wind whistled, whipping my hair in every direction as I crossed the swinging bridge.

Each step made the wooden planks creak, and though the bridge swayed with the gusts, it never felt like it would give way.

I kept my focus ahead, squinting against the blinding morning sun and raising my arm to shield my eyes from the harsh light.

I turned to the next bridge on my right as I reached the far side.

The sun’s intensity faded as I stepped off the bridge onto a narrow dirt path nestled between towering stone walls.

The cool shade offered brief relief, and the sound of my footsteps echoed off the rock, making it feel as though the mountains themselves were whispering around me.

The path twisted and turned, first to the left, then to the right, guiding me like a snake weaving through the rocky terrain.

Finally, the stone walls parted, revealing a small village of huts with cone-shaped roofs, each one with thin trails of smoke rising from its chimneys.

The smell of burning wood lingered in the air.

People moved about in a quiet rhythm—gathering laundry from lines, carrying crates from place to place—but no one seemed to notice me as I walked through.

The huts were old, their thick stone walls weathered and rough. Each one was circular, with numbers painted haphazardly on their battered wooden doors. I passed a couple of windows but made sure to keep my head down and not invade anybody’s privacy.

A siren blared suddenly, pulling me from the peaceful scene of the village.

My heart pounded as I blinked and found myself back in the cave.

The odd dream lingered, my pulse racing in my ears as I tried to control my breathing.

Sitting up in my bedroll, I reached over and shook Laney.

She didn’t stir, but Pehper was already up, standing near the cave entrance with her back to us.

I groaned, rolling out of my bedroll and pulling on my boots before walking over to her. “Did they go scout?” I asked, my voice rough from sleep.

“Mhm.” Pehper barely acknowledged me, her eyes fixed outside the cave.

I scowled. “Why didn’t you wake us? What if the other team bombarded us, and Laney and I were still asleep, unprepared?”

“I was enjoying my morning without your two annoying voices,” Pehper shot back, not bothering to turn around.

I growled in frustration, biting my tongue to keep from snapping back. Instead, I marched back to Laney, shaking her more forcefully this time. “Wake up,” I muttered as I started packing up my belongings.

Once Laney was ready for the day, she joined me by the dying fire, munching on leftover rations for breakfast.

The sun was barely peeking over the horizon, casting long shadows across the cave floor. Davis and Shayde should be back soon.

“ They’re on their way back now, ” Lakota’s voice echoed calmly in my mind, answering my unspoken thought.

The sound of wings beating in the air grew louder until a heavy thud echoed outside, confirming Lakota’s statement.

The sun poured in behind the boys as they entered the cave, casting their figures in bright silhouettes.

The wind tousled Davis’s sandy blonde hair while Shayde’s warm brown eyes beamed with energy .

Pehper rushed over, wrapping her arms around them in an awkward hug that neither returned with much enthusiasm.

“So, what elementals are we up against?” I asked, my gaze fixed on Shayde.

He met my eyes for a brief second, his jaw tightening, before turning to address the group. “We found their camp, but there were no dragons in sight. Looks like they don’t have any fire elementals either, which gives us an aerial advantage.”

Davis added, “We got as close to their cave entrance as we could, but the terrain made it hard to get a clear view of their team. We do know they’ve got two second-years, but we do not know who they are.

Even without fire elementals, they might have strong elementals from the other three categories. ”

Shayde clapped his hands together eagerly. “So why wait? Let’s attack, steal their egg, and end this campaign early. The weather’s clear, no reason to delay.”

Laney raised her hand, “How far is it on foot?”

Davis responded, “We’ve got three dragons, and if they agree to take passengers, we could get there quickly–”

Before he could finish, Pehper stepped forward, shaking her hands as if warding off a nightmare. “Uh uh. I am not riding on a dragon, especially without a fitted saddle.”

“A good rider doesn’t need a saddle,” Shayde and I said at the same time accidentally.

“But I’m not a rider!” Pehper squeaked, her face pale as she shifted nervously. Was she… scared?

Part of me wanted to mock her, knowing it would be precisely what she’d do if the roles were reversed.

But I wasn’t like her. So instead, I offered, “What if the three of us fly over on our dragons, and Laney and Pehper stay here to guard our egg? Since they don’t have a dragon, they’re not likely to attack us over here anytime soon. ”

Pehper’s relief was palpable despite her attempts to hide it behind that familiar scowl.

I could tell she hated that I’d come up with a plan that conveniently excused her from flying, but she kept quiet for once.

The rest of the group agreed, and we quickly moved on to discussing strategies for both teams.

Soon enough, Davis, Shayde, and I were packed and ready to head out. Laney pulled each of us into a tight hug, whispering reminders to stay safe. As we exited the cave, she winked at me and blew a kiss. “See you soon.”

The climb up the rocky terrain was brief but steep, and when we reached the plateau, our dragons were already stretching their wings, their scales glistening in the morning sun.

Spear was the first to trot towards us, his green scales shimmering.

He seemed particularly energized, his tail swinging with enthusiasm.

I smiled at the sight, but before I could comment, Lakota whipped his head to the side, and I heard a loud smack.

“ His fucking tail just poked my eye out! ” Lakota growled.

I snorted, barely holding back a laugh. “ He’s just excited. ”

Davis grinned as he climbed onto his dragon, settling into place. “Ready to show them what an aerial advantage really looks like?”

I nodded, taking a deep breath as I approached Lakota. The familiar feeling of anticipation buzzed through me. It was time to take flight.

I mounted Lakota’s back, securing the strap around my waist and gripping his spikes.

Shayde and Drithan turned to face us, ready and waiting for the signal.

With a nod from me, they took off into the sky, Davis close behind.

Lakota crouched low, then surged upward, his powerful wings slicing through the wind.

The ground quickly shrank beneath us as we soared higher, the cool air whipping around my face.

This was the first time I had been thankful for my leather gloves. The temperature has been dropping slowly, but even more so this high in the mountains. My palms were warm against Lakota’s skin, but the tops of my hands were freezing. The chill burned my ears and nose.

The three of us soared through the mountain peaks, with Lakota and me allowing Davis and Shayde to lead the way.

It felt so peaceful and invigorating. I knew the War Campaigns would be starting soon, but I couldn’t help but feel anxious about the randomization of the campaign.

Though we were enrolled in a War College, this would be our first true test of battle.

Every day, I became more confident in my elemental abilities, relishing the opportunity to experiment with both elements simultaneously. Mastering not just one but two made me feel stronger than I’d ever felt—mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Lakota and I tilted to the side, gliding smoothly between two peaks.

While we were gliding through the air, I replayed our first Arcane Battle Simulation in my mind, recalling how Laney and I had fought back-to-back before channeling an element. At that moment, we hadn’t been able to wield any magic, which meant we had to rely on hand-to-hand combat.

Why hasn’t Mageia taught us that? Or any weapons training, for that matter?

It seems crucial, especially considering what had happened last night.

Our elements aren’t invincible, and thankfully, we had learned that lesson in a non-life-threatening way.

What if we find ourselves face-to-face with a Tyrian and don’t have our magic or a weapon to defend ourselves?

None of us had voiced our concerns then, but we should have.

Maybe we can bring it up with our professors once we return.

If our college allowed mundane individuals to enroll and learn how to fight without relying on their elements, it would significantly enhance our forces against Tyria. That open opportunity could be life-changing for those who had never been given a chance to apply.

Face to face…

“ You never told me what you meant when you said you found me, ” I said to Lakota, my curiosity piqued.

He tilted his head slightly, glancing back at me.

“ I wish I could explain it fully. But just like last night, my memories have always been fragmented. Each day, I awaken with a bit more clarity about my past, yet I can’t fully grasp what those memories mean.

It’s more like an instinctive feeling deep within me, guiding me along the way. ”

That’s… odd. “ Have you ever talked to other dragons about it? ”

“ Dragons have only existed for five hundred years, ” he replied, a hint of sorrow in his voice. “ I wish I could say we’ve built a society and formed friendships, but I’d be lying. ”

His response weighed heavily on my heart. “ How old are you? ”