Page 9 of The Scars Within (Twisted Thorn #1)

After cleaning up the aftermath of our food fight, I exited the cafeteria with the initial crew that started it. We were stopped around the corner by Rhodes and Pehper. Pehper wore a satisfied grin on her face while Rhodes leaned impertinently against the wall with his arms crossed.

“Wylder. Thorne,” he said, pushing off the wall and motioning for us to follow with a single wave of his finger.

Shayde immediately stepped forward. “Rhodes, Scar had nothing to do with this. I started the fight.”

“Now,” Rhodes retorted sharply, not bothering to turn back.

I nodded to my friends to let them know it was all right and to head to our next class without me. Falling in step with Shayde, I made eye contact with Pehper as we passed. Her smug expression made it clear who had thrown my name to Rhodes.

Rhodes led us through the labyrinthine corridors of Mageia, each step echoing off the ancient stone walls.

The hallways were dimly lit by enchanted torches that flickered with a ghostly flame, casting eerie shadows that danced along the walls.

Mundane faculty members who could summon a single flame kept the castle lit throughout.

We passed through a grand archway and entered a vast hall with a vaulted ceiling that stretched up to the top floor of the college.

Stained glass windows glowed with sunlight, depicting wielders of each element and dragons that carried their riders into battle.

Other than earlier in class, I have never seen a dragon up close before.

A few had flown over Caydean in the past, but I only got a glimpse of the magical beasts.

One may fear the beasts, but I have always been amazed by the idea of dragons.

Their entire essence is a symphony of power and beauty.

Dragons tend to stay with their kind unless they are bonded with a rider.

They stay out of the way and mind their own business, but they are powerful enough to demand respect when threatened.

They are beings that can truly be who they want to be without consequence. I admire that about the species.

Rhodes walked with a determined stride while Shayde and I followed closely. The walls here are lined with portraits of past War Chiefs from the college’s history, and historical paintings are hanging between each few.

We entered a finely polished area of the castle, where a dragon statue greeted us.

The statue is made of dark obsidian, meticulously capturing every detail.

The dragon is posed to appear as if it is about to take flight.

Its head is lifted in a silent roar, and its wings are outstretched.

I slowly approached the statue, brushing my fingers over the delicate lines as the seven-foot-tall dragon cast a shadow over me.

The statue points to the opposite side of the hall to a pair of massive oak doors.

Rhodes paused, took a deep breath, and knocked with a firm, unwavering hand.

The echo that sounded through the corridor resonated with the authority that must be beyond those doors.

Shayde and I remained quiet, letting the weight of our actions and the anticipation of what was to come hang heavy in the air.

It was just a few moments, but the gravity of the situation pulled down on my shoulders like a shroud.

The doors creaked open to reveal a grand office with steps leading up to a higher dais.

On the platform sits an intricately designed desk that extends to the walls behind it and up to the ceiling as a built-in bookshelf.

An older man with white hair and lines on his forehead stood in the doorway, yet his muscular build and stern posture made it clear he was of high rank.

“Chief Kalluri,” Rhodes said, bowing his chin slightly.

Oh, shit . This is the War Chief of Mageia, and I am in his office on the first day of classes because of a food fight.

Kalluri waved his arm and invited us in. We marched forward through the doors, hands clasped behind our backs. He closed the doors and returned to his chair behind the desk, nodding a silent command to sit.

As he leaned on his desk, Kalluri stopped mid-sit when he caught my gaze. A brief look of familiarity, almost as if he’d seen a ghost, flashed across his face before he quickly wiped his expression clean and cleared his throat.

“Well, what brings you in today,” Kalluri asked.

Rhodes recounted the cafeteria incident with a steady, detached tone, avoiding eye contact with Shayde and me.

When he mentioned my surname, I noticed a flicker of confusion on Kalluri’s face.

The remainder of the meeting was punctuated by formalities—“yes sir’s,” “no sir’s,” and “I understand’s”—until we were dismissed.

I struggled to catch my breath, my heartbeat pounding in my ears the entire time.

As we returned to the main hall, Rhodes abruptly turned towards us. “Do not— I repeat— do not let something like that happen again.”

Shayde interjected, “Relax, Rhodes. It was just some first day fun. It didn’t harm anyone, and we cleaned up our mess.”

Rhodes stepped closer to Shayde, their faces mere inches apart. From my angle, I could see that Rhodes was just slightly taller than Shayde.

“A stunt like that could reach Father, and he’ll hold me accountable for your actions,” Rhodes growled.

Then, he turned to me. “And you. This lack of professionalism reflects poorly on you, your quad, and our college. Pull yourself together if you want to stay a cadet at Mageia. Do not embarrass me again, or the next instance will come with consequences.”

Anger surged within me. How dare he speak to me like this, as if I were a child?

He has no idea what I’ve been through. He does not know my challenges in the past twenty-one years.

Despite my urge to lash out, I heeded his advice and maintained my composure, fighting the lash of pain from the insult.

He is my team leader, after all. Authority figures—especially males—have always been a struggle for me, but I promised myself a fresh start when I was accepted into the college.

I sealed my lips tightly, nodding in acknowledgment and agreement. His gaze bore into me, as intense as a torch aimed at my face. His jaw clenched, but he remained silent. With a turn on his heel, he left Shayde and me standing alone in the hall.

“What’s his deal?” I asked Shayde.

He turned to me, meeting my eyes with a sigh. “Rhodes is someone you might want to avoid. It’s not you, okay? It’s him. I’ve got to get to class, but see you later?”

I nodded and walked away.

As I walked towards my next class, Intro to Earth Wielding, I felt the familiar tightness in my chest. Stopping in the hall, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

The numbness in my left arm started at my shoulder and quickly spread to my fingertips.

I shouldn’t have indulged in the food fight.

If I get kicked out of Mageia, I have nowhere to go, no one to turn to.

No one to welcome me back home.

But being around these people with their seemingly normal lives and experiences stirs my curiosity. What would life be like if I had two loving parents? Who would I be without the nightmares of my past? How would my life look if I let these people in ?

Or what if I become a burden to them, too?

After scanning the area, I ensured I was alone. I backed up to lean against the stone wall and then eased myself onto the floor. My knees bent, my arms resting beside me, and my head tilted against the wall. I closed my eyes.

No.

I will not let myself think that way.

I will not surrender to my darkness.

I took a deep breath and inhaled the smell of dry stone and old mortar.

I traced gentle circles with my fingers. Feeling the cold stone floor and tiny particles of dirt.

I exhaled.

Another deep breath in.

I focused on what I could hear. The sound of fire crackling in the wall sconces.

Then I repeated the words that have kept me going— you are meant for more.

I opened my eyes again to see what was in front of me. The opposite wall of the hallway.

Focusing my senses on my surroundings centered my gravity once again. I took a few more deep breaths before raising myself from the floor.

Just like I raised myself from Rock Bottom.