Page 122 of A Whisper of Cinders

“What do you mean, Eirian?” Seraphe asks, not the least surprised by her presence.

“Morvith’s lightning somehow broke through the barrier and unfortunately struck one of the players on the field.” The name sends a shiver down my spine, but Mrs Delalune continues. “All of the students have returned to the Academy, the shield doesn’t show any weaknesses. But we both know what that means Seraphe, Conláed died, but was sitting up straight when Maily allowed us to reach him.”

“Did anyone see?”

Mrs Delalune shakes her head. “No, she made sure no one did.”

“Could it be…”

Mrs Delalune stands next to me, placing a hand on my shoulder, the touch sending a shock of energy through me. “It has been a long time since I’ve felt powers this strong. Even now, I feel it rushing through her.”

Seraphe’s image ripples as she looks over her shoulder to someone we cannot see. “I will be back in a couple of days, I still have some unfinished matters to attend to.”

She moves forward, tilting my chin up with her ghost fingers so our eyes meet. “Don’t be afraid darling, it will be allright. But it might be best if we keep this a secret for a while.”

And with that, her silhouette disappears and I stand alone in the room with Mrs Delalune. “So, I have to lie to my friends? I don’t tell lies, that is not who I am.”

I know everyone does at some point, but about something small like when they say they had breakfast, but didn’t or to go along with a joke. I do too, but I can’t lie about something this big. It is against my nature.

“It wouldn’t be wise to tell them you’ve brought someone back from the dead. They know the stories and legends from long ago and will connect the dots easily.” I open my mouth to ask what those stories are and if they are that old, I’m sure they will not in fact remember them, but Mrs Delalune holds up her hand. “But I understand. Tell them Conláed’s injuries were severe, but you managed to heal him. Tell them the lightning didn’t go through him but wrapped around him instead.”

“Why would that matter?”

“It would mean the poison didn’t go too deep, the amount small enough to be burned away.” She turns away from me, ready to walk out the classroom. “Even though we have a full healing quadrant with very talented fae, not a single one of them can cure the poison that Morvith spreads. Once the poor soul is touched, they will turn into a Myrvael, no exceptions made.”

I look at my hands, the strange marks still faintly glowing. “What does that say about me?”

The smile she gives me is full of empathy and a little sorrow. “That a whole new world is about to open up for you.”

My world has already turned upside down. It can’t be bigger than me finding out I am fae, right?

I take another couple of minutes to find my calm, or at least try to contain the panic as much as possible. So when I eventually leave the classroom, my cheeks have dried, my eyes burn and my heart races, but I’m drained and I have to make it back to my room.

After only five steps, I bump into someone and arms fall around me, pulling me close. “Tell me you’re okay?”

Ami. I can’t even hug her back, I don’t know how, so I nod.

She gently pushes me back and analyses me. I notice Neoma and Siri behind her, equally worried glances edged on their faces, but I can’t reassure them. Not when I don’t even know what the hell happened there.

She grabs my hand and pulls me along until we’re seated at the very silent restaurant. She releases me and I stare at my feet, trying to make sense of the thoughts in my head.

Two hands land on my knees and Siri’s angelic face moves into my line of sight. “We don’t know what happened, Maily, we can guess and ask you a thousand questions, but that won’t do you any good. We just want you to know you can talk to us if you want to.”

I’m grateful for her words and I need a couple of seconds before I can answer. “Thank you.”

Neo hunches down as well. “The ability to heal severe injuries is a pretty rare power to have, they will be very grateful in the Sanctum.”

Ami grabs my hand, giving Neo a subtle push. “But it’s the most important thing you regain your balance first, we will see from that point on, okay?”

I look at the three of them, clearly worried and probably wondering what actually happened, but no interrogation. Thankfully.

I nod and scrape my throat that is somehow raw with emotion. “I’d like to go to bed.”

“Of course, we can…”

I stand up and walk away, maybe someone follows me, maybe they don’t. I reach my room in trance, unaware of anything around me and sleep pulls me under deep.

Yet I awake every half an hour, seeing Conláed’s broken body, dark veins running all over his tanned skin.