Page 96 of Prince of the Phantom Sky

“Aryn also has a long lifespan like us. How? I don’t know. He refuses to talk about it, and Aerion has mentioned to me before his past is something not to be probed.”

Kora’s eyes widened as she peered at her friend, concern lining her face. Aryn was a mysterious male, and his solid determination to keep his life from before Galen separate had always resulted in trust issues from Raiden.

“I met him briefly prior to the Galenite War, during the lull between Admiral Darkon’s and Barron’s exchange. He was a neat shot at the time, and I deemed him useful for our armies. He clicked immediately, as you can tell, with everyone. Even my father preferred him.” Kora’s hand clenched around his at the mention of Zephyr.

“So much,” she murmured. “So much I don’t remember.”

Kora sat back, her warmth disappearing as quickly as it came, Raiden’s hand falling away from her skin as she exhaled slowly.

“Don’t look to the past,” Raiden thought out, capturing her attention. “You can choose your family, and they’re here, waiting for you.”

41

Kora

Again.” Skylar’s command rang in Kora’s ears as she panted, sweat practically pouring from her. The arena was quiet, many mercenaries granted a day’s reprieve after the festivities of Hallow’s Day. Midday sunlight filled the room, the citrine walls sparkling to life, the Mist thinning more each day. The shock of discovering her age—and that she was potentially immortal—still rolled through her, causing her hair to prickle, and her gut to knot.

Or it could be the number of shots she did last night.

A fire stoked within, blazing as she recalled how delightful it’d been. A celebration of her true birthday, Hallow’s Day, and more. Raiden had opened up, offering her a glimpse into her beginning at Galen. She even became . . . friends with Skylar. Towards the end of the night, when The Lost Lagoon became a blur of swirls and silver, Kora had spilled some of her life to them all. Tales of the Darkoning Trials, of working for the empire, and recent events leading her to Barron.

Normally revealing her participation in the trials led to some kind of praise, but this time they’d all simply stared, horror draining the colour from their faces. Raiden had been borderline feral, tension and violence radiating from him as Kora had revealed Barron had planted Blake in the trials as a spy.

Kora rocked on her heels, patting her chest to quell the rising bile from the rum. The magtrate solution she took last night had barely touched the sides, targeting only her mind to lull her into a calm sleep with minimal nightmares.

Skylar branded her thin estoc sword, the metal matching her hair as she twirled around the fighting ring. Raiden watched from afar as he sparred with Aryn, his pointed stares catching Kora off-guard whenever she felt a brush of wind.

Skylar’s flight suit dizzied Kora’s vision as she lunged once again, aiming for Skylar’s weaker side, but a simple pirouette and Skylar evaded her, spinning over Kora’s body and jamming the hilt of her sword in her lower back.

“Can’t handle your rum, Captain?”

Kora flinched and grabbed her wrist, sweeping her leg under. Fuck weapons, it was time to go hand-to-hand, and she sheathed the dagger at her thigh. Skylar grinned at the advance, and her sword clattered to the hard ground as she rolled across the ring.

“Let’s go, K.C.” Skylar raised her hands, flicking her braid over her shoulders. Kora shrugged out of her outer layers, dressed in a vest and leathers protecting her lower body. She pushed back her damp hair and reached within to her water beast—her essence—to ground her.

“You’ll be eating your words, General.”

Skylar darted forward, going for the offence. She towered over Kora, possessing more strength, but Kora darted to the side, leaning into her nimble nature. Her vision spun, her nerves sensitive from the hangover. She jabbed Skylar’s side before bouncing back, and Skylar hissed, whirling around. Before she could recover, Kora leapt, her arms wrapping around Skylar’s neck as her body swung round, propelling her to the floor.

As Skylar’s face slammed into the ground, Kora released her, standing back. “One-nil.” She smirked, adrenaline coursing through her. Her strength was palpable, and beating Skylar only made Kora want more.

Skylar’s dark eyes blazed, and a coldness leaked into the air, enough for Raiden to noticeably pause, glancing in their direction.

Another flurry of fighting commenced, and Kora utilised the space of the training ring to tire Skylar, her swift nature her only advantage. As Kora rolled for her next advance, Skylar’s ridiculously long leg blocked her, and she flew back with an oomph.

“Are you alright?” Kora ignored Raiden’s probe within her mind as Skylar smiled down at her.

“One all.” She offered her hand, and Kora tentatively took it. Instead of pulling her to her feet, Skylar yanked her up, before bending her arm behind her back, causing Kora to cry out.

“So predictable,” Skylar reprimanded. “You fight in a pattern. I could see where you were rolling to before you even decided. Have you learnt anything from the past two weeks?”

“I’m not predictable,” Kora retorted. She shoved away from Skylar, rolling her aching shoulder joint. She had moves, she had the scars to prove it.

“You know what’s ironic?” Skylar waved her arms to the empty arena. The obstacle course creaked above them, the viewing platform tucked away in the shadows of the spiralled ceiling. “You trained Erick when he infiltrated us. And then he trained you. You’ve trained yourself, with techniques that are outdated and tired.”

“I’m not predictable!” Kora repeated.

As Skylar opened her mouth to continue, Kora lunged, her palm snapping to Skylar’s jaw. A satisfying crunch followed as Kora spun, evading Skylar’s grasp as she hooked onto her long braid, wrapping it around her forearm. Skylar wobbled as Kora kicked the back of her knees, forcing the general to the floor, her head wrenched back as Kora’s dagger rested against her throat.