The Kingdom of Broken Glass

Fallen

(Julian's Point of View)

Liza laughed at something funny that Julian had said. She seemed super happy these days and it was nice to see. A couple of the other girls had latched onto her recently, probably because of how much Raysa also liked her.

"Did you see Aliyah's fight with Isabel yesterday?" Liza asks him. "Aliyah had her by the throat! I thought Isabel was going to faint afterwards. It was so interesting, Aliyah is basically the only girl here that excels at the physical part of fighting. I could take her with magic, sure. But if our magic was off the table and it was fists only, I don't think I could take her."

"You have to be more like me," Julian flashes a smile at her. "All I need are my fists."

Liza laughs, "I said I couldn't take Aliyah in a fight, I never said I couldn't take you."

"Oh you want to try?" Julian reaches forward and digs his fingers into Liza's side, squeezing a pressure point that makes her squirm every time.

She giggles as she pries herself away from him. "Seriously, though. You need to teach me how to fight properly. I could use the combat skills, too."

"Well, you better practice because we have a combat session in five minutes." Julian gets up from his spot and offers her a hand. "No magic class."

"Hopefully Raysa is teaching this one."

"What?" Julian shakes his head as they walk towards the courtyard. "I hope it's Nathaniel."

"You only want it to be Nathaniel because he's obsessed with you," Liza raises her eyebrows at him.

He scoffs, "Not true. I just think he teaches better when it comes to no magic."

Liza shrugs before waving at one of the girls that they pass. Julian stops as she runs over to give the girl a hug before returning. She moves her hair out of her face as they continue to pass people that all greet her fondly. He couldn't help the twinge of jealousy at seeing just how many friends she has made since they started.

The courtyard is already full, everyone is already well into stretching. The energy was always different on combat days. Julian might be the only person that actually enjoys it. Even Amon didn't love this part when he was here.

Julian's blood runs cold as he catches sight of the newcomers on the field. He grips Liza's wrist, seeing that she had not noticed them yet. Liza turns to him before following his line of sight and equally freezing.

Declan, Baldwin, and Cassian all stood stretching next to everyone. They were acting as if they belonged here, which they don't. Julian went to angrily rush forward before Liza stopped him. He turned back to her and she almost jumped at the expression on his face.

"What are they doing here?" He demanded from her.

Liza held up her hands, "I know as much as you do. I also know that if they're here, it is probably for a reason."

"So?"

"So you shouldn't start attacking them just yet." Liza fixes him with a look and Julian feels himself deflate. His anger stays there, but he keeps it just under the surface. She's right. Raysa would have brought them here for a reason.

After a couple more minutes, Raysa glides onto the field. Everyone goes still in her presence. She appraises them with a stern look and her gaze falls on Julian for a moment before she addresses them. "Good afternoon," her voice is loud and firm. She seems more solemn today than she normally does. "It is with a heavy heart that I have an announcement to make. One of our own has passed."