Heart of Elaria

Chapter 9

The days at the Academy grew busier, our training becoming more intense as our instructors piled on lessons. With each class, the idea of restoring the Heart seemed more tangible, yet just out of reach. It was a constant weight on my mind as I worked through sparring sessions, tried to harness magic that refused to come, and studied runes and dragon care.

One afternoon, Commander Valen gathered us in the training grounds for Aerial Tactics. I'd been waiting for this class all week, imagining myself soaring through the sky on a dragon's back, feeling the rush of wind as I commanded it in flight.

"All right, prospects," Commander Valen began, his voice loud and clear over the eager murmuring of the crowd. "Today, you'll begin learning the basics of aerial navigation. Don't get too excited; you'll be working with the flight harnesses, not actual dragons, but I expect each of you to give it everything you've got. A rider must know how to trust their instincts in the air. One wrong move can be fatal."

He led us to a row of sturdy ropes and harnesses suspended over an open-air pit. The setup was intimidating, but my excitement outweighed any hesitation. I imagined what it would be like to feel the wings of a dragon beneath me, to gaze down at Elaria from a vantage point few ever experienced.

The class began with drills to get us accustomed to balancing in the air. We strapped into harnesses that swung and dipped as we practiced maneuvers, simulating the movements we'd eventually be doing with real dragons. Kaelan ended up in the harness beside mine, and we exchanged a tense glance as Commander Valen called for us to perform basic rolls and twists.

"Careful, Vale," Kaelan said, watching me with a smirk as I completed a twisting maneuver, the harness spinning as I righted myself. "Don't want to get dizzy before you've even left the ground."

I shot him a look, gripping the handles tightly. "I'll manage just fine, Blackwood. Maybe you should focus on keeping up."

He grinned, clearly amused. "We'll see if you're still talking that big when you're dangling upside down."

We spent the better part of the class alternating between maneuvers, each of us trying to outdo the other. I could feel Kaelan's gaze on me with every turn and roll, and I forced myself to stay focused, refusing to let him see even a flicker of doubt. His effortless skill was infuriating, but I was determined to prove I was just as capable.

When we finally unclipped from the harnesses, I could feel the sweat on my brow, my muscles aching from the strain. Kaelan gave me a satisfied look, and I forced myself to look away, not wanting to acknowledge that he had, in fact, kept up.

The next few days flew by in a blur of classes, training, and the growing rumors about Elaria's worsening condition. News from home kept arriving, letters passed around in hushed tones. With every note, the weight of our silent mission to restore the Heart pressed heavier on us all. I met with Jace, Gideon, Fiora, and Malik as often as possible to strategize, each of us sharing what we'd learned from our families and piecing together the increasingly bleak picture of Elaria's decay.

One evening, as I was returning to my room, I felt a presence beside me. Kaelan fell into step with me, his expression unreadable as he glanced over.

"Going to your next meeting with your 'inner circle?'" he asked, his tone dripping with irony.

I rolled my eyes. "My friends? Yeah, I spend time with them. I assume you do the same with yours?"

Kaelan gave a noncommittal shrug. "I don't need a crowd to figure things out." He shot me a sidelong glance, his dark eyes gleaming. "Though it's not hard to see why you and Jace are so close. Guess it's nice to have your boyfriend around to lean on."

I stopped in my tracks, his words catching me off guard, and I stared at him. "Jace isn't my boyfriend."

Kaelan arched a brow, an amused glint in his gaze. "Really? Could've fooled me. He was holding your hand on the first day. I just assumed he was your overprotective, doting other half."

I laughed, the sound sharp and genuine. "Overprotective? Yes. Doting boyfriend? No." I paused, letting a grin tug at my lips. "Actually, you'd have a better chance with Jace than I would."

Kaelan's confident expression slipped, and a flicker of surprise crossed his face. "What?"

"Jace is gay, Blackwood," I said, folding my arms. "So no, he's not my boyfriend."

Kaelan blinked, clearly caught off guard. He opened his mouth as if to respond, then closed it, his usually sharp gaze softened in surprise.

"Guess I misjudged that one," he murmured, his expression turning thoughtful.

"Guess you did," I said with a shrug, but inwardly I was pleased to see him flustered, even if just for a moment.

We fell into silence, and Kaelan looked away, clearly trying to process this new information. There was a slight furrow to his brow, and I wondered if he was re-evaluating all the times he'd seen Jace and me together. The satisfaction I felt was immediate; for once, I'd managed to unsettle Kaelan.