Voiceless Bird

Chapter 14

|| Day 2 First Battles ||

About to Get Hurt

A lightning bolt crackled around the fist of a fifth year girl and the entire arena was focused on the build of electricity in her hand. The fifth year boy, or man—he was 20 years old—on the opposing side aimed large rocks at her and made the ground beneath them shake. It was evident that he was trying to distract her away from his partner—clearly not the fighting type—who was standing behind him.

I gasped as a rock went wide, arcing towards the audience on the other side. Just before it hit them, however, an invisible force-field rippled with its impact and the rock dropped back into the arena. I squinted at the ever-so-slightly undulating air in front of me and realised that the battle grounds seemed to have some sort of bubble around it that protected the audience.

"That girl with the lightning Railey, and her partner Cain, is the power couple that everyone thinks will win." Meraella, who was sitting beside me, commented excitedly, an admiring glint in her eyes. "She's also been ranking top since first year, with Cain coming a close second every time."

The action going on below us intensified as the lightning that Railey had been building up was launched from her hand. The boy only had a few seconds to bring up a rock barrier from the ground that scarcely blocked the incoming strike.

"OHHH that was CLOSE!" The commentator's voice boomed across the arena and I could hear the audience cheering both of them on. Casting my eyes away from the action, I almost missed the shadow of someone creeping up from behind the pair that was being protected by the rock barrier. The boy was completely oblivious as he continued to fight it out with Railey, however, his partner barely had time to call out a warning before two daggers were aimed over each of their throats and a bell signaled the end of the match.

I was impressed by the strategy that they had used to win, I guess they weren't called a power couple for nothing. A match only ended when the (harmless) daggers that were given to the students before a battle were used to 'kill' both their opponents and win. I really had no idea how Robin and I could win even our first match—which was on Day Five—I just had to trust that Robin could come up with a plan.

Trust him... that was the biggest thing that I was struggling to do, even though I had now deemed the weird experience at the ball a hallucination, I still felt an urge to keep Meraella away from Robin as much as possible—just in case.

"AND THE WINNERS OF THE FIRST MATCH ARE RAILEY KAMIEN AND CAIN DRACON!!" Railey and Cain waved to the audience, smug smiles on their faces.

"They're going to be a pain to deal with." Robin's voice from behind me sent shivers down my back—and not the good kind. From the seat beside me, Meraella inched closer and I felt a sense of protectiveness overcome me again.

"Oh hello Meraella, didn't see you there," Robin grinned at her, a hint of hostility in the simple greeting—though that could have been my imagination, "having fun spending time with Willow?"

I had no idea what reaction Robin was hoping to elicit from Meraella; but the squeak that flew from her mouth made him smile even wider.

"We have to get down to the training room now." Remi informed us, face bored as he observed Robin's antics. Meraella got up hurriedly and exited the arena with Amie, Primo—who had been sitting behind us—and Remi following behind her.

I got up to follow them to wherever this training room was but before I could make another a move towards the exit, Robin stepped in front of me; effectively blocking the way.