The Mark of Aether

The Heiress

"As you are all aware, more guardians have been spread over every corner and angle of the continent to protect your safety after last night's events. Therefore, no student from today will be allowed to leave the norms' territories even with a signed paper. Unless there is some pressing reason,'' Ramos was saying, his words brushing past my ears. I was not, in any way, engaged in his speech.

After waking up with a killing headache, my day didn't get any better.

Mayra was in a slightly better shape than I was, scratched and wounded from her own fight. Hearing that Blake was safe and clear, I visited him. He was in a better state than I was, recovering quite fast. Several times, I tried to show him my gratitude for saving me, but he kept dismissing it, saying it was not a matter to discuss between friends.

Although I had to slightly wobble my way, my wound still painfully agonizing, I managed to move in the hallways by my own. Apparently, a good dozen of stitches had closed my wounds as magic was doing the rest from the inside. My nurse said that my acceptance for magic was strong, allowing my body to recover faster. I would be fine in no time.

As a round of applause boomed around us, I realized that Ramos's speech was over. The court leader was ordering us back to our rooms, but I was transfixed in my place. Meeting Leon's eyes, I could easily read the message in them. When there was no one but us in the great hall, Ramos ushered with his hand drily, inviting me to follow him.

He was certainly mad.

Taking a seat next to his desk, Leon sitting across from me, I waited. Waited for him to start speaking. Waited for him to remove that coldness in his eyes. The coldness that pierced hard through my blood and heart.

''Explain yourself,'' he said, his voice as standoffish as his eyes. It wasn't the Ramos that I learnt to admire, the one I started to love. It was a stone cold reflection of him.

''Have you not understood yet that this is not a game? That your every move is being tracked, being studied? You are not a child to have a guard following you every minute of the day. I am waiting. What do you have to say?''

I didn't reply. Didn't find my voice to do so. The strength he held in his eyes and the cold, commanding air flaring around him killed my voice. As my words died in my throat before reaching my lips, Leon took it upon himself to talk.

"Your words are irrational, Ramos. Neither you nor I could have foreseen the outcome. It was by the five's grace that little damage was done. Half of the court was attending this festival, and you were aware of the waves of students that left to enjoy it.''

''What is your point, Leon?''

''That you have no right to lash at the princess. Perhaps foolish it was to go weaponless, but not a full blame upon her shoulders.''

And with the shadow's words, Ramos's eyes turned to me, boring to my soul. Feeling something similar to shame blooming in my heart, I lowered mine. I felt his burning stares trailing from my face to my wounds. And they lingered there, contemplating and calculating. I swallowed the pain growing in my chest.

Elena's last request was to protect you, and I can absolutely not deceive her.

And it was as I remembered those words did I understand.

''Your words ring true, shadow. But not enough to cover the bitterness of what happened. It is in the grace of the gods, indeed, that everything was tamed in time. And for this reason, drastic changes have been made.''

''What are your suggestions for yesterday's events?''

"Alas, I fear quite well we are surrounded by a traitor. A traitor that could be anybody or everyone.''