I quickly pick it up before bringing my attention back to Ambrose.
He raises an eyebrow at me.
I give him a slow, deliberate blink.
Obviously, I have some work to do on the weaponry aspect.
“Try not to stab yourself. Remember this is to hurtotherpeople, Nori.”
I purse my lips at him. “Your faith in me is inspiring.”
He continues like he didn’t hear me, “Also, it’s technically frowned upon for first-years to have weapons. Keep it hidden and only use it if necessary.”
I give him a mock salute.
He narrows his eyes. “Funny. She’s got jokes.”
“Better be careful there. You’re starting to sound like you’re kind of fond of me,” I tease him, my lips pulling into a big toothy grin.
“I always have been,” he replies, his tone soft but firm.
The breeze blows down the alleyway, causing my hood to billow around my hollow cheeks, making it easy to discreetly tuck my head and hide the false hope in my eyes that his words cause. I take a deep breath before finding my backbone and raising my head to find his glacier-blue eyes still watching me.
One minute, I’m standing there in all my awkward glory, and the next, I’m being pulled into one of his signature bear hugs.
“Even though I know you won’t need it. Good luck, Nori.”
I squeeze him tightly.
I hate goodbyes, but especially this goodbye, because it feels like everything is about to change.
Chapter two
I’ve made a mistake.
It appears that sheer desire and fortitude of the mind aren’t enough to prevent me from keeling over and emptying the contents of my stomach. In fact, I’m not the only one. We all look like we’re on the verge of puking or passing out, and let’s be honest, it’s not a good look for any of us.
I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and stare at the ground, hunched over and half broken.
Kintoira Academy sits at the very top of a steep mountain. To get there, we have to make our way through a dense forest of pines and evergreens at a sharp incline. The foliage is so thick that it blocks out any hint of the gloomy sky above. I now understand why it’s widely known that you can easily get lost if you don’t know your way around these woods. That’s also why it’s called The Forsaken Forest.
This place makes you feel fucking forsaken.
Today is going to suck.
All four thousand and forty-seven steps.
I did my research. It sucked when I discovered it, and that sentiment hasn’t deviated. Salaryan may be known for her beauty, but she’s also a fickle bitch. Between her deserts, snowcapped mountains, and turbulent oceans, she can’t decide if she wants you to admire her or if she wants to kill you. This mountain wants to kill us if the feeling in my lungs is any indication.
Wincing, I stand and push the pine branches out of my face. Each breath becomes more painful than the last. I hurt in places I didn’t even think I could hurt.
I lean up against the bark of a nearby evergreen and let my pack slide off my shoulder.
We’re almost there. I quit counting the steps a while back because, frankly, it was becoming depressing, but I know we’re close. The bitter taste of self-doubt coats my tongue, leaving a residual taste of failure. I’ve worked way too hard to fail before I even get a chance to try.
A shoulder knocks into mine from behind, causing my arm to scrape against the rough bark. “We’re all tired. Keep moving,” an irritated voice growls as she passes by before stopping to turn and stare at me.
Uh, excuse you.
