“That’s a generous way to put it,” I muttered. “Rory and Marla hate me. So does Lorik. Let’s be honest.”
“But they helped you today,” Ugo said. “They’re not what you think.”
He paused, weighing his words.
“We won’t tell anyone you were there. We’d all get in trouble if a royal who hasn’t passed her Trials fought beyond the Veil without her protection heirloom.”
My stomach tightened again at the reminder.
“The wildweaver mind-bent Rory without touching her,” I said quietly. “He lifted both hands and commanded us both.” I swallowed. “But… I don’t think he did anything to me.”
“You would’ve known,” Ugo said. “Wildweaver magic is rough. Violent. It doesn’t slip in like Sunheart or Moonveil mind-work. It can’t hide its teeth.” His voice softened. “Trust me, you’re okay. He took nothing from you.”
His eyes sharpened.
“But people won’t know that. And your life gets harder the moment the wrong person hears you were beyond the veil without having passed the trials.”
“You’re too kind,” I said, and I meant it. “You’re not like them. No offense.” Ugo let out a quiet breath. “I’ve known them my whole life. They’re family to me.” He looked away for a moment, as if choosing what to reveal.
“If you knew the Lorik I know, you wouldn’t hate him.” His gaze slid back to mine. “He’s not who you think he is.” A beat. “You just… know how to push his buttons.”
I didn’t have an answer for that.
So I gave him the truth.
“He drives me crazy, too.”
Silence settled between us, heavy but not hostile.
Then I broke it.
“Thank you for helping me today, Ugo.”
He only nodded.
And let me walk away.
Chapter 19: Afterthought
Imoved instinctively, slipping into the Dragontail Atrium to grab the protection heirloom I’d forgotten, careful not to draw attention. Then I went straight to the baths, where I scrubbed off smoke and soot until the water ran clear, staying beneath the steady rush for hours, grounding myself after everything I had seen and felt.
I had been brave and foolish, brilliant, and reckless, all at once. Anxiety and pride tangled within me as I closed my eyes and let the water stream over my head. I trembled at how my controlled flames had reacted to my fear. Then the realization settled heavily in my chest: I could have died if not by the dragon’s claws, then by my own hands.
Worse, I had tried negotiating with parasites who wanted neither resolution nor peace. They thrived only on force, if you could even call them people, so deep was their hatred. My own naiveness made my stomach twist.
I forced myself to open my eyes and pushed away the lingering smell of fire and ash. I thought of the only person whowould understand me fully—Shakari. She would condemn my foolishness without mercy, yes, but still hold me. She would help me move past it when the weight of it all threatened to crush me.
As the sun set, I went to the sky terrace. Shakari hadn’t returned yet. The training mats were empty as upper-level students trickled in from beyond the Veil. Relief washed over me seeing Professor Hog was gone and I had no need to explain why I’d missed class.
When I entered, Shakari was speaking with Rowan and Tran, and as I approached, she spotted me immediately and cut off whatever conversation they were having.
“Where have you been?” she demanded, taking a step toward me.
“We had to lie for you, say you were sick and you know how that goes in our legion,” Tran added, raising a brow.
“It was even more obvious with all the upper-level students being called beyond the Veil,” Rowan said.
I stayed silent, unmoving, and whatever my expression was must have given me away, because Tran squinted. “You look like you’ve seen a dragon. What’s wrong with you?”
