Page 243 of Axis of Fire

Airis and I followed in silence.

******

“Any ideas for today’s training?” Tarven asked lazily as he picked at the roasted vegetables and meat on his plate with a fork.

I’d only been to the dining hall twice so far, but I had to admit—

The food here was almost suspiciously good.

“For example, not leaving any more injuries on my protégé’s face?” Airis arched a brow.

I froze slightly.

Tarven fell silent.

So did the rest of us.

He looked at Airis with obvious guilt while I tried very hard not to let my imagination run wild.

“Oh, come on.”

Tarven waved it off.

“If it weren’t for that exercise, I never would’ve seen her fight.”

“You borrow my analytical ability all the time, but admit it.”

“The original owner still does it better.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked immediately.

I remembered the agreement the two of them had made.

“I thought your pact only allowed you to use each other’s magic,” I added.

“Not your abilities as well.”

“Wait.”

Stasia raised a brow at Tarven.

“Is this some hidden gift I don’t know about?”

I was honestly impressed by how calmly she asked that.

Especially while hiding a secret powerful enough to destroy not only their friendship—

But potentially her entire future.

“Through the Balakla bond, we can use each other’s developed cognitive abilities as well,” Airis explained.

“I can access Tarven’s analytical thinking.”

“And I can use Airis’s strategic thinking,” Tarven added.

“Yes, but analysis and strategy are skills, aren’t they?” Stasia asked, taking another bite of her chicken.

“Can they really count as additional abilities?”