Page 355 of Axis of Fire

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A second later, the classroom vanished.

We were standing in an open training arena.

Six-meter walls surrounded us on all sides, forged from some black material threaded with crimson light.

Many of the newcomers looked just as lost as I felt, their gazes darting around the unfamiliar surroundings.

Stasia and Gia, however, remained perfectly calm.

“Dilraba's gift revolves around fields and transportation,” Stasia explained. “She's one of the Strongest Twelve because her capacity is the highest ever recorded. She can transport nine hundred and forty-two people simultaneously.”

I tried to hide my surprise.

Failed miserably.

My eyes immediately returned to Dilraba, who was speaking with a small group that included the Headmaster, Mr. Shiford, Eugene, and a woman I'd never seen before.

Though unfamiliar wasn't entirely the right word.

She looked remarkably similar to Dilraba.

The same height.

The same build.

The same warm skin tone.

The same facial features.

Everything except her eyes.

And her hair.

Those were midnight black.

“And who's that?” Gia asked, absentmindedly twisting the hem of her oversized blue shirt.

“Azriella.”

Joel's voice made me realize she'd somehow appeared beside us.

Or maybe she'd been standing there the entire time and I simply hadn't noticed.

“She's the Academy's head instructor of mental disciplines.”

“Are they related?” Gia asked.

“That's Dilraba's mother.”

Before anyone could continue the conversation, Mr. Shiford raised a hand.

“Students, please take your seats. We'll be calling you one at a time.”

As we headed toward the stands, I spotted the two boys who had interrupted the meeting earlier.

The late arrivals.