Ifollow Micah, relieved to have a show of kindness in this place, but I glance back at the man I first saw in the hall.
He’s a trainee, too. I’ll get to see him every day.
Although he looks older than me and some of the others here, and certainly more confident the way he stood blocking me earlier, his body was a physical barrier that only riled my anger further. He’s handsome—everyone could see that. But there’s also a familiar resemblance to the man who grabbed me. The one I pushed across the room—the head of the Warrior Order.
Maybe that’s why I sensed a threat rolling from him as I stormed towards him. But his eyes held a warmth I wanted to confide in. And with his dark hair, square jaw, towering height, and muscles that did an abysmal job of hiding under his shirt, he took all my focus.
I hate that I felt so open and vulnerable standing in front of both him and the rest of my fellow trainees. Another reason to hate being thrust into this world with little explanation. Iswallow that down and bring my attention back to what I was doing.
“So, this is where we have lessons,” Micah points to two rooms with tables and chairs set out in several rows. “Classes range from studying the history of our Orders to astrology and maths.” Micah continues the tour, and I’m content to listen. “There’s a library here, too. But the main library is in The Chamber building. That’s where all the important texts are about the history of Kirrasia, Aslendrix, and Novandia.”
“Novandia?” I ask. There have been a lot of names and new words thrown at me over the last few days, and I’m slotting them all into my memory to use and help make sense of all of this at some point. I’d not heard this one yet.
“Novandia is the brother of Aslendrix.”
“But Aslendrix is who you get your magic from?” I test what I’ve learned or heard already, putting it together again.
“Yes. She’s our Goddess, blessed be her.” He touches something at his neck, and I wonder if he wears a necklace as well, just like Kyra and Lyle.
“There you are.” Kyra joins us. “The other training Custodians would like to meet with you before you go back to The Court,” she tells me.
I nod, agreeing as I don’t think I have a choice. Another meeting. Maybe one that won’t have me assaulting anyone. Maybe one with answers, too.
“And are we going to see you for dinner?” She looks at Micah.
“Sure. It’s not like I’ve been gone for long.”
“But it’s so quiet at the table now nobody is running their mouth. Watch him. He’ll talk your ear off if you give him half a chance.” She flits off without waiting for a response.
“She’s my sister. If you were wondering.” Micah fills in the gap for me.
They have similar colouring, both having dark skin with big brown eyes. Micah’s hair is cut short and neat against Kyra’s being long and intricately braided, which danced down her back in time with her skips, but I hadn’t been paying attention to similarities or who they might be to each other. “Is she younger than you?”
“No. Older. She’s already been through training. Some Kirrians don’t have strong magic abilities. They aren’t invited to join The Chamber, but there are many jobs and duties within The Court.” He leads me out of the building.
“Like being a Watcher?” I try to remember what Lyle told me about herself.
“Yes. It’s an important job, but only a few are chosen each year. They are cut off from the rest of Kirrasia for most of their life.”
“Lyle is a Watcher. That’s what she told me. She found one other aside from me.”
“It’s rare. We’re taught Aslendrix only grants her magical gifts to Kirrians. It can happen, but don’t get your hopes up about your power. There’s never been an outsider who’s gone on to take a role within The Chamber or become head of their Order. Anyway, shall I show you the resident wing before leaving you with the Custodians? They’ll just bore you with rules and stuff. This way.” His words run together, bumping more and more information together, and it feels like I’m going to drown in everything I’ve learned.
He weaves us through a corridor, and then we’re back where we started.
“These are the training rings. Three is a sacred number in Kirrasia, and the points where these rings cross symbolise the growth and purpose of our training: to work together. This,” he points to another half-moon-shaped building, much bigger than the classrooms we’ve seen, on the edge of the far circle, “is theresidence. All trainees move here at the start or just before their training begins.”
“We all live together?” My shock infects my voice.
He walks over to the entrance. “Yep. Some of us have moved from The Chamber residence, like Calix and Crimson, Aten and Capella. Others have come from our homes in The Court. You’ve seen the streets and houses? Did you notice the different Orders?”
He’s talking too fast with so much to take in, new names this time, but he seems genuinely nice and certainly friendly, which is such a relief.
“Um, I guess? It was a lot to take in when I first arrived.” And still is.
“I bet. So, who did you come with? You mentioned a Watcher?”
“Yes, Lyle. She’s, well, she’s… the closest person I have to a… She’s family.” While I am still furious about everything she’s kept from me, she’s still loved me and taken care of me like I was her own for all these years.
