Aftermath

"-she has been here this whole time?" Chancellor Draekkon's voice demanded loudly from somewhere nearby.

"Yes, she hasn't even regained consciousness yet." A male voice, like warm caramel, replied.

Another voice that sounded like Rage said, "What about that cur? He's her accomplice."

"Aven Gothego was in class until two and then he was in a public challenge with Bacho Stonen. Surely, now you must realize that it's not them, Chancellor." Vaeryn's clear voice said in crisp tones.

Rage snarled, "And what are you doing to stop it?" There was a long pause.

"Rage is right, Vaeryn. I warned you last time. You have not found the culprit so you and your committee will be having mandatory meetings every evening for two hours until the culprit is caught. Things will get worse if I am not given a responsible party soon."

"Very well, Sir." Vaeryn said.

Angry footfalls retreated. The flap in the doorway was lifted and another breathtakingly virile male entered the long, tented room where Sky was lying.

Sky sat up and looked around. The tented room consisted of eight beds evenly spaced in a line. Seven of these were full including Ro's. Three of the beds were occupied by her classmates. The other three were filled with creatures. Sky looked back at the flap as it opened again. Vaeryn entered the room.

He saw Sky and smiling slightly, said, "Good evening, Skylar. I have come to escort you back to your rooms."

"I don't want to trouble you." Sky replied frowning.

"It's no trouble. Is she ready to go?" Vaeryn asked turning to the handsome male. The male walked over to Sky and put a hand on her forehead. Sky felt warmth seep through her body as she tried to ignore the fluttering in her stomach at this male's nearness.

"Yes." He said to Vaeryn in a familiar, caramel-like voice. Then he turned to Sky, "I saw your fight. You were quite good." Sky flushed. "You just need more experience. That-" Vaeryn cleared his throat. The male looked at him again with drawn brows.

Vaeryn ignored him and said to Sky, "I should get you back to your rooms."

"Thank you for your help." Sky said to the male as she stood up from the bed. She expected him to move back but he didn't. Instead he gazed down at her with a small smile. "Excuse me." Sky's mouth tightened as he gestured for her to walk past, still not moving back. Vaeryn grabbed her arm and pulled her away. Sky blushed with embarrassment as she brushed up against the male's hard chest. Vaeryn glared at him as he pulled Sky from the tent.

On the way back to her rooms, Vaeryn informed her that another body had been found. This time it was a female. Sky grimaced.

When they got back to her rooms and the door closed behind them, he asked how she knew Aven had been infected. Sky explained how she'd seen the purple-blackness in his eyes and veins. Vaeryn looked at her for a long minute, then asked about what happened on Clayden in the Student Government Room. Sky told him of the blue and yellow auras around Syn, what the High Officiant had wanted from her, and how she'd made her escape to her rooms. Vaeryn gave her a searching look and asked if anything happened after she returned to her rooms. Sky considered telling him about the liquid light feeling but didn't. She didn't want to sound crazy. Slowly, Vaeryn informed her that shortly after she'd made her escape the floor above the Student Government Room had collapsed. No one had escaped but her. The members of the Student Government were not dead, but they had been seriously injured.

Sky opened her mouth to explain about the liquid light, but Vaeryn had already left. Sky sighed and went to her practice room to work on the magic for the week.

Week 9 Alontil Night

Sky stared at the list in front of her. It was incomprehensible all of a sudden. She rubbed her dry, bloodshot eyes and the list came into focus again. The timekeeper on the wall read 2:13 am. She'd been studying for hours and knew she had to get to bed, but the list was so long. It had twelve spells on it. Half of them were all versions of the same spell, explosion, Ka, but still, even seven new spells on top of the four she had to learn for the week was a heavy workload. She needed to learn at least two a day. Today, she wanted to learn three. Already she knew two, Suspension and Wither, Loi and Ylix respectively.

She was working on the third, Domu, sleep, when a boom came from the direction of her living room. Half-curious and half-fearing attack, Sky went to investigate. As she neared the living room the boom came again. This time it was followed by a crack. Then the boom repeated. Boom, crack, boom, louder crack. Sky watched the front door as it shuddered and a large crack in its center grew bigger. Boom, then splintering. Sky threw herself behind the sofa as the door broke inward.