Chương 25: Chapter 23:
The morning sunlight spilled through the tavern's windows, and I stretched before getting out of bed, the ache in my back still a faint reminder of last night's events. I dressed quickly, pulling on my combat uniform and tying my hair into a tight braid. Combat training was at the castle today, and Xenos would undoubtedly make sure none of us left without bruises.
When I walked downstairs, the smell of breakfast greeted me. Xenos and Alohi were already seated at the table, halfway through their meal. They didn't even look up when I entered, which felt annoyingly intentional.
"Good morning to you too," I muttered, grabbing a plate and sitting down.
Alohi smirked, clearly amused. "We thought you might sleep through the day after all that resting you've been doing lately."
I rolled my eyes, but my mind was too preoccupied to rise to her bait. As I began eating, I decided I couldn't keep everything that had happened to myself any longer. "So, uh… I connected with the Brugmansia flower last night," I began, glancing up at them.
That got their attention. Xenos paused mid-sip of his coffee, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. Alohi leaned forward, curiosity lighting up her face. "Wait, what? Tell me everything!"
I recounted the events of last night—the forest, the glass house, Ziri, and what she'd told me. When I finished, I hesitated for a moment before turning around and pulling up the back of my shirt to show them the tattoo.
"It's part of the connection," I explained, my voice steady despite the butterflies in my stomach. "It's... like your dragon, Xenos. And your snake, Alohi."
There was a sharp choking sound, and I turned to see Xenos coughing into his coffee, his ears tinged red. "You didn't have to show it to us," he said hoarsely, avoiding my gaze.
Alohi, on the other hand, burst into laughter. "Oh, come on, Xenos, don't act like you're scandalized. It's just a tattoo!" She turned to me, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Although, Sage, you should've warned us before giving us a show. Poor Xenos might need a moment to recover."
Xenos glared at her, but the redness in his ears only deepened. "Focus on your breakfast," he snapped, standing up abruptly and muttering something about needing fresh air.
I sighed, sitting back down and shaking my head as Alohi continued to giggle. If this was how the day was starting, I could only imagine what combat training would bring.
As Xenos stormed out onto the porch, I sat back down with a deep breath, deciding to push forward despite the awkwardness. Alohi was still snickering into her orange juice, but her curiosity quickly returned.
"So, what else did Ziri tell you?" she asked, leaning in.
I hesitated for a moment, tracing my fingers over the edge of my plate. "She told me that now that I've connected with the Brugmansia flower, I have the power to heal Xenos's curse."
Alohi froze mid-bite, her fork halfway to her mouth. "Wait—seriously?"
I nodded, my gaze flicking toward the door Xenos had just walked through. "I can break the curse. I have to dry the flowers and mix them into a drink with three drops of blood diluted in water."
Alohi's eyes widened. "That's... big. Does Xenos know?"
"Not yet," I admitted, glancing at the door again. "I was planning to tell him now, but you know how he gets. I don't want him to brush it off or refuse to let me help."
Alohi smirked. "Oh, he's definitely going to act stubborn about it. But trust me, if you tell him in a way that leaves no room for argument, he'll listen. Probably."
"Probably?" I asked dryly, raising an eyebrow.
Before she could respond, Xenos walked back inside, his face carefully neutral. "Are you done talking about me behind my back, or should I come back later?"
I swallowed hard and stood, facing him. "Actually, there's something I need to tell you."
Xenos stopped in his tracks, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. "What is it?"
I took a deep breath, my voice steady but firm. "Now that I've connected with the Brugmansia flower, I can heal you. I can break your curse, Xenos."
For a moment, silence fell over the room. Xenos's expression hardened, his jaw tightening. "Sage, we've talked about this. My curse isn't your responsibility. You—"
"It is now," I interrupted, stepping closer. "You've done so much to protect me, to help me, and this is my chance to give something back. I will cure you, whether you like it or not."
Xenos's eyes softened for a fleeting second before his stubbornness returned. "And what happens if it goes wrong? What if—"
"It won't," I said firmly, cutting him off. "I'm not asking for permission, Xenos. I'm doing this."
Alohi clapped her hands together, breaking the tension. "Well, this just got interesting. Let me know when it's happening—I'll bring snacks."
I rolled my eyes, but Xenos's glare turned to her. "You're not helping."
"I wasn't trying to," Alohi said cheerfully, popping a piece of fruit into her mouth.
Xenos turned back to me, his expression unreadable. Finally, he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Fine. Do whatever you think you need to. Just... don't hurt yourself in the process."
A small smile crept onto my face. "I won't."
For once, he didn't argue. Instead, he simply nodded and turned toward the door, muttering something about needing fresh air again. Alohi gave me a thumbs-up, and I couldn't help but laugh softly.
The weight of what lay ahead pressed down on me, but for the first time, it felt manageable. I would cure Xenos. No matter what it took.
The castle's training courtyard bustled with activity as Xenos and I arrived. The sound of sparring weapons, shouted commands, and occasional laughter filled the air. We walked side by side, the silence between us oddly comfortable, though neither of us addressed the earlier conversation.
As we reached the open training area, Xenos gave me a small nod before heading to the front of the class. His commanding presence immediately drew everyone's attention as he began organizing the students into their groups.
I slipped into my usual spot among the other students, who were already starting their warm-ups. As I stretched, I caught snippets of whispered gossip around me.
"Did you hear? She's the chosen one or something."
"I don't get why she gets so much attention."
"She's probably just lucky."
I sighed quietly. After nearly three months of this, I'd learned to tune most of it out. It wasn't worth my energy to respond, though their words still stung sometimes.
"Hey, Sage!"
I turned to see a group of boys approaching me. They were from one of the more advanced combat groups, their armor slightly scuffed from earlier practice.
"Mind if we join your warm-up?" one of them asked, a playful grin on his face. His name was Darius, a skilled swordsman who was always cheerful.
"Not at all," I replied, smiling back. "The more, the merrier."
The boys joined in, and we quickly fell into an easy rhythm. They asked me about my studies, joking about how Xenos always seemed stricter when I was around.
"Doesn't he give you a hard time?" one of them teased.
"All the time," I said with a laugh, glancing toward the front where Xenos was adjusting practice dummies.
The conversation flowed naturally, and for once, it felt good to just be a part of the group. The boys didn't seem to care about the rumors or my supposed "special" status. To them, I was just Sage, another student trying to keep up with Xenos's intense lessons.
"Alright, enough chatting!" Xenos's voice cut through the courtyard like a whip, and we all straightened instinctively. "Pair up and get ready for today's drill."
As I moved to find a partner, I couldn't help but notice Xenos's gaze flicker in my direction, his expression unreadable. Whatever was on his mind, I didn't have time to dwell on it—combat training was about to begin, and I needed to focus.
Darius flashed me a grin as we paired up, grabbing two practice swords from the rack. "Looks like we're the dream team today," he joked, spinning his sword lazily in his hand.
"Don't jinx it," I replied, chuckling as we took our positions.
Before we could begin, a shadow loomed over us. Xenos stood there, arms crossed, his expression colder than usual.
"You're not partnering with him," Xenos said curtly, motioning for Darius to move.
Darius raised an eyebrow but didn't argue, stepping back with a shrug. "Guess I'm out."
Instead, Xenos gestured to a girl I vaguely recognized from another group. Her name was Lyra, and she was known for her sharp tongue and competitive nature.
"You're with her," Xenos said, nodding at me before walking off to supervise another group.
Lyra shot me a smirk. "Guess he thinks you need a challenge," she said, twirling her sword.
I rolled my eyes but didn't respond. Xenos's mood swings were starting to feel like a second lesson in endurance.
The training started with sword techniques. Xenos demonstrated precise movements, his own skill with the blade mesmerizing as always. "Focus on control and speed. Power means nothing if you're clumsy," he barked, scanning the students.
Lyra and I sparred for a while, and despite her cockiness, she was good. We matched each other blow for blow, though I managed to disarm her a few times.
"Alright, that's enough!" Xenos called out, stepping forward. "Now, we're moving to magic."
Excitement buzzed through the courtyard as the students gathered around. Xenos explained the next task: using our magic to lift him and send him across the courtyard. Each student would have three chances.
One by one, students attempted the challenge. Some managed to lift him slightly, while others could barely muster the strength. Xenos, naturally, remained stoic, making it look effortless to resist their attempts.
Finally, it was my turn. I stepped forward, my heart pounding.
"Whenever you're ready," Xenos said, his tone neutral, though his gaze felt heavier than usual.
I focused, summoning the energy from within me. With a deep breath, I extended my hand, channeling my magic.
To everyone's shock, Xenos was lifted into the air with ease on my first try. A gust of wind followed, propelling him clear across the courtyard. He landed on his feet, but the force of my magic sent cracks spidering through the ground beneath him.
The courtyard fell silent.
Xenos dusted himself off, his expression unreadable. "A bit excessive," he remarked, his voice steady but sharp.
"Sorry," I muttered, my cheeks burning. I hadn't meant to use that much force, but something inside me had surged uncontrollably.
The silence broke as Lyra let out a low whistle. "Well, guess we know who not to mess with."
Xenos walked back to the group, his eyes meeting mine briefly. "Control, Sage," he said firmly. "You need control. Power like that without restraint is dangerous."
I nodded, swallowing hard. I could feel the stares of the other students, but I kept my focus on Xenos. He looked away, his jaw tight, and moved on to the next student.
I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd just revealed more about myself than I intended.
After the class ended, I slipped into the girls' lockers to change out of my training uniform. My body still buzzed from the adrenaline of the session, especially after the spectacle I'd made with Xenos. The faint whispers of the other girls didn't bother me—I was used to it by now.
Once dressed, I grabbed my bag and headed out, eager to leave the castle grounds. But as I stepped into the hallway, I froze.
Citrus was leaning casually against the wall just outside the lockers, his piercing gaze fixed on me. The air seemed to grow heavier, and I couldn't fathom why he was there—or how he had the audacity to loiter near the girls' lockers of all places.
I kept my head down and moved to walk past him, pretending not to notice. Maybe if I ignored him, he'd let me go.
But just as I passed, his hand shot out, gripping my arm firmly.
"Not so fast," he said, his voice low and sharp.
I glared at him, yanking my arm back, but his grip was unyielding. "What are you doing here?" I demanded, my voice steady despite the unease bubbling inside me.
He didn't answer immediately, a cold smirk spreading across his face instead. Whatever he wanted, it wasn't good.
And in that moment, I knew this encounter was only the beginning of something far more complicated—and far more dangerous.
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