He leaned toward the dark-skinned male with golden eyes beside him, the same Sunheart who’d stood next to him earlier and whispered something. I tore my gaze away, heart tightening with dread, stomach twisting as if anticipating a threat.
“What are they talking about?” I whispered almost to myself.
Soehl turned to me immediately, answering as if it weren’t rhetorical. “I… I couldn’t repeat it. It’s too pungent to say aloud.” She said.
That caught my attention. She’d said she had enhanced hearing as one of her magical traces.
“Please tell me or at least paraphrase,” I begged, voice wavering. “He’s been looking at me with deadly eyes since I walked through Elarion’s gates. I don’t know what his problem is.”
Soehl hesitated, then spoke softly.
“To put it in nicer words… he hates you because you’re the Princess of Solenhart.” “You knew I was the Princess and didn’t say anything?”
“I could tell you weren’t one of those royals who expect bowing or spectacle,” she said gently. “You look… different.”
Something warm flickered in my chest at her words, a fragile, cautious comfort. I had only just met her, yet she saw me, understood, in a way almost no one did. The feeling both startled and soothed me. I liked her more than I expected.
Before I could sink deeper into the thought, Headmaster Marvek raised his hands and gave a curt nod.
“Today, we welcome all first-years called to their new legions. Today is the only day you will sit apart from them. As oftomorrow, classes will begin, and you will attend and take your place at the table with your peers, proving every day that you are worthy of your legion. You are the most skilled and powerful Sunhearts and Moonveils of this island. Many would kill for your position. So make your time here count. But until then, enjoy your first dinner at Elarion Academy. Now please eat.”
The Auroric Veil that covered the plates vanished with a soft hum of magic, and quiet conversations resumed across the room. I reached for the braided bread, needing something to focus on. The scent of spiced lamb and roasted pumpkin helped ground me.
Dinner had settled into a steady rhythm, silverware scraping plates, cups being passed around, warm candlelight flickering across flushed faces. Despite the tension in the room, laughter and soft conversation bloomed at our table.
The two redheads were nearly identical. Both tall and broad-shouldered, with strong jawlines, beige freckled skin, and unruly red hair that curled just slightly at the ends. Their eyes were gold, bright and sharp. Two Sunhearts that moved with the easy confidence of people who didn’t feel the need to prove anything.
“I’m Tran,” said the one on the left, flashing a grin as he reached for a goblet. “And this is my twin, Rowan.”
Rowan gave a small nod, polite but direct. “We’re from Westridge.”
Westridge lay on the south-west edge of the island, where no true city had ever taken root. It was all open land and scattered settlements, small towns, simple homes, and hard-working people. Many of the island’s warriors, especially those with old Dragontail heritage, came from there.
“I’m Soehl, and this is my roommate, Thea…” she began, stopping herself right before saying my last name, because she already understood I’d rip it off if I could.
“They know, Soehl,” I said quickly. “They know I’m a Solenhart.”
Shakari jerked her chin toward the twins. “My best friend here is the heir to the Solenhart throne. Ruler of the freaking island.”
I rolled my eyes. She knew I hated it, she was doing it just to annoy me. “Well, not for long, given the recent events,” I said, chuckling nervously.
“That’s a problem for tomorrow. Today is a celebration, for our Callings and we should treat it as such,” Shakari said loudly, her excitement unmistakable.
I laughed with her, because deep down, I was excited too.
One of the red-haired twins leaned back with a wicked grin. “But seriously, Princess, should we bow, or just kiss your hand?”
“Please don’t do either,” I said flatly.
“Thea doesn’t like the royal shows,” Shakari added with a smirk.
“I don’t like the attention,” I corrected, exasperated. “But I sure as hell have it anyway. I’ve been here five minutes, and I already have people whispering behind my back about the Calling, the throne, and how much they hate us.”
Shakari waved a dismissive hand, as if brushing away smoke. “Ignore them. Plenty of people resent the throne. But they’ll never actually do anything about it. The island still has laws. Consequences.”
“At least now you will learn how to kick their ass in fights and shut them up,” Rowan said with a wicked smile. Shakari was sitting next to him. I could see how she leaned into him already, how she was drawn to such a strong-headed, feral male.
“Cheers to that, brother,” Tran said, raising his glass. “In Emberkeep, you would only learn how to create nice figures with fire, talk in public, and debate.”