Okay, so that didn’t come out the way I had planned.
Professor Novak’s mouth twitches upward ever so slightly.
“I was not intending to go to Redrock, but Heru, the roc I mentioned, bowed to me. I took it as an invitation, and got on. I’m not sure if you recall… but my hometown, Goldenpine, was also attacked by the Underworld. So I had to fight, you see. It’s personal.” I share the details of the past few days, my decision to fly to Goldenpine and how seeing the destruction and devastation was too much for me, that I needed to take a breakto collect myself. I leave Atlys out of my tale. By the end of the story, the Professor’s face is slack, eyebrows furrowed.
I shift in my seat, feeling heavy with anticipation, like the moment of stillness before Heru plummets down for her landing.
The edges of Professor Novak’s eyes crease as he contemplates for a minute. After a while, he leans back and crosses his legs. “You may return to the Watch Akemi”—he lifts a finger, cutting off the accolades of appreciation—“but I will need you to make up for your missed assignments by two moon falls, and you’ll have one month of cleaning chores.”
I let out an involuntary sigh in a rush of relief. Chores, I can manage. Rosie made sure of that. “Right away, professor.” I make for the door.
“And Akemi, nice performance in the second task,” he adds, handing me a slip of paper.
You have got to be kidding me!Vega cheated during the logic portion of the task, and yet she somehow finds herself at the top. At least we got second. The Jord team third, and Leaf’s Forest team fourth. The River team fell in last, disqualifying them from the remainder of the Summit. I’m sure Ramona is not pleased by this at all
“Thank you, Professor Novak,” I say, proud of letting only a hint of sourness resonate in my voice despite my extreme annoyance at the results. I stick it in my pocket and try to resist the eye roll at seeing Castor’s and Vega’s names at the top. The moment the slip of paper is out of sight, the magnitude of my situation sinks in.
I get to stay.
I’ve never before been so thrilled to etch another tally into the wall. Elation fills me like two glasses of mead. No amount of bad news will bring me down from this feeling. One month of chores is easily worth the feeling I’ve come to know as belonging to something greater than just myself. I hurry back to my room, ignoring the stares and whispers of cadets as I pass.
Ramona jumps down from her bunk the moment I enter.
“Akemi!” She pulls me in for a tight hug. Very uncharacteristic for Ramona. “I was so worried when you didn’t show up after the alarms, but then word got out that you got on top of a roc! I’m trying my hardest to put my jealousy aside, so before it takes over… tell me everything!”
“Only if you tell me everything first. How is Leo doing? And Lacerta…?”
Ramona sits back down on her chair, previous energy deflated. “Dead.”
My heart expands painfully against my ribs. I rub my chest trying to relieve the feeling. She was way too young to die. We sit there in silence for a few minutes.
“I’m disqualified. Leo too.” Ramona sighs. “As last to finish, the entire River Tribe team is taken out of the running for the Summit.”
“I’m so sorry. I know how much you wanted this,” I offer, thinking of Ramona’s eagerness to prove herself within a huge family legacy.
“It’s alright.” She shrugs. “I’ve had a few days to process it. Now I can support my best friend.” Her smile brightens, and she flips an unruly curl out of her face. “Okay, I’ve waited long enough. Tell me everything!”
So I did. About Heru gifting me her feather, riding alongside Garrot and the other Elves, Redrock, and the destruction of Goldenpine. She blanches a little as I describe the wasteland remaining. Then, I finally tell her about Atlys and my outburst.
“What do you mean your eyes glowed? Without a channeling ring on?” Her round green eyes crinkle with concern.
“Yes,” I start, then decide right then that I’m going to share with her the whole truth. “I’m a Starwatcher.”
Ramona gasps, and one of the daggers she was flipping in her hand drops to the ground. Sheneverdrops her daggers. “Holy fuck! What? There hasn’t been a Starwatcher in—”
“—fifty years.”
“That’s amazing and also terrifying.” Ramona’s large eyes somehow become more round. “My dad has told me about Starwatchers. They are usually gobbled up at first chance by the Elders to run missions, uncover secrets, all sorts of sketchy shit that usually ends up with them injured or dead.”
“That’s reassuring,” I say flatly.
Ramona stops herself before sharing more. “I mean, I just… I’m glad you told me, but Akemi, you’ll want to be really careful about this.”
“That’s what Atlys said too. He doesn’t think I should tell anyone.”
Ramona huffs out a laugh. “I might have to agree with the giant Underling Lord on this one.”
I slump forward, resting my elbows on my knees, suddenly feeling so tired from the ride back to the Watch. “Do you think I should tell Leaf or Castor?”
