“Fuck,” all nine of us replied to Dimitri.
He let out a harsh breath. “Thisis why we must study.”
Rune leaned against Slater as they walked, but she said nothing witty in response.
Shehadn’tbeen saying anything at all to him.
I frowned.
Rune and Dimitri used to get along better. But once quarter four started, they’d seemed to avoid each other.
Slater and Zuko also glared at him frequently, which was unsettling.
I didn’t miss the look of longing on his face when he stared at her, though. Or her at him.
We made our way to Simulator 1.6 for the Essence and Restoration final with Professor Greenblood, and she was waiting outside of it with a calm smile like she always had. She had long, tangled gray hair and mottled hazel-green eyes with flecks like dried leaves. She always held very intense eye contact, too. She leaned on her twisted staff made from a hollowed root.
She was a nature witch who specialized in healing. Her aura was always comforting.
“You will put what you’ve learned this quarter into action today on simulated patients,” she spoke softly. “The patients will be from the Second War and suffer from trauma and volatile emotions. Whether you pass or not will depend on your discipline and focus, emotional clarity under pressure, and your compassion. You will have access to the first-aid kit with healing potions and salves. Your squad is being split in half, so five agents for one patient. You will take turns in the simulator in groups. Up first are Rune, Koa, Slater, Zuko, and Hawk.”
A sigh of relief came from Rune as she shot a quick look at Dimitri before the five of us went into the simulator.
The door slammed behind us, and a glowing, glass-like healing arena formed around us.
A makeshift bed lay in the center with a woman on it.
She was partially burned, with broken bones and emotionally fractured, if her aura was anything to go by.
“Hey, it’s okay. I’ll heal you with my magic. It’s a special power.” I kneeled down, reaching into my chest and pulling out the familiar hum of my special power to access my healing. Blue flame came from my hands, but before it could heal her, she screamed.
“Get away from me! No! Don’t! Stay away!” She screamed like I was killing her, and she hit me with her broken arms.
“I’m sorry!” I stopped healing her immediately and backed away. “I’m trying to heal you. I will not hurt you.”
“The fire!” Her screams turned to sobs. “My mate, he—” She cut herself off with a high-pitched wail.
Rune sat down next to her but didn’t touch her. “We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
“He’s dead!” she screeched, imp magic popping up everywhere as she swung at Rune.
“We didn’t kill your mate!” Zuko moved in front of the hit and forced the patient down on the bed.
“We’re trying to help you!” Slater told her as he and Hawk moved to the other side of her, stopping her from trying to attack everyone who wanted to help her.
“The drake fire—they burned him alive! He was a good man! But they killed him, and they held me down and made me watch!” She sobbed harder, her entire body convulsing as the guys stepped back from her and let her lash out.
Imp sparks popped around her, harmless but in great numbers.
I gently took Rune’s hand in mine. “You and Drecken have been testing out potions with your venom, right?”
She nodded, realization crossing her face. “Since she can’t handle the flames of your healing, I should be able to get my venom into her. I just need to use a healing potion, right?”
I smiled softly. “Exactly.”
Hawk ran over to Rune as the patient started screaming, and I knew she was in a memory loop she couldn’t escape of her mate being murdered in front of her. “Hurry, Rune, come on.”
Hawk pulled her toward the patient, too roughly.
