“Just one more week and then Dragonia is going to break for summer. That means that next week is orientation. We beg of you to use the last two hours to grab your meals as next year’s first years will get comfortable with their surroundings. We are going to grant them an extra hour during dinner. On Saturday, one of the biggest claims in Paegeia’s history will take place inside the colosseum of Tith. You are all invited.”
Everyone hooted and cheered as George bumped me. A couple of students and professors applauded as I sulked in my chair with arms folded.
“I’m sure they can’t hide her much longer,” George mumbled.
“We are all very hyped about that,” Chong carried on.
The rumble came as he carried on speaking about orientation week.
My eyes closed as the amount of magic seeped through my skin. It radiated through my body and vibrated against my organs. It put me on edge, but for the next five minutes, I had to endure it.
Eventually, it stopped with a loud click.
“Please, make the newcomers feel welcome and keep the pranks limited this year.” He looked at George, and my lips twitched upward.
“Why does he always look at me? Fuck, I wonder if he knows you are standing behind all of them.”
We broke, and my room was now on the ninth floor. It felt so weird.
I struggled to sleep that night. She wasn’t coming. I got up and went to the roof.
I kept staring at the sky. Isaac hadn’t gotten back to me yet on whether we got the opening gig on Saturday. I needed that for her.
We’d been practicing “Fix You”for the past two weeks.
I needed at least that.
ELENA
I wasinside the simulator again.
I kept staring at the Rubicon. His eyes were blood red and following me, but he didn’t move until I pressed the button.
My heart pounded every time I tried to get used to him.
“Elena!” Dad’s voice came through the speakers and I pressed the gel pads that were next to my head. The scene changed to the room of obstacles and I released myself from the mechanical that assisted my movements. The mechanical claws wouldn’t assist me inside the ring on Saturday. I’d have to rely on the rope I could take in with me, or until the Rubicon released my abilities.
“What are you waiting for?”
“I’m trying to process, Dad.”
He grinned as he stood on the third level, watching me. I huffed, not impressed with him. I couldn’t go to Dragonia because his paranoia was still there, just buried deep inside.
I wished I knew what really was his reason. Did it have to do with Blake? Was he a teacher at Dragonia?
“Micha will be here in twenty minutes. You need to get ready.”
I nodded and pressed the button against my temple, and the Rubicon appeared in front of me again. Just staring at me.
I practiced on him for the next fifteen minutes. Dad said it was all I would get. He needed to go down in fifteen minutes, otherwise it was a lost cause and I had to try another time.
The one in the simulator went down in eighteen minutes. I couldn’t get it under the fifteen minute mark and I stopped the sim.
Micha and Dad applauded.
I smiled. It wasn’t good enough.
“You are really getting better every time,” Micha said.
