The next day Aliya felt like death. She'd stayed up most of the night tossing and turning, pulling out the book and looking at it, tossing and turning some more. She was exhausted and Instructor Markis who was their swordsmanship master had noticed.
Aliya was exceptionally proficient with a sword, even surpassing those who had masters teach them from the time they were small children. She had not started learning until she was 11 but she had learned under someone who had become in his time one of the top fighters in the Empire.
Markis fought with Tate in the war, and even though they had not been in the same unit he'd gotten to see first hand how Tate's swordsmanship improved throughout his battles.
"Cadet Aliya!" He snapped.
Aliya's spine snapped straight and she refocused her eyes. "Yes, sir?"
"Where is your head today, you're all over the place." He demanded.
She shook her head trying to clear it. She heard those infernal whispers start up all around her, a few snickers too.
"Sorry sir, I'm good sir."
He shook his head. "I'll not have a cadet get hurt in my class because they can't focus. If you didn't come to class to pay attention and learn then I'll let you idle."
Confused at his statement she broke out of her straight posture to look at him. They'd all been standing around the edge of the sparring ring, a large square with ropes around the perimeter for the cadets to fight in. She, along with everyone else, was supposed to be watching the fights they were not participating in to learn from others.
She couldn't even tell you who was fighting at the moment.
"Sir?"
"Go," he gestured with his chin, "over there." She looked in the direction he gestured unsure of what he wanted. "Take fifty paces, turn, and face the class, and while your peers are sparring you are to hold your sword in a neutral ready stance. You are not allowed to drop your arms or your sword until class is over. I also expect a detailed written report on the highlights of each match between now and the end of class. Dismissed."
She sighed, it was pretty harsh, but she'd brought it on herself. She walked away from the group and once she was fifty paces away she turned to face the crowd. At least at this distance, she couldn't hear her classmates talking about her. However, it soon became clear that this was going to be rough.
For one, she couldn't clearly see the sparring ring so she was doomed to fail this report. Additionally, even though she'd trained long and hard in her swordsmanship she could definitely say that being asked to stand and hold her sword out in front of her, in the proper stance, without moving, for what was bound to be another hour, was something she had never tried before.
The first fifteen minutes were okay, and then the burn started. The thirty-minute mark introduced the uncontrollable shakes. She dared not drop the blade point an inch because she was Markis constantly checking in on her.
"Aliya, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Kilnik broke into her thoughts at about forty minutes.
"I'm fine." She mentally grunted.
"You don't sound or feel fine from here."
"Can you see me? Where are you right now?"
"No, I can't see you we are on the ground getting lectured right now. What are you doing, why do you feel so strained?"
"I'm getting punished for zoning out in class."
"Ah, you were looking at the book all night weren't you?" He accused.
"I just couldn't sleep." She replied vaguely.
"Humm." He didn't sound happy but he did leave her be after that. She was almost accurate in her estimate of the time remaining in class. At the hour mark, which was announced by a bell that filled up the air of this part of the city. The bell belonged to a government building that was near the Academy.
The class began to disperse and at the subtle nod she saw from Markis she dropped the sword tip to the ground with a grunt. Instructor Markis approached her.
He took in her red face and shaking arms. "You couldn't see any of that could you?"
She just shook her head.
He let out a frustrated breath. "Fine, I'm not unreasonable. Instead of the report, I'd like you to do something else for me."
She looked up panting with no energy to ask.
"I will send you a pass later today. I need you and Kilnik to do a job for me. His cloaking skills will be perfect."
He looked around for a moment before taking a step closer to her until they were almost shoulder to shoulder. He looked straight forward as he quietly told her what he wanted her to do.
She nodded her head and he walked off. It was a long time before she could gather the will to move. For once she was glad her next class of the day was a lecture. She walked to the lecture hall and slumped in her chair. Even now her shoulders and arms were screaming and she felt dizzy.
Anna was in this class as well and soon took the seat next to her. Aliya's eyes were closed but she could feel the other girl's eyes raking over her face.
"What happened to you?" Anna said bluntly.
She told her what happened.
"That's not very like you, are you alright?" Aliya felt a pang, she was touched that the reserved girl seemed to actually care.
She nodded.
"Good, his Highness would be upset if you were hurt or sick."
Aliya just smiled with her eyes still shut. Anna had done as she expected. She'd pretended that only Cade cared but Aliya was sure she'd heard concern in her voice. This made her very happy for some reason.
Class went on predictably and when it ended everyone filed out of their seats and towards the doors that led back out into the sunshine. There was a young man waiting with his back propped against the wall. When he saw her he called to her. "Cadet Aliya!"
Aliya turned. She didn't recognize him. He seemed too old to be attending the Academy but she'd never seen him around as staff.
He came to her and gave a nod of his head in greeting. Anna was still beside her so he nodded to her as well.
"Markis instructed me to give this to you." He held out the now familiar sight of a pass. The physical pass was actually a copper coin with the Academy Crest on it. When you carried it out of the Academy you brought it back once you returned.
She took it from his hand and nodded her head in thanks.
"I'll be off then, good luck." He lazily saluted and turned on his heels to saunter away.
She watched him go thinking over her task when Anna reminded her of her presence. "What was that about?"
She looked at Anna and had a sudden idea. "Anna, would you be willing to help me with something later tonight?"
Anna looked a little startled at the request, or as startled as Aliya had ever seen her. "Huh, what do you need help with?"
"Instructor Markis has given me a task to do for him. I just realized that I don't know where to start but you might. I know it's a lot to ask and I'll admit you will gain nothing from helping me so feel free to refuse me."
She cocked her head. "Since you have a pass does that mean this task requires you to go off the Academy grounds?"
"Yes."
"Into the city or out to the wilds?"
Aliya smiled despite herself. "The wilds."
Anna nodded face passive. "Sold."
"Huh?"
"I'll go with you."
"Don't you want more details?"
Anna shrugged. "You can tell me now, but I'll do it regardless."
"Why, what if I'm going to do something dangerous?"
"Instructor Markis wouldn't send a cadet to do something dangerous. The truth is I've never received a pass in the whole time I've been here."
Aliya blinked in surprise. "Never not in..." she counted in her head. "three years? I'm just assuming you came at thirteen."
Anna nodded. "Correct. Three and a half years to be exact."
"What about trips home?" Aliya couldn't help but ask. Come to think of it she knew nothing about Anna's family or where her home even was.
Anna shrugged. "It didn't interest me. I'd like to go outside though, I think it will be nice."
Aliya shook her head in amazment but she was greatful.
"Alright then let's go get Kilnik and Muna and then I'll fill everyone in."
Anna nodded and the two set off towards where thier dragons should be finishing up a lesson.
Neither girl noticed a boy staring at them as they went. Cade felt something srange as he watched Aliya and Anna walk away togeather. How had neither noticed that he was there? True, he hadn't said anything, he wanted to see how long it would take them to notice. However, they hadn't seen him at all, they were so absorbed in thier converstaion it didn't look like they saw anayone.
He'd introduced them but something about this situation made him feel strange. Aliya was his fiance, shouldn't he be her priority? Okay, maybe that was a little much to ask considering that he knew she hadn't really accepted the situation yet. Still, he felt like she hardly thought of him at all unless he was right in front of her face. As for Anna, she'd always been a companion of his. He was one of the few people she really talked to. He prided himself on being a rare person who knew what she was really like. Now, it looked like she was opening up to Aliya too. He felt jelous and knew that he was being stupid on both counts but knowing that didn't change the burning feeling in his chest. he sighed and decided to follow them.