Chapter 24

The next morning, Riley could not stop humming to herself.

"You know what we need? A training montage! Like, the hero, at the end of their rope, goes back to training in a desperate hour to use what time they have left to prepare for the challenges yet to come!" She bounced on her paws as they made their way up the switchbacked path, rambling with excitement and focus.

"You are a very strange creature," Tobias observed, looking a bit more bright eyed than most mornings.

"In this world, I'm a space alien, but I don't know if I want to meet your leader. At least you're looking better," Riley said. Her own purpose was driving her forward, causing her chest to hum with an undeniable energy.

"It's the eye of the tiger; it's the feel of the fight, rising up to the challenge of our rivals…" She hummed along to her mental soundtrack, hopping to the beat.

"Space Alien? Never mind. Yes, I did get some sleep for once. It's not like they can assign a bunch of homework the day before the big Expo," Tobias reasoned.

"Honestly, that sounds like something Instructor Chadrick would do," Riley giggled while Tobias shuddered.

"Unless they start courses in how to be a massive pile of cockatrice dung, I think he's well and truly screwed on that part," Tobias replied with a savage grin.

"In that, Chadrick is truly first tier," Riley chuckled, passing the guards, hopping by with a non-projected "Good Morning!"

In a world she didn't fully understand, certain things like anonymity and the ability to not be heard felt like allies. The assumptions of others had worked like a cloak and a pause button, granting her time to find a tentative place in this strange new reality.

Alien Riley truly felt lost in space sometimes, and those allies she had, she did not want to lose.

"And there's Justinian, like always," Tobias said, shaking her out of her reflections.

"He always does that, leaning against the old oak tree dramatically, looking all mysterious and cool," Riley observed.

"He's always liked his drama, which is funny because the second he opens his mouth, life turns into a comedy," He grinned while holding up his hand in greeting.

The hooded figure nodded and pushed off from the tree slowly as if in testament to their words.

"Hey buddy, hey bunny, was it?" Justinian lowered his hood, wearing a big cheesy grin.

"Bunny, you got it right!" Riley confirmed, having a small laugh again in acquiescence to Tobias' point, all the while boggling at how her translation power worked. It seemed to know context and understand nuance better than she did. Still, it wasn't its power and processing, for lack of a better term, a function of her own spirit made manifest? Did that mean there were parts of herself she didn't quite understand?

Riley cocked her head to look down at her paws and concluded, after pondering them for a moment, that there were definitely parts of herself she didn't quite understand.

Hell, there were parts of herself she didn't even remember being there before.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

"Riley, you with us?" Tobias asked as she cocked her head the other way to get him in a better view.

"What?" She asked.

"You ok? I said I got in early and managed to snag a casting room down on the basement levels. We've got to get through our morning mustering, but after that, I can meet you down there. It's not too far from the forge," Justinian explained.

"There's a basement? How far down does this place go?" Riley boggled.

"As students, we aren't allowed to know; it's something about security measures, but most of us speculate the Keep goes down at least as far as it goes up, which would mean ten levels minimum. The cloistered are housed down below, and the forge works are on the first level, keeping Justinian where he belongs. Below that are probably the vaults where they store the dangerous stuff. At least, it stands to reason." Tobias explained.

"Hey buddy, right here," Justinian held up his Pinkie, ring, and thumb out towards the sky, tucking the remaining two fingers down.

Tobias returned the strange gesture, "Yeah, I love you too, asshole."

Off in the distance, the bell began to chime.

"I'll walk with you before heading down to the forge," Justinian said as they began to move along while Riley scented the air.

Climbing briefly once again in moments the large Keep became visible, but today, no dragons were flying, nor students congregated in their tight cliques.

In the strange ambient silence, tension crackled like a portent of a coming storm.

Riley's fur stood on end.

"Today feels odd," she said, projecting out towards the two.

"Next week is trials, Riley; our entire lives will be defined by what happens this week. I've literally been training for this since I've been four years old." Tobias exclaimed.

"We'll get you there," She promised, a grim focus seizing her.

It wasn't just the gathering outside. Within the parade ground of the Keep, there were vast stretches of room, as only two sections of students seemed present; those of the 14th and 13th years, alongside the red robed mages present on the stage.

"For today only, we have the entire run of the Academy," Tobias explained, getting ahead of Riley's questions.

"Yeah, I could have gotten the good anvil today, the sacrifices I make for you," Justinian chuckled, patting Tobias on the shoulder, "casting room 7b, after muster, we've got it all day."

"You got the big one?" Tobias' eyebrows rose up in surprise.

"And a few other surprises, but I'm going to go check-in. Being late today would not be good for me," Justinian smiled easily before peeling off as the bell tolled again.

Riley saw Chadrick enter, walking regally, heralded by a hawk cry, causing her fur to stand on end, and cocking her head to get a view of the sky.

To the limits of her vision, though, the sky was clear. There was no speck orbiting and nothing she could scent; still, that noise filled her with dread.

"Get out of my way, servant," Chadrick said, knocking Tobias out of position rudely before taking his place four down from him.

"You know what Riley? I really hope you can help me just so I can show up that prick," Tobias swore with grim resolve.