“Are you alright?” The purple haired woman asked. Her voice was gentle, her eyes were filled with concern. She was clearly older than me or Tulip, but she wasn’t old. If anything she looked young, she couldn’t have even been in her thirties—Yet she carried herself with grace all the same.

She wore the clothes of a noble, something which didn’t surprise me in the slightest. Although her specific clothing options sat apart from what I had vaguely seen in Arcadia: Instead of a billowing, frilly dress, she wore skin tight black leggings and a loose top with one side crossed over the other. A thicker piece of cloth sat over her midsection to tie the two open halves of the top together—The Top itself was primarily white with black accents along its edges.

I opened my mouth, but I couldn’t find any words to speak. I remained silent as long as I reasonably could until a sniffle turned into a hiccuping sob. My head lowered again as I just pulled my legs closer to myself, the only words I could muster out were all I could think of.

“Go away…” I barely mumbled out. I honestly didn’t want anyone near me, I felt like I needed to be alone. “Please…” I added after an uncomfortable moment of silence.

Yet, despite my pleas the woman didn’t leave. Instead I heard her sit down with a sigh, I could feel her presence only about a foot away from me. When she spoke it wasn’t the harsh, insulting, or berating tone the previous days had made me used to. Instead it was gentle, kind, warm—It was something that I wanted to listen to.

“You can talk to me if you want. I’m a good listener,” The woman offered. I looked up slowly, almost disbelievingly at the person sitting next to me. “Or we can just be quiet. But I won’t leave someone crying in the woods alone.”

There was a heavy silence that filled the air between us once the woman finished speaking. Her gaze was turned upwards, watching the stars as she lent back on her arms where she sat. Her face didn’t show any emotion that I could recognize, not until she turned to look at me, and a gentle smile spread across her lips.

“Why?...” I asked once our eyes met. It felt like all I could ask. Why should she help me? Why should she care? Why was she here and not Tulip? Why had Levi changed from firm kindness to outright hatred so quickly?

“Why?...” The woman repeated. She tilted her head to the side in thought for a heartbeat before she shrugged and answered. “There’s a lot of answers for ‘why’ I’m here. But they don’t matter right now. No, I think you mean a lot of things when you ask me ‘why.’ Could you be a little more specific?” She took in a deep breath before sighing it back out slowly.

“Why… are you here?” It took nearly a minute for me to mutter an elaboration for the mysterious woman. But she didn’t seem to mind, the soothing smile on her face never faltered.

“That’s simple: I’m here because I heard someone crying alone in the forest. And here I found a lonely girl, who clearly needs some help,” The woman answered. Her friendly, reassuring gaze shifted away from the sky and down to me. Her deep purple eyes glimmered like stars in the darkness, her head tilted and smile widened as she spoke calmly. “Next?”

“Why do you even care?” I wondered genuinely as I asked. The woman seemed to think for a moment before she opened her mouth for an answer.

“Why shouldn’t I care? Not everyone in the world is cold dear, some people have compassion instead of hatred,” Her tone never shifted away from kindness. She reached out, planting a hand gently upon my head to ruffle my hair. “Now, what’s wrong?” She asked gently as her hand retracted away.

“It’s… nothing…” I mumbled out uncomfortably. I began to shift away from the woman’s contact, her tone shifted a little—Her face showing a sort of pout that seemed like something a child would show when annoyed.

“It is something if you’ve been sent into the forest crying—So don’t give me that.” The woman stated firmly.

“How can I even explain this?...” I wondered aloud. A sigh escaped my lips as I shook my head—I closed my eyes tightly to avoid the prying gaze of the woman sitting next to me, but I could still feel her gaze digging into me until I relented.

“It’s stupid, selfish, and all sorts of things… I just… Everything I did I was getting yelled at for and I don’t even know why… Levi kept yelling and I just needed to get away from it.” I muttered out in a low tone.

“Ah,” The woman nodded. Her lips narrowing into a thin line, a sigh escaped her as she leaned back against the tree just behind her. “That’s all you really needed to say—That it was Levi.”

“Is he that bad?” I asked worriedly. Afterwards I slowly opened my eyes to watch the woman again.

“No—He’s not bad per say, but… Levi isn’t an understanding person.” She was clearly thinking over each word she spoke out, choosing every syllable carefully. “I take it you’re Kirin then? I’ve heard he ended up taking two students and you clearly aren’t the Princess.”

“Yea… I am…” I sighed out. Clenching my teeth down I tightened my grip around my legs further, pulling my knees further into my chest as my head fell down. “Why does Levi hate me so much?...”

A heavy silence filled the night air between the two of us. For a solemn few moments I wondered if the woman was even still there, but when my gaze moved upwards I met her gaze that had settled softly upon me.

“Levi doesn’t hate you. I can easily say that, but he clearly doesn’t understand what… you have been through,” The woman let out a heavy sigh as her gaze moved upwards. “He is likely comparing you to himself, how he learned—After all he did come from a situation not too different from yours.”

I looked at the woman with wide eyes—My dread washed away with a surge of curiosity, but she met my gaze with a shake of her head that quickly brought a sigh to my lips.

“I have no right to divulge his story, Kirin. Levi is a fickle man, he probably doesn’t understand that hate isn’t what drives you, not like it drove him,” Despite her words her gaze was still filled with a gentle sympathy. “He wishes to break you down and make you hate him, just like his teacher did to him.”

“Then why does he only do this to me? Why doesn’t he treat Tulip the same?” I asked the instant the woman fell silent. It would have been easy to ignore how Levi treated me if it were equal, but it was just how he let Tulip by, how he let her pass everything.

“There is only so much he can do to the crowned Heir, Kirin. Even if she wouldn’t mind it, there are always eyes watching her, and if they don’t like what they see then Levi himself could be in danger.” She stated grimly—I could feel my mind already racing from her words.

“Who could be a threat to even Levi?...” I wanted to ask her the question, but it almost felt forbidden in some way. Like it was some unspoken rule that I couldn’t ask further, like an uncanny instinct telling me about danger—It left an uneasy itching feeling along my back that forced me into silence.

“It’s honestly more than just Levi… it feels like almost everyone hates me. They hate me for a crime committed by someone I don’t even know—I can’t even imagine my own fathers face and yet they want to condemn me to death over it!” I could feel more emotion welling up inside of me—I could immediately see Kendrick’s in my mind.

“Then you’ve had some bad luck,” The woman stated bluntly. She pushed at her knees, shifting upwards to stand. “Not everyone, not nearly everyone hates you. But those who hate you will always be more vocal.”

The woman looked down at me, offering a hand out with a kind smile.

“Come on, you’ll miss the best part of the evening if you stay here. Tulip is unbelievably worried about you, but Levi wouldn’t let her out of sight,” She offered a reassuring smile as her hand extended towards me. I could already feel my wallowing turning to guilt for making Tulip worry. “She already got a spot reserved for the both of you.”

I clenched my teeth down, worrying anxiously over Tulip as I reached to take the hand of the violet-haired woman. Maybe, just maybe, talking to Tulip could help chase away some of the insecurities I felt.

“Best part of the evening?...” I asked as she pulled me to my feet.

“You’ll see. Now hold on tight.” Without any further warning I was swept off of my feet, effortlessly held in the arms of the taller woman. I felt wind buffeting my face, forcing my eyes shut and blowing my hair around wildly. My ears rang not from the wind but from hundreds of gentle crackles.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

I glanced over, meeting the smiling gaze of the woman with horror filling my own eyes. Deep violet arcs of electricity with brilliant white edges jumped across her clothes and skin—Every step she took sent her flying forwards at impossible speeds, the trees became nothing more than blurs in the edge of my vision with her speed.

I couldn’t even open my mouth to scream, all I could do was desperately hold onto her with a white knuckled grip and pray that everything would slow down soon. And indeed, we did slow down soon.

The entire distance from the forest at the edge of the island back to the school itself had taken me almost two hours to cover—And yet this woman leapt across it in less than a minute! Her pace didn’t even seem focused, it was almost casual in the way she slowed down to a quickened jog and finally to a walk.

It was only once I felt her arms moving themselves out from underneath me that my grip on her clothes finally lessened. My heart was pounding in my chest even harder than when Tulip forced me to take flight, but all I could do was smile. An incomprehensible laugh broke free from my lips, a laugh that the woman reciprocated in kind with her own series of giggles.

“Just a little further, come on.” Once she calmed her own laughter she was quick to usher me along again. And it didn’t take long for me to start seeing other students around—Not just dozens, or even hundreds. It was thousands of them, they filled every inch of the gargantuan halls once we found ourselves inside the building. Every single one of them was even moving in the same direction, the main courtyard of the building.

We were drawn into the unforgiving horde of people, at several points I had to fight just to remain next to the woman guiding me. What surprised me the most however was how no one looked our way, not in a sense of they didn’t care—But like they were scared of someone.

I glanced almost anxiously at the violet haired woman, she met my gaze and just smiled innocently in return. Soon the amber torchlight faded away as we made our way outside, the azure moonlight cast its dim glow into the courtyard like beacons to illuminate the sight I beheld.

The entire courtyard had been changed in mere hours, massive stands sat in a semi-circular pattern mirroring that of the main building itself. The seating stands surrounded a circular platform that was covered by an obscuring dark aura that I could feel even from the few hundred feet that stood between me and the stage.

“What is this?” I asked, looking around for the woman who had brought me here—But she was gone. In the mere moment I had looked away she disappeared, leaving me alone in the tidal wave of a crowd.

“Where did she?...” I asked myself aloud as I looked around frantically. But another familiar voice answered, the worry palpable in her tone.

“Kirin!” Tulip’s shout was barely audible over the crowd—However her tackling hug that she immediately assaulted me with was palpable despite the crowd around us. “Where did you go?! What happened?! Are you alright?—How did you get back here in time?”

“Slow down please…” I begged in a half wheeze that at least got Tulip to loosen her vice-like hug. “I’m fine… mostly.” I muttered with a shake of my head and a deep breath, my gaze still moved around with confusion visible across my face.

“I just… ran into the forest behind the school—A purple haired woman found me… but she made it sound like you sent her?” My answer slowly turned into a question as I thought over the strange situation even further. “Nevermind, what’s going on?”

I glanced around while Tulip remained silent for a moment. I couldn’t help but feel like I stood out in the crowd, and glancing at my clothing I could see why. Everyone, even Tulip, was wearing their proper uniforms. I was still wearing my muddied, bloodied and torn clothes that Levi insisted we wore for our morning exercises.

“It’s the takeoff ceremony—The school is taking flight again, and they’re announcing who the eight competitors in the Skyliner Festival will be,” Tulip finally answered. When I looked back at her I could tell she was concerned and confused, she wanted more answers but they could wait. Instead of demanding for them she grabbed my arm, and started to pull me along. “Come on, we have some seats near the top row, and I have your jacket there.”

“And you made it sound like you didn’t think I’d show up…” I spoke teasingly.

“I didn’t think you’d show up,” Tulip replied bluntly, though the sidelong glance and gentle smirk gave her away. “But I hoped you would.”

As Tulip guided me through the crowd I turned my gaze to glance around and take in any more details I could. I could see the different colored uniforms for the different years of the students within the school, alongside them I saw countless different uniforms that didn’t seem like students in the slightest. Some were obvious, janitors, guards and other faculty that made sense to be in a school like this—But others stood out, a handful of farmers sat among them and even a particularly lengthy man in a billowing white coat who was like a beacon amongst the faculty.

Everyone's eyes were focused solely on the pitch-black barrier covering over the circular stage in the center of the popup stadium that had been erected. Nobody even bothered to bat an eye at the two of us as we clambered up to the seats Tulip had reserved. She quickly procured my jacket which still held my Insignia upon the right breast, and I wasted no time to pull it over my messy clothes.

I was about to open my mouth and ask Tulip what the Skyliner Festival was, but an imposing silence was demanded upon everyone in an instant. A surging aura washed across the island, bringing all murmurs and whispers to absolute stillness that not even the wind dared to break.

“Welcome Students of Silver Sky!” An ear-shatteringly loud voice boomed out. “Welcome one and all to yet another takeoff ceremony—And welcome to the selections of our Skyliner Festival.”

The barrier of shadows gradually fell away from the top down. The wisps of darkness fell away like embers scattering away from a fire into ash and dust in the air. The flakes scattered and spiraled in a tight circle that rose higher and higher while the barrier grew gradually lower.

The spiraling tendrils of shadows eventually fell away to reveal a golden maned face that filled my body with dread—Levi stood upon the stage, his gaze already digging directly into my skin. But my eyes couldn’t remain on him, quickly moving to the four other figures that stood upon the stage with him.

Confusion filled my mind when I recognized the woman on the farthest end of the stage from him, the very same violet-haired figure who had brought me here now stood on the stage. Her own gaze settled on me, but it was only for a barely recognizable instant.

The third figure I could somewhat recognize—She was the woman who had screamed at Kendrick on my first proper day in the school to drag him away. Her golden eyes droned over the crowd methodically, it was like watching a predator pick out her prey.

The last two figures were entirely new to me however. The one who stood closest to Levi was a black haired woman, her eyes were a deep milky-white color that stared blankly directly ahead of her. Outlining her eyes were a series of grotesque scars, they were clearly old, but it looked like someone had tried to cut her eyes out with the talons of a bird. She wore not a dress, but a fine black suit.

The final figure on the stage, at the very forefront with his arms spread wide was yet another new face for me. But his commanding, imposing presence left a feeling that I couldn’t shake—The way that even Levi seemed to respect him gave me a feeling that he was in charge here.

Old couldn’t quite describe how the man looked—Ancient was a more apt description. His face sat wrinkled like a vegetable left to sit in the sun for too long, yet his emerald eyes gleamed with an uncanny youth. The air itself seemed to grow into a haze around him akin to what could be seen around a fire—And when he next opened his mouth he let one and all know it was his voice that spoke here, not anyone else's.

“Now we shall allow our four Archmages to select their choices for this year's festival!” The elderly man shouted out. He turned his gaze around, watching the four Archmages gathered behind him intently. I glanced desperately at Tulip for answers, but she only raised a single finger to her lips in response.

“Lushia!” The elderly man shouted out as he pointed towards one of the gathered Archmages with a flamboyant flick of his wrist. The woman he gestured to gave a dissatisfied snort in response, but she spoke out all the same.

“I choose Kendrick Armester as my representative for this year.” Lusha—The woman who had previously dragged Kendrick away spoke confidently. The crowds grew into a gentle murmur that was silenced the instant Kendrick stood up, and with confidence he began down to the stage. A Self-important grin sat wide across his face once he found his stop, facing the crowd with pride in his eyes.

“Hmph, an unsurprising choice. Nenema!” The Elderly man barely gave Kendrick a glance before he turned his gaze to the woman with scarred eyes. She didn’t react quickly, only raising a hand to rub her ear painfully.

“I’m blind, not deaf you old geezer…” Nenema spoke in a low tone. Her blind eyes closed momentarily before her own voice raised marginally. “I choose Silva Helme as my representative for this year.” Nenema’s voice, despite remaining at a similar volume, cast itself around the entire stadium as if the shadows themselves spoke for her.

Out from the crowds came a rather skinny girl who seemed to be about my age. She wore deep, barely brighter than dried blood, red hair. Her eyes were an opposingly gentle blue color, her gaze remained distant, never quite focusing on anyone or anything as she made her way to the stage.

The elderly man next turned his gaze to Levi, I could tell he was shifting his eyebrows up and down from the wrinkles shifting across his face—Which forced Levi to roll his eyes. The elderly man spun in place before snapping his fingers on both hands at once. Once his motion stopped he was pointing both hands and both index fingers at the gargantuan man in front of him.

“Levi!” The elderly man shouted with a grin that was visible upon his face even from behind.

“I am waiving my rights to send a representative this year. Neither of my students are prepared for it.” Levi replied firmly, his arms crossed tightly to his chest as his gaze settled upon the elderly man.

“Oh?” The elderly man actually sounded surprised for the first time this evening. He raised a single hand to his chin, stroking the bare skin gently. “I suppose we can allow five positions to be competed for within the school.” He nodded to himself, finally turning to the final woman. Gone were his flamboyant acts, now he acted almost professionally.

“Carmine!” Despite being right next to her, he still shouted her name. But to her credit, Carmine didn’t react.

I paused once I heard her name however—Hadn’t I heard about Carmine before? I didn’t have time to think if I had or hadn’t though, not when Carmine started to speak immediately.

“Well, I was going to side with Levi and also waive my rights this year. However I am now in a stark, disagreement with him,” Carmine glanced at Levi with a devious smirk across her face. “I choose Kirin Vulender as my representative for this year.”