Ol’ Mumm wasn’t kidding when she said she would get us plenty of nutritious food.

We regrouped in the common room to discuss the current plan while we scarfed down spiced sausages, fresh herb-crusted bread, vegetable soup, and curious fruits. The food was coated in ground-up green powder. Ol’ Mumm had covered the food in some sort of super-food/exotic drug she had swiped from Professor Rennal. When I asked her if she had any extra ingredients from him, specifically something that could knock out Noah, she said no.

She only had a small amount of the rare herbs. Only a few of us could eat the replenishing food for it to take effect. Waelid had selected who would recover with the enhanced food based on the person’s strength/experience with using the blood infusions. The ones chosen were Waelid, Fan, an upperclassman named Jako, Mel, Vahim, Lucius, Sora, and me.

Everyone else was too exhausted to properly recover without the enhanced food. Even though they weren’t going to join us on our mission, all of my classmates, the Veilbreakers, sat around listening to us as we discussed potential plans.

“Attention, House Anu!” Waelid said, clapping his hands. He looked rejuvenated, and his normal bright charisma had returned. “Now, I know things looked gloomy at first, but the tides of fate have changed! I am here and stronger than ever. Both Erik and I are the strongest students, in my opinion, given we have reached the third stage. However, we can win. You saw with your own eyes. Four, I repeated four Magebloods have fallen by our hands. Two have died, and two may as well have. We removed their hands, the firing point of their magic. We have turned them into the very thing they hate, someone who can’t use magic. We can use every abled body possible and it has come down to us eight. Tell me, have you all surpassed stage one? Jako I know you have, but you first years? Have you transformed?” Waelid asked the group.

“We can do that, yes. We have all got to the second stage. But…when we do. We uh…lose control. You know?” Vahim said.

“It happens,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “I experienced the same thing. That’s why we need to get you trained the way Major Philip taught us. Later though, after we make it through this.”

“If we make it through,” Lucius said.

“Lucius, stay positive,” Sora said, sighing as she leaned over to him. She looked the most different out of all the Veilbreakers. Having lost her eye in the first-floor trial, she also had cut her hair to a short pixie cut length. Her normally silver hair was dull and dusty. She looked less like the scared girl clinging to her twin and instead looked hardened from what she had faced.

“What, I’m just being realistic. We are up against the Magelord himself. Even with what we have done now, killing a mage’s blood and harming another will earn us the death sentence. We are supposed to WORK for them. Like it or not they are our rulers. We just bit the hand that feeds us.” He said.

“Lucius, our future changed the moment they broke into the barrier. No…it changed when Professor Twinges decided to smuggle out Pillardust,” I said, shifting myself forward. I eyed him.

Lucius wasn’t being a contrarian because he was an asshole, or that he knew better. No, not this time. This time he was worried. I watched him glance over towards Sora, then to Rinka in the crowd, then to his classmates around the room, and then back at me and Waelid. He was scared about the future, not just for himself, but for Sora too, for his classmates.

I stood up. It was time for one of those good old motivating speeches. I closed my eyes for a moment and remembered the old movies, the old books, and the games I played, where the heroes were stuck between a rock and a hard place. I thought about what we experienced training up on the second floor. I remembered how my fear for Noah’s future locked me in place in my own life.

—If we win and take out the rest of the Magebloods, the entire ruling government of Stylos will put us in their sights and aim to crush us and all Cinders. It will be a damn extermination. If we lose, well, they will either kill all of us now, or we will resort back to the enslavement treatment that voidbloods experience all across Stylos. Our one chance at freedom would end before it even began.

—You’re right, we have barely started our school journey. I was just making friends. We haven’t even figured out how to get our bodies back to normal! But what do we do, either way, the future looked scary,’ Fern said.

I scratched my chin and looked over at Waelid. “When we were up on the second floor we did a lot of internal work to fully accept and fuse with the beast’s soul. We did this…exercise where Major had us meditate and focus for hours, looking into our pasts. He had us go back to the worst moments of our lives and relive them. And here’s the thing, what I learned was that it wasn’t the choices I made in the past that made me who I am today. It was acknowledging that my choices and what I do, now in the present are what makes me, who I am. The past and my focus on it, whether it was conscious or not, was the reason I could not move forward. It held me back.” I tapped my chest.

Waelid stepped up giving me a nod before hijacking my speech. “Our thoughts and our worries about the future are the same, my dear house members. They do not matter. What matters is now. The future we face is uncertain, but that doesn’t make us powerless. In this moment, right now, we hold the ability to choose who we are—fearful or fearless, stagnant or transformative. Our pasts don’t define us; our actions in this present moment do. Together, we will rise, not because we can guarantee victory, but because we refuse to surrender our will to live, to fight, and to hope. We choose to be who we are. We are heroes. We rise above the ash. We stay alight when every flame has died out. We are Cinders.”

Waelid paused, his gaze sweeping over the recruits.

“Even if the world we know falls apart, let’s be the ones to rebuild something greater. The power to change, to become, and to overcome is within us.”

The room erupted into a chorus of applause. I couldn’t help but feel my thunder was stolen a little, but I had to admit, that Waelid ended that nicely. Lucius’ shoulders seemed to relax a bit. Everyone was pumped up and ready to give it their all. I cleared my throat as the cheers died down.

“Good, back on topic. So none of you can be reliable to use your forms is that right?”

“Well…she can,” Zenobia said from the side. She was pointing at Mel.

Mel sniffed proudly. “Yeah, she’s right. The beast and I get along quite well.” She thumbed her chest and smiled.

“Ok great, so we can count on you for some extra power. Anyone else?” Waelid asked. The group shook their heads.

“We need to take back the other houses, build up our forces to strike at the Magelord. If they did something similar, the other Magebloods that are guarding House Enlil and Nin are probably weaker than the ones getting ready to create that portal.”

“How do we…uh know the Professors still live?” Habr asked.

“We don’t,” I said. “That’s the fun part of this. Our worst nightmare could be just around the corner.” I let out a nervous laugh.

“Why don’t we just go straight for the professors then?” Jako asked. He was sitting cross-legged on the ground. He had spiky black hair and was wearing full leather combat armor. His weapon of choice was a pair of knives on his belt.

“If we did that, what’s stopping the ones we skip from creeping up and ambushing us?” I asked.

Jako groaned.

“But you are right about the urgency,” I said. “That’s why we need to move fast. We are close to house Nin. It’s about a three-mile run from here. Luckily it’s dark out now and the sky is cloudy. The moonlight will be minimal. We will rush to House Nin, take out the Magebloods there, and then move on to Enlil with whoever we rescue from House Nin. Remember, we can’t afford to get distracted. Be ruthless, no monologues, no letting them display their powers. Go for their hands or their heads. Fight in pairs, have each other’s backs.”

“Ugh, do we have to go for their hands? That’s so…gross, and cruel.” Sora said shuddering.

“I don’t like this. It takes too long,” Lucius said crossing his arms and shaking his head. Several people in the crowd also shook their heads.

“It does but it’s the most safe option,” I said.

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“What if we split up, one group goes to House Nin and the other to House Enlil?” Sora asked shooting up her arm in the air. “You know, cover more ground quicker.”

“And split up the best chance at winning any of these fights? Erik and I have to fight together. Like it or not, but we are much stronger than the rest of you.” Waelid said flashing a smile.

“Right…” Sora said, lowering her hand.

“Look, the point is that’s the plan. The rest of you,” I pointed to the group around the room. “Rest up, eat whatever Ol’ Mum puts out. The fight isn’t over. When you can meet up at the Academy entrance? We will storm together. Let’s go.” We stood up and shuffled out of the room and out the front door.

We walked out into the courtyard of the dorm house and walked across the yard to the front gate. When we opened it I heard laughter.

“Well, well, well. I certainly did NOT expect to see you here Fern.” A sweet sounding voice said.

I looked up and floating twenty feet high, about fifty yards away from the front gate of House Anu, were four figures wearing long white robes that draped to the ground. Unfortunately, the cloudy sky had parted, and the bright light of the twin moons made the four floating figures glow like ghosts. The robes had gold trimming on them and large white metal pauldrons sat on their shoulders. They each had hoods over their faces except for one, the girl who was talking to me. She floated down like a bee and waved at me. She was about thirteen or fourteen and had black hair with pink colored tips.

“I’m sorry we have to do this Fern, but you and your friends have to die,” Rosie said.

I felt Fern twist inside me.

—‘Rosie? Wha- Why?’ He said.

I felt my heart beat faster. There was something evil about her face. The childhood friend of Lotrick and Fern now floated above us. The very air around her seemed to vibrate like hot air over concrete. She lifted her hands and between her small thin fingers, tremendous electricity was rocketing back and forth into each palm.

“W-wait Rosie, it’s not…just wait one second,” I said, stumbling my words together.

I can’t act ruthless with her. She was a friend of Fern and Lotrick. Does that mean he is here too? I thought privately.

I felt my heartbeat speed up.

“Have you talked to Lotrick?” I asked holding my hands up in the air. I noticed Waelid and Mel shift into a defensive stance.

“Oh sorry! Silly me! You’re not Fern, you’re some sort of intruder, right? I remember Lotrick told me about that a few months ago. What was your name again? But…it’s not important, I guess, is it? Master Starbringer wants you dead. That’s all that matters.”

“Wait…Noah wants me dead?” I asked.

“Yep! I can’t really ignore him. Sorry, Fern…or…whatever your name is! Fern, if you’re in there, hopefully you die quick!”

“Miss Rosie,” One of the hooded figures said behind. “Will you please get out of the way?”

She turned around and then jumped a little in the air.

“Oh! Sorry Master Noriguen” She moved out of the way in time for me to see the hooded figure raise his hands. Light shot out from between his fingers, arcing across each digit. The small space of air between his hands glowed bright white. He raised his hands and mumbled something under his hood.

“Get back!” I shouted and urged the Chimera inside me to wake up. A large ball of fire launched from the floating hooded mage. At that moment, a flash of heat erupted inside me. I felt wings grow and rip out of my back. They extended and covered me just in time to absorb the blow.

WOOSSHH

The fireball dissipated but small sparks and flames flew past me and pelted the ground near the rest of my team.

I lowered my wings and stood up straight. My body had fully transformed. I towered over my classmates on either side of me, who looked up with awe. Waelid had already transformed himself and was flying high in the sky like a flaming rocket.

“Woah, so this is what the third stage is like? No lame masks?” I heard Mel ask next to me. “Nice to know look less like animals and more humanoid!” I could hear the excitement in her voice.

“Focus up Mel,” I grumbled, keeping my eyes on the four mages above. “Everyone, change of plans.”

I kicked off the ground with my hooved feet and flapped my wings launching myself into the air and hurtling towards the hooded mage who had shot a fireball at me. Fern had materialized the sword out of his snake mouth and had it arced above me like I was some flying bladed-tailed scorpion. I swiped my claws across at the mage but missed as he flew away as the air itself yanked him back.

The other mages scattered and two took off after Waelid who was flying in circles dive dive-bombing them.

The hooded mage, the one Rosie called Noriguen, readied another spell; light danced between his fingers and he mumbled more words. A shard of ice flew from him torpedoing towards me. I twisted my body as he fired another bolt of fire, and it grazed my chest as I flew backward.

I steadied myself in mid-air and drew Lightcutter. The wyrmsteel dagger glowed in the twin moonlight as I tightened my grip. I watch Rosie float below me, watching, almost enthusiastically at her master duel me. I shook my head back to focus on Noriguen, floating in the dark air. He started to raise his hands again. I flapped my wings and took off towards him. Noriguen’s fingers seemed to vibrate as he moved them extending and retracting separate fingers at a time. Magic strings twisted between his fingers. I came in close and swung my dagger while Fern swung the opposite way with his sword. The hooded mage dodged out of my reach. In response, he slung another bolt of fire at me. I dodged out of the way easily when I heard an explosion behind me. I turned in time to see that the fireball I dodged had exploded and reformed into dozens of smaller bolts, now hurtling at me.

Like stinging arrows, my body was pelted by the bolts. I grunted in pain as every small shot of fire felt like a small dagger plunging itself into me. However, when I looked down, the magic hardly left a mark. The Chimera blood infusion seemed to have given me a resistance to magic of sorts.

—Finally! Some cool additions other than just brute strength. Magic resistance let’s go! I smiled widely. I felt more confident than ever.

I looked back at the mage who was equally surprised by the lack of damage.

Below me, I heard Waelid before I saw him. A loud screech hit my ears and then a bright flash burst from the ground. Waelid had struck one of the other hooded mages with a full diving attack. He flew out of the way of several retaliatory attacks from Rosie and the other hooded mage.

“Are these Magebloods trained at that famous academy? What a joke!” Mel yelled with greed as she descended upon the Mageblood on the ground. She pulled off the hood and stood on both of the Mageblood’s arms.

A middle-aged man, no older than fifty was looking up at her with a disgusted look in his eyes. I couldn’t hear what he said to her but Mel frowned at his comment. She twisted her heel into his arm and the man screamed. She raised her axe and just like she was casually chopping branches out of the way on a hike, she chopped off the man’s right hand. He screamed louder and began to curse her. I turned toward Mel when another fire scorched my back.

It felt like someone had stabbed my wing clean through with a sword. I twisted around to see Noriguen had sent another spell at me. I could see that Noriguen was shaking from exhaustion.

No.

He was shaking from anger.

The hooded mage floating before me kept looking down at the body of his comrade. Mel had now knocked out the old man but he was now missing both hands. Noriguen’s hands were shaking. He kept staring at his friend, and not at me. So I seized the moment.

I burst forward, arms stretched out to make my swipe obvious. I told Fern my plan and he agreed. I closed the gap within moments.

The mage turned towards me. He saw my arms spread wide and he quickly raised himself higher into the air, dodging my attack.

Unfortunately for him, I don’t work alone.

Hidden behind my right arm was Fern, in snake-head-tail form, waiting with the cursed sword, half swallowed down his throat. Fern simply thrust his head forward at Noriguen, and the sword slid effortlessly out of Fern’s mouth, and into Noriguen’s hood. Bright red blood sprayed out onto me, and Fern. His white snakehead was painted crimson from the fallen mage. Noriguen’s body fell like a lifeless sack of rocks.

His body went from being filled with magical movement in the air like a Djinn, to his arms and legs flapping by his side as he dropped fifty feet, crunching into the hard flat dirt below.

When his body slammed into the floor, both Fern and I turned our heads away.

“Oooh that did not look good,” Fern said through his snake mouth.

I felt slightly nauseous. “Good thing you ended it quickly.”

“Yeah, I—Behind you!” He said as I was already turning.

A sharp shard of ice shot towards me. I swung up with Lightcutter at just the right moment and shattered the missile before it hit my chest.

Rosie was staring at me twenty feet away in the air. Her hands were raised, her eyes were red, and tears stained each cheek. She cared about those two.

Rosie’s eyes flickered as she held her hands in aggression against me.

“You know,” she said softly while drawing a brilliant orb of light between her palms, “I used to practice magic with Fern. We’d pretend he was a thief, and Lotrick and I would pelt him with little balls of light until he’d fall over, tickled half to death. He always laughed so hard…”

Her voice cracked for just a second. “We never hurt him, it was all fun. He’d squeal and roll around, begging for mercy. In the end, I knew he had liked me. He hated it when he found out he was a Voidblood and he couldn’t marry me. But he still would do anything I asked. I sort of miss having that. I don’t have a dog in the capital. You took him away, my loyal Fern. You took away Noriguem, my attentive Master. Your friends try to take my friends? You Voidbloods are always causing problems,” She said, as more tears fell down her face. The ball of light between her hands was growing. It was about the size of a beach ball now.

—I need to do something, Fern, I’ll need to be violent to her. I’m sorry she was your friend but I need to do something now. Okay, Fern?

He didn’t respond.

Fern stirred inside me, and I felt a tremor of shared recollection. A flash of warmth and regret flickered behind my eyes, as though I could see them chasing each other in some grassy courtyard, sunlight and laughter all around.

“They were right about your kind. They told us the truth, the histories. ‘Those who can’t use magic are naturally drawn toward the daemonic and black magic of the world,’ that’s what they told us. I see it is true. You are some demonic force. Whatever this ‘Twin-Soul’ thing is that Lotrick told me about, I don’t care what it does. I just know that it’s demonic. You sought out Fern because he was a Voidblood, you have become the literal incarnation of a demon with your wings, horns, and hooves. You are the picture of the Beast of Culling, and I know just what spells kill demons,” She continued while the orb of light kept growing.

But then Rosie’s expression hardened. “Whatever! It doesn’t matter now, nothing does! Just do the mission, Rosie, that’s what they tell me!” she snapped, raising the crackling orb above her head now the size of a large boulder. “So don’t act like we’re friends!”

Huge piercing rays shot out from her palm. It was like she was like she was holding a small sun in her hands. The night sky lit up, and the world bathed in teal moonlight was now fully colorized as the day had come again.

—Ah the classic blind with the light trick. I thought covering my eyes.

I closed my eyes and felt Fern’d snake head do the same.

—Fern?

I felt the light get brighter, it was almost piercing my eyelids.

—‘Yeah?’

—I have to…you know…to Rosie. I said quietly in my mind.

—‘I know,’ That was all Fern said.

I listened and breathed in deeply through my nose. I focused my awareness on the world around me.

Through my eyelids I could feel Rosie’s presence. It was as if my mind painted in the world’s details around me without me opening them. I saw her form as a glowing figure. She was holding the white orb above her head like she was offering it to the sun. I looked down around on the ground. I could see through sensing everyone’s presence, everyone was covering their eyes. Even her fellow mages were blinded by the orb of light she held.

Then, I sensed movement. She shifted back ready to throw the orb at me. I didn’t want to wait to figure out what that meant. I took another deep breath through my nose and thrust my wings to launch myself high.

With my eyes closed I twisted in the air and then aimed down at Rosie. She twisted to change her aim. I was now flying down at her from above. In my mind’s eye, I saw that she was shielding her eyes from her attack.

“Foolish kids,” I said to myself. “What a stupid move.”

She threw the orb.

I watched it fly up towards me with my eyes closed. I twisted at the last second and felt it explode behind me. Hot light scorched my back, but Rosie and all the other Magebloods were wrong. I was no devil. The light didn’t hurt me.

I flew down onto Rose and grabbed her arm as we fell to the ground. She screamed as I dragged her down.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “Now!”

I threw Rosie the last dozen feet and opened my eyes. My back was burnt, I could smell the charred fur and skin. The twilight sky was still lit up by Rosie’s ‘sun bomb.’ And waiting on the ground was our ace in the hole. The rest of our team.

Rosie slammed into the ground and the wind was knocked out of her. Mel ran over with Lucius and Vahim. Lucius dove first and fit a gag over Rosie’s mouth before she even had a chance to catch a second breath. Vahim and Mel moved equally fast. They dove down, holding each arm. Then, Jako walked up with Sora.

“Come on, Patches,” Jako said with a gravelly voice at Sora. He tossed one of his long knives over to her. She rolled her eye at him and adjusted her eyepatch. She had a hard face on, different from how she was when I first met her. Then, they did exactly what they were told to do. They cut off Rosie’s hands.