"Wait, I thought you hated me?" I asked, confusion lacing my voice.
He smiled softly as he moved away and sat on my bed. "I did. For a long time, I really did. But killing you isn't exactly first on my agenda. Besides, with plenty of others out there with their knives aimed right at your back, it seems pointless. You're infuriating and impossibly attractive when you're determined to get your way... I can't just kill beauty," he said, a teasing smile playing on his lips as he took a drag from his joint.
My heart raced at his words, a mix of disbelief and something that felt suspiciously like thrill fluttering in my chest. His gaze lingered on me, and I couldn't shake the feeling that beneath his lighthearted teasing, there was something deeper. "You're serious, aren't you?" I pressed, searching his eyes for honesty.
"Serious enough," he replied, leaning back with a casualness that belied the intensity of his revelation. "But just because I find you intriguing doesn't mean I’m going to go easy on you. You should still watch your back."
I couldn't tell if he was teasing or if there was a kernel of truth in his colorful words. As I processed his mixed signals, the weight of our situation pressed in around us. The lines were blurred—friend, foe, or something more complicated? I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. " so what now you have the hots for me?"
His laugh hissed through his teeth as he shook his head, chuckling softly. “Something like that. Let’s just say I have a particular interest in getting you to like it here and not letting you run away.”
The implication hung in the air, leaving me both intrigued and wary. Was he genuinely invested in my comfort, or was there something more selfish at play? The intensity of his gaze made it hard to dismiss his intentions casually. I crossed my arms, trying to mask the flutter of uncertainty in my stomach. “And what makes you think I won’t try to leave?”
He took a step closer, a sly smile playing on his lips. “Maybe because deep down, I think you know there’s a part of you that wants to stay.” what? stay? i had been trying to leave this place from the moment i got here what the hell was he playing at. "its in your blood kiri, you will learn that here is the only place you dont have to hide exactly what you are." 12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztXNkXX2vA
i raised my brow at him in confusion " and what the hell do you think i am?" i asked acussingly
"Well, we all know you're Orin's daughter, but what about you that no one knows? Let's see—your favorite color is silver, and because of that, you seem to love my eyes. You tend to be more gentle than you let on, and that's why Abraxes chose you. You know when to show mercy. You love your plants and are well-versed in what can kill you and what will not. I know a lot about you, Kirishina. Tell me, what do you know about me?"
I gulped, tilting my head slightly, the weight of his gaze making my heart race. "Um, not much really. Only what I've read about your family and what others have told me. I know more about your father, actually."
He smiled, a knowing glint in his stunning steel silver eyes as they held mine. "And so you made a predetermined guess that I am exactly the same, didn't you?"
I felt a flush creep up my cheeks, caught off guard by his observation. It felt like he had stripped away my defenses in that moment. "Yes," I admitted softly, feeling small under his scrutiny.
He leaned forward, standing tall and tilting my chin up so I had no choice but to meet his gaze. As he leaned down, his lips brushed against the air just a breath away from mine. "What if I told you," he murmured, his voice smooth and low, "that you are the most gorgeous creature I have ever seen walk into this academy?"
My eyes widened in disbelief. Was he seriously hitting on me? The warmth spread through my cheeks, and I felt my heart racing. Every instinct screamed at me to look away, to break the intensity of his stare, but I couldn't. Instead, I hung on his words, both flattered and utterly bewildered by his boldness. It felt surreal, like I was teetering on the edge of a dream—not quite ready to believe that someone like him would actually think that about someone like me.
he smirked " think on it dove" he tapped my nose before moving to throw the butt of his joint out the window and turning to leave my room. once the heavy oak door closed leaing me alone in my tower. my breath escaped my mouth in audible huffs. what the hell just happened did he just...what? i placed my hands in my hair as i let my bottom slide down the wall to the floor.
i couldnt seem to catch my breath as i sat there with my knees tucked to my chest. did he want to kill me or not? no and yes but on his timing and that could be any time but then he is hitting on me like he has some weirdo attraction... what do i do?.
The tightness in my chest felt abnormal, and my heart hadn't stopped racing. If this was anxiety, I needed to get to the bed before the numbness climbed my legs and made moving impossible. Panic surged through me, and I stopped dead in my tracks when the tingling at the bottom of my feet and toes and my fingertips began. No. These symptoms… that bastard! He poisoned me!
I glanced around frantically, searching for something—anything—that could help me fight off this insidious threat. My focus narrowed as I grabbed a bucket at the side of my bed, the wood hard and cold against my hands. The pressure built within me, and I leaned over, heaving violently. As I opened my mouth, a mixture of my stomach contents and something far more sinister came rushing out.
Staring back at me was the ruby-red life that resided within me. Blood. The realization hit me, a chilling wave of horror sweeping through my body. I wasn’t just sick; I was in grave danger. My breaths came in shallow gasps as I tried to process what was happening, the metallic scent flooding my nostrils and dizzying me further. but how? how could he posion me...the silver dragon...but he smoked it too!
I needed to think... what caused these symptoms? Frostleaf — no, that couldn’t be it; it only mimicked frostbite. Hypothermia was another angle, but nothing felt right. Then it hit me: glassglow. Only three berries of that toxic plant could silence your breath forever. But… hazel root..no i see a rash or spots. The thought surged through my mind, and I couldn’t help but smile as I slid onto the floor, crawling with just my arms across the room toward my satchel.
It had to be monk’s vein. I was sure of it. I wasn’t mad at him for poisoning me; after all, I had nearly killed his girlfriend. it was only fair.
I rummaged through the satchel, my heart racing with adrenaline and anticipation. If I could just find the antidote, I might be able to reverse the damage. I had learned about monk’s vein in my studies—it was dangerous, but with the right preparation, it could also be therapeutic. The weight of desperation pushed me forward, each nerve in my body urging me to act quickly before the effects took full hold.
Perfect! I knew I had all the ingredients I needed. I pulled out a mortar and pestle, along with a small glass bottle of water. In the bowl, I ground up white bell pine sap, juniper berries, bee thorax, and zarin root, working the mixture into a fine powder. Once it reached the right consistency, I added the water, mixing it vigorously until everything was combined.
With no time to spare, I tilted the bowl up and drank the contents in one swift motion. The taste was positively vile, a bitter concoction that clawed at my throat, but I choked it down, desperate for whatever effect it might have.
the world around me began to swirl as i felt my body falling to the ground, shit did i get the measurements incorrect am i going to die? i slipped in to the oblivion that seemed to be my destiny.
I awoke the next morning at the crack of dawn, the harsh light piercing through my curtains. My head throbbed painfully, each pulse echoing the remnants of last night's chaos. I groaned, wishing for nothing more than to be spared from this morning—and the sun only made it worse, stabbing through my eyelids like tiny needles. But I needed to face the day; I would make it on time.
As I scraped myself off the floor, a shiver of pain shot through my body. Every movement felt like a battle, as if my limbs were at war with me. I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to put on my uniform. The fabric clung uncomfortably as I wrestled it on, reminding me of the stubborn bruise that still throbbed from yesterday’s encounter. But I would show up today. I would swallow this pain and face that prick Azune proving that it takes more than monksvein to bring me down.
i chuckled to myself at the thought, he poisoned me? it was funny since that was the way i perferred to take my enimes down. assassins, i suppose poisoning people is just what we do. maybe i did belong here more then i had thought. 12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrDwBj8Ms0
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I headed out to the sparring ring in the backyard, each step sending a jolt of agony through my body. Yet, the thought of those looks on his and Parker's faces kept me going, igniting a fire within me. When I finally reached the ring, I turned and smirked at them, a mix of confidence and mischief playing across my features.
He narrowed his eyes, studying me, and for a fleeting moment, I could have sworn I saw the corners of his mouth twitch into a smile. It was a strange reaction—a mix of surprise and recognition that we both felt. The tension between us crackled in the air it was almost tangible.
As I squared my shoulders and stepped into the ring, the energy in the yard shifted, charged and crackling with anticipation. I planted my fists at my sides, feeling the cool air brush against my exposed midsection, a stark contrast to the warmth radiating from the gathered crowd. My heart raced, but I steeled myself.
Calista took a step forward, her gaze softening, an apology flickering in her eyes. I could sense her hesitation, and for just a moment. Professor Linwick's voice cut through the tension, authoritative and unwavering. "Alright, Darksbane. I want a good, clean fight. Do you understand?"
I nodded, my throat tight as I took a step back, my stance widening for balance. The heat of the moment intensified, and I could feel the eyes of my peers boring into me, As I readied my hands, the tightness around my ribs constricted with every breath.
Calista moved into a fighting stance, her body tense but focused12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCq6vjMfFlZ
“Here we go,” I whispered under my breath ready for whatever came my way in this match. i swung ather which she expertly blocked and returned with a blow right below my sternum that sent waves of agonizing pain through my entire body. she gripped me up by my throat
I clawed at the hands around my throat, panic surging as I struggled for breath. This was not an ideal position for me, and I kicked out desperately, my feet flailing against her towering height. She shot me a look that seemed to weigh the consequences of her next action before slamming her arm down, driving me back first into the unforgiving ground. The impact knocked the wind out of me, and before I could gather my thoughts, she seized my arm and twisted it behind my back with an unyielding grip.
"Yield, Kirishina," she said calmly, her voice steady despite the cheers to break my arm surrounding us. I gritted my teeth, refusing to give in, determination fueling my resistance even as the pain began to creep in. I fought against her hold, my body responding instinctively, but then I heard the sickening crack of my shoulder breaking, followed by the excruciating snap that sent waves of agony through me. A scream tore itself from my throat, loud and raw, echoing in the silence that had fallen around us.
In that moment, pain blinded me, and the world fell away. my body betraying me as I wrestled with submission. The flickering light of the sunlight blurred, and all I could focus on was the burning sensation radiating from my shoulder. " i yeild i cried out. the searing pain in my shoulder threatening to drag me back in to the unconscious world.
I could almost hear the laughter of everyone in that crowd surrounding the training yard as the mage apprentices took me away on a stretcher. Their voices echoed in mockery The excitement I'd felt just moments ago turned to ash in my mouth instantly. i deserved the mockery, the legacy of the precious darksbane family brought to their knees by a simple shoulder break.
they brought me to the mages wing immediatly, there standing in her layered blue dress was the only person here that ever deserved my respect even in the slightest. madam lillibeth.
"oh for the love of god, tell me that is not kiri darksbane broken on that stretcher?!" i grinned at her dazed " yes mamm, seems i got a little over zealous in sparring.."
Madam Lillibeth's hands flew up in exasperation as she rolled up her sleeves and made her way over to me. "I told that man a million times," she said under her breath, her frustration palpable as she rummaged through a drawer. She grabbed a piece of leather and stuck it between my teeth, a makeshift gag to stifle my protests. "I begged him to let her go to the Mages' Wing, let her train in magic. Did he listen? Of course not. If it isn't Tynon's way, it's no way, and this is what happens," she muttered, her voice thick with indignation.
Her attention shifted back to me, her eyes softened, but the lines on her forehead betrayed her concern. "I will not lie to you, dear girl; this is going to be very painful."
I could only nod, anxiety flooding my veins. The anticipation of what was to come was terrifying, and I fought the urge to pull away. The leather tasted earthy and rough against my tongue, but I didn't have the strength to even care much at this moment. Instead, I focussed on the warmth of her hands, steady and reassuring.
Madam Lilibeth's fingers were deft and practiced, trailing along the top of my rotator cuff to pinpoint the exact location of the break, and there was a certain urgency in her manner that immediately sent a wave of anxiety crashing over me. “here we go,take a deep breath or me kiri” she said, as she motioned for one of her apprentices to step closer, her voice steady yet commanding.
I felt the grip of her hand tighten around my wrist, and her other hand hovered above the fracture, a prelude to what was about to come. “One… two…” The very air around me felt charged with tension, and before I could brace myself for the pain, she yanked my arm upwards.
The sound—a heart-wrenching snap, crackle, and pop of bone resonated throughout the hospital wing, the noise sharp and jarring against the backdrop of muffled voices and rustling fabrics. I couldn’t hold back the groan of agony that escaped my lips as I bit down hard on the leather strap in my mouth, trying to stifle the sound and anchor myself through the pain that rattled through every nerve in my body.
Tears streamed down my face, hot and unwelcome. I could feel them slipping past my clenched jaw, each one an example to the overwhelming intensity of the moment. The pain was like a living thing, pulsing through my shoulder, radiating out from the spot where my body had betrayed me.
Madam Lilibeth’s focus didn’t waver. “You’re doing well, Kiri,” she urged, her voice firm yet gentle, cutting through the haze of pain like a beacon. “Just breathe through it.thats right deep breaths in and out”
But how could I breathe when fire coursed through my arm? With each gasp, I felt a new wave of hurt crashing over me, nearly drowning out her words.
I concentrated on the leather between my teeth, a tangible reminder to ground myself in the present, to stay conscious. Finally, the initial shock of the break began to ebb, replaced by a dull throb that I could at least bear. As the chaos subsided, madam Lillibeth gave another turn and a sharp pull popping every bone in place.
Madam Lilibeth was already maneuvering to stabilize my arm, expertly and swiftly, her touch both reassuring and authoritative. I could feel the tension in my body beginning to ease, just slightly, as she worked to ensure I wouldn't suffer longer than necessary her apprentice working on the frectures to at least partially heal the bone, id be fine in 24 hours but i definately was not sparring for at least 4 weeks. dammit...calista was way beyond my skill level and now i had a broken shoulder as a reminder that she is not someone i ever wanted to cross paths with as an enime. 12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYPt1PEmug
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