Rakarthen Academy

by Clara Hartley

  The entirety of Rakarthen was redecorated to accommodate the trials. The classrooms were turned into waiting rooms, and the pixie lake wasn’t even there anymore.

  I had no idea that the lake was replaceable. Just this morning, I’d watched as the triad carried out their ceremony. Together, they’d triggered a mechanism that caused the water from the lake to drain. With their magic, they’d raised the ground. The mess hall was swallowed by the rising dirt, and now, an arena stood in the middle of the academy. A luxurious place for a bloodbath to occur.

  I sat alone in the preparation room. I was told there’d be three hundred candidates. Each of us were given our own room to prepare ourselves. I idled in the middle of the room they’d given me. It was quiet. The calm was doing little to stop the tension in my nerves. Soon, the bell would chime and the Flower Trials would begin. Magic would draw us to the battlegrounds, and the fighting would start.

  Someone knocked on my door. I was dressed in my gear, with my iron dagger hidden beneath my shirt. Having the weapon so close to me felt like a sin. With it, I could cheat. From my lessons, I’d learned that the fae lost all their powers when in contact with iron. Just the touch of it poisoned them for a day. They’d lose the ability to use magic, and crippling nausea would take over. It seemed too strong a tool. Wielding my dagger, I’d be able to win easily.

  I shouldn’t feel guilty simply because I had the upper hand. Hadn’t Aland given it to me based on the instructions of the fae king? I had to keep myself focused on the goal. To win. Once I did that, the fae would respect me and stop mocking dragon-kind. I should be more enthusiastic about running my enemies to the ground and emerging victorious.

  Nothing sparked in me.

  Just a dead, ominous feeling lingered.

  Strange.

  I answered the door, meeting a smiling Charmingface. His eyes twinkled as he talked to me. More and more I felt uncomfortable around him. I’d begun to wonder whether what I’d seen at the Wall of Thorns was a trick of the light. “Isn’t it a good day to duel?” Charmingface asked.

  I eyed him. “What are you doing here?” The bloodbath was about to begin. Aland had told me that most of the fae participating didn’t know the nature of the trials. Neremin had made me privy to this information.

  Lucky me.

  I still wished he had told me about the bloodbath before I dropped my flower into the well.

  Charmingface leaned on the doorframe. “I want to offer you an invitation.”

  “Right before the trials? Perhaps we should discuss this after they’re over. I’m currently preoccupied. You know, because I might die and all.” I’d come a long way from being a protected princess in Constanria. I had no clue whether this was for the better.

  “Forget the trials. Such a small matter.”

  I considered being offended. Other than an impending undead army coming for me, it was the largest thing looming over my head.

  The principal inched closer to me. “We’re talking about transcendence, dear Lyra. You see, Lysunth likes you very much. She thinks that there’s much hidden power within you, and she’d like to invite you on her team. Many will die today. So many more will become her children.”

  His words took a moment to sink in. “You’re referring to the god?”

  “Yes.” He nodded. “The one who will consume all. Our mother.” His exterior melted away, revealing the true form underneath. The horror that appeared in front of me made it clear that what I’d seen at the Wall of Thorns was not a trick of the light. Charmingface’s skin was rotting off his body. It was gray and chalky. I saw bones poking out from his flesh. He looked exactly like one of the teramarth.

  I reached for my dagger. “Stay away—”

  He lunged at me. I shrieked, but his hand pressed over my mouth. All I could hear in my head was panic, panic, panic! I couldn’t fathom what was happening. How was Charmingface a teramarth? Were they hiding amongst us? The undead wrapped his arms around me, hugging me to his body. The smell that came from him was nausea-inducing.

  “Do not make such alarming sounds,” the general said. His voice was entirely raspy now. How he spoke with half of his mouth missing was a mystery. “I’m merely offering a proposal.”

  I carefully reached for my dagger, eager to escape his tight hold. A guttural growl came from Charmingface’s throat. I snaked my hand between us to find my weapon, hoping he didn’t notice the intrusion. My voice muffled by his rotting hand, I said, “And what is it?” Coarse. Grimy. His hand smelled like a wet, moldy towel.

  “You see, dear princess, Lysunth is very intrigued by the nature of your powers. You share both Aereala and Gaean’s essences. They are the original gods. The ones who made the first creations. And then the magic of the fae… Your real mother, Sera Everborne, visited Thesnan when you were still in her belly. She touched Rakarth’s essence when she was here.”

  “She came to the fae lands?” I asked. Charmingface’s grip on my mouth had loosened. Carefully, I drew my dagger from its sheath. I played to his tune, awaiting the right chance to strike. It was he who’d taught me to fight like this.

  “Oh yes,” Charmingface said. “She did it in disguise. Well, at least, that is what Lysunth tells me. I haven’t had the opportunity to meet your mother, but back to my proposal. Many will die today. There is a chance you will be part of the casualties. But should you perish, much of your soul will disappear to Aleaham and return to Nyxius, and wouldn’t that be a shame? Lysunth wants you whole, with all three of your pieces intact. Gaean, Aereala, Rakarth’s remaining energy. She sees great potential in you.”

  The rotting stench that emanated off Charmingface was unbearable. It took too much resolve for me to not gag. “What does she want with me?” I readied my dagger.

  “To serve her, of course. She will train you. Hone you. Until you’re the perfect warrior. Join me.”

  “Will… will I become like you?”

  “And what do you see me as?” A flap beneath Charmingface’s eye was falling off. It dangled, swishing about as he spoke.

  “Hideous. A monster.”

  “Oh, goodness, your words cut me.” Charmingface tried to smile even though his face was peeling away. “Yes, you will lose some of your youth. Lysunth has become withered, after all, and her followers do look like death. But isn’t it a small price to pay for power?”

  “Are you the real Charmingface? What have you done with the general?”

  “You think I’m not him.”

  “He wouldn’t be this… this dead.”

  “Appearances are just one thing, princess. I gave up my looks for a greater cause.”

  “What is that cause?” I couldn’t hold my breath for so long, and I had to let some air in. The stench hit me again at full force.

  “Revenge, of course. The fae wanted to cast me out. I’m going to make sure that none of them remain alive. And once Lysunth is done with them, I’ll have sided with the stronger being. I’ll rule over them all.” He sounded like he’d lost his mind. Lysunth’s power had corrupted him, destroying his sense of what was right and wrong.

  I did want to see the triad suffer, but there were greater things to fight for. My family. Love. The answer was so obvious and clear to me that Charmingface should have never wasted his breath. I’d side with the fae if it meant protecting my family.

  “So, what say you, princess?” he asked, eyes wild.

  “You’ve gone mad.”

  “Madness is just the precursor to something grand.”

  “I say you take your words and eat them.” With a quick tug, I pulled my dagger out and stabbed it in Charmingface’s back. The principal shrieked, a deafening sound. I kicked him, forcing him backward. He smashed against my mirror, cracking it.

  “Aaagghh!” Charmingface clawed his back. Smoke curled from where I’d stabbed him. “It… fucking burns.”

  I flipped my dagger around, stalking toward him. I leapt at him, gritting my teeth, steeling my resolve. I swept aside remorse and empathy a
nd focused on taking care of the monster that shrieked before me.

  He vanished, turning to a puff of smoke.

  My dagger hit nothing but air.

  One moment, Charmingface was screaming before me, and the next, he was gone.

  I sucked in a breath and steadied myself. Adrenaline fogged my mind, but I felt relief. I should be more worried, but having him disappear like that took a sudden weight off my shoulders.

  “Ly?” Kaji called from outside.

  I ran my hand down the front of my uniform. “Come in.”

  He rapped on the door for formality and, seconds after, stepped in. My breathing was still labored, and my mind reeled from what had just happened. The cogs of my brain worked overtime, trying to process the severity of what I’d just seen.

  Charmingface is a teramarth.

  Insanity.

  “What was all that noise?” Kaji asked.

  “Watch out for Charmingface,” I said. “If you see him, let me know immediately.”

  “The principal?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What’s the matter with him?”

  “He’s up to no good.”

  “Like?”

  “He wants to destroy the fae. Kill all of them.”

  “I believe I’ve heard you mutter the same thing once or twice while you were sleeping.”

  “It’s different with him.”

  “How so?”

  “He’s going to do it in the worse way possible.”

  Kaji gave me a look that told me he didn’t understand. My bout with Charmingface made me too tired to explain, and so I changed the topic. “I’ll be ready in a few,” I said.

  “Most of the candidates are already at the arena. What’s taking you so long?”

  A fight for my life, apparently.

  I would have to let the triad know about what I’d just seen. I should convey the same information to the fae king, too. But would they believe me? Charmingface had spent years building rapport amongst the fae. I was still considered their enemy.

  “You know me,” I said dryly. “I spend too long overthinking things and contemplating life. Wastes a lot of time.”

  Kaji raised a brow. “Actually, I’d like you to think over your actions more. You’re always diving headfirst into trouble. And what’s that smell?”

  “It’s Charmingface,” I replied.

  “What?”

  “You’re not going to think I’m crazy if I tell you this, right?” I asked. “I still don’t believe what I saw myself. Gods, Thesnan’s really taking me for a spin.”

  “Can you be clear?”

  “Charmingface’s a teramarth, Kaj.”

  He screwed his nose up. I obviously wasn’t doing a good job of convincing him.

  “He came at me all undead-like, shedding his disguise. He smelled bad. And he asked me to join Lysunth. Said something about me holding great potential.”

  “Should I check your drink for poison?”

  I ground my teeth together. “I’m of sound mind. It’s what I saw that was crazy. Well, let me know if you see the principal. He’s a walking time bomb.”

  “Um, yeah.” Kaji placed his hand on the doorknob. “I’m not doubting you, Ly. It’s just a lot to take in. I’m having difficulty understanding it.”

  “Me too.”

  He waved goodbye to me. “I’ll leave you to it. I’m assuming you’re going to have a change of clothes, since you smell like undead stink and all.”

  “I have to be fresh when entering a bloodbath. Striking fear into my enemies through cleanliness.”

  “Good luck.”

  “And to the rest of Thesnan,” I muttered.

  The door clicked shut behind Kaji, and the anticipation of what was to come bubbled in my chest.

  Twenty-Six

  For once, the academy looked as busy as the streets of Constanria. The pixie lake had been turned into a gigantic, circular arena with dozens of sections. The arena was ten levels. The uppermost sections were filled with spectators. They came in all shapes and sizes. Races of all kinds had come to watch students brutalize each other. All in the name of tradition. The fae were shiny folk, but their practices sure could be barbaric. Today, the sun shone especially bright. It was a hot day, and sweat gathered on my forehead.

  Flowers wound around the place, summoned by fae magic. Due to how hot the sun was, some of the petals looked golden as they reflected the sunshine. The trials were aptly named. It was a beautiful place for students to meet their deaths. I wondered what my fathers would think if they heard of such a ruthless tradition. I knew that Rylan, my first father and the king of Constanria, would outlaw it immediately. Despite being known as a strict ruler, he never saw the need for unnecessary suffering.

  The anticipatory gazes of the fae told me that their kind feasted on it. And it was my kind they blamed.

  Kaji was amongst the spectators. I saw him from across the arena, hovering near the triad. Aland, Cendri, and Nemreth all watched me with curious gazes. The rest of the participants wouldn’t stop fidgeting. Either that, or they’d stiffened up, every so often gnawing on their lower lip or playing with their hair. I, for one, wouldn’t stop palming my iron dagger. It’ll keep me safe, I repeated to myself. The triad displayed none of the nervous gesture the others did. They maintained relaxed postures, sometimes making small comments to each other.

  Kaji waved at me before clapping. It was his small way of encouraging me.

  “I’ll jump into the fold if your life’s in danger,” Kaji had said to me before I took my spot in the trials. “I don’t care if the fae will have my throat. But you’re my princess, and as your evaradrae, I have to make sure you’re safe.”

  I’d chastised him for doing a bad job of being lazy. Lazy people shouldn’t offer themselves up for the slaughter. They preferred to, well, laze. I gave him a hug, then sent him on his way. When he’d walked away from me, however, I couldn’t help but stare at his wide shoulders. His back seemed wonderfully dependable. He was a friend I didn’t deserve, and I praised Aereala for letting us meet.

  “Mmm,” a fae next to me said. I remembered her. I’d seen her at the well when Aland took me there. She had blue skin and dark hair, and a ton of glass piercings all over her body. She’d modified her clothing to show off her midriff. I spotted tattoos there, all in tribal shapes. “This… this is going to be scary.”

  I gave her a cursory glance, then turned away.

  “Mmm…”

  She continued humming, and I tried not to let that sound get to me. Anxiety laced the noises she made, which caused her to sound even more annoying.

  A horn blared through the arena. The chatters died down, and Neremin Eilreine, the fae king, appeared in the middle of the open-aired enclosure. He rode a hazelnut horse, this one with a silver coat and opalescent wings. It was one of the prettier hazelnut horses I’d come across. The fae king spoke through a voice projection device, “Welcome, dearest members of Thesnan. The academy is glad to have your presence. The sound of the next horn will mark the start of the thousandth ceremony of the Flower Trials.” The horn blared on cue. It was a reverberating noise. One I felt in my bones.

  “Mmmm…” the blue-skinned girl continued.

  I spun toward her. “Why do you keep doing that?”

  Her fingers were wrung tight. “Mmmm. It’s a way of meditation. I’m very very scared.”

  “Why did you join, then? You obviously don’t want to be here.”

  “Oh, oh. I have to face my fears. Mmmm. Not good for a dark fae to run away. We’re warriors. Strong warriors.”

  Dark fae? She did look like the pictures of dark fae we’rd been shown. Those pictures depicted the beings as more revered and worthy of awe, unlike this girl here, who couldn’t seem to get her bearings in place.

  Neremin spoke over her humming, “The Flower Trials is embedded into Rakarthen’s tradition. Ever since its inception, not a cohort goes without it. The trial does not last for more than a day, but in the short
time span, the candidates will undergo a transformation. One of soul, mind, and body. Those who make it learn a lot about battle, their companions, and themselves. Those who don’t… Well.” The king smiled. “The rules are simple. Do your best to survive. The remaining fifty of the three hundred will gain the titles of champions. They’ll have survived stressful tribulation and will be deserving of their new privileges. The Ves Velankuars. Worthy of respect.”

  Applause from the spectators sounded above us. I wondered if they were here merely to see students kill each other, or to witness the rise of champions. My bet was on the latter.

  “Mmm.” The fae shook her head. “Fifty… fifty…” She turned to me, eyes so wide they looked like they might pop out of their sockets. “Those aren’t very good odds, aye, princess?”

  “I’ll be proving myself worthy if I survive this,” I said.

  She nodded. “Same reason I’m here.”

  “Who are you proving yourself to?”

  “Me.” She pursed her lips. “I’m strong enough to win. At least, I hope so.”

  For a moment, her voice stopped faltering. I saw the strength behind her, and gods, when she wasn’t mumbling to herself and acting all nervous, the dark fae actually looked regal. Beautiful. It might have been the shimmering quality of her skin that gave me that impression. “What is your name?” I asked. If she died, then at least I could remember the name of the girl who faced her fears.

  “Mmm. Fauna. Fauna Gullie Ilnia Darkflame.”

  Again with the long names. “Fauna, then. I’m Lyra.” I offered a handshake.

  She glanced at it, then looked back to my face.

  “It’s not a trap or anything.”

  With a shaky hand, she reached for mine. Her grip wasn’t firm, and so I pulled her palm to mine and gave her a proper handshake.

  “I know your name,” she said. “All the students talk about you, even if we don’t share the same classes. Mmm. They call you the Liar.”

  “Do they?” What happened to being the Feared Princess? “That isn’t a nice nickname at all.”

  “Well, dragon-kind are allowed to lie. Can I trust you?”