Bastial Explosion (The Rhythm of Rivalry: Book 3) (38 page)

His stomach went sour. He ran outside and fell to his knees behind the house, ready to be sick. Saliva loosened his throat and his body went cool with sweat, but the vomit did not come.

There was no one around. Everyone who hadn’t been sent outside the Academy’s walls was still in battle training. When the three of them had returned, Jack Rose had given Steffen and Marratrice permission to sleep, joining their classmates only once they felt ready.

Steffen tried some water and found himself to be quite thirsty, unable to resist gulping all of it down without a breath. His stomach began to complain, and he decided to get back into bed. Neither his mind nor his body were ready to be active.

It was late in the evening when he awoke to the sounds of voices within the house.

“Steffen, are you here?” Effie asked outside his door. “We’re back.”

Steffen sat up and took a few breaths before he had the strength to stand. After putting on his clothes, he opened the door to find Zoke on Cleve’s bed. The Krepp was asleep on his side.

Down the hall, Steffen found Effie and Reela setting down their bags in their rooms.

“I was sleeping,” Steffen said.

“We’re about to be soon,” Reela told him, sitting on her bed and letting out a sigh.

“What happened in Corin Forest?” Steffen asked. “Is Alex alright?”

“He’s fine,” Effie said. “Quessa was injured, but she’s at the healing house, and the chemist there says she’ll live.”

“What about Vithos?” Steffen asked.

“He was told to report to Terren,” Reela answered. “Probably to determine where he’s going to stay and what he’s going to do in the Academy, unless he’s sent to Kyrro City.”

“There are plenty of open beds in the Academy, since—” Steffen stopped himself, realizing he was saying something nobody wanted to be reminded of.

Effie and Reela politely ignored him, sitting on their beds in silence.

“There’s a letter from Gabby,” Effie said. “Did you write to her?”

“Yes.”

“Then it’s probably for you. My stupid sister forgot to address it to someone.”

Reela stood, taking hold of her door so she could close it. “I’m going to sleep.”

“Good night.” Steffen let them be, walking to the front of the house where Gabby’s letter awaited.

Effie was right. It was for him.

Hi Steffen,

I got your letter. I want to come visit when you’re back, but Father says I shouldn’t be distracting you or the others. Though I think he’s more worried about you and me being alone together than any distraction I’d cause.

I found something I’d forgotten about. Do you remember when we were little we wrote a story about two chemists trying to save the world? Some madman is poisoning people’s food and it’s turning them into monsters. When any of these monsters bite someone, it turns them into a monster as well. The chemists work together to fight off the monsters as they come up with a cure. The writing is absolutely horrendous, Steffen. It’s hilarious.

We never finished it. I think we both knew deep down it was ultimately a love story between the two chemists, even if we were too young to realize it. We should read it next time we’re together. Maybe we can even finish the story.

— Love, Gabby

Steffen could remember the story well. He was around ten years old at the time of writing, which meant Gabby was seven. He couldn’t recall crafting it as a love story, but he didn’t trust himself enough to be confident it wasn’t.

He sat down to write his response.

Gabby,

I’m back at the Academy, and I’ve received your letter.

As he started to wonder how to describe his mission, he felt himself flush with heat and his head begin to spin. He wondered if he still needed more rest, perhaps water and food?

He set his head on the table and closed his eyes. The spinning slowed and soon was replaced by an image of Gabby. Her deep-set dark eyes were glimmering. She parted her dark hair and crinkled her button nose.

Steffen opened his eyes and remembered this was war. They needed to win at all costs. He could feel it then—regret for allowing the explosion to happen. He had ahold of it now, shoving it out of his mind. It was heavy, requiring all his effort. Unsure where he pushed it to, Steffen figured it would show up again. But in that moment, his head was clear and he thought of nothing but Gabby.

Your parents are right, I’m very busy, but I once heard something that’s always stuck with me: No matter how busy someone is, they’ll always make time if they want something badly enough.

Come visit.

— Steffen.

Satisfied, he folded and addressed it to her home in Oakshen.

With his roommates taking to bed early, Steffen decided to see if Marratrice would be interested in a late dinner at the dining hall.

First, he needed to walk to the center of the Academy to drop off Gabby’s letter at the postal building. It might be a few days before it reached her, depending on how many students were writing letters, so he knew it was a good idea to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.

He knocked on Marratrice’s door. It cracked open and she peeked through.

“Oh, hi Steffen,” she said, opening it all the way. Her tired eyes seemed to be having trouble lifting to meet his face.

“Haven’t you slept yet?” Steffen asked.

“A little. Why?”

“Would you like to accompany me to the dining hall for dinner?”

“Yes. I’m hungry, though you may have to carry me there.”

“Carry you?” Steffen knew he couldn’t carry her the mile they needed to walk, even if he had the energy.

“It was a stupid joke,” Marratrice said. “I’m just trying to say I’m very tired. Let’s go.”

She locked the door, pocketed her key, then hooked her arm around Steffen’s, resting her head on his shoulder with a sigh.

“All those people in Tenred,” she whispered. “I can’t stop thinking about them.”

“It’s best you try to,” Steffen suggested.

“Are you able to?” Marratrice asked incredulously.

“Sometimes,” Steffen admitted without pride. “I tell myself that it’s not my responsibility to think about the decisions of Javy Rayvender and other people higher up than me.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

They’d walked all the way to the dining hall before Marratrice spoke again.

“I hope I never need to make a decision like the one Javy made.” She’d taken her head off his shoulder by then, though her arm still was tucked around his. “I don’t know if I’m going to be able to kill anyone, even a Krepp. I don’t think I belong fighting in a war.”

“I didn’t think you’d be fighting,” Steffen said. “Didn’t Chemist Leandra say that during a battle you would be stationed in the recovery building to treat injuries?”

“Yes, but what if it comes under attack? Or what if the worst happens—we need to retreat because the battle is lost? Krepps are faster than us. Some of us will have to turn and fight if we’re chased.” The grip of her arm tightened around Steffen’s. “I’m stuck between thinking about that and all those who we killed in Tenred.”

Steffen could tell she was in need of consoling. He wanted to put his arm around her shoulder for a squeeze and let her know there was no point in worrying. But he knew the words would be meaningless.

“Javy said we’ll most likely be attacking Tenred while their defenses are down,” Steffen recited. “Maybe this will all be over soon.”

“I hope so. Though, I can’t say the same for my hellacious thoughts.”

“At least the Slugari planted your evesal seed, right?”

Marratrice finally smiled again. “Yes, at least there’s that.” She kissed Steffen on the cheek. “Thank you.”

He nearly fell over in surprise. “For what?”

“For convincing Jack Rose to take me. I can’t wait to see it grow.”

Steffen decided he’d been skeptical long enough. It was much easier to indulge her fantasy. “How long will it take?”

“Just a week before the vine is thick enough for evesal fruit to start showing.” She chuckled. “I know you still don’t believe it will happen. But I appreciate you acting as if you do.”

Steffen didn’t know what to say, so he simply laughed.

“But just wait until you try the fruit. Then you’ll never doubt me again.”

Chapter 33:

EFFIE

Effie couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept so many hours without waking during the night. She’d been exhausted since coming back from Corin Forest, but she figured images of those she’d killed would torment her while she slept.

But not one dream came that she could remember. She stretched and then made her way to the bathhouse.

I’ve also never gone to sleep so dirty,
she realized, watching the water turn brown at her feet.

Before they’d left for the mission, she and Alex had made a routine of eating breakfast at the dining hall each morning. Waking up later than usual, she hurried to finish showering and get ready in case he had it in his mind to show up at her house.

Effie decided the weather was warm enough for a green dress that flowed no farther than to her knees. The last time she’d worn it was back in Oakshen, before being accepted to the Academy. As she looked in the mirror, she had the urge to take it off, feeling as if it didn’t belong on her body anymore.

With her next breath, she realized her lungs had tightened. Putting a hand on her stomach, she pushed against her diaphragm as she took in air, closing her eyes.

A knock at the front door interrupted her.

Alex had a smile waiting for her when she opened it. “Breakfast?”

“I was hoping you would come by.” She felt at ease again, the cool morning air loosening her lungs. She squeezed Alex for a hug. It was easy to forget about their height difference until they embraced each other.

“I received a letter from my brother,” Alex said in an ominous tone. “He says there was an explosion beneath Tenred and that the Slugari did it. Have you spoken to Steffen?”

“Just in passing last night,” Effie said. “I don’t completely understand what you mean. An explosion, like from a fireball?”

“Much larger than that. They’re still waiting for reports from those on the Fjallejon Mountains who saw it happen, but from what Javy Rayvender told Hem, there could’ve been more than a thousand deaths.”

Alex went on to explain the discovered trapped Bastial Energy, bursting open the stone containing it, and the fiery explosions it must’ve caused above ground. He added, “They’re discussing sending an army to take the territory while they’re weak because of the blast.”

“We’ll be sent to battle?” Effie asked.

“Possibly. But first we’re waiting on reports from scouts around eastern Kilmar, where the Krepps live. There will probably be an announcement today.”

“I see.”
That damn Redfield bell.
It startled Effie every time it rang.

Alex held her hand as they continued toward the dining hall. Effie had never been one to appreciate the feeling, and even as much as she cared for Alex, she still would rather have her arm hooked around his…or nothing at all.

Then something else came to mind that she wanted. She let go of his hand and stopped, taking his cheek with her other. He bent down and they shared a kiss.

She slid her arm around his and started forward again. But he halted her, pulling her back toward him.

They kissed again. This time their lips didn’t disengage. They stood there, enjoying the feeling of each other’s mouths.

“Not in the middle of the path!” a woman interrupted them.

Effie was embarrassed when she saw it was her strict instructor, the one who’d replaced Marie Fyremore.

“Glad to see you’re back, Effie.” Penny had a taunting smile. “But you’d better be prepared for battle training by the time it starts or I’ll know the reason.” She raised her eyebrows and pointed her finger at Alex.

Effie grumbled. “I will.”

Alex chuckled when she left. “Glad it wasn’t my instructor, Warrior Sneary.”

“Could it really have been much worse?”

But as soon as Effie saw Alex’s expression, she already knew the answer.

“Definitely,” Alex said, deadpan.

Shortly after battle training began, Penny was interrupted by a messenger who handed her a small paper and then ran off. She silently gazed at the note, the commands she’d just been shouting a distant memory as her mood became solemn.

“Go home,” Penny told her students. “Leave your staffs and wands there and change out of your training gowns. Soon there will be a meeting in Redfield. Wait for the bell.”

A few students approached to ask questions, but Effie decided not to. She knew Terren would explain everything she needed to know, and if she had to hear that they were about to march into Tenred, she’d rather hear it from the headmaster.

Although the house was empty when Effie got there, soon Zoke arrived, then Steffen and Reela.