WHITE DARKNESS - BLACK MAGIC SAGA - BOOK 1

EARTH'S GRACE

Eisdrache scratched his eye with his wrist before yawning. It was one in the early morning, and he just woke up out of hunger — though he knew he was just bored and maybe eating something would fill that, like always. The reality here is that he was just thinking about certain girl, and he just wanted a distraction from his sleepless night, for the fourth time in the week.

Going in direction of the storage room in the common room, his eyes caught the long hair of the certain girl he had been thinking about. The one who didn’t fight him anymore. He stopped midway his path. If he was silent enough perhaps she just wouldn’t notice his presence., or perhaps just ignore it, like she usually did recently. Suddenly he wasn’t hungry anymore.

He just wanted to run.

She seemed to be studying something, she had various books over the desk she was using, and by her right side she was taking notes of what she read. He wanted to run but at the same time approach her, ask her to fight with him at least just this once so he could get his mind and sleep straight for the rest of the month. He just wanted that.

However he knew he shouldn’t, and couldn’t, approach he like that, he would have to ask for her permission. And that would be just pathetic. And if a professor saw him near her, he would be restricted from using his element again.

Looking around, he noticed there was no one near. Debating whether he should approach or not, he didn’t realise his feet were already guiding him towards her.

Like a magnet. As if his body was calling for her, yearning her.

She is wearing a knitted cardigan that is huge on her over the small white t-shirt that leaves the vision on her chest to wonder, and sweatpants he can’t quite really make out the colour in the middle of shadows. Both of her legs are up on the chair, just that one if flexed against her chest. Her fingers are empty, no rings, also no bracelets. Her hair is down, and has a few thin braids dispersed among it. He wants to grab her hair again.

He stayed behind her for a second, the shadows of the night helping him to camouflage, like a predator with his prey. His hand lifted by itself, at the height of her shoulder. The burning desire of touching her was flourishing within his body, reaching his veins and bones, creeping inside of him. But then it stopped. Abruptly. Scared. Should he say anything first? Surely he should, he would scare her if he touched her out of nowhere. Nonetheless she would also be scared if someone spoke behind her also out of nowhere.

And he didn’t know what to say.

She was too submerged in her reading and writing that she hadn’t even noticed someone was behind her. So, clueless of saying something, he cleared his throat.

Goodness.

She pauses her writing, looks up and then turns around to meet him staring down at her. Her eyes lit up in fear for a second, but then they turn icy, protecting themselves from him. This comes like a punch deep in his guts that leave him without air.

They stare at each other for a couple of seconds. He doesn’t know what to say.

Fuck.

“It’s late.”

Oh he is a f*****g genius — goes with all the sarcasm.

She turns round again, back to her reading.

But he notices it is no common reading, she is doing Mathamancy Homework… That is due for next week, perhaps in two weeks. His eyes divagate among the numbers and problems she is solving. All is about logic and probability, easy. He knows about that stuff. What he doesn’t know is why she is awake at this hour doing homework she isn’t supposed to hand it yet when she should be preparing for the first task which is due in two days.

He leans over a bit, not enough to brush her and points a problem with his finger. He can smell her. Honeyed cherry syrup, blackcurrant dianthus flowers and chamomile. It is like nothing he has smelled before. It is so sweet, so captivating, so intriguing. His lips parted near her ear over her hair, and he said, “The answer there is twenty percent with a five point five of error.”

“I didn’t ask you,” she said between teeth.

He glances into the corners of her eyes, “Well, you have it now.”

“You aren’t supposed to be near me,” her eyes flickered, but she didn’t turn her head.

“Call for a professor then.”

“Vailant.”

Finally.

His name was there.

Baby steps.

Yes. They were all he needed; he was sure.

“Get. Away. From me,” she closes her eyes for a moment, she breaths in. “Please.”

He supports both of his hands by her sides on the table. Head by the side of hers. And then he whispers in her ear, “Call a professor… I beg you.”

“Please.”

“Yeah?”

She takes in a shaky breath. Eyes still closed. “Just stay away,” her voice is low.

“And why should I?”

“Because you are warm…”

“…And you are cold.”

He can feel her ice burning, setting on fire… but then… then it is calm and even though it will wound her a bit, he knows she now is warm inside, for the first time in her life. And he is freezing, feels his fire extinguishing at the burning sensation her ice makes inside him, but then… all that rage, those memories, all that consumes him in fire is just… gone… He wants her. Wants to feel her in every way.

His hand twitches over the table, he wants to touch her so f*****g bad. To take her right there and there over that table. It is killing him. Her smell is intoxicating him. The coldness irradiating from her body contrasting with his warmness. He can fell her all under him. Tiny and breathy.

“I’m saying please, Vailant.”

“I’m saying it too.”

She trembles for a second, shivers. “What do you want?”

“You.”

Silence. Her eyes open abruptly.

“I want you,” he says again, clear enough, still against her ear. “I want you to fight with me again. To challenge me.”

She holds in a breath, he can tell.

“You don’t fight me anymore and that has me dying,” he continues. “I’m sorry… For doing what I did to you.”

She tries to stand up, but he turns her around while pushing the chair away, and holds her between his arms, under his body. Now they are face to face. He can see her clearly. Her eyes sparkle against the moonlight and the little lantern he had over the table. He pushes the books aside with his hand, throwing them to the floor, and leans even further. He can see her hand trembling as she grips on the table to not fall.

His face is so close to hers that he can take in her breaths.

“I beg you to forgive me,” he starts again. Eyes locked into hers. “Please. I want you to be fiery with me again… I didn’t know it would leave you so wounded until I realised what I was doing to you. I’m sorry… I’m saying please, Vaughan. Fight with me again. I want you to do it so I can be at peace.”

Her mouth opens for a second, and then she closes it, doesn’t know what to say against his words.

“Let me burn with you.”

And he leans further, her eyes flicker against his. He lowers his gaze and explores down her body. Her white t-shirt has a wide neckline, thanks to the tiny straps holding onto her shoulders, enough for him to see her chest rising up with each breath taking, it reaches the midline of her abdomen, her hips look wider thanks to the sweatpants. His feet drags hers to the side, opening her legs. His eyes then look up at her eyes again.

His hand leaves the table and rests itself over the curve of her waist, feels her warming cold skin and pulls her closer.

His lips close to hers. So close they may kiss.

He wants her.

He wants her.

He wants her.

And he thinks about doing it.

But no.

He can’t.

He won’t.

Never.

So, looking at her once more, he says, “Good luck in the task.”

And he leaves.

Leevanna was shaking.

The first task was today.

She couldn’t eat, couldn’t drink or even think.

“I can do it, I can do it,” she whispered to herself, still pacing around her room. “You can, Leevanna, it’s not so difficult. You know it isn’t.”

She hadn’t even changed her clothes for the task. She was wearing her pyjamas still, even though she had been awake all night, not being able to sleep do the nerves fluttering like butterflies inside of her. Lhu had gone to the Banquet Hall to bring her something to eat, but she was sure she would vomit it. Her cold skin was icy today, sweating cold and feeling her head light. She wondered if Vailant was ready for it.

Her head shook.

When he left her in the early morning a week ago, she had just stayed there, frozen in place as if she was a picture. She hadn’t been able to think about anything else until the morning.

Let me burn with you.

She shivered.

What did all that mean?

She hadn’t been able to think about anything else until Lhu brough up the first task when she woke up.

She just couldn’t think about anything else than his words and the way he had said them. She doesn’t understand. And she hates not understanding things.

In that moment, Lhu came through the door with a maid that was holding a tray filled with food. Lhu thanked her and took the tray herself before the maid closed the door. “Sweetling, I know you are nervous and all, but you have to eat, okay?” Leevanna nodded and took seat on the chair in front of the vanity desk they had. Lhu had brough her cherries with yogurt, crackers and strawberry juice. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I’m going to die,” she answered before taking a cracker to her mouth. Her leg bouncing up and down. I don’t even know what we are supposed to do.”

“I saw they were preparing parameter of the forest, perhaps you have to go through it,” Lhu shrugged and took a cracker for herself. “Stick to the first hypothesis though… You have to search for a crystal to win.”

The jade-eyed nodded again. “I just hope it isn’t so difficult.”

Lhu laughed, “It’s so funny watching you worry about things, you look like a little child,” Leevanna rolled her eyes and then smiled. Probably she looked like a maniac. When she finished eating all the food Lhu brough, she started to pick he clothes. Combat boots, black leggings and a t-shirt and a long leather coat she had that reached her lower leg. She was so f*****g nervous.

Once she left her dorm, she was met with applauses by all her house, Vailant was already there sitting on a couch and fidgeting with a pen. Yagiz Sunter was also there, Rhazel had said to her that he had lost against him because of the ‘ninja-like’ movements the Mirkatrovan guy had.

The three of them then headed outside the castle followed by the different students. Stouvania was already outside, directing themselves to the Aircross Pitch in front of the forest. One of the entries, the one leading to the forest, had been widened to an extent so at least five people could cross it without touching.

Leevanna said goodbye to Lhu, waved to her friends who were already seated on the high bleachers and then hurried to place herself next to the other participants. Her eyes detected a lot of the competitors wearing furred coats for the cold, except a few of them, who Leevanna supposed shared her element and could adapt their bodies to the climate.

It was at that moment that headmistress Armstrong; the rest of professors and the jury came through the other entry. “Good morning dear children!” exclaimed the headmistress with a smile. “I hope you are all excited for the first task… I will now give word to Miss Angelice.”

The woman, who was wearing her usual high ponytail, stood behind the podium and cleared her voice, “The champions will have forty-five minutes inside the selected parameter of the forest to find the Zephyr crystal that has been placed inside the cave under the arch of stone,” her look stern and expectant. “You will be given a bow and an arrows that will disappear when they touch a body… The people who are to be touched by the arrows are going to be in the last places, meaning they have a possibility of not getting selected for the third task. The ones who make their arrows get to other people will have more points,” she continued to say. “There will be twenty Zephyrs to find. Two flying Light Orbs which will record everything for us to see as it happens have been set inside the forest so here our students don’t get bored,” a laugh stopped itself into a smile. “Good luck.”

As she continued to say the rules or this task, the champions were given the arrows and the bow. Leevanna found them a bit heavy to carry, but she certainly wouldn’t complaint.

Her eyes darted around, taking in the other 19 competitors. Among them was Eisdrache Vailant, her academic rival. His flame-like gaze met her ice across the field, but she didn’t flinch. She was ready for this. He was staring deep into her eyes even though he was at least five metres away from her. She turned her head again, trying to not think about the words spoken in the early hours of the morning days before, knowing they wouldn’t do any good and would just deconcentrate her. And this wasn’t the exact moment to think when he had almost kissed her.

No.

It wasn’t.

It certainly wasn’t.

Yes.

She would only think about not getting hit by those arrows.

General Tauris then signalled for them to stand in queues of four people. Leevanna was in the second. She had Leyla in front of her, Orya next to Leyla and Seki Kenjiro next to her. She took a deep breath. She knew Orya and Seki were fast runners. f**k.

Leevanna tried to hold her breath as much as she could. Entering the forest again after being almost attacked by a Phantomind was a challenge by itself. Her eyes wondered as her heart pounded in her chest, ready to set free due to adrenaline.

The Paragon Tournament had begun. She took a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill her lungs. Her fingers tightened around the bow she was given, the arrows that would turn into smoke upon impact nestled securely in her quiver. “One…” started saying Harmony Amstrong behind the podium. Leevanna was about to faint. “Two… Three. Good luck!”

As the signal was given, Leevanna darted into the forest. She moved stealthily; her senses heightened. She knew she had to target at least three people and retrieve the Zephyr crystal, but she also knew she couldn’t be the first one to get it. The forest was dense, the trees towering above her. The stone arch was somewhere in the depths of this forest, hiding the cave that held the crystal. She moved swiftly, her eyes constantly scanning her surroundings for both her opponents and her target.

She spotted her first target hiding behind a tree. Without a second thought, she drew an arrow and let it fly. The arrow hit its mark and the competitor disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Two more to go.

A ring resonated through the forest, and she knew someone else had already grabbed their own crystal.

The next half an hour was a blur of adrenaline and strategy. Leevanna managed to hit two more competitors, and now she was closing in on the stone arch. She could see another competitor ahead of her, reaching for the cave. She held her breath, waiting for the right moment to strike. As the competitor touched the crystal, she let an arrow fly towards him. As the smoke cleared, she was alone.

With a triumphant smile, Leevanna went inside the cave in a rush, reached out and grabbed the Zephyr crystal that was waiting for her over a pile of stone. She understood know the place where the ocean and sky meet, the dirt beath her was almost dark bluish and humid, and the cave had other shimmering crystals resembling the heavens.

She had done it. She was second to retrieve the crystal, just as planned.

As the cheers erupted from outside the forest when her own ring resonated, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. She had proven herself in the Paragon Tournament, and she was just getting started.

Getting out of the forest, she was then received by Lhu, Freya, Thea, Esmeray and Leah who all threw themselves at Leevanna when she crossed the entry of the Aircross pitch. They were all laughing and congratulating her, saying how amazing Leevanna had been when aiming the arrows.

“We were so nervous for you!” said Leah giving her another hug as the other ringing sound filled the place.

Thea nodded. “We were all curled up waiting for you to appear through the entry!”

“We even have banners with your name and all, pompoms as well,” said Lhu showing her the material. Leevanna just laughed.

It was at that moment that someone else went through the entry.

Vailant.

Leevanna turned around when Leah said his name. His hair was all messy. His long jacket had dirt at the back and shoulders, as if he had rolled over the ground. Leevanna didn’t look at him directly, she was pretending to hear something else until his gaze divagated near her.

“You aren’t going to congratulate me?”

And she almost lost her breath thinking he was speaking to her. Was he? She would definitely not congratulate him — but then she realised he wasn’t speaking to her, he was speaking to Lhu, who was near him and looking directly into his eyes. Leevanna knew it pained her not speaking to him, to punish him that way, so she just placed her hand over Lhu’s shoulder, who turned her head to see her. Her eyes full of tears then went to Vailant again, who was still looking at her. His expression was soft, longing for her.

“Go,” said Leevanna in Lhu’s ear.

And that was her signal for her to run and throw herself over her cousin and hug him as tightly as she could. Leevanna knew she couldn’t be selfish that way. Lhu had feelings as well, and even if he had wronged her in all the ways possible, a bond like the one they had shouldn’t be broken. They were distant family, they had growth together, they were like brother and sister. Leevanna would never forgive herself if because of her Lhu lost something like that.

Vailant raised his gaze to find her while he still hugged Lhu.

Leevanna nodded once.

He did too.

And then she left to stand next to the podium next to Seki Kenjiro, who had been the first to collect the Zephyr crystal, the second had been her, the it came Vailant followed by Salah Hyderi for a second. Yagiz Sunter was fifth. The rest of the participants then started to arrive. The last ones were Miryam Moitessier, Nick Collen, Katherine Russó, René Nathans and Rhett Lynch.

As the ring announcing for the forty-five minutes to have ended, Angelice Laverne stood behind the podium again. “The points for the first five participants go as following then… Seki Kenjiro 60 points with four targets… Leevanna Vaughan 55 points with three targets… Eisdrache Vailant 53 points with three targets… Salah Hyderi 50 points with two targets… and Yagiz Sunter 48 points with two targets… The rest of participants oscillate between 40 and 30 points with one target. The five last who arrived hold scores of 30 to 20 with no targets,” her smile as brilliant. “The second task will be after the break for the Winter Solstice… Instructions for the second task are as follows… Each of you hold a Zephyr, which will be your clue to the next task, careful not to break it, please,” she scoffed. “With this said, champions and the rest of the student body are free to go.”

Leevanna smiled.

Oh, she was so f*****g ready.