Shadowborn Academy_ Year One (Dark Fae Academy #1) - G. Bailey Page 0,27
has already started to walk away. “I thought we were going to be doing some actual magic today.”
She shrugs, tugging me in the direction of the others. “I guess this is more like an intro.”
“That makes sense,” Ronan says.
“Gather around,” Professor Lochlan orders, waving everyone over to the side of a pond standing between two trees. “Every droplet of water in this forest comes from the Faerie Pools. It’s the very essence from which we get our magic.”
Sage fumbles through her bag and drags out the Book of Zorya. Flipping through the slightly crumpled pages, she turns the book around and points at the Faerie Pools. She has the biggest grin on her face and it makes me giggle. I know exactly what she’s thinking. The Faerie Pools are located about six miles from the Shadowborn Academy. There’s actually two of them, one here in Zorya, and the other four hundred miles away in Vasili, the capital of Helios.
Each Faery Pool is separated by two extremely different lakes. One is the Gorgon Lake, where all manners of sea creatures lurk within its depths, and the other is Lake Lumen, where the surface of the water glows bioluminescent long throughout the night. I think originally they thought it would ward off the Dark Fae. Jokes on them. This whole academy practically did the same thing.
Professor Lochlan steps into the water. It rises just below his knees, and he drags one of his hooves through the surface to create a ripple. “Many of you were born a Shadowborn through this water. Some of you died in it. Regardless of how you came to be, the Faerie Pools have healing properties that go back eons. I would like each of you to collect a sample. Once you are finished, gather back here so we may cast your first spell as a student at the Shadowborn Academy.”
With a wave of his hand, glass jars appear on the ground in front of us. Professor Lochlan watches everyone collect their jar and approach the edge of the river. A group of boys hop onto the stepping stones and threaten to push each other off. Some of the others are too busy admiring the pixies lighting up the trees to bother with the assignment.
Two girls stop near us as we rest on the rocks, and the one with silver hair looks up as Willow crosses her arms and looks down her nose at her. Even though the silver-haired girl is short, she looks hella scary.
“Go away, or so help me, I will drown you in this river.”
Willow huffs at her threat. “There’s only three inches of water.”
“Well, if the shoe fits…” She looks pointedly at Willow and then shrugs. “You’re a pretty fucking shallow person. I’m sure I can drown you in shallow water.”
“I don’t get it, Izy. But enough of that. We need to talk.”
“Of course you don’t. Now fuck off.”
I don’t know who this Izy is but I like her already.
There’s something about Willow that just rubs me the wrong way. Maybe it’s all the dirty looks she keeps throwing my and Sage’s way, followed by her unashamedly-loud snide remarks. Willow takes the very obvious hint and stomps off. Before I can look away, the silver-haired girl catches my eyes.
“The name’s Izora Dawn, and that idiot over there”—she gestures to Willow—”is my pain in the ass step-sister. Did you know that she’s Head Girl?” Izora rolls her dark grey eyes and snorts. “She’ll never be the head at anything other than her own shoulders.”
I laugh at that. “Yeah, she’s mentioned it a few times. I’m Corvina Charles.”
“Nice to meet you. Word of advice? Steer clear of my sister. She’d sell my father if it meant getting a gold star from her precious headmaster.”
Without another word, Izora walks off like she wasn’t even here to begin with.
“She seems powerful,” Sage mumbles and I nod in agreement.
I could almost taste the dark magic covering Izora in thick, inky-black shadows. I don’t think she knows how powerful she is, though. Or maybe she does, and that’s why Willow backed down. Whatever the reason, it was just satisfying to watch Miss Perfect Willow get brought down a peg or two.
In the corner of my eye, I see a raven in the sky, followed by two others. A big smile fills my face as I watch them go into the edge of the forest.
Sage catches me looking at them and whispers, “Go. I will cover for you.”