“I just wanted you to understand that while it’s pretty cool, it’s not a dangerous gift because I can only do so much before you realise you’re being manipulated. So, no freaking out about me becoming some kind of tyrannical ruler bent on world domination, okay?”
“That particular scenario hadn’t actually crossed my mind,” she told him dryly.
“I kind of like the sound of it, though,” Jordan mused.
“Fortunately, it’s me with the gift, then,” Bear said with a grin.
Alex found herself enjoying their easy banter, but her mind was also distracted by the events of the last half hour. It was only just beginning to sink in that she was really, illogically, in another world.
“You look like you’re going to pass out, Alex,” Jordan said, gently grasping her elbow to offer support for her swaying body.
“You try looking okay when you’ve just had your entire world turned on its axis—literally,” Alex said, rubbing at her temples. “What am I supposed to do now? How do I get home?”
“Don’t worry about that,” Jordan said. “Marselle will get you home, no problem.”
“Who’s Marselle?” Alex asked.
“He’s our headmaster,” Bear answered. “If anyone can get you back to Freya, it’s Professor Marselle. He can do anything.”
“Sounds like a regular Einstein,” Alex muttered, too low for either of them to hear. Louder, she said, “All right, let’s go see this headmaster of yours.”
Three
Alex wasn’t sure where to look as Jordan and Bear led her out of the forest, around the edge of the lake and up through the grassy fields. When she turned to glance back over her shoulder, she had to stop walking to truly appreciate the postcard-perfect sight behind her. The lake and the forest were beautiful enough on their own, but they were overshadowed by a massive snow-capped mountain not too far off in the distance. It was a spectacular view, made even more so by the colours from the setting sun. Alex had a hard time tearing her eyes from the landscape, at least until the serenity was broken by a loud voice.
“SPARKER!”
Alex spun back around at the noise. What she saw caused her to swallow nervously and back up a step.
The man was possibly the most intimidating person she’d ever seen, and he was walking their way. Tall and burly, he had short-cropped hair which added to his military appearance. But it was his clothes that really caught her attention, since he was wearing some kind of leather armour and… was that a sword strapped to his belt?
Alex turned her attention towards the man’s face and found that, while his clothing and bulky physique certainly emphasised his formidable presence, it was his expression that truly made her fear for her life. He looked beyond furious, with icy blue eyes glaring out from under narrowed eyebrows. Even his lips were curled in anger.
When the glowering man was just a few steps away, Jordan smiled and said, “What’s up, Karter?”
Alex wondered if Jordan had a death wish, since his words seemed to have the same effect on the man as poking a rattlesnake with a fork.
“You were supposed to report to detention with me after breakfast this morning,” the man—Karter—said. “Since it evidently slipped your mind, you’ll make up for your lapse in judgement next weekend—all weekend—with Finn.”
Something about the last two words caused Jordan to pale. Karter seemed pleased with the reaction.
“That’ll teach you to waste my time,” he finished.
“Aw, come on, Karter,” Jordan pleaded. “The only reason I had detention was because I skipped Marselle’s speech. It’s not like I haven’t heard it all before.”
“Attendance was mandatory, Sparker.” Karter frowned and shook his head. “Your arrogance will be your undoing if you don’t watch yourself.”
Jordan seemed to wilt by Alex’s side. Despite all his bravado, she sensed that he truly respected the man in front of them.
“Yeah, I know.” Jordan looked down as he spoke. “Sorry, Karter. I won’t do it again.”
“Of course you will,” Karter huffed. “Just don’t get caught next time. Understood?”
When Jordan glanced back up again, he appeared to be fighting a grin. “No problem, sir.”
Karter nodded brusquely. “Good.”
Just as Karter began to turn away, he seemed to notice Alex and Bear for the first time.
“Who are you?” he demanded, looking directly at Alex.
“Uh…”
He turned his glare from her to Bear then back to Jordan. “You know you have to register visitors. What’s the meaning of this?”
“Ease up, Karter,” Bear said. “She’s no ordinary visitor.”
“She’s new here,” Jordan added. Then he lowered his voice, making his next statement sound overly dramatic. “And she’s from Freya.”
Karter’s eyes widened a fraction before they narrowed again. “Don’t be ridiculous, Sparker.”
“I’m right here, you know,” Alex interrupted, fed up with them all talking about her as if she was invisible. “I can speak for myself.”
“What’s your name then, girl?” Karter asked and she instantly regretted opening her mouth.
“Alexandra Jennings,” she said, before adding on a quick, “sir.”
“Follow me, Jennings,” he ordered. “We’ll find out where you’re really from and what you’re doing here.”
He didn’t wait for her to acknowledge his order, he just turned around and marched back towards the buildings.
Jordan smiled encouragingly at her. “Shall we?”
“I’d rather not,” Alex mumbled.
Jordan and Bear chuckled at her words and she smiled back at them before they hurried to catch up to the strange, leather-clad man.
Alex remained silent as the three of them followed Karter across the academy grounds. She saw students walking around, playing games, talking and laughing with each other and she knew that this was what a school was meant to be like. There were no stuffy uniforms or miserable expressions here.
Karter led them straight towards the large tower-like building and motioned for them to enter. As they walked through the medieval archway, Alex noticed a bronze plaque attached to the stone wall with the inscription, ‘Akarnae Academy’. In smaller letters below were the words: ‘Kailas en freydell. Vayla en karsis. Leali en nexar’.
“Strength in weakness. Victory in surrender. Life in death,” Bear translated before she could ask. “It’s kind of like our school motto.”
“I see.” She didn’t. Exactly what kind of school was this?
The archway led to an empty room. On one side was a winding stone staircase leading up, and on the other side a similar staircase led down, underground. Karter motioned for them to follow him over to the upwards staircase, and they hastily began their ascent.
Step after step they climbed until they finally left the staircase at the eighth floor and moved into a small waiting room. Karter instructed the three of them to stay there while he walked across the room and knocked on a closed door.