"It is my opinion that of all the signet powers riders provide, mending is the most precious, but we cannot allow ourselves to become complacent when in the company of such a signet. For menders are rare, and the wounded are not."

—Major Frederick's Modern Guide for Healers

˗ˏˋ꒰ 🍒 ꒱

Dain immediately rushes to my side when he sees Violet's injury. His hand touches my bare shoulder, and he says something I can't quite make out over the roaring din of my thoughts. Wordlessly, I hook my arms under Violet, preparing to lift her.

"Get the doors open," I bark at Dain, the urgency raw in my voice. He nods and bolts ahead, clearing the way for us.

We hurry out of the gym with swift, determined strides. Sgaeyl's presence tries to break through the storm, clouding my mind, but I can't let her in right now. I can't let anyone in. Not when my thoughts are clawed fields of pain and anger—because if Sgaeyl sees, so will Xaden.

Xaden. Just the thought of his name sends a ripple of unease through me. I glance briefly to the side and catch Onyx's eyes following me, but that's all I can afford before refocusing on the task.

Dain holds the gym door open, a beacon of calm amid the chaos. I push through, carrying Violet as gently yet swiftly as possible. Her face contorted in pain fuels the fire within me, but I force it down.

The corridor ahead seems to stretch infinitely, each step a test of my resolve as the urgency to reach the healers intensifies. The rhythmic thud of my footsteps blends with the rapid beat of my heart, each echo a reminder of the stakes.

"Sgaeyl, stay silent for a moment longer," I mentally plead, feeling her restrain herself, her concern palpable.

Finally, we burst into the healer's wing. The sterile scent of antiseptic and the low hum of magical wards are a stark contrast to the raw, chaotic fear inside me. Healers rush forward, their faces masks of focused determination.

I set Violet down gently. "She's hurt... please, help her," I manage to say, my voice breaking slightly.

As the healers take over, I step back, my legs shaking with the effort to remain upright. Dain turns to me, his face a mix of shared anguish and determination. "She'll be alright. They'll take care of her," he assures, squeezing my shoulder.

I nod, hoping he's right and this place will not claim another piece of my heart. In the sad quiet of the healer's wing, I face the reality of our training, knowing that every decision we make, in battle or the classroom, echoes far beyond ourselves.

It takes a few moments, but eventually, Nolon arrives. He kneels beside Violet, speaking to her softly as he tends to her wounds. I tune out most of their exchange, unable to bear the sound of her screams, the grunts of pain, and the sickening crunch of breaking bones.

But my attention snaps back when Dain's voice cuts through the chaos. My head jerks up, eyes narrowing into slits. "What? We can't bring her back to the scribe quadrant now, Dain. Are you mad?" I snap, the words coming out sharp and accusatory.

Dain meets my gaze, his expression rugged. "Do not take this with me now, Emberlyn, please," he replies, his tone steady but firm.

I snort, crossing my arms defiantly. "You are the one who brought up this topic in the first place," I snarl, shoving his chest with a finger to emphasize my point.

"Yes, because I don't want her hurt, Emberlyn. You know how much she means to me," Dain says, his voice thick with emotion. His eyes soften as they meet mine. "How both of you mean to me."

I snort, stepping closer until there's barely any space between us. "You didn't seem as worried when I walked over the parapet, huh? You only care about her because you love her."

Dain's jaw tightens, but before he can respond, Nolan cuts in. "Okay, you two, cut it out," he says sharply, his voice a calming but commanding presence amidst the tension. I straighten up, casting a glance at the old healer. His weathered face holds a mixture of patience and authority. "Go, go. She will be fine. And if she doesn't want to, Dain, you can't force her to the scribe quadrant," he continues, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I let out a frustrated huff, but deep down, I know he's right. We can't force Violet out of the riders' quadrant, even though it wasn't her choice to join in the first place. She had been thrust into this world, much like the rest of us, but her path had taken a harsher turn.

Nolon returns to work, his hands moving deftly as he continues to tend to Violet's injuries. I watch for a moment, the tension in my shoulders slowly easing. Despite the chaos and the pain, Nolon's presence reminds me that not all hope is lost.

Dain sighs beside me, his earlier frustration giving way to a softer, more vulnerable expression. "I just want her to be safe," he murmurs, more to himself than to me.

I glance at him, my anger cooling. "We all do," I reply quietly. "But we have to let her choose her path, even if it's not the one we want for her."

Dain nods reluctantly, and we both silently stand, watching Violet as Nolon works to heal her. The bond we share, tested by trials and conflict, remains unbroken, stronger for the challenges we've faced together.

When Nolon finishes, he waves us off. "Go on and let her rest. I'll call for you when she's healed enough to leave this room," he says, his tone gentle but firm. I nod, bowing before turning around and pushing the curtain aside. Dain follows me closely.

As we emerge from the healer's quadrant, he grips my arm and pulls us into a secluded corner in the hallway. "Ember, look, I'm sorry about what I said to you. I... I care about you both," he says, his voice earnest.

I draw in a long, hard breath. I care for Dain, too, but he's always been too overprotective. He's been like that since we were children. It's no wonder Violet doesn't get as much training as she should, and I am more ignorant than I would have been if Dain hadn't held me back from all those experiences.

Despite everything, I'm thankful for him. "Dain," I begin, my voice softer than before, "I know you mean well. You've always looked out for us, but you must let us grow, even if it means facing risks."

He looks at me, his eyes filled with worry and regret. "I just don't want to lose either of you," he admits.

"You won't," I reassure him, touching his arm. "But we have to be strong in our ways. Violet needs to find her path, just as we did."

Dain nods slowly, understanding dawning in his eyes. "You're right. I just... I need to trust that you'll both be okay."

"We will be," I promise, giving him a small smile. "We've faced worse together, and we'll get through this too."

With that, we part ways, each carrying the weight of our responsibilities and the strength of our bond. The path ahead is uncertain, but with friends like Dain and Violet by my side, I know we can face whatever comes our way.

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

The barracks were nearly complete by the time I returned later that night. Violet is already there, talking with Rhiannon. I smile at the two girls, who smile back at me.

"There you are," Rhiannon says. "I was wondering where you went. I thought you would be with Violet at the healer's quadrant, but then Dain came out, and you were gone."

I shrug. "I was just taking a walk around campus," I say, which is true. I had walked to clear my head after everything that had happened. I plop down on my bunk and rub my wrists before dragging my fingers through my long black hair.

Violet looks at me, her arm in a sling, but she looks better than she did on the mat. "Are you okay? I heard what you and Dain talked about," she says, glancing away.

I look at her, my green eyes softening. "Well, it's true. We care about you, Violet. I just talked some sense into that overprotective ass," I say, my tone light but sincere.

Rhiannon nods. "He likes you two, you know," she says.

I shrug. "Sure he does. We're his childhood friends."

Rhiannon shakes her head. "I mean romantically, dumbass. Haven't you seen the way he looks at you? Well, at least at you," she says, nodding in my direction. "Violet, I'm not so sure. I think perhaps it's more brotherly love in those eyes of his, but not for you," she smirks. "He cares more than he lets on."

I glare at her and lean back against the wall. "Relationships in different sectors aren't allowed, and you know that. We're not in the same section, even," I retort, my voice edged with frustration.

Rhiannon just raises an eyebrow. "Rules have never stopped anyone who truly cares. You know that as well as I do."

Violet looks between us, her expression thoughtful. "Maybe it's best to focus on what we can control right now," she suggests softly, always the peacemaker.

I sigh, knowing she's right. "Yeah, you're right, Violet. We have enough on our plates as it is."

The conversation shifts to lighter topics, but Rhiannon's words linger in my mind. As much as I want to dismiss her claims, a part of me wonders if there's some truth to them. But for now, there are bigger things to worry about.

"So, who's ready to get their first dragon?" I ask, trying to lighten the mood. Rhiannon smiles, clearly happy to switch to a more uplifting topic.

"If we survive, that is," Violet interjects, and I snort, playfully kicking her calf.

"Ow," she snaps, and I chuckle.

"Don't be such a downer, Vi. You and I know you'll make it just fine here," I say reassuringly.

She sighs. "I guess, but I'm still scared. Some people want to kill you, for gods' sake."

I hum thoughtfully. "True, but they don't dare try themselves right now, do they?" I glance down at her. "Anyway, you've got that dragon scale vest going for you. It's hidden your vital organs for now."

Violet looks down at the vest, her fingers tracing the scales. "Yeah, I suppose that's one good thing," she murmurs.

Rhiannon grins. "We'll be fine. We've trained for this. And soon, we'll have dragons of our own. Imagine the freedom, the power," she says, her eyes sparkling excitedly.

I nod, feeling a surge of determination. "Exactly. We've come this far, and we're not giving up now. We'll get our dragons and show everyone what we're made of."

Violet smiles weakly but nods in agreement. The fear in her eyes is still there, but so is a flicker of hope. We sit together, drawing strength from each other, ready to face challenges.