Dragon Wave by Valerie Emerson & Craig Martelle

Author:Valerie Emerson & Craig Martelle [Martelle, Craig]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Craig Martelle, Inc
Published: 2019-02-24T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The Academy of Mystics was nestled in the center of a small forest with footpaths that wove through the trees. Clearings dotted the forest—popular gathering spots for the students, others more remote and private. Once Julia stepped onto one of the paths, she almost forgot she was in the heart of civilization.

She knew her way around the forest as well as her own apartment. She and Jack jogged there every morning, each day taking a different route. On days she and Coraolis were free at the same time, they met in his favorite clearing for lunch.

It rained that morning, but the clouds had dispersed by midday, leaving a clear blue sky behind. Julia found Coraolis on his favorite bench, contemplating the twisted statue that fascinated him so much.

After their usual greeting, she handed Cor a sandwich and a bottle of water. For a few minutes, they ate quietly, enjoying each other’s company.

“How was class today?” Cor asked after he’d polished off his peanut butter and jelly.

“Great. Honora’s come a long way. Today she came up with these weapons, they looked like harmless scarves, but she had Tomas wrapped up like a mummy in three seconds flat.”

He put an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “You must be very proud.”

She nodded. She never would have guessed that she’d like teaching, or that she’d be good at it. Either she’d been gifted with six extraordinary students, or she was good at her job. Or, maybe, it was both.

“They’re all doing well in their regular classes too. They’re keeping up with the nats and then some.”

“That word,” Coraolis sighed, making it so drawn out that she knew it wasn’t serious. “Nats.”

She nudged him. “We have to call you something.”

“How about Mystics? We’re all Mystics, no matter how we got here.” He kissed her temple, where some of her enhancements were visible. “I don’t see you as any different, or any less.”

“I know, but I don’t think you realize how rare that is. People who are born Mystics think they are somehow more deserving than those of us who weren’t.” She shrugged and leaned against his side. “I hope it’s temporary. When cybers have been around long enough to be normal, maybe it’ll all change.”

“I sure hope so.” Coraolis sighed, and this time she knew it was real. His empathy was one of the many reasons she cared for him so much. She was about to tell him so when their datapads both chirped. She met Cor’s eye, and they reached for their devices. The last time they’d gotten a simultaneous message, Jack was in the hospital.

This time it wasn’t so dire. Jack had messaged them with a link to a news site and “WATCH THIS” written in all caps. She hesitated to follow the link. It looked a little too much like spam, and she didn’t want to interrupt her lunch with Coraolis.

Cor clicked the link.

“I hope your security’s up to date,” she told him, half-scolding, half-joking. She messaged Jack, asking him to confirm he was the one to send it.

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