The Broken Academy 5: Bonds by Jade Alters

Author:Jade Alters [Alters, Jade]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-12-27T16:00:00+00:00

The Unknown

Lee,

Sierra Nevadas, Academy Training Zone

As if we weren’t nervous enough already. I’m in the middle of my tenth pace across the length of our defensive position, a high bald mountain ridge, when I notice a few of my fellow Dragons staring. At first I wonder if they’re pining for the days when we ruled these skies without fear of robed attackers. I know I did, when we first set up on the ridge. Then I notice a large part of the crowd all staring at one collective spot. I trace their line of sight. The regret of looking is instant.

It’s the most horrifying five seconds of my life. In that time, a nightmare flickers across the sky. The hundreds-of-years-old trick hiding the Academy weakens, just enough for it to appear temporarily. It’s taken on such a sharp tilt, it looks like its ready to turn on its head. Only two beams of shimmering light hold it up at one end. Then the massive complex flickers back out of existence, as quickly as it appeared. Could it have been real? Could I really be that terrified, to conjure the sight in my mind? Dragonlord Thise confirms it when a piece of parchment materializes in her hand.

“Word from the Academy,” she announces. I turn over to her, along with the majority of our forces. A shimmering blue wisp has appeared beside her to deliver the message. With just his chest formed properly and no face to speak of, Hoster resembles the form Stephanie did the year Cece came to the Broken Academy. “There…are only two Tethers left, including the one we guard.”

“It’s on us, then,” I grumble. I don’t realize just how loud, or how closely everyone is listening, until Thise says:

“Us and Cece. We’re it,” I gulp and wipe a glaze of sweat from my palms on my pant legs. “But we may have an advantage, it seems,” Thise says, taking quick glances up at Hoster beside her. “It looks like…well, why don’t you tell them what you found?” Blue mist froths out around Hoster as he struggles to take the most human form he can. He ends up short both feet and a hand, and his face remains absent of most detail. Still, he speaks up loud enough for all of us to hear.

“According to records I found in the Lotus’ own Library, they know the least about Dragons and Astrals. They have weapons against us, but they’re not nearly as well-equipped as they are against the Big Three or Vampires,” Hoster explains. “Their lack of experience fighting us might be our only chance. I…I don’t remember it, but I’ve been told that the only reason Heren was able to…to…kill me,” he chokes, “was because he got close. The same goes for you Dragons. If we keep enough distance between us and them, their weapons will be ineffective.”

“So aerial fire is the name of the game,” I conclude. “How the hell did you get in and out of the Lotus Library as one intact…Astral?” I can’t help but ask Hoster.

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