Chapter: 17: From the Mines

“What are you doing here?” I exclaimed, panic and joy fighting to dominate my heart. “I thought you were supposed to stay in the Terra Realm for another two months.”

Soil and ash still clung to his clothes and hair. Smudged stains around his ears and cheeks indicated that he’d tried to wipe his face before appearing on our doorstep. He didn’t usually do that.

“Are you kidding me?” Koa exclaimed, grabbing the door frame to lean closer. “That’s what worries you? Your face was on the ~Crown Show~ last night; didn’t you see that?”

I froze in my spot, my heart stopping during the few seconds it took me to comprehend why Koa was here.

I just still didn’t know. Nor did I know how he knew about the Crown Trials.

He’d explicitly stated that the mines did not provide them with luxuries such as electronics. The underground connection was too weak for them to receive a clear signal.

Besides, their employers were firm believers in the concept of isolation. That way, they could focus on their job rather than what was happening outside the caves.

“You’ve been selected as their wildcard, Will!” Koa continued as if I didn’t know about my own participation.

“You’ve been randomly selected to become part of the Crown Trials, and they… They think you’re a student of the Storm Academy. They know about your powers and—”

Koa paused. “Cursed Blood. How are you not in prison?”

I sighed, overwhelmed by the flood of questions so early in the morning that the sun had barely touched the horizon. “If you would let me explain—”

“I allowed myself to believe it might be a mistake on their part.

“That they’d accidentally used your photo and your name, but you don’t look particularly surprised,” Koa said, ignoring my attempt to be heard above his scolding words.

“You’ve been keeping your powers a secret since you got them, Will. Why would you throw that away now? And for what? The prince? The crown?”

“Koa,” I muttered again, but he still wasn’t done spitting curses.

“How did you convince them that you’ve been studying at the Storm Academy? What will happen when they see you have absolutely zero control of your powers and—”

“KOA!” I screamed, possibly waking the entire neighborhood.

He finally shut up and froze.

I forced a chuckle of relief. “If you would just shut up for one damned minute, maybe I would—”

Movement behind Koa caught my eye as he shifted his weight. I forgot why I’d asked him to shut up when white skin glistened in the light of our house.

“Have you brought someone with you?” I asked and rose to the tip of my toes to look behind Koa’s large frame.

Koa looked confused for a short moment until he peeked behind himself.

Then he turned back and sighed deeply, rubbing the nape of his neck.

“I’m sorry,” he said, still not moving for me to see the pale person behind him. “I didn’t plan to come here like this, but your house is closer to the station than mine, and after I saw you last night… I just—”

He groaned as if the words that would eventually compose a sensible explanation were spilling through his lips in jumbled order, which hardly made sense to him.

“Her name is Rio,” he finally said. “She’s my girlfriend, but—”

“Your what?” I said, a smile turning my lips upward. He’d had several girlfriends before, but I rarely got to meet them.

“Hey,” Koa said, stepping in front of me as I tried to move around him. “Don’t use her as an excuse to change the subject. You still have—”

I didn’t let him finish before I pushed him aside.

Her hair was pitch black, like the spots of dirt on her bare forehead. I assumed they’d met in the mines, although she couldn’t have been a mine worker.

“Hi,” I said, calmly waving my hand.

I didn’t move and waited for her to approach me instead.

Her black eyes burned like the embers of a slumbering fire, and despite her fragile physique, she probably had a voice that could revive the unspoken tales of the ancient dragons.

“Hi,” she said, carefully stepping forward and into the light.

“I’m Willow,” I said, extending my hand for her to grab. “Koa and I have been friends since before we were born.”

“I know,” she mumbled, her cheeks flushing a light rose as she squeezed my hand. “I’ve already heard a lot about you.”

“I can only imagine,” I said, chuckling as I eyed Koa, who was still watching me with narrow eyes.

Koa sighed again, gently grabbing Rio’s shoulders. “Willow,” he said. “Could we—”

“Is it true you’re an Iridis?” Rio said, ignoring Koa’s attempt to interrupt our slowly progressing shot at initiating a conversation.

A flutter of excitement and apprehension made my body quiver. It felt strange to be confronted so directly about my powers and not frantically search for an excuse to explain the unexplainable.

My powers were official knowledge now. I didn’t have to hide that part of me anymore.

“Yeah,” I said, smiling proudly. “Air.”

Rio opened her mouth, but Koa stepped in front of her, separating us.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, Rio. I’m sure you have many questions, but Willow has some explaining to do that can’t wait.”

“Relax, Koa. At least give her a chance before you start accusing her of things she might not have something to do with,” Rio chided him and hit his arm.

I liked her already.

“I know you brought me here to meet your family, but we aren’t in a rush, so—”

“Wait,” I said, stepping back to look at them both. “You were already on your way home?”

“Yeah,” Koa said, pointing at the bags beside him. “They gave us the week off to enjoy the beginning of the Crown Trials with our families.

“We just left a little late. The ~Crown Show~ was broadcast on the transporter, which is where we saw you.”

“I see,” I said, stepping aside to invite them inside. “If you’re ready to let me talk, I’ll explain everything, but I can’t promise you’ll like the answers.”

Koa hesitated but moved inside when I narrowed my eyes. “Fine,” he growled and grabbed the bags.

“How much has Koa told you?” I asked Rio when they sat down on the couch.

“Not much,” Rio said, glancing at Koa from the corner of her eye.

“Koa wasn’t watching the show, but I recognized your face when they announced your name as the wildcard since Koa always carries a picture of you and his sisters in his back pocket.

“He has never explicitly stated you were a First-blood, but I knew you worked as a maid, so I’d always assumed you were like us.

“I was the one who asked when Miss Evelyn said you were an Air Iridis, and I’ve never seen him panic like that before.

“I only know he really cares about you and what I’ve been able to piece together from his expressions.”

My eyes shifted to Koa, who was looking in the other direction with pouting lips and folded arms. “So you haven’t told her anything?” I asked him with a faint smile.

“I didn’t think it was my place.”

I wrinkled my brow and tilted my head. “I don’t think I’m allowed to tell you much either, but in short terms, I’ve pretended to be a First-blood for most of my life.

“It was never supposed to have been any different, but then I did something stupid at the mansion where I work.”

The story began telling itself.

Koa was on the verge of interrupting me several times, but Rio reminded him to stay quiet with a light tap before he could speak up.

“You didn’t see what I did in there, Koa,” I said, sighing and tensing my jaw at the thought. “I’m losing control, and I need help.”

Koa remained quiet for a moment before he dared open his mouth. “So, you weren’t really randomly selected to be part of the Crown Trials. It was a setup.”

I nodded.

“Why?” he asked, squeezing his knees. “Why force you to become part of the Crown Trials? Doesn’t the Sky Realm have someone who can teach you?”

“My participation in the Crown Trials will only act as a cover. I won’t really be competing for the crown,” I explained. “They have a master there who is willing to teach me.”

“But why the Crown Trials?” he asked again.

I massaged my hands, carefully considering my words. “Heliac is built on a system that the people trust. I wronged that system by hiding my truth,” I said, examining the creases in my palm.

“My powers are far too advanced for anyone to believe that I recently became an Iridis.

“The king wants as few people to know about me as possible, so the royals have arranged for me to become part of the Crown Trials.”

“But—”

A gentle knock on the front door interrupted Koa’s next question.

“Did you invite anyone else?” I asked, turning to Koa.

He shook his head. “No. Not even my family knows I’m here yet. We don’t own a TV either, so they couldn’t have seen you.”

My pulse raced as I stood up to answer the door. Trembling, I reached for the door handle and turned it.

Flaming curls framed the woman’s delicate face. A velvety, wine-colored lipstick had replaced the golden glamour from yesterday, and a dusted shadow shaded her eyelids.

“Good morning, Miss Aldwyn,” Evelyn said, smiling kindly. “I hope I’m not too early.”

The big crimson dress was now a delicate, deep blue sheath silhouette dress with a cropped blazer covering her shoulders.

Three men dressed in black suits and sunglasses were standing behind her like ominous bodyguards. Wise, considering our neighborhood and the way she’d dressed.

“May we come in?” she asked, but I remained silent and frozen, unable to formulate an answer in my mind.

“Who is it, Will?” Mom shouted from the kitchen, causing me to unintentionally give Evelyn an opening. She walked right past me and stepped inside our small house.

“What a lovely ho—oh my!” she exclaimed, shocked and maybe a little upset. “I wasn’t aware that you had guests.”

I invited the three bodyguards inside before I closed the door and joined Evelyn in the living room.

Evelyn had announced that she’d visit us shortly, but I hadn’t expected it to be so soon.

“Sorry,” I said, hurrying past her to stand beside Koa. “I wasn’t expecting more guests today. This is Koa—my best friend—and his girlfriend.”

“I see,” Evelyn said, eyeing their dirty clothes. “Regardless, Miss Aldwyn, we have a few details we’d like to discuss with you. And preferably in private, as this is a sensitive matter.”

Tension spread through my body.

Evelyn didn’t mean ~sensitive~. She meant ~secret~.

My hands instinctively began straightening the fabric of my thigh-length shorts.

I hadn’t had time to change into something else and was still standing in my pajamas, which was less than ideal in the presence of the etiquette expert.

It wasn’t difficult for Evelyn to identify which emotions made me respond to her request.

“Don’t worry, darling,” she said, smiling gently. “Your parents are welcome to join us if you wish them to.”

“We’d better get going anyway,” Koa said, grabbing Rio’s hand to guide her to the entrance. “My family should be getting up at any moment now. So, I’ll see you later?”

I nodded, restraining myself from running after him. “See you later.”

Dad took Tristan for a walk, and Mom promised to be standing by if I needed her.

I showed Evelyn to the dining table, but the three scary-looking men stayed by the opening. Mom prepared some warm water for tea and placed two cups on the table.

“So, Willow,” Evelyn said, pulling a tissue from her purse to clean the cup as if it was too dirty for her hygienic standards.

“I understand the king briefly addressed your involvement in the Crown Trials. I’m merely here to answer any questions you may have and review the formalities of your participation.”

One of the bodyguards approached us and placed a briefcase in front of me before retreating.

Evelyn opened it and revealed a pile of documents. The file on top had the word ~Rules~ written across it in large, black letters.

“As the wildcard,” Evelyn began, “you’ve been granted a set of unique rules, which I will go through with you today.

“These rules will apply both before and during the Crown Trials. If any of your specific rules are breached, I hate to inform you that the dungeons will be your next destination.”

I gulped.

Evelyn wasn’t going to be gentle with me. That much was clear.

“Of course, you will also be treated as a suitor in the Trials, with all the benefits included,” she continued, grabbing the file on top to place in front of me.

“You will, therefore, be expected to participate in competitions, trials, courses, and events like any of the other suitors.

“You will accompany the prince when requested and behave like an interested suitor in front of the cameras.

“You can always say no to a request, but I strongly recommend that you accept to maintain your cover.

“And, most importantly, you will not be allowed to discuss your training with anyone. Not even the prince.”

~What?~