Sora Brontarion
I was lost for words.
We were losing the race, and with each fleeting moment, our defeat felt inevitable.
I looked at the proctor and waved him over to us. "Do we have to stay put at our stations?" I asked.
"There are no rules saying you have to."
"Perfect," I unshackled the brace around my ankle.
"Sora, what are you doing?" Voen gave me a weary look.
"I'll be right back. I'm going to see if I can jump-start this."
Voen shot me a look that said he thought those two were a lost cause, but I couldn't give up. I sprinted along the edge of the course and reached them in seconds.
"Get it together, you two. We are going to lose if you don't start running!"
"It's not my fault. He turns into clouds every time I try to put the brace on." Cyrus said. My brother's cloud was a dull grey, and I hated that I was going to side with Cyrus on the matter.
"Jace, I understand your feelings. But this isn't the time." I said, handing him the cuff. His face twitched and refused the cuff.
I stepped in front of him, my face a few inches from his. "You promised that you would help me achieve my dreams. Right now, you are hindering me."
My brother's body slacked. "Fine. Give me the thing."
"Thank you."
Jace called for his cloud to lift Cyrus off the ground. Before I could react, they snapped their braces into place, and shot off on the lightning-charged nimbus. A small smile crept onto my face. On his cloud, Jace was among the fastest starbounds at this stage.
I sprinted back down the course, behind them as they maneuvered through rings and obstacles that sprouted out from the ground.
Watching them side by side made me think of what could have been if Cyrus was cooperative from the start. We could be the best in the academy right now.
I increased my cosmic energy output to make sure I could make it in time.
When I looked ahead and saw the other team's lead shrinking, hope surged through me.
Now I just needed Mira and Nerena to pull their weight. The second leg of the race was going to be difficult to handle, due to the numerous robots that infested the path. The robots were programmed with one goal: to stop the students from advancing.
As I passed the second station, both teams' first leg reached the handoff zone simultaneously.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the teams exchange messages. Then they were off. Whatever unease I sensed from Nerena seemed to be gone for now. But coordinating with each other slowed them down.
Mira was physically stronger, causing Nerena to drag behind. The other team seemed to learn from Jace and Cyrus. A slytharion girl commanded roots to propel them forward, while my cousin shot a gust of wind at the robots, clearing a path for them.
I was sprinting past them and made it back to Voen's side. His hands jittered. There was little acknowledgment of my return, his eyes wide and focused.
His anxiety poured into me, slowly building up something darker and stronger.
It was dread.
Trying to shut out the feelings proved to be difficult. His proximity was too close, making the concentration of his feelings overwhelming.
"Voen, you have to calm down," I told him, placing my palm on his shoulder. I sent a current into his body, but it did little change.
"You and these crickets have a lot in common; you chirp a lot," Voen said. I paused, my hand wavering over his shoulder.
"Do you have your flute?"
"Is the dirt dirty?"
"Voen, stop with the games. I'm a bit nervous and need something to calm me down."
Voen lingered for a moment, "You are right, music does calm the nerves!"
I sent a current through myself to counteract the emotion flowing through my psyche.
Placing the flute to his lips, "Alright, music for the lady."
As he began to play, I looked toward Nerena and Mira. It looked like they finally caught on. Mira controlled a raging landslide, moving with the tenacity of a freight train. All while Nerena's astral tentacles swatted away the bots coming for them. They looked like a good pairing, opposites coming together for a common goal.
Voen played the same tune he always did. A slow and rhythmic melody that hung in the air like a gliding kite.
This was the first time I gave it any real attention, reminding me of the tune my grandmother would hum while sewing.
He was talented.
His foot stopped tapping, and his face relaxed. Slowly, the outpouring of his anxiety dimmed, enough for me to focus on what needed to be done. Our teammates were speeding our way. In a matter of moments, they would be in the hand-off zone.
"Voen, get ready."
He put his flute in his dimensional storage and got into an athletic position. "Voen, when we get out there, I want you to focus on the blades above the walls ok. So keep your flute out."
"But I can't run fast and play at the same time."
"Don't worry, I got that," I told him.
"Alright," he said, giving a slight nod.
The noise of the landslide halted. Nerena and Mira jumped from the mound, landing before us.
Mira whispered in Voen's ear, his face scrunching at the message.
Nerena whispered in mine, saying; the pain in the rain will always remain the same, even when the terrain matches those who don't complain. With the message heard, Voen and I were off.
I knew Voen was slower than me, so I sent a steady current through his body. Not to stir his emotions, but to drive his muscles.
I needed his neurons to fire faster and explode as my mind did. He might need medical attention afterward, but it would be worth it if we got the win.
His eyes widened as the first surge of current jolted him forward, but I got the result I needed. He was running side by side with me. But he was just a half step behind, enough for us to keep pace and maintain our advantage.
Approaching the first wall, something slick took the traction of my step, causing me to tumble.
Was it a soggy path from the rain earlier in the week?
No.
It was a sheet of ice.
Kelda had made her move.