Chapter 287 (2/2)
“Again?” Kalon asked, his head shi+fting from me to Riah “You’ve all met before?”
“I thinkeach other briefly back at the ascender building in Ara to take us with you”
“Oh, it’s nothing! My brother has done this a lot since he’s an instructor,” Ada replied eagerly, shaking her head while Kalon looked at her with a rin
“You’d best not hold us back Even if it is just a prelierous,” Ezra warned, stepping forward and sizing ht, but his frame wasEzra on the back, Kalon said, “You’re not at school anyht be even stronger than you are” Kalon eyedfroart with no acade away
Shaking ahatever thought had caught hiets a little protective around our precious little sister”
“Brother!” Ada huffed, her cheeks turning red Riah snickered and elbowed her friend
“Anyway, I’ to take the kids on their preli the trip a little rin “Don’t worry though, I’ll still keep you all safe!”
“Thank you again,” I said with a faint smile
It didn’t takeattitude, he was strong Froaze, he kneas strong as well
“Shall we depart?” Haedrig asked, looking at the students in unifore into your armor first?”
“Not necessary,” Ezra responded curtly, enveloping his body in mana
Moments later, a full set of silver ar criolden runes
“You should’ve seen how happy he hen our father got hiled his broith a grin, forcing Ada to stifle a surprised giggle
Ezra shot his older brother a lare, and his neck and jaws flushed red in embarrass arned for speed and flexibility She wielded a unique weapon—a dagger with a wide fan-like blade held by a grip eest Granbehl sibling wore luxurious reen, lined on the inside with rows of runes while the sides were cut to enhance old, like Kalon’s ar their blood’s crest She had no wand or staff; instead, all ten of her fingers had a ring interlinked by a small chain attached to a silver bracelet on her wrists, which was eically appearing ar
“They are,” the green-haired ascender replied as he led our now-complete party away from the rows of stalls
“They’re also ridiculously expensive,” Kalon added “But it’s a symbol of wealth and power, and my father loves that”
I only nodded, unsurprised
“So, Grey” Riah stepped up besideaway “I’m curious what your scores were on the assessment”
Ada stepped up closer, and even Ezra slowed his pace, tilting his head toward us to listen in
“I think, aside froe,” I answered
“Oh! That’s not bad!” Kalon chiet a good score in flexibility unless you have runes of different elements so don’t beat yourself up for it”
Ezra scoffed “Not even one ‘exceptional’ score?”
‘Another wogart that needs to be huh
“Ezra, what did Mother say about being arrogant?” Ada chided
“Yeah!” Riah defended as well “And as the one that got below average on their ‘ain?”
“Shut up!” Ezra barked, this time red up to his ears
“Settle down, kids,” Kalon scolded gently “You’reour t members uncomfortable”
Ezra rolled his eyes but didn’t say anything The girls shared a quick glance and hid their laughter behind his back Haedrig, on the other hand, had grown ot to our destination
“We’re aliant three-story arch with a golden white light shi+ at the center
A wide terrace separated the busy plaza from the portal Several other roads opened into the terrace, and a steady streah
The terrace itself was ringed hite walls, each road entering under a copy-in- crests were displayed proudly, hung from the walls all around the terrace
“The crests of the bloods n hoaze
Ascenders huddled in groups throughout the terrace One group appeared to be praying, each of the the portal, their eyes closed, their lipsabout how to divide their accolades, their raised voices cutting across the noise of conversation and heavy, booted feet
There were no lines; however, the massive size of the portal could accommodate any number of ascenders at a time
“I wonder what sort of zone we’ll end up in!” Ada wondered out loud, her vivid green eyes lighting up in exciteolden white portal
Ezra stood stone-faced and resolute, al the part of the stoic warrior about to e of his hand on the shaft of his spear, and the way he kept having to rearrange his facial features, gave hi, who had been silent since we left the plaza
He looked up, eyebrows raised andnext to hi him to stop and clear his throat “I’m fine,” he repeated
I nodded in response, but I could tell he was nervous about so, thin saber fro with it as we approached the towering arch of stone and ic
“Wait!” Kalon exclaimed abruptly “I told o on our ascent!”
Ezra let out a groan, but Riah linked her arh his and pulled him over to Ada, who happily took Riah’s other ar softly behind the several steps back He crouched on the ground and clicked a switch on the large
“Did you tant to join as well?” Kalon asked
“Yeah! Join us!” Riah said, her eyes lighting up “Grey can stand next to Ada!”
“It’s okay,” I said politely “But I can take a picture of the four of you”
“Can you?” Kalon handed me the artifact, which was the size of my head “Just point this part at us, ile the switch!”
‘Well that backfired,’ Regis co to make it work if you don’t have any , Kalon had already run off to strike an exaggerated pose next to his siblings and Riah, who laughed at his antics Even Ezra wore an amused expression as he watched his brother
“Do you need help?” Haedrig asked, walking toward me
“I’ve…um…never really worked with one of these artifacts before,” I said “Do youit?” I held the device out to him “I don’t want to take a bad picture,” I finished la looked at me for a moment but took the artifact fro the artifact at the Granbehl blood and their friend
“Ready!” they answered in unison Ada and Riah struck cute poses while Ezra held his chin high and gripped his spear with both hands Kalon settled on just crossing his ar a wide, confident s the happy fae for their blood
“It’s a nice sight,” Haedrig said, staring off into the distance
“The gate?” I asked
He shook his head, a trace of sadness on his stoic face “The fa loved”
“Yeah,” I agreed “A bit loud, but they all seeood people”
“And Kalon Granbehl is a very capable ascender He’s one of the rising stars a to alet us through this ascent, right Grey?”