The Lazy Prince

Chapter 8: Avoid your Problems.

I quickly shower and put on my combat uniform. I don't think I'll be wearing my regular uniform for a while. I meet the Quint in the kitchen. No one says a word and I stare at my food while everyone else eats. I've refused to eat anything Callum has prepared since he force the potion down my throat.

"Eat." Silas commands. I hate to waste good food but Callum lost my trust and I won't risk it. Even if it means I starve. "You're going to need your strength." Silas tries to reason with me.

"No thanks." I rasp and lean my head against my hand. "I almost died last time." Callum flinches and stares down at his own meal. Good, he should feel bad.

"But you didn't." Silas shoots back at me. "I will not have you passing out from hunger, so either you eat willingly or you will be force fed." He glares at me as if saying 'try me'.

I push away from the table and grab an apple from the center island in the kitchen and take a big bite out of it. I chew with way more force than necessary and make a big show of swallowing. "Happy?"

A vein pops in his forehead. "Very." He snaps. "Let's go." He rises from his seat the other three following suit. I quickly finish my apple because, damn, I really am hungry.

***

After an hour of learning hand-to-hand combat I decide that I hate it and don't understand how the guards could beat me for hours without a break. I'm huffing and puffing after one measly hour.

Of course the the four Princes are barely breaking a sweat. But let's be fair, they didn't spend the last twenty one years in a cage. I think I'm doing pretty good considering. Add in the fact that I almost average five hours of sleep every night and I'm absolutely killing it. Scratch that, I'll only be getting two hours of sleep now. I'm def going to need to find time to nap during the day. Maybe during lunch? No. If I'm not eating good meals at the house for breakfast and dinner then I definitely need to eat a good lunch.

My mind stops rambling when Professor Locke dismisses us and sends us to our core classes. The halls buzz with paranoia.

I fall asleep in our third class and am rudely woken up by an elbow in the ribs by Callum. I guess he doesn't feel as bad as I thought. Dick. It was a really good dream. I was having a nap in my nap. Perfect. I rub my eyes and send Callum my best glare before focusing back on the lesson.

I rush out of the room as quickly as possible and race to the dining hall. I figured that if I eat quickly enough I can head to my next class early and have a nap before the lesson starts. The added bonus is that I get to avoid the Prince's. It's actually brilliant and that's exactly what I do. I figure the best place to nap is in the room of my next class, Plasma. Or that would have been the plan if the door was unlocked, instead I nap in the window seat closest to the classroom and hope that the sound of the other students footsteps wakes me up.

It does, thankfully. I should have set an alarm but my brain was too tired to work. I'll be sure to do that next time. I get through my next two classes without falling asleep by some miracle and head to the west wing for my Quint class.

There's no reason to change since we've all been in our combat uniform since this morning. Thank the Gods that they have some sort of enchantment on them to keep them from smelling bad. 

Professor Alister starts the class with a sternness that I didn't know he was capable of. "Form your Quints and we will start the introduction to destruction magic." Everyone breaks away to form the groups and I stand between Silas and Lucian like last time.

"Do you think you'll be able to manage for today?" Professor Julia questions me. "I know you haven't been cleared yet but our circumstances have changed."

I look at the Princes and sigh. "It'll only hurt me if we try." 

"That's the spirit." Professor Julia smacks me in the back. It was meant as an encouraging pat but I fight with every muscle in my face to keep my features neutral. Instead of speaking I hold my hands out of Lucian and Silas. They take them without any complaints, and Professor Julia remains close just incase.

The connection snaps into place and my magic wants to leap forward but training with Sinclair and Professor Heathrow helps me control it. I slowly let my magic forward and it connect with Lucian and Silas. I hear them both let out a shaky sigh and look at them both rapidly. They don't appear to hurt so I continue, pushing my magic through them and into Kyro and Callum. The same thing happens to them. I give them all a questioning glance but none of them answer.

"Give them a minute." Professor Julia comments. "I'm sure they're figuring out what to do with all your power." She gives me a smile.

"Damn." Callum groans, his head falling forward.

"Do I need to pull back?" I question quickly, already trying to bring my magic back to me. Lucian and Silas tighten their hands on mine.

"No." Lucian speaks in his rumble. "There's just a lot to sort through." He grunts through clenched teeth.

I quickly check that my emotions are locked down and give a little sigh of relief when they are. It's my turn to groan when Lucian's magic comes forth. Then Callum's, Kyro's, Silas's. The circle is complete. Sweat drips off my chin and the others fare no better. All of us breath deeply, concentrating on control. Power ripples through the air in tune with our in sync heart beat.

"Very good." Professor Julia circles us. Watching the connection like a hawk. "Maintain." She commands. "Get to know each other's magic."

Mine is first. Plasma sparks through my veins and then theirs, it comes to life in the center of the circle arcing into the air and next the colors of everyone's soul comes into focus. I know the guys see it too when they look around the room. Four eyes land on me after a bit and I shake my head at them, answering an unspoken question. "I cannot see any of your souls. I don't think the bond allows it." They nod. I pull back my magic and Lucian's steps forward.

I can feel the minerals in everything around us, I don't know what any of them are but I'm sure Lucian does. It is his power after all. Shapes form in the center of our circle morphing from one to the next, never truly forming a shape. An awareness flows through me and I can sense all the enchantments in Lucian's braids. The other Prince's eyes follow then they land on the earring in my ear. Our gazes more around the room falling on the other enchantments. Lucian pulls his magic back then Callum's steps forward.

Water pulls from us and flows in a circular waterfall in the center. It roars against itself in it's eternal flow. My awareness falls to the water in all of our bodies. To the blood in my veins and I shiver. Callum just became a little scary. The water changes colors as I feel Callum change it with Alchemy. Feel the changes in property and purpose. Callum pulls his magic back and Kyro's steps forward.

Air whips around the circle and ruffles our hair before coiling tighter in the center making a funnel. I can feel it in my lungs and across my skin as parts of it dance through our senses. "I can't show how my healing works but you are able to feed your magic into me to make it stronger." Kyro explains to me. I guess the other three would already know this. I nod my head and single out Kyro through the connection and then push my magic into him and let go. He gasps and drops his head forward. "Yeah that was right. Maybe not as much next time though." I send a small smile. Kyro pulls his magic back and Silas's steps forward.

Heat brushes across all of our bodies making the sweating worse. The a flame roars to life in the center. It dances in its violent show. Flickering towards all of us in different patterns and combinations. The flames start shaping into different symbols, changing colors as it does. Intentions flow through through everyone. "I also can't really show how my Runes work but this is close. I have to draw them on with my finger but you get the picture. You can also feed your magic into me just like with Kyro." I nod and do the same as I did with Kyro, but I give a little less magic this time. Silas still lets out a little gasp but nods his head and pulls his magic back.

"Very good." Professor Julia claps her hands. "Again. Tomorrow we will work on doing more than one at a time." 

We go again, and again. We keep going until class is dismissed.