The Skyhome Academy

Rose awoke to intense pain in her shoulder, and memories of the battle in the singularity chamber. Dad… She opened her eyes and tried to sit up, but the latter caused such agony that she groaned and gave up immediately.

“She’s awake!” Rose’s mother cried in relief. “Beatrice, get the doctor.” Both her mother and brother were seated by Rose’s hospital bed. Emma slept in the small room’s other bed, and she had an unhealthy pallor. Mei sat by her side. Rose also saw Bea depart.

The design of the room’s window suggested that Rose was still in the Skyhome Spire. It was evening, and she realized that she must have slept through the day. Her shoulder was covered in bandages, and she was hooked up to an intravenous drip and various other magical contraptions. Like Emma, she was wearing a hospital gown.

“Are you better?” Aldus asked Rose. His eyes were red from recent crying.

“I’m okay,” she said softly. “Mom… I couldn’t do anything. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. I’m just so relieved you woke up.” Her mother’s smile could not hide the despair in her eyes. “You’ll be able to see your grandparents tomorrow. Though I don’t know how to tell them…” Her voice became choked up before she trailed off.

One of her mother’s hands rested on the bed, and Rose placed her closer hand over it before speaking again. “We’ll help each other get through it.” She looked over to the other bed. “Is Emma okay? Simon?”

“The doctor said Emma will be fine. All the other cadets were sent home safe.”

Dr. Ramos then entered the room, followed by his wife and Bea. “Cadet Spellshield, I’m relieved to see that you’ve regained consciousness.” After speaking he held out a hand over her and briefly took on a look of concentration. “I’m upgrading your condition to fair. However, the wound on your shoulder will require reconstructive magic. There will be some residual scaring, but you’ll regain a full range of motion with physical therapy. How is the pain?”

“…⁠It’s pretty bad.”

The doctor nodded. “I’ll increase the dosage of your pain medication.” He then adjusted the IV drip by Rose’s bed.

“Doctor, Emma said that she wanted you to wake her when Rose woke up,” Mei told him.

“She needs her rest, but there’s no harm in waking her briefly.”

“What happened?” Rose asked.

“She was badly enervated stabilizing you after the battle. Her immune system was compromised, and there was an opportunistic infection. But treatment was successful, and she should fully recover in a few days.”

Rose was overwhelmed by guilt at the knowledge that she had put her sister in such danger. Dr. Ramos walked over to Emma and passed his hand over her bed. Her eyes soon opened. “You’re awake,” she said weakly, and smiled at Rose.

“Thanks to you. …⁠But please don’t put yourself in so much danger for me.”

“Don’t worry about that. Rose…I’m so sorry about your father.”

“Thank you.”

Rose’s mother stood and looked to the young healer. “Emma, thank you so much for saving her life!”

“I’m just glad she’s safe…” Emma mumbled. Then she fell asleep once more.

“Mom, I’m hungry,” Aldus said quietly.

“You should all get something to eat,” Dr. Ramos suggested.

Mage Isabel looked to Rose’s mother. “I’ll stay.”

“We’ll be back soon,” she said to Rose before taking Aldus by the hand and leading him out.

“I’m sorry for your loss, My Lady,” Bea said.

“I’m sorry too,” Mei added uncertainly after stopping on the way to the exit.

“Thank you both,” Rose answered quietly.

The serfs also left. Mage Isabel drifted into one of the chairs by Rose’s bed and looked to her. “Mage William was a great man. And it was obvious how much he cared about his family. …⁠I’m sorry this happened.” Despite her condition, Rose managed a slight nod. “I also want to apologize for dragging you into that battle. It was necessary, but that doesn’t make it right.”

“…⁠I’m ashamed to admit it, but part of me wanted to fight. I was never so stupid that I thought war was a good thing…but I did want to prove myself. I don’t even know why I thought that was so important anymore.”

“Don’t feel badly about it. I know grown adults who think war is worth it for the excitement or comradery. Compared to them, you’re a genius.”

Rose managed a weak smile. “Thanks. …⁠But, now that I think about it, I’m not even smart enough to figure out what I should have learned from all this.”

“What do you mean?”

“A cadet is supposed to follow the rules…but if I hadn’t broken curfew with my friends, the castle would have been lost. And it never even occurred to me that Tessel might have murdered those servants in the roost. That makes it seem like I should trust authority less. But you were right to stop me when I wanted to charge out blindly into the courtyard to help my father. So that makes it seem like I should trust authority more. …⁠Which is it?”

“As a military instructor, I’m supposed to tell you that Baron Tessel’s betrayal was just an aberration. And that you should obey all orders so long as they’re legal.”

“But that’s not what you really think?”

Mage Isabel sighed. “There are a lot of different reasons someone can be in a position of authority. Sometimes it’s because they have the necessary experience and talent. Sometimes it’s because they were born to privilege, or someone owed them a favor, or they were the most charismatic person in the room. …⁠I don’t even consider really trusting in my superior unless I’m sure they’re in the first group. Which isn’t to say I’d disobey orders lightly, as I’m fond of not being executed.”

“…⁠That doesn’t sound like something a mage should say.”

“The only reason I’m a mage is because I saved the life of some high noble, and he offered me ten times the money to do the job I was already doing. I never set out to become one. …⁠I always used to hate the nobility.

“Actually, it was your father who convinced me that it was even possible for a noble to be a good person. He saved my life years ago, when I was shot down behind enemy lines.”

“I didn’t know that. But if you used to hate nobles, then why fight for the Crown?” Rose asked in confusion.

“I’d appreciate it if what I’m about to say stayed between us.” She nodded to the mage. “I was once a serf, and my noble family treated me like garbage. But I played nice so I could get to the academy, put in my five years, and become a free woman. I did all that…but then years later, the Peasant Army started their rebellion. And they sounded like the best damn thing I’d ever heard of.

“But then refugees started escaping from the west, and I heard all the horror stories about life under General Griffonskull—the executions, the brutal work hours, the spies and informants. It was obvious fast that the cure was worse than the disease. I felt so betrayed that I rejoined the military out of spite. …⁠I actually regret not getting a shot at Griffonskull last night.”

“Did she get away?”

“She escaped when reinforcements from Stonebrook arrived. …⁠I suppose you must want revenge?”

“I do want to stop her, but only to end the war. I already tried to get revenge, when I could have stalled for time…and doing that nearly killed me and two of the people I care about most.” Rose glanced at her injured shoulder. “I think I’m actually glad I’m going to have scars. I never want to forget the cost of giving in to rage.”

Mage Isabel shook her head. “You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself. Especially at your age, you shouldn’t have had to face that choice. And I’m glad you realized you shouldn’t make decisions out of anger a couple decades before I did.”

“You said you decided to join the military again out of anger. Do you regret that?”

“I am a bit nostalgic for the carefree, four-limbed days of my youth. …⁠But no. If I hadn’t joined up, someone with less experience would have had to fight in my place. And I do want to see the Peasant Army destroyed…even if I see my own side as only the lesser evil.”

“I can’t accept that,” Rose said. “I know some nobles are bad people, but I have to believe our kingdom can be better than it is.”

“You’re probably right not to take me too seriously,” Mage Isabel said gently. “Everyone who really knows me tells me I’m a cynical bitch.”

“Even Dr. Ramos?”

“He just says it politely.”

Rose gave a sad smile, but then she shut her eyes briefly. “…⁠I’m feeling a bit out of it.”

“That’s probably the meds. Does your shoulder feel better?”

“It does.”

“Just rest. Your family should be back soon.”

Rose managed a nod and closed her eyes, but it was difficult to rest when she was consumed by grief and worry for the future. Perhaps the failings of her kingdom had lead to its civil war. But she was still resolved to uphold the virtues of magehood that her father had fought and died for.