win. Many full-trained mages have not managed it as bravely as you, though you are very frightened.” He still sounded cool and almost bored, though the compliment seemed genuine. “Now put that toy down and come here. There is something I need to know about you.”
Present-day Hayden didn’t catch whatever his past self said next, because another wave of lightheadedness washed over him and he almost blacked out. He blinked hard several times and grabbed a tree for support, but when he opened his eyes it was no longer a tree he was holding but Zane. His friend had both of his arms and was half-carrying him somewhere while he swayed, and Hayden’s face felt strangely wet for some reason.
He blinked again and he was at the kitchen table in his old home, eating the hot cakes his mother used to make him when he was sick while she washed dishes with her back to him. A pang of sadness tore through him at the sight of her, and then she was gone and Hayden was lying on the ground, staring up at the Masters of the major arcana; they looked worried, and Asher’s face was entirely drained of color.
In the next moment he was choking on something sweet-tasting that was being forced down his throat; next he was carrying Tess on his back through the frozen cave, determined to keep her from dying. Time seemed to be moving in leaps and bounds, and Hayden lacked the energy to ask someone what was happening, if they would even stay still long enough for him to get the words out.
Now he was watching Mistress Razelle in a towering rage, something he had never seen before and could never have imagined. She was holding Masters Asher and Laurren by the ear with each hand, tugging them towards the door while shouting at them so loudly they’d both probably go deaf, though Hayden couldn’t make out the words.
The last thing he saw before he faded into blackness was Bonk biting his hand in the pen to claim him as a master.
6
The Test
When Hayden woke up, it was to find himself lying in bed in the infirmary with no clear idea of how he’d gotten there. Bonk was curled up on top of the covers beside him, warming his side while he slept. Other than that, there was no one in the room except for a mastery-level student of Mistress Razelle’s, who noticed he was awake and hurried from the room, presumably to get his mentor.
Hayden yawned and gave himself a cursory examination. Nothing felt broken, there were no strange bruises or wounds on him, and other than being really confused as to why he was here, there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with him at all. He strained his memory, trying to call up the most recent thing that happened to him, but all he could think of was that he was running through a jungle with Tess, Zane, and Lorn for some reason.
His movements woke Bonk, who stood up on the mattress and examined Hayden closely for a moment, like he was trying to see something behind his eyes. Apparently satisfied, Bonk flopped onto his back with his belly in the air and wriggled in that way that meant he wanted to be played with.
“Lazy dragon,” Hayden said more out of habit than anything, reaching out and stroking Bonk’s warm stomach affectionately.
When the door opened, he was surprised to see not Mistress Razelle, but Master Asher sweeping into the room. The Prism Master took a long look at him and then nodded, pulling up a chair beside his bed and sitting backwards on it.
“How are you feeling?”
“Fine, I think. Just confused about why I’m here…” Hayden trailed off invitingly.
“Ah, you don’t remember then. I suppose that’s not surprising, though it is a bit ironic, given that it was a memory elixir that did this to you.”
Hayden raised his eyebrows and said, “The Mnemora? What happened?”
“You were in the challenge arena with your teammates when it hit you. I had no idea the effect would be that delayed in you, nor did Laurren.”
The memory of the jungle came back
Present-day Hayden didn’t catch whatever his past self said next, because another wave of lightheadedness washed over him and he almost blacked out. He blinked hard several times and grabbed a tree for support, but when he opened his eyes it was no longer a tree he was holding but Zane. His friend had both of his arms and was half-carrying him somewhere while he swayed, and Hayden’s face felt strangely wet for some reason.
He blinked again and he was at the kitchen table in his old home, eating the hot cakes his mother used to make him when he was sick while she washed dishes with her back to him. A pang of sadness tore through him at the sight of her, and then she was gone and Hayden was lying on the ground, staring up at the Masters of the major arcana; they looked worried, and Asher’s face was entirely drained of color.
In the next moment he was choking on something sweet-tasting that was being forced down his throat; next he was carrying Tess on his back through the frozen cave, determined to keep her from dying. Time seemed to be moving in leaps and bounds, and Hayden lacked the energy to ask someone what was happening, if they would even stay still long enough for him to get the words out.
Now he was watching Mistress Razelle in a towering rage, something he had never seen before and could never have imagined. She was holding Masters Asher and Laurren by the ear with each hand, tugging them towards the door while shouting at them so loudly they’d both probably go deaf, though Hayden couldn’t make out the words.
The last thing he saw before he faded into blackness was Bonk biting his hand in the pen to claim him as a master.
6
The Test
When Hayden woke up, it was to find himself lying in bed in the infirmary with no clear idea of how he’d gotten there. Bonk was curled up on top of the covers beside him, warming his side while he slept. Other than that, there was no one in the room except for a mastery-level student of Mistress Razelle’s, who noticed he was awake and hurried from the room, presumably to get his mentor.
Hayden yawned and gave himself a cursory examination. Nothing felt broken, there were no strange bruises or wounds on him, and other than being really confused as to why he was here, there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with him at all. He strained his memory, trying to call up the most recent thing that happened to him, but all he could think of was that he was running through a jungle with Tess, Zane, and Lorn for some reason.
His movements woke Bonk, who stood up on the mattress and examined Hayden closely for a moment, like he was trying to see something behind his eyes. Apparently satisfied, Bonk flopped onto his back with his belly in the air and wriggled in that way that meant he wanted to be played with.
“Lazy dragon,” Hayden said more out of habit than anything, reaching out and stroking Bonk’s warm stomach affectionately.
When the door opened, he was surprised to see not Mistress Razelle, but Master Asher sweeping into the room. The Prism Master took a long look at him and then nodded, pulling up a chair beside his bed and sitting backwards on it.
“How are you feeling?”
“Fine, I think. Just confused about why I’m here…” Hayden trailed off invitingly.
“Ah, you don’t remember then. I suppose that’s not surprising, though it is a bit ironic, given that it was a memory elixir that did this to you.”
Hayden raised his eyebrows and said, “The Mnemora? What happened?”
“You were in the challenge arena with your teammates when it hit you. I had no idea the effect would be that delayed in you, nor did Laurren.”
The memory of the jungle came back
Similar Books
