The Skyhome Academy

The start of the new semester quickly found Emma, Rose, and Simon back in the library. Other cadets studied and searched the bookshelves as the trio sat at one of the many tables.

“That’s it for arcana then,” Simon said as they all put away their worksheets. “I’m done.”

“I’ve still got a tactics essay to work on,” Rose lamented.

“Math problems,” Emma added as she drew a textbook from her backpack.

“Have a good night then,” Simon said tiredly as he stood to gather his things.

“Goodnight,” both girls echoed.

After he departed, Rose whispered to Emma. “He seemed a little down today.”

“We had a talk earlier. He was disappointed when I told him I wasn’t ready for dating. …⁠I was surprised, but he tried to convince me to give it another chance.”

“You shouldn’t be surprised by that.” Emma smiled gratefully to her sister.

They passed the time working quietly until they heard an announcement over the crystals. “Attention all cadets. Curfew will begin in thirty minutes.”

“We’d better get back,” Rose said.

The pair gathered up their belongings and started toward the library exit. Just as they were leaving the building, they heard Princess Mei’s voice a short distance beyond the walled overhang that contained the doorway. “How can you do this to me? I don’t have anyone else to turn to!” Under her demanding attitude, Emma picked up on genuine distress.

Curiosity got the better of the girls, and they stayed beneath the overhang rather than revealing themselves. They heard Prince Robert next. “I’ve told you, it’s not appropriate for me to speak to you unless the situation changes. …⁠I’m sorry, Mei.”

The princess then hurried directly past the overhang. She was so preoccupied that she did not even seem to notice the two eavesdroppers standing a few feet away.

Both girls finally stepped forward, and belatedly cast their shields to protect themselves from the cold evening air. They saw the prince walking in the direction of the spire, while the princess traveled toward a far off door that led into the castle’s outer wall. Strangely, only Prince Robert had his bodyguards with him. Up above, they could see that the weather had turned unpleasant—sleet hit the academy’s shield and slid down it.

“What was that all about?” Rose asked quietly.

“I’m worried about the princess. Something’s really wrong.”

“That’s too bad, but it doesn’t have anything to do with us. Even if we asked her what’s bothering her, I’m sure we’d just get insulted for our trouble.”

“Couldn’t we check on her anyway?”

“You don’t need my permission,” Rose reminded her. She glanced regretfully in Prince Robert’s direction before continuing. “But I’ll come with you.”

The sisters hurried after the princess. Yet another announcement was heard over the crystals. “Attention. Watering of the grounds will begin in one minute.”

“You’d think they’d wait until after curfew,” Rose muttered.

Princess Mei entered the outer wall. After the other girls did the same, they heard footsteps traveling up the nearby interior stairs. They followed the twisting staircase all the way to the end.

Emma and Rose emerged atop the wall to find that much of the sleet was now falling freely through the academy’s shield—the grounds were being watered. Fortunately, the pair were still protected by their own spells. Visibility was impaired by the darkness and precipitation, but they could see to the very edge of the castle. There was a much smaller crenelated wall atop the main wall.

Between two of the stone teeth that defenders could use for cover stood Princess Mei. Immediately before her was the half mile drop to the ground below the academy. She had not cast a shield, and the harsh weather was soaking her long hair and uniform.

“Is she…?” Rose’s shocked whisper trailed off.

“Princess, please don’t!” Emma called out.

She also established a mind link. “Be careful—we don’t want to do anything to upset her.” Rose nodded in response.

Princess Mei finally looked behind her. “This doesn’t concern you,” she said bitterly. “Go away.”

“Please don’t ask that of me, My Lady,” Emma answered. “Couldn’t you tell us what’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong is that those titles you’re using no longer apply to me! …⁠My parents were executed by a warlord, and the rest of my family is probably dead as well. If I were to go home, I’d suffer the same fate.

“The Middle Kingdom has fallen. I’m not a princess—I’m nothing.”

“You may not be a princess, but you aren’t nothing,” Emma insisted. “You’re still Mei—you have a true passion for magic and incredible determination. Every girl at this academy envies your intellect and beauty.”

The former royal gave an unhinged laugh as she shivered from the cold. “Are you telling me what you think I want to hear?”

Emma was terrified. Without meaning to, she had stumbled into a conversation where a life hung in the balance. But she had no choice except to press on. “I’m telling you what I know—from our classes together, from all the jealous gossip I’ve heard.

“I can’t even imagine how much pain you must be in. To lose your family, your homeland, and such a powerful station… But I know that if anyone can endure that, it’s the cadet who crushed everyone in her telepathy class. The cadet I’ve spent this entire year in awe of. You can still be that fearsome spellcaster, if that’s what you want.”

Mei looked forward once more and remained silent. Emma heard Rose’s voice in her head. “I think we could pull her down if we both used our telekinetics.”

“It’s too dangerous,” Emma sent back. “She could cast her shield to block us and then jump.”

The serf then heard rapidly approaching footsteps. “Who’s there?” a voice called out. Two castle guards on patrol had arrived.

“Please don’t do anything to interfere,” Rose begged them. But Emma saw one of the soldier’s crystals light up—he was calling for help telepathically. She hoped that any further arrivals would not worsen the situation.

Mei finally looked back at Emma once more. “Even if I still wanted to learn magic, I’d never reach my potential without a proper education. And I can’t stay here—I don’t even have enough wealth left to afford this semester. My ‘bodyguards’ took everything they could before flying off on their dragons.

“There’s no place for me. And the new government back home will see me as a threat. Why would anyone risk the wrath of the Middle Kingdom for my sake?”

Though she wished for a better way, Emma could only think of one option that would allow Mei to remain. “It’s much less expensive for serfs to come to the academy. If you made a contract with a noble family, you could stay. I’m sure that the Spellshields would be willing to take you in.” Immediately after she finished speaking, Emma sent to Rose. “Please agree!”

“I promise to do all I can,” the aspiring mage said. “I don’t know what my dad’s going to think of this,” she then sent back. “The wrath of the Middle Kingdom doesn’t sound like something my family needs!”

“That’s my best option—a handmaiden to Lady Rose?” Despite her anguish and how badly she was shivering, some of her typical arrogance had crept back into Mei’s tone. “I thought you were trying to convince me not to end my life?”

“It’s true that being a serf is awful sometimes,” Emma admitted. “But if you can graduate and complete your service, you’ll be a citizen. Then you can do what you want.”

“What I want is to carry out my duty to my father and my homeland. That’s impossible now.”

“Even if you’ve lost an old purpose, you can find a new one. …⁠May I come closer?”

“…⁠I don’t care.”

Emma walked forward until she was only a couple feet away from Mei. The former royal half turned to more easily look on her. “I’m not going to pretend life always goes well for peasants,” Emma began. “But I believe you can make the best of it. And you’ll be able to pursue the education you want, be friends with whoever you want⁠—”

“I never even had friends when I was a princess.”

“I’ll be your friend, if you’d like?”

Mei turned to face her fully. “Why would you say that? I’ve never shown you any kindness.”

“That doesn’t matter to me. What’s in the past can cast long shadows—but it doesn’t have to darken our future.” Emma dismissed her arcane shield and held out a hand to the other girl. “Please try to make a new life for yourself. I’ll help in any way I can.”

After some hesitation, Mei took Emma’s hand and stepped down to safety. The former princess then grabbed onto the serf. Loud, hitching sobs escaped her.

Emma hugged the other girl. “It’ll be alright. Let’s get you inside.”

Rose and the soldiers protectively surrounded the pair. “I’ve never seen you take charge before. That was amazing!”

“I’m not sure what got into me,” Emma admitted, offering her sister a tired smile. Everyone then retreated from the weather into the wall.