The Cardinal, Elif Kaya [best historical fiction books of all time TXT] 📗

Sasha

 

Being on this field where the old me which I will never be once again, missed the greatest opportunity of her life is quite strange. Believe me when I say something is strange since I have seen tons and lots of unordinary things. 

 

I feel like everyone in a radius of hundred meter can sense my anxiety. Their eyes are going to find me and they are going to recognize me. I am going to get arrested. My new haircut and my new hair color -dark brown instead of my old blonde locks are still unfamiliar to my own eyes in the mirror- isn’t enough. I told Hunter but he just brushed me off. How typical! As always, I am the one in trouble and he is probably becoming flat on our flimsy sofa at the-

 

“Hey, you!” I look up cautiously.

 

“You have to pin on your ID to your shirt.” says a tall guy not older than eighteen who has blonde hair and light blue eyes. I pretend to be stressed and excited. I look him in the eyes timidly and deliberately getting into a lather. He rolls his eyes and it is evident that he takes pity on me. He obviously underestimates me due to my shyness and petite figure, probably assuming that I don’t stand a chance in the audition. 

 

He talks to himself as if I can’t hear him. 

 

“I can’t understand how they find these weak ones. If I were her, I wouldn’t even try my chance and would save myself from the bitter failure.”

 

It takes everything in me to not take him down. Thankfully, a few seconds later, my name is read from a list and we are taken to the field where physical ability tests will take place. God, please don’t let me screw this up.

 

…

 

I did it. I completed all of the physical tests and I came the first among girls almost in every branch except the 100m run. I guess my traumatic leg couldn’t deal with the unpleasant memories. Although I had been fine all day, my leg decided to let me down just when I needed it to prove that bygones are bygones. 

 

They summoned all of us in a large room, probably the Cafeteria of the Academy. There are several long rows of tables and benches next to those tables. Honestly, the place has a cozy feeling to it due to comfy colorful bean bags at the corner and big walnut tables. It feels odd, out of place. I never expected to be in such place. I always dreamt of a place all sterile and blindingly white given that most of the majority of the Cardinal was designed blandly. Even our home used to be a cold stack of cement and wood before we furnished it with love and elaboration.

 

Suddenly, we hear a crack coming from the speakers in the room and then the words that have the power to ultimately spoil all of our plans.

 

“Congratulations nominees. You are all qualified to enter the following test which is quite a new implementation in the process of getting an admission from the Phoenixes. All nominees are expected to pass a meticulously designed test which aims to inform the Academy of your tendencies and decision making mechanism. You have nothing to worry about since you are already familiar with the infamous Test. Of course our R&D department have applied some changes which aim to catalyze the grading. More detailed information will be given by your instructors. Please follow your mentors for the first semester if you pass the Test. They are sophomores of our Academy and specialists of the Phoenixes. If you haven’t met your mentor yet, please check the list that is projected on walls. Good luck!”

 

I find my name on the list easily. Actually easier than anyone in the room. My name is written in the first place.

 

Alicia Rivers ----------- Axel Fairchild

 

Dear God, your plans stored for me never fails to surprise me. Thank you a lot for making my life crazier than it is every time I ask for favors. That’s really generous of you. 

 

I probe for Axel Fairchild secretly hoping that Axel Fairchild isn’t “the Axel” I was planning to take to our cause. I am not ready to face him. I am not ready to talk with the guy that once ruined my future. The guy that I should hate but can’t since I need him for my plan.

 

Finally I see him standing in a corner with two guys around him. His aura is antipodean compared to the last time I saw him. He looks at peace. His shoulders are relaxed and he is laughing at something the blonde guy standing to his left says without holding back. I can actually imagine him somewhere else other than the Academy. That’s strange given that he has yet to become a sellsword at the command of the Cardinal after a year of training at the Phoenixes. I actually expected him to transform into a clone of the Sergeant I have seen up close a few months ago. His friends seem congenial too. They aren't aware of the fact that they have nothing alike with the tedious and cruel soldiers they are being trained to become in a close future.

 

I walk around the room, checking every uniformed being to read their badges, trying to learn and memorise their name. I know that my action wouldn’t draw any attention since most of the nominees are doing the same, just not memorising each name and try to read their expressions to get a lead about their characters. 

 

I am not going to be demure about the best feature living in Riverdown made me earn: being a damn well judge of character and mastering the art of appearing clueless and vulnerable. Soon enough, one of the specialists approaches me offers to help. 

 

“Who is your mentor, honey?” he asks with a sweet voice. Too sweet for my like. 

 

“Axel Fairchild.” I answer faking as if I cannot look him in the eyes. I want him to see me as a weak petite girl who has lost her way in an unfamiliar environment and needs his chivalry so that I can learn more about Axel from him.

 

“That’s bullshit. Why didn’t they assign me as your mentor? We would have made a great pair. I could teach you everything you would need.”

 

“Would you really?” I ask him with a voice that makes me nauseous.

 

“Of course, beauty.”

 

I pout at him. He looks at my lips just as I want him to. Then I ask, “I’m already so nervous so please tell me how he is. If he is even a bit like you, I'm sure I would enjoy my stay here.” I twirl my hair around my finger. I know I act like a stupid school girl right now but please don’t judge. I have to learn more about Axel to draw near him.

 

“He is the exact opposite of me, beauty.” Well, that is music to my ears, I mutter under my breath. “He is a total douchebag and a wildling. If it were up to me, I would kick him out after what he has done to Carter and me.”

 

That gets my attention. I put my hand on his shoulder and squint my eyes at him as if I’m concerned for his well being. He smirks and he looks content with himself since he thinks that he has cajoled me. Duh!

 

“What did he do to you,” I pause for a second to look at his name as if I haven’t already looked at it “Jack?”

 

“No need to drown you with the little details. Just know that he isn’t someone you would like to mess with. For your own good, of course.”

 

I somehow manage to not let out a witty remark. I just ask him if he could show me where he is to get rid of him. He is useless. He finger points Axel to me. I smile at him gratefully. He winks at me. Oh my god! How much more cringy are you capable of being Jack?

 

I turn around and start making my way towards him. He looks up at me when I got close to their group. I keep my head high as they all look at me. I say,

 

“I was told you are my mentor, Axel Fairchild. I think you should be escorting me to the Examination Room instead of chit chatting with other Specialists.” 

 

The two who were talking with Axel snicker but get a hold of themselves quickly. The blonde one is a tad bit familiar. I saw him before the race, he messed with me and all, I remember. I cast them a cold glance and they actually “tame” themselves. Wow, I’m getting really good at intimidating people.

 

“If you are so eager to take the Test, then I shouldn’t keep you from taking it. Come on greenie, follow my lead.”

 

Just as I thought, he is one another arrogant soldier for you. What is surprising is that I feel disappointed. I expected him to be more than this.

Chapter 8

I expected her to be smarter than talking to Jack. I felt so disappointed the moment I saw her hand on that asshole’s shoulder. That was why I procrastinated approaching her and guiding her on the way to the Examination Room she will take the Test. However, when she approached us, I saw what I had seen in her during the races. She was fierce and determined. Not the flirty, clingy girl she was just moments ago. I can’t decide which persona is real and I am looking forward to unravelling her shell.

 

“Are you trying to get me kicked out due to tardiness even before I get in?”

 

I look up at her, startled to hear her speak. I knit my eyebrows in a way that I’m sure I look like a retarded fool. Damn! Pull your shit together Ax, I chastise myself. 

 

“Sorry if I failed to clarify who I am to you, newbie.”

 

“Oh, pardon me, sir.” she ends her sentence with a mocking bow. The hatred I see deep down in her expression. It catches me on the wrong foot. “Would you be kind enough to spell it out for me?”

 

“Of course,” I smile through gritted teeth. “It would be such a pity if I stripped a newbie of a good life lesson.” I take a step closer towards her not breaking eye contact.

 

She looks uncomfortable but refuses to take a step back.

 

“If you want to be more than a fucking puppet that likes of Jack manipulate, you should be more subtle. Maybe even more than you are observant. ‘Cause you are a natural at grabbing attention, …” I look down at her badge as if I haven’t already memorised her name “... Alicia.”

 

We stand like that in the middle of the corridor for a while and I take a step back with a small cough. She doesn’t open her mouth to come back at me with a witty response for the rest of the walk. 

 

She clears her throat when it’s time for her to enter the Examination