Kastori Tribulations (The Kastori Chronicles Book 3) Read Online Free Page A

others.
    “I owe you one,” she said. “I already know I’m going to ace it.”
    “Just support me when I go for the council,” Typhos said with a wink.
    “Typhos!”
    He snapped back to the front of the class, where Tara looked at him coldly. What now?
    “I am so sorry, Tara,” he said, but the tone brought laughter and snickers from the other students.
    “Since you seem so disinterested in how the other students are doing—”
    “On the contrary, I was helping Ariana so she could succeed next time,” Typhos said.
    “—why don’t you come to the front?” Tara said over him, ignoring his words.
    Typhos shrugged and walked to the front, loving the attention everyone gave him at that moment. As if preparing for a big fight, he stretched and swung his arms around. Time for the main event.
    “It’s going to be real tough with some of the competition I have seen out here,” Typhos said, drawing laughs from the class. “Sometimes I see other people perform, and I get nervous and feel like I have to prepare for the ultimate challenge.”
    “Did you even prepare for this, Typhos?” Tara asked in an exasperated tone as she put her hand on her forehead.
    Typhos just laughed and chose not to answer that.
    “I don’t like just to perform, I like to put on a show,” he said, bouncing on his feet as he addressed his fellow students. “Because learning shouldn’t be boring with an old lady droning on. It should be a spectacle that makes you—”
    “You’ve used ten seconds already, Typhos.”
    He flashed her an angry look— she never told me we’d started— but nonchalantly turned around. He cast all four spells simultaneously, producing a block of ice that had electricity flowing through it, a flame resting on top, and winds blowing it away from the crowd. The students roared with applause and laughter and cheered him on as Typhos took a dramatic bow, encouraging the clapping and yelling of his name. That’s right. Best in class, your savior, Typhos.
    “You were saying?” he said, turning to Tara with a cocky grin.
    “Someday, Typhos, you’re going to run into something where you can’t just dance your way to victory,” Tara said. “And when that day comes, I hope you know how to concentrate.”
    “I think I just proved that.”
    “Showmanship is the opposite of concentration, boy,” she said, her anger palpable. “Our magic is a last resort, used only when we need it, not when we want it. It is something to be utilized economically, for too much magic drains energy and weakens the mind.”
    “To most Kastori, maybe.”
    A few of the students laughed, but Typhos had sensed he was crossing over into perceived arrogance. He deliberately chose to stop himself, dropping his smirk and adopting a serious expression.
    “If you hope to become the chief of the Kastori, boy, as many people say you will be, and as you so obviously desire, then you should begin to learn these lessons now before our race is led by a clown. You pass. Take a seat.”
    Typhos did so, his face shifting to raw anger when he got out of sight. How dare she. Call me out like that. Call me a boy, call me a clown. Screw her. I haven’t learned anything that I didn’t know beforehand. I don’t need her.
    He took his place beside Ariana, who gently put her hand on his arm, beneath where Tara could see it. He looked at her, and her face said it all.
    “I support you,” Ariana said telepathically. Typhos nodded, still fuming but able to smile at her. At least I still have the support of those who will matter in a decade.
    The anger subsided as more of his classmates messaged him, telling him they would support him over some silly grumpy teacher. Love it. All of these guys on my side. This will work well. Be chief in record time.
    Tara resumed her roll call, and most everyone else passed, save for one student whom Typhos knew would never do anything. Pagus tried to match Typhos’ incredible display and came close, casting three