Part 3

Sorry it's been so long!

"Missions," Carly said in a resigned sort of way.

"They tell you all about it at your evaluation, but I'm sure it won't matter if I just tell you two."

She was talking to me and Wayne, who was also curios at her comment. The others of our division were either hanging around our table listening in or pretending to study at the other common room tables. I knew Wayne's big mouth wouldn't close in this instance either. As soon as he got the goods, he would spread the word among the other boys. Those girls who were not eavesdropping were sure to connive it out of Carly sooner or later.

"Some of the older students get sent out during the summer but only in great times of crisis are a few chosen to go on a mission during the school year."

"But why," I asked the question before Wayne undoubtedly would.

"You don't think Feren is just sitting idly by while good guys recruit new Element Workers do you?"

"You don't think Feren is..."

"Yep, he's doing the exact same thing the academy's doing. Most of his supporters are immortal though, at least, they can die if you run a sword through them, but they haven't aged in centuries."

"That's really..."

"Creepy." Wayne finished my thought.

"So the academy finds us to protect us?"

Carly nodded "I wasn't sure if I should come here at first, but now that I know Feren would have gotten me if I hadn't." She shuddered a little "I'm glad I did."

I shared her sentiments remembering the 'others' professor Mason had mentioned when I had first met him what seemed like a thousand years ago.

An enormous blast rent the air in two. Something was glowing outside our huge windows and we all jumped to our feet to see what was going on. An orange glow lit up the dark sky; it was shimmering like silk. Or smoke. People were running around the dark lawns. One boy ran to the door and threw it open to the night air.

"Stay in your common rooms!" A voice boomed, and I recognized professor Mason's over some kind of amplifier.

"Return to your dorms, you will be protected there. YLs gather your forces, with me!" The boy slammed our door as Pat rushed out of her room. She was wearing a robe and a towel in her hair with the odd accessory of a sword clutched in her left hand.

"Stay here!" She yelled kicking off her slippers as she threw open the door and out into the night.

I was terrified by what I saw. Flames were licking up the side of the Base. The lawn seemed to bee rippling sending the few people who were still on the grass tumbling. Students were clutching each other regardless or gender or age and a few were crying shamelessly.

"I thought we were safe here!" I shouted over the roar of some unknown power.

Carly was staring wide-eyed outside completely paralyzed. Another explosion shook the ground. I sank to the floor and wrapped my arms around my knees trying to ignore the screams and crashes. Squeezing my eyes shut I to wait it out.

The door was thrown open and I saw to my great relief that it was Collin.

"Is everybody alright in here?" He had a commanding tone in his voice.

I spoke for everyone "yes, what's going on?"

"Feren's soldiers are attacking," he said gesturing outside with his sword "we've almost got them back, stay here until we give you the all clear."

"We know we need to stay put, but what can we do? I for one don't want to sit here and wait to be trampled down!" Said Mariana a fire red haired girl with a temper to match. There were murmurs of agreement that was interrupted by a roar of water coursing down the walkways.

"Uh, that's very noble of you to offer and all, but you don't have the expertise to fight yet, or the experience."

He dodged out the door with one last shout of warring for us to stay put. I stood where I was, facing the door poised on the edge of running after Collin. None of it, not the magic powers not the battle training or the threat of opposing forces, had ever sunk in until now. This was real, extremely real, real enough to get someone killed. I tried to push away these thoughts and focus on helping the rest of my group. Two of the younger girls were still sobbing and hugging each other fiercely. The boys had all started unconsciously pacing. What worried me most was Carly's blank stare of horror and fear.

"Everyone, calm down they've got it covered." I said with a reassurance I was far from feeling, but I was happy with the way it sounded.

The girls had stopped crying to look up at me.

"Worrying won't do us any good now, so lets just try and do our best to..." To what?

I didn’t even know. A dark boy I only knew as Carlos came to stand by me,

"She’s right, we'll be fine. So will everyone else."

I was grateful for his support but what could we do now? We watched helplessly as the battle raged on. We could now see vague figures stabbing and thrusting with swords and spears. I caught a glimpse of Collin fighting two on one and involuntarily bit down on my knuckles. It didn't last much longer. It was still pitch black when we could no longer see the flashes of light or hear the screams.

"Students please remain calm and in an orderly fashion return to Base." Came professor Mason's voice over the intercom.

We were all relived to here it, but also afraid. I didn't want to see what those shapes on the lawn were. We crowded into the upper floor of the Base, which was only one large conference room. Older students had soot and dirt on their faces and were drenched in sweat and water. We took seats at the table or on the floor; a few restless boys paced the back of the room. The teachers all looked as haggard as the students many of them had put on their pajamas before the fight had begun. Professor Mason addressed us once all the YLs had assured him everyone was there.

"I am sure that you are all aware of what took place this night." He said slowly "Feren's forces have attacked, at least a small group of them did."

He ran his hands through his hair tiredly.

"We will ask you all to please ask questions tomorrow, what's important is that we fought bravely and there were only minor injuries. You should all be very proud of the squadrons. But now we will ask you to please return to your dormitories and try to get some sleep. There was one casualty."

My blood froze. The way he had said it, so sad as if the world were coming down on him. There were immediate shouts in varying hysterics.

"Who? Who was it?"

"Not one of ours!"

"We have a right to know!"

Professor Mason nodded, "indeed you do. Young Trevor of the water division."