Chapter Five
Water Talent
Even
though the academy had just been attacked for the first time in ten years, all
anyone could talk about was me being the only water talent now. I really didn't
want all the attention I had accumulated from standing up to Alex, but if I had
thought that was bad it was nothing compared to the interest I got now. Kids I
didn't know were coming up to me, some with no more intention then to stare.
To my alarm one twelve-year-old boy kept giving me winks and
claiming that wind and water were natural allies and we should 'hook up'. I
barely made it through the rest of the day, refusing many requests to display
my talent.
Collin caught me on my way out.
"I'm not sure you'd like a congratulations right
now," he said nodding towards the students who were now breaking up.
I rolled my eyes "I didn't think that Trevor and Kevin
were that popular."
"They weren't. But there's a difference between two
kids who've been the only water talent for three years, and one who's the first
in three years."
"But still..." I trailed off I didn’t know what to
say.
He nodded "they'll calm down."
I nodded too and there was an awkward silence.
"I'd better be going, YL meetings never seem to
end," said Collin running his hands though his hair.
The water division common room was much nicer the yellow.
The sofas were a deep blue and the carpet was a sliver color that complimented
the metal accents. It was really quiet in my room but I was half glad of the
privacy. It was hot and stuffy in my room so I parted the curtains and opened
the window. A gentle breeze blew in and I could see the wind division's
building just across from mine.
I had just sat down on my bed to unpack my discarded bag
when I heard a knock on the common room door. I went back to the common room to
see a short boy through the glass door, with so many freckles he reminded me
with a pang, of my little sister Claire. I opened the door for him.
"Testing's right now, we're supposed to go to the study
hall."
The boy couldn't seem to keep still as he talked.
"But I'm not supposed to be tested am I?"
The boy shrugged, "I am!"
He took off down the walkway. I followed, wondering if there
had been a mistake.
There were only about two-dozen students gathered in the
auditorium. I tried to get a teachers attention wondering if I was really
supposed to be there. A woman in the blue and green uniform of the board was
sitting on the edge of the stage. She had blond hair done up in a bun, and her
square glasses made her look a little nerdy. She had dispensed with her high
heels which were on the ground in front of her.
"Students," she said into the microphone.
Everyone quieted and turned to face her.
"Thank you, in light of recent events, the teachers of
the I.M.T.Y and the school board of the same academies, have found it necessary
to move the testing of merit and skill forward and expand the range of
candidates."
Her voice was high and official for someone who was sitting
on the edge of a stage without shoes. She also seemed a little familiar.
"I'm sure I do not have to impress upon all of you the
importance of the test you are about to face. The balance of good and evil… is
a fragile thing to keep, like trying to protect a sail from heavy cannon fire.
We have every faith in you. All of you, whether you are chosen or not."
We were all extremely silent and I remembered. I had heard
her voice over the intercom my first night here. She had commented about rain
being like a 'Hollywood rain machine'.
Once again we were called out of the room one at a time, but
this time I went first. I wasn’t as nervous as I had been at the evaluation but
this is almost as bad.
Yay! so good!
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