Part 2

Happy MLK day! 

First I was asked to demonstrate my skill with my power, which of course, hadn’t been developed at all. I conjured water and tried to aim it at the targets placed before me. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, I missed half the targets and not by very much. That test was conducted by Professor Gamiette, the water keeper. I had no idea what a keeper was; I imagined it was something like a YL, in charge of each division but on a larger scale.

Next I took a test on paper with the wind division. I guessed for the majority, the questions were all about magical creatures and the history of Element Workers. I’m sure I got 90% wrong.

Last I was directed out to the training fields with four other kids. We were each given a training sword and, to my displeasure, Alex was our instructor. She smirked every time an opponent defeated me. Which was every time. Then we each took our weapons of choice and took turns facing Alex. The four others before me all failed to so much as get an opening from Alex who fought with the strength of five. At least.

Then it was my turn. The now familiar smirk reappeared of her face when she saw who her last challenger was. What could I do against her with just a bow in my hand? Was I supposed to shoot her?

Alex tossed her sword aside and gestured to the two targets set twenty feet away. We both stood at the line, drew and shot. Our shots were almost identical from start to finish landing a little to the left in the bull’s-eye. We then retreated to the thirty feet line. Once again our shots found their mark a little off center. At fifty feet I was nervous, the other students had been cheering me on the whole time but now I didn’t appreciate the added pressure.
There was only one target set back that far back. Alex shot first, her arrow landing just outside the black square on the white paper. It was as good a shot as I could have hopped to accomplish. I took my place at the line and drew my bow. I tried to keep my hands steady as I aimed. I stood there for what felt like hours before breathing deeply and letting go of the arrow. I closed my eyes as I let go. The thud told me that it had at least hit something. I opened my eyes to see my arrow a fraction of an inch to the left of the tiny red dot that was the center of the paper target.

Everyone was silent and I realized I was still holding my bow up, my arms tense.

“That was awesome!” Said a boy behind me.

I turned to see shocked, admiring, and in Alex’s case, horrified looks. I grinned and they cheered. By the look on Alex’s face, I guessed she was seriously considering breaking the rules and attacking me again. I quickly put the bow back, not wanting it to seem like I enjoyed the attention I was getting from my fellow students.

 “So what’s next?” I said trying to quiet the students who had gathered around me asking where I had trained and if I could teach them how to do it. Alex glared at me, not even trying to disguise her obvious hatred towards me.

“Go back to the auditorium and wait,” her smile returned “they’ll tell you whose going to be leaving on a mission once they’ve finished testing everyone. Don’t get too disappointed if you’re not chosen.”

Her tone clearly said no one in their right minds would choose some useless Barbie who had only been there less then a week. I couldn’t agree more.