Part 3

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We were all a little intimidated by her daunting declaration.

Sam stood first “why not?”

Collin and I stood at the same time, then looked at each other and grinned.

“We’re in,” he said for both of us.

“Well I can’t be passed up by you three punks,” said Drew smiling at us.

We took half a second to enjoy the moment, all of us united in a common cause. Finally feeling like a team.

“So, who’s going to be the one to make a life decision and be weak and destroy the dark side and whatever?”

We all looked at Sam as he said it.

“That, unfortunately, we cannot be sure of. Any one of the prophesied events could refer to any of you. It’s as frustrating as watching your favorite program only to have it be cancelled halfway through.”

I shared a look with Collin. I was recognizing more and more miss Heiden’s strange analogies.

“So, we won’t know until we go on this dangerous mission?” Asked Sam.

I wondered if I could detect a hint of fear in his voice.

“That is the deduction we reached,” professor Mason spoke for the first time.

“We have full confidence in the success of this mission.”

Yolo checked his phone, “we’d best be headin’ out.”

We all stood together.

“I’m sure the students have prepared a farewell,” said professor Mason “let’s not disappoint them by sneaking out before we’ve had breakfast.”

We walked down to the mess hall together, not speaking. I was sure everyone’s minds were spinning with the new information we had received. I myself couldn’t help but wonder who fit each line of the prophesy.

Professor Mason pulled the first glass door open and told us to wait until we had all assembled in the little room between the second set of doors.

“I must ask that you do not share any of the information you have just learned with your fellow students.” He seemed to look directly at Sam. “Although it may not seem clear to you, we kept that knowledge from you for a reason.”

We entered the breakfast room to see everyone waiting anxiously for our arrival. A banner that looked several years old had been strung up with the caption: Good Luck On Your Mission!

Everyone cheered when they saw us and I couldn’t stop a smile crossing my face, even when I noticed a few students huddled together whispering and glaring at us.

Professor Mason stood in front of the room and raised his hands for silence.

“Thank you all for joining us in wishing our four adventurers a successful mission. I’d like to take a moment to explain in part just what they hope to accomplish.

“As always, Feren has forced our hand into action. We will be sending one of each of the four branches out to locate the fragments of the Heaven’s gem.”

There complete silence throughout the room.

“As some of you know, the enchanted jewel shattered into eight pieces. The four’s goal,” he gestured to us, “will be to retrieve them. We are indeed fortunate that Drew, Collin, Jessica and Samuel have agreed to take on this mission. Now let us all now recite the well wish.”

Everyone chanted in unison: “May your fire’s burn bright, May the earth be kind, May the streams run smooth, May the winds be ever at your back.”

We waited the longest for Collin who had to say goodbye to each of his many friends separately. I wondered vaguely if one of the pretty girls he had spoken with had received an extra special farewell.

Professor Mason didn’t send us off with any profound words of wisdom, only that he had faith that we’d have a successful mission. To tell the truth I was more worried about coming home alive.

The school van turned out to be an old Volkswagen that had once been teal. I could tell every student that had ever been to the Academy had added something to the car. There was graffiti and stickers, lipstick stains and pieces of string tied on things. Even the tires had been spray painted four different colors. It was in surprisingly good shape for such an old model, except the back right-hand window, which was cracked. We piled into the back and Collin took the front passenger seat to help Emty with directions.

The Loop turned round in his seat and lowered his shades to see us better.

“Everyone got their stuff? Seatbelts on? Good, now sit tight ya never know what might happen in these parts.” And with that he started the engine and pulled out of the Academy’s main drive.