OUTCAST

Chapter three: Alye

As I walk up the steps to my new school, I can hear my step mother shouting back at me. My dad couldn't bring himself to take me today, it would be too painful for him. That's ok, I am used to being on my own. I can only pick out a few of the words that she said through my thoughts and panic, "Don't mess this one up too". Those words ring in my head because I have heard them more times then I can count. You see, this isn't the first time I've gone to a new school, and I bet it won't be the last. After my mom died two years ago, my father was thrown into grief so he remarried my cruel step mom Jezebel, to try and ease the pain, but she sent me away to school after school, each time telling my father that it was the best thing for me. He always seemed distant, like he didn't care about anything. I didn't last very long at any of the schools because of my 'gifts'. At least that's what my mom used to call them.

She always dreamed of having me go here, and now that I'm 13, I finally can. She always said that I belonged at North Star Academy. I never got what she meant. Being an elf that has magic that most elves wouldn't call 'normal' is not something that elves take lightly. I haven't shown any signs of power, only little things when I get upset or nervous. I touch my mother's hair clip that is pulling back my long jet black hair. I trace my fingers along the sharp ridges of the four pointed star with the smaller points in between. Both of my parents are Gales, and so is Jezabel, but I know I'm different. I never showed signs of what everyone calls, 'wind magic', it's always been something else. Sometimes it is just a small jolt of some random thought, or someone knowing a small detail of something they shouldn't. It's not much, but it is scarier than you would think.

I have asked my mother before what the other points on the crest stood for, but she just dismissed the question and continued on with what she was doing. I quickly removed my hand from the clip, afraid that all of the memories would come rushing back. Today was the calling ceremony, where I will finally become a student here. I wasn't the only one whose life would change today, for better or worse. Looking up at the grand entrance, I realize that this is a new start where I might, for the first time in 2 years, actually be happy. I take a deep breath to calm myself down. My sister graduated from Northstar 3 years ago, and she was the elf that everyone looked up to. She was a star student, at least she was at school.

Most kids that go here follow after their parents, but occasionally they get chosen by a different element. That was my sister. Rebeka. She was born a Gale, but nature chose to have her powers be water related. I still visit her in her Delta City every so often, but my parents practically disowned her when she was called by the water element. This is the 853rd calling ceremony and I hardly know anyone. I recognize some kids from the Gale city or old schools but a lot of these faces are new to me. The ones that aren't new however, I was hoping to not see again. I stare down at my ripped jeans and long sleeve purple shirt, my wardrobe probably isn't very appropriate for an event like this, but I don't really care. I realize that my knuckles are turning white from how hard I'm clutching my journal. I don't plan on taking much on this little adventure, however long it may last.

I see a professor start to approach me but I quickly turn and go inside, ignoring the fact that had ever been there. Have I really been standing there for that long? I don't really care. I've seen all of the looks before. I quickly straighten myself up and continue through the doors alone.

Looking around I see these giant pillars all around me, they are covered in thin rose bushes, no doubt grown by last year's graduating Clovens. I quickly scan the room for any sign of elves that I know, and I see a few, but it's mostly just a lot of elves either far too excited or hiding behind a fake smile. I can tell when someone is using that look. I invented that look.

The entryway was a great white and gold color pallet. The tiles on the floor shimmer like the stars in the night sky. I lay my eyes on a tunnel lit by blue torches, it looks like it leads to the heart of the school. I carefully eye the two guards that are standing in front of the entryway, but I quickly look away once one of them makes eye contact with me.