The Realm Protectors

Chapter 33 - Avani

"How has the tour been going?" Professor Odde asks. Her voice is slightly tinny through the Tunnel-Com – the small, space-powered machine that allows us to talk to our teachers and get our classwork even from across the Realm.

"It's been alright." I reply. "I haven't had many opportunities to use my abilities in any big scenario, but I helped to move some of the chunks of mountain rock away from the senator's house in Mork."

Professor Odde nods. "They never found any survivors?"

I shake my head. "All members of the Darcio family were found dead." Images of the bodies pulled from the wreckage flash through my mind, and I shake it again to clear it. "I'm hoping to get out some this week and practice with the sand. It's everywhere around here."

Odde chuckles. "I'm sure it is. How are the rest of your classes going?"

"I've been trying to keep up with the reading for English, but it's really just not my thing." I admit. "Ciana's been catching me up on what happens so I can answer the questions."

Professor Odde nods. "How is it going with the others? Do you all get along well?"

"Oh yeah, it's been great." I reply. "We've clicked from the very beginning." I think about all my friends, secluded in their own rooms to focus on school work.

"That's good. Well, I have to go. I have your Physical Geokinesis class here soon." Professor Odde says. "I'm here if you need any help. Sand can be a tricky substance to work with."

"Thank you." I nod. "I appreciate it."

Professor Odde nods and a small beep sounds as she disconnects. I slump back on my bed with a groan, rubbing the headache from my eyes. I've gotten more used to using the Tunnel-Com to talk to teachers and keep up with classwork, but it still doesn't quite sink in with me. School never really was my strong suit.

Someone knocks on the door. I sit up to see Ciana in the doorway.

"I need your help with this math problem," She says.

Now math, I can do.

"Sure, what do you need?" I ask.

She steps into my room and shuts the door softly behind her, shuffling over to the bed. She lays the open textbook on the comforter and her notebook next to it. Her notes are nearly immaculate – not a single stroke out of place.

"Number twenty-seven," Ciana says, pointing at the problem in the book. I start talking her through finding the distance between the two points given when someone else knocks on the door.

"Come in," I call out. Nikolina steps through the door via her spooky shadow-travel.

"Tucker says it's time to train." She says softly. Her voice seems a little stronger than it did when we were in Mork.

"Okay," Ciana replies, packing up her books. "I'll finish this later. Thanks, Avani."

"No problem." I nod. Ciana scurries out and shuts the door behind her, leaving me with Nik. She's already dressed in leggings and a black t-shirt, as if she had just come from training.

I turn to grab some clothes out of my suitcase. "You don't mind if I change in front of you, do you?" I ask her. "I'm used to it from changing in various locker rooms with other girls in the Other World, but I know it makes some people uncomfortable."

"No, that's fine." Nikolina responds, though her voice sounds unsure. I turn to look at her and she averts her eyes.

"If you say so." I shrug. I turn to face the wall, hopefully to make her more comfortable, and slip off my pajama pants. I pull on one of my favorite pairs of athletic shorts and quickly change into a sports bra.