The Lost Paradise

Chapter 31

Professor Ryindh was responsible for our magical classes. He was a tall man with amber eyes and a perfect face. He just looked astounding. "He is very handsome", I heard a girl behind me say.

"I have a situation for you now", he started. "A situation you will find yourself in frequently once you are on the field", he explained. "If a certain person is coming to attack you or harm you in any way. What would you do? Now I know, that some of you who come from a clan with a relatively lower rate of clashes would not understand this. But for people who have come from clans where social clashes and terrorism happen on daily basis, I'm sure you would understand this", he said.

My brain immediately reminded me of the day when I was running away from my house but was surrounded by the clan members. Them asking for my execution still rings in my ears. I ran away that day that's what I did, I realized and looked up at the professor. I thought he noticed some difference on my face. "Yes", he said pointing towards me. "I think you have something to say", "I will run", I said, earning a round of laughter from my classmates.

Professor Ryindh looked at me and nodded. "Now that's what a normal sane person would do. You are right, you will run. But what if you cannot run?", He asked me again, making me ponder over the question again. I now thought of the way the zarkis has used its magic and made people freeze, my parents' freeze. "I'll freeze them", I said now again. "How?", He asked me, pushing me further. "By thinking...I guess", I said doubtfully. I never fully understood how I managed to do that to my parents that day.

Professor paused for a moment. "Have you done that before?", He asked me arching a brow. "Yes once", I told him. "I was scared and my zarkis froze them", I tried to explain. He stood there in silence for a few moments in which I could hear some whisperings behind me.

Vanya and Stela looked at me puzzled. I turned around and saw Stephan. He was looking at me too, but his face was unreadable. "Hmmm...it has been reported even before that at moments of extreme emotion your zarkis itself takes control of the situation for you, helping you", he nodded.

"This is what I would do", he agreed. "freeze them...stun them", he said. "This is an easier option, as you are not harming anyone and able to handle the situation. Today this is what we are going to learn", he said nodding. "And since we already have someone with experience", he said looking at me. "Why don't you demonstrate?", He asked me, gesturing me to come at the front. I didn't want to go, I really didn't. But he waited, waiting for me to get up for long seconds. With a sigh, I stood up and walked ahead, facing the class.

"I'm not sure though", I told him shaking my head. "Try", he nodded and encouraged me. "What to stun?", I asked him stupidly. "Water", he said smiling. "When I say three", he said, taking a glass of water in his hand. I took a deep breath and got ready. It's the mind, I knew that much. I had to think deeply about what I wanted. "One...two...three", he threw the glass of water in the air. I extended my hand and a red beam illuminated from my zarkis. It happened. The drops of water froze mid-air, looking like small bubbles. It was beautiful. The entire class looked at the view, flabbergasted. "Perfect", Professor Ryindh said looking at me satisfied.

He then unfroze it, and we saw the water falling down and reaching the ground finally. In a swift motion, he even cleaned the mess with magic. I now went back to my seat. "You will all try now", he told the overly excited class. "It's not difficult. You should allow your mind to open to only your magic, push all other thoughts away. Just focus on what you need to do", he explained. "You can use your stationary and try to break its fall", he suggested.

The remaining of the class now started practicing their magic. The class was filled with stationaries dropping and loud chattering. Professor Ryindh asked me to help him with the class, so I assisted him for a bit. And then by the end of the lecture got tired and sat on my seat just observing everyone practicing.

Vanya and Stela finished their practice and then joined me out on the gallery. "I didn't know about that. I feel like you are a mystery that I will never truly understand", Vanya joked and I smiled. "It was not something that interesting", I shook my head negatively. We walked in silence for some time. "Do you have a test tomorrow?", Stela asked us. I nodded. "Not for me", Vanya said. "I'm nervous about this one", I said thoughtfully. "Me too", stela said. "Eliza", Stephan had found us now. Vanya and Stela backed up immediately. Stela's goofy smile confirmed that Vanya had already told her everything. I gave them a tiring look and turned around to face Stephan.

"Walk with me", he said, taking my hand into his and walking me away from Vanya and Stela. "I didn't know about that", he started slowly. I arched a brow and looked at him questionably. "About what?", I asked him puzzled. "The stunning magic. Your first magic. In what situation did you use it in?", he asked me curiously. For a moment I remained silent, thinking about that memory that gave me pain. A weakness that I didn't want to show others. I took a deep breath and told him about how my parents didn't like that the Pheonix chose me. "So they don't like you?", He asked me. "I think physically emotionally and mentally abusing your child means you don't like your child right?", I asked him. I felt a swirl of emotions rise within me. I felt like all my repressed emotions and feelings about them were returning back.

He took my hand into his. "I went through the same. I know how you feel", he said, placing his hands on my face and caressing them. I painstakingly smiled at him. "Would you ever forgive them?", I asked him suddenly, a question I kept asking to myself since yesterday. Since the time they had told me that I would have to make peace. I knew that it would be them, I would have to make peace with them, that would be my test for tomorrow. "Never. I will never forgive them", he said, and walked away, leaving me alone to my own thoughts.