Courage

Chapter 1

I stared out the window at my school. First day of school. I was determined not to get lost. This was going to be the best year ever, regardless of what my older sister, Emma, said. I was going to ace all of my classes, and then I was going to have the best friends ever, be popular and cool. Equation for best year ever. Solved.

They pulled up to the 2 story building, and I started. I was supposed to find my way around in that huge building?! It looked like the White House! A red brick, black gated, huge White House.

"Here we are!" Emma said. We grabbed our suitcases from the trunk of the car and started up the sidewalk to the entryway of the big building.

"So, I'm supposed to stay here for 6 months, stay in a dorm, and get along just fine?!" I squeaked. I didn't think it would be this... intense. It just didn't feel real until now.

"I know. You look a little pale." Emma got out of the driver's seat. "Just tell me if you want to call mom or dad, ok?" I felt dizzy.

"O-ok... What if I get lost?"

"You won't."

I craned my head up to look at the huge building. "How do you know?"

"You'll see."

They walked through the front doors and were greeted with a lavish front room, the ceiling high above them. I looked around and saw four banners showing symbols. Air, for the spear. Earth for the sword. Water for the bow and arrow. Fire for martial arts.

"Which one are you in?"

"Air. I have been training for years. Every single dynasty does basic training in the other weapons, and specialize in their own. You will learn things that you will have never known before. Especially humankind's secrets and mythology."

"That sounds pretty cool... What about you?"

"I can't tell you."

"Why not?" I asked, confused.

"It's not allowed."

"So?"

"You're too young." Emma was staring forward, standing like a military man at attention..

"I'm 16 years old!"

"Exactly."

I finally gave up on asking questions, and started looking around. Other than the four richly decorated banners, there was nothing abnormal about the room. A beautiful diamond chandelier hung from the ceiling, simple and delicate. I turned around, admiring the beauty of the simple room. I looked out the window. "What is that?" A ball of writhing flames and electricity hit me in the chest and I was knocked backward, hitting the marbled floor, writhing. It felt like every cell in my body was being consumed by flames, burning from the heat. I felt power in my fingers and humming in my mind. I screamed, my entire body feeling like it was being electrocuted over and over, then everything faded to black.

***

I woke up in a warm bed, unwilling to open my eyes just yet. I tried to move my head, but couldn't. I cracked open one eye, barely being able to open the lid. The room around me was blurry, but I was able to make out white walls and cots next to mine.

"W-what happened?"

"Oh my gosh Kali! You're awake! Thank goodness I was so worried!" That was Emma's voice.

"Where am I?" I croaked, sitting up. That turned out to be a mistake, and I was rewarded with a huge headache.

"The Hospital Room. The definition is in the name."

"Don't sit up!" exclaimed a voice from another room. A tall girl with white blond hair ran into the room and gently puId my back down. "I still have to do some tests now that you are awake!"

"What kind of tests?" I asked, imagining beeping machines and needles in my arms. "If there are any needles involved I am so going to scream." I tried to look around for creepy machines, but anotmy spike of pain made my wince.

"No moving, you'll hurt yourself." She said, concerned. She had dark gray eyes that were flecked with silver. She walked over and handed me a bottle filled with shimmery red sludge. "Drink this, it'll help. It'll sting at first but then it'll take away any pain you feel."

"Thanks." I mumble as I take the bottle. I started to drink and gagged. "What's in this? it's disgusting!"

"You don't want to know what's in it, trust me." Emma said as she sat on the edge of my cot.

"It looked fine... but it tricked me!" I made a gagging noise in my throat.

"Have you drunk that yet? I have some more you need to take." The girl called from the other room.

I plugged my nose and pressed the vial to my lips and chugged right as the girl came out of her office.

"Good. Now drink this, it'll help wash that taste out of your mouth."

"And it tastes like melted cookie dough." Emma added.

I snatched the bottle from my hands and chugged it.

"Sorry I haven't said my name yet, I've been busy." The blonde girl said as she walked over to my cot with a tray of food. "It's Stella." She grinned. "I guess you're new. Untested. It's weird how you ended up in the Hospital Room so quickly." she squinted at me. "You have potential. I bet you'll end up as a Droplet."

"Droplet?"

"Every dynasty has a nickname they call their members. Water's Droplet. Earth's Soil. Air's Breeze. Fire's Spark. They're named after the basic unit of each section. You get a new title when you move up in rank. It's basically laid out like an army. Kind of, except we don't fight each other. We protect p-"

"Stella!" Emma exclaimed, looking horrified. "You can't explain that to her! Kali's Untested." Emma looked at me. "Don't say that to anyone else, OK?"

"Ok." I mumbled, staring at my hands in my lap.

"I'm being serious. Keep your mouths shut. Not a word. Stella." She waited until Stella agreed. "Kali?"

"I already said yes!"

"Tell me again."

"Fine. I'll keep my mouth shut if you shut yours."

Emma stood up. "Good. I'm going to be late for class. Hope you get better."

I glared after my. "That was totally touching and sweet."

"Emma isn't a heart to heart person, that's for sure." Stella agreed.

"So... Can you tell me about the Dynasties?"

"No. Your sister was right. I shouldn't be talking about that stuff to an Untested."

"Everyone keeps saying that like it's a bad thing." I pointed out. "Why?"

"You'll see when you get your Decision."

"Which is..." I prompted, leaning forward and trying to make puppy eyes. "You can tell me!"

"Nope! This mouth is zipped shut." Stella gently puId my down. "You have to eat 2 pills per day for the next week, plus a few bottles of that stuff you drank before. I would also suggest this." I plunked a huge bottle full of clear slimy liquid on the nightstand next to my cot. "Only drink 5 milligrams a day and plenty of water, ok?" I waited until I nodded. "Good. These are your pills," Stella put 14 huge things that looked like a cross between a strawberry and a grape, not at all like a pill. "And here's your medicine." She dropped 3 bottles of the red stuff "Only drink one per day, or you'll throw up."

"Thanks." I said unenthusiastically. "Are they good?" I reached over and grabbed a pill and was about to shove it into my mouth when Stella grabbed my arm.

"You can't eat anything until tommorrow. Eat two pills though. " Stella explained. "It doesn't taste that great, so you should drink some Cookiemelt with it."

"Cookiemelt?"

"It's what I gave you earlier, to wash down your medicine."

"Oh."

"Eat your pills and then get dressed in your uniform." She gestured to the clothes folded on the cot next to me. "The Testing's starting.