Shattering of a World: Thorns and Roses (Book #1)

Chapter 15

It was early in the morning, but the skies remained dark, almost as if Bueyr's shadow eclipsed the sunrise and other dazzling colors. Katrina and her friends were waiting outside of the school in a flurry of snow for the doors to open, and today was finally the day to see if they passed knowledge or not. They had cups of hot chocolate to keep themselves warm, and Beatrix kindly made it for them with no charge. The dark brunette lifted the cloth secured over the hollow of her cup and took a sip of the chocolatey content. Its sweetness soothed her tongue like a berceuse, and her body was happily warm, never minding the cold temperature. It didn't even feel like she was outside.

With the three friends having to wait for half an hour with the other trainees, they tried to preoccupy themselves any way they could. They were sitting on a log with the dark brunette sitting in the middle and taking another small sip of her hot chocolate, Tarion reading a book-as Zevian perched on his shoulder-and Eugene randomly drawing something on the white surface with a stick. But even as they were doing all that, it felt like time had frozen.

"Okay, if you had to choose between fighting ten snowmen that are the size of ice bears and a hundred snowmen that are the size of penguins which would you choose?" Eugene asked for the fun of it.

"Mmm," Katrina thoughtfully sounded as she swallowed her sweetened drink. "Ten ice bear-sized snowmen. They can be a lot quicker to rid of with fire than a hundred penguin-sized snowmen."

Tarion flipped to the next page in his book as he answered. "The first option as well, a hundred penguin-sized snowmen could easily ambush a single person. However, ten ice bear-sized snowmen hold much weight in their bodies, and it would be impossible for them to attack a quick-witted person."

Eugene whistled sharply. "Damn, you two didn't even need a minute to think about it."

Katrina shrugged her shoulders with a smirk while Tarion simply read his book. Then, suddenly, creaking sounded, and all the trainees looked up to see the fine, carved wooden doors opening. The light inside the school carefully streamed out like melted gold oozing in the snow. Before long, the doors-which were pushed by two professors-were fastened to the earth's surface, with the entrance's mouth awaiting people to enter. Almost immediately, trainees eagerly made their way inside like a colony of rabbits trying to get inside their warren.

Tarion looked at Zevian with his arm extended out, and his snowy owl walked onto it like it was nothing. "Go hunt my friend while we're inside," the icy blue-eyed teen said benignly.

Obeying him, the snowy owl flew off Tarion's arm and made his way to Warcola Woods, and it wasn't long until he vanished from sight. Katrina and the boys grabbed their things and briskly made their way into the school with the other trainees, and before they knew it, warmth brushed them. The snow that had decorated them materialized into water droplets, and its coldness practically sent a shiver sliding down the dark brunette's spine. Hanging on the right wall were lists of trainees who had passed, while on the left were the lists of who had failed, and they went from last names to first names in alphabetical order. Katrina could see students over the moon who passed or bummed out that they didn't, but she had a good feeling about herself and the boys.

"B list here we come," Eugene said, zealous as the three made their way to the right wall.

With the three of them having a B in their last name, Katrina thought it wouldn't make things complicated to see if they passed or not. Getting to the B list wasn't easy as they had to squeeze by some people, but they were eventually standing in front of it, scanning for their names. The dark brunette's green eyes twinkled, elated when she saw her last and first name, and right below it, she saw her long-time friend's name as well.

"Yes!" Katrina cried out, wrapping her arms around Tarion, almost spilling her hot chocolate as she grinned ear to ear. "We made it!" She looked up at her friend, his expression deadpanned. "Tarion, smile."

"Do I even have a choice?" the icy blue-eyed teen nonchalantly said.

"Nope." Katrina loosened her arms from her friend. "Don't make me be the one to turn those lips upside down."

Tarion sighed quietly, and almost reluctantly, he made his lips form a smile-only a small one-but it didn't last long as they went back to a straight line. Even though that was, Katrina didn't mind and accepted it. She was good at making him get out of his unexpressive shell, and quite frankly, she liked it whenever he smiled, even if it only lasted for five seconds.

The two friends then looked at Eugene. "Eugene, you on the list?" Katrina asked.

The dark brunette's grin faded when their friend looked at the list, disappointed. It couldn't have been a good sign, and that's when Eugene spoke downbeat. "I'm... not." Katrina quietly gasped while Tarion's eyes widened. She was sure their friend would've passed. Knowing he didn't, though, made the air feel like it thinned. However, to the Bogatins' confusion, he started to laugh. "I'm just kidding. Of course, I am."

"You jerk," Katrina said as she playfully punched Eugene's arm, but he continued laughing. "You almost gave me a heart attack."

"Sorry, I couldn't help myself." Eugene flicked away the tears of laughter.

"You are so lucky I'm even your friend and roommate," Tarion chimed in unamused.

"You gotta admit, though-" Eugene then pointed at the icy blue-eyed teen, "-I got you good."

Without saying a word, Tarion drank his hot chocolate after removing the cloth on his cup as if trying to drop the subject. Katrina placed her arms around the boys' shoulders, trying not to giggle. "Well, with that aside, I'm glad we passed knowledge."