Flamed

Burning Flowers

The doors to the simulation arena stood before me, its mosaic crystals glinting in the sunlight. Although the arena has been here for more than 300 years, the head advisors have kept it very modern; with automatic glass doors, and just simply a modern look and feel. Today was the day my fate would be decided, either I got ahead or failed with the rest. Someone tapped my shoulder, when I turned around I could see Brian staring at me with peering eyes.

"Are you going to move or would you prefer staring at the doors for a while longer" he said jokingly. I could feel my palms sweating and my face turning hot.

"Sorry, I'm just so exited... Okay, let me refrase that; I'm just nervous" I said turning my gaze towards the floor vacantly.

"C'mon let's get inside, its kind of chilly out here" he said slightly pushing me forward. "Oh wait, I have something for you" he put his hand behind his back and closed his eyes. I could hear a slight creaking noise coming from behind him. He returned his hand with a violet tulip and offered it to me.

"Wow, its so pretty, thank you" I said slightly embarresed.

"That one is just for the girls to look at, these are for you..." he stepped aside to reveal an entire path way filled with tulips of different colors. "Do you like them?..."

"I-I , they're gorgeous, thank you, really" I hugged him and whispered into his ear "Now, can we get inside? People are staring"

He smiled and offered me his arm "Shall we?". I took his arm as he led me inside.

Inside, Lizbeth was waiting for me with one of her "I've been waiting for hours" looks on her face.

"Where have you two been? I have been standing here for centuries" she exaggerated.

"Centuries?" I mocked. "Besides, I sent you a text saying to not wait for me".

"Girls, can we discuss this after we meet with the others?" Brian said annoyed. And there was the common Brian, always hating discussions.

"Fine" Lizbeth and I said at the same time.

We continued on to the training room where Fabiola and Ayah were. As we entered I could see Fabiola was forming ice stakes and throwing them harshly onto a target about ten feet from her. Ayah on the other hand, looked kind of bored and was swirling air, caring the filth along. Fabiola looked up and came in a rush towards us.

"Hey, want to see a trick?" she asked.

"Sure but -" She raised her hand and ice started forming around my neck, suffocating me. She smiled mischievously. I touched my neck desperately and melted the ice.

"Remember, what comes goes" I threatened with an engulfing flame on my hand. A look of fear passed her face but quickly was replaced by laughter. We both laughed, and downed our little rivalry a little.

Ayah came over with a breeze that always seemed to be there wherever she went.

"Have you guys checked the lists? They're on the WitchNet" she said. The WitchNet, or at least that's what we call it, was the academy's news network for element majors.

"Really? Who did you get?" I asked while taking my phone out and checking the list out myself.

"I got Fabiola" She said gesturing to her. The others were also checking their phones.

"Okay, here we go, I got paired with... Paige?" Brian read from his phone. I got paired with Brian... wow ... just wow. We shared a brief glance. It was not common for the head advisors to pair you with someone they know are your friends.

"Who did you get Lizbeth?" I asked in an effort to change the subject.

"I got Jenna..." she said, clear disgust in her voice. I felt pity for her; Jenna was a Godzilla in witch form.

"And you Fabiola?" I asked still trying to evade a conversation with Brian. She looked at me with a confused expression.

"I got Ayah, remember?" She answered awkwardly chuckling. "Did you forget your coffee this morning?"

I laughed at that; I had forgotten to make coffee this morning. And since Lizbeth left the dorm early, I didn't have anyone to remind me. The intercom sounded; all majors report with their assigned pairs to the corresponding gates; thank you and god bless your elements.

Gate nine stood before us. we had fifteen minutes until we would enter and not be able to come out until a clear winner was declared. An uncomftrable

"Why don't we discuss tactics?" he asked breaking the silence.

"Yeah sure, you could do that thing where you wrap someone in vines; but now you do it with dry vines, that way I can set them afire and the victim would have no escape" I said, his face turned from awkwardness to an impressed look.

"You've really given thought to this haven't you?" he said sarcastically. "My idea was just that I held them down and you scorched them. But yours is way better"

"You know , I've been working on a new trick; I can touch the floor and engulf someone in flames, you don't even have to hold them down" I smirked.

"Oh look at who's taking control now. To think I gave you a pathway filled with flowers" he joked. And alas we were back to normal.

"Don't joke yourself, too can make a flower" I waved my hand and flames started forming mid-air, I shaped them until they formed a glowing , and of course burning, rose.

Brian tried to look unimpressed, but I could see the fascination in his eyes. I had that effect on people. "Well those are two minutes of my life I will never get back" he finally said.

The gates suddenly slid open and let out the thick smell of soil and musk. Once we went inside we would have to fight until the end. Every year we come out with multiple wounds, we are lucky our powers won't let us kill. Because if they did, we'd be dead.

I took a deep breath and stepped through the, Brain followed closely behind. As soon as we were both through, they slammed shut leaving us with no escape. We looked at each other with determined looks, and in that moment I knew. We were gonna kick their asses.