Nasia

Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

THE early morning siren resonates through the whole school and wakes up everyone. "Students please proceed to the school grounds." Nasia recognizes Lady Annette's voice resounding from a ball of glittering silver floating inside her room. A knock comes from outside where she sees Piper bouncing on her feet with her usual bright smile.

"Hey, Piper. What are you doing here?" Nasia asks. She opens the door and lets Piper in.

The cheery girl still bouncing on her feet skips over to Nasia's bed and plops on it. "I came to get you. Let's walk together to the school grounds?" Her question catches Nasia off guard. They're not close to each other, so why would she want to be with her?

Nasia stares at Piper - confusion written all over her face. "Why?"

Piper loses her smile. She could see the doubt in Nasia's eyes; reluctance into agreeing to walk with her. "Well, I--- I wanted to be friends with you," Piper says in a tiny voice. Nasia's heart melts at the vulnerability the bright girl is showing her. Pretty, she thinks. She can never be vulnerable.

"Oh! Let's go. We don't want to be late." She walks ahead of Piper. Her heart still beats so fast from the nervousness but tries to calm it down.

Piper follows behind her, hands clasped together. She guesses that being befriended has become an unusual idea for Nasia. She can sense the self-loathing from her. So deep and vile. A yellow orb comes out of Piper's clasped hand. Its bright light floats to Nasia and encases her with its warmth. Nasia turns around to see Piper with her closed eyes and walking towards her. She stops right in front of her and smiles. "One day, you'll find it inside you. You are brave, Nasia." Piper opens her eyes and the yellow orb disappears. She walks away, leaving Nasia gaping at her words.

They arrive at the open grounds. Students are huddled in the middle under the sunny sky. "Good morning, students." The headmistress' voice booms out into the open grounds.

"Good morning, Headmistress Mildred," the students say in chorus. Nasia notices that all the professors are present beside the headmistress. Is there going to be a new announcement?

"Following my announcement last night, Yeliara administrators have decided to grant all participants three weeks to train. The contest takes place in a span of three days and each day corresponds to the three skills a witch must possess. For the first day, you will be tested for your wits. Second day, your strength is put to the test. And on the third day, you will exhibit your power as a witch. Your training may start today. Good luck, young witches." The headmistress and the professors leave the vicinity and all the students dispersed. Xena and Piper look at Nasia, worried about her participation in the contest.

***

PIPER'S small yelp tears through the silence. She has been pacing back and forth since they arrived at Nasia's room, and then she stubbed her toe on the foot of Nasia's bed. "You should sit down, Piper. You've been pacing back and forth for minutes. It's making me dizzy." Piper hops with one foot beside Xena and sits down per her request. "Nasia, do you have any plans about your training for the contest?"

Nasia shakes her head. Her eyes are out of focus as the nerves fill and twist her insides. "I'm not going to participate." Xena and Piper whips their heads to look at Nasia.