Polarized

Evaluation

TW: bullying

"We're going to Avriya. Aren't you happy?" Ivan asked Skye as they waited at the bus stop. She nodded.

"Of course I am!" Skye declared. "Thank you so much, by the way. I don't know what I'd do without you—" 

"Not so fast," Ivan reminded his sister. "I've gotten you this far, and our parents don't even know. You owe me."

"Oh." Skye's face fell. "What do I owe you exactly?"

"Your notebook," Ivan replied. "You know which one."

For a moment, a disconcerted expression crossed Skye's face. "Sure you don't just want me to do your laundry instead?" 

Ivan shook his head. "Nope. I won't accept anything other than the notebook."

Suddenly the bus pulled over. "Oh look," Skye commented, taking the opportunity to redirect the conversation. "It's the bus. We should get on board."

The Everson siblings entered the bus, located a pair of seats, and sat themselves down, but that didn't distract Ivan. "It's only fair if you give it to me, after all I've done," he pestered. "You've always wanted to be a mage, haven't you? Now you are, but remember, this wouldn't be happening if I wasn't here to help you. So hand over the notebook or else we're not going to Avriya."

Skye pulled her notebook out of her bag and tossed it at Ivan's head. "Here! Take it!" She blurted. "You asked for it, you got it!"

Ivan winced, rubbing his head. "Ow. That was unnecessary." 

"Totally was!"

Ivan flipped through the pages, an irritatingly self-satisfied look on his face. "Hmm, where should I stop?" He mused out loud before opening the book on a messy doodle of a creature with fins. "Oh, look. A fish man."

"That's a seal." Skye corrected.

"Nope. Fish man."

Skye slumped in her seat. "Why do you feel the need to do this?" 

***

"Yay! We're here!" Skye announced as she and her brother stood at Silver Run's gates. "I don't know about you, but I'm super excited."

A woman with olive skin and purple-tinted hair approached the gates. Skye recognized the woman as Avriya's main healer, Hyacinth. "Welcome back, Ivan!" Hyacinth greeted Skye's brother. "Oh, and welcome back, Skye. I've heard you wanted to learn magic?" 

"Yeah, totally!" Skye exclaimed. "So where are these mage classes I've heard about?" 

"They're starting really soon. For now you can wait by the fountain." Hyacinth gestured towards the fountain in Silver Run's courtyard. "The other students are there, so why don't you go talk to them? Maybe you'll make some new friends." 

Skye laughed nervously. "Ivan, can you come with me? I don't think I can do this alone..."

Ivan nodded. "Will do."

"Thanks!— Oh, wait." Skye said, her eyes narrowing in suspision. "Won't there be anything you'll expect in return?" 

"Not this time," Ivan responded. "I'll help you with whatever you need."

The trio entered the courtyard, Skye and Ivan splitting off in one direction, Hyacinth in the other. Skye approached the fountain's edge, occupying a space between her brother and a stranger. Just as Skye was about to ask her brother if she could talk to the stranger, the stranger turned to her and spoke. 

"Hey!" The stranger greeted, startling Skye. "My name's Nova."

Skye looked up at Nova and gave her a small smile. "Oh. Hey."