The Song Triplets

Chapter Four: Exillium

Anh

We leapt to a place in the Neutral Territories that was next to a lake.

Great idea, Council. Put Linh near a lake? Seriously?

Linh grabbed a tent from her backpack. I'd given the tent to Tam when eight-year-old Tam had wanted to run away. It was Forbidden Cities and could fit four people comfortably.

"Let's go a little farther from the lake and camp there." Tam suggested. Linh and I nodded.

We walked a mile away, and set up the tent.

"Hmm, we need a fire," Tam mused.

I rolled my eyes and pulled some flint and steel atoms until they were as long and wide index finger. I used telekinesis to grab a few sticks and dug a shallow hole. I put the sticks on fire. The sun had set by the time Tam and Linh were finally able to heat the food they had brought in the fire.

"Just saying, we can't eat too much or we'll be starving for years. I'm going to practice." They both knew what I meant. I was going to practice Atomkinesis, and it was too dangerous for them to go with me. (Or so I liked to say. Tam and Linh were perfectly capable of staying safe, especially with their useful powers.)

I grabbed my backpack and hiked half a mile. I didn't want anyone one to see me practice my secret ability that I didn't tell anyone. My parents would be too happy, and it was better to be underestimated than overestimated.

I hiked back to where we set camp and quickly fell asleep.

The next morning...

"Wake up, Anh!" Linh shook me awake.

According to the sun, it looked to be about six... if Linh was an alarm clock, I'd press the snooze button, since I liked to wake up a six thirty at the earliest. Oh, wait, we have to go to Exilium today! I had totally forgotten.

I jumped out of bed and changed into my Exillium uniform, threw the hood backwards, brushed my teeth, (I later regretted changing before brushing my teeth, because my morning breath absorbed in the cloth seems intent on haunting me to this day), washed my face, and brushed my hair.

I walked outside, where Tam was throwing something into a pot he had set up over the fire.

Wait, is that his registry pendant?

"Good morning," said Tam. He stirred his registry pendant as it started boiling.

"What are you doing?" I asked, curiously.

"We're not little children anymore. We don't need our parents to take care of us like we're only five." Tam replied, dipping his bangs into the molten metal. "So I'm dying my bangs."
"It was a great idea," chimed in Linh. "But I did it to remind myself what happens when I lose control," she finished, showing me the tips of her hair.

I ripped my pendant of my neck, for the first time in my life breathing easily. I threw the pale-blue crystal as well as the metal part in the pot. Tam and Linh gave me surprised looks.

"What? I think the crystal would look nice, thank you very much for staring," I said sarcastically.

I dipped the ends of my hair into the metal, and took a few strands of my hair and dipped them in the metal.

I held up my Exillium bead to the light. "Let's go. I don't like to be late."

I leapt away before they could respond, materializing near an arch. Tam and Linh appeared a few seconds after me.

Hmm, I can feel many Exillium uniforms with my Atomkinesis. It's a good thing that I practice it often.

AAHHHHHH!, I internally screamed. Someone had pulled meup by my leg, making it much harder to breathe.