The University of Ataraxy

Part 8

Thud

There was a sudden noise. All eyes turned to Austin. "Did he break it, boy?". To everyone's surprise (except for the professor), there was just a thin layer of scratch. And he had managed to do that in just a few minutes. Incredible. Yutika grinned.

"Carry on now, all of you," As everything was back to as it was, Amanda placed her hand on the scroll and shut her eyes. Nyle managed to escape a few looks from the others.

"Focus!" Frightened, Amanda opened her eyes and closed them again. There was a bit of glowing again. "Enigmatic necklace!". Amanda took the necklace.

It seemed pretty ancient. A small circle at its center filled with dark red color. And then was a thread that seemed to pass through the circular red circle. It was golden in color and rope-like in structure.

"The necklace gives you the power you require, it enhances your mind and gives you powers that you ask it for. The highest capability that you can undertake is to transform into a dragon."

"That is possible?".

"Very hard to accomplish, once again. And perseverance doesn't win this off. You need to have the qualities of a dragon. All the other powers are awakened by many people. Very few have managed to pull that off." Smiled Professor Belinda.

"Who's next?".

"Ma'am?" Amanda asked.

"Yes, dear?". "You didn't tell me, my totem animal." A sly smile crept across the professor's face. "It's Dragon." She whispered. Amanda gasped. Yutika, who had heard it, grinned from ear to ear. "Go now,"

"Oh, Deshpande. Is it only you?". Heather, who had seen all this, turned slightly to see what weapon Yutika would be getting. It was only Yutika who was left now, and she walked to the scroll. Today had been turning completely unexpected. "Come here,". Amanda, who had put the necklace around her neck meanwhile, seemed to feel as if energy was getting pulled towards her. "I'm feeling so ---- different,"

"Yeah, you're glowing." Nyle pulled his tongue out.

"No one's asked you," she blushed red, looking at Lucas as if he had seen her. "Seriously?".

"Shut up!" Amanda shouted at Nyle, half whispering.

"Huh?" Said the professor. Nyle quickly pointed Yutika to Amanada, asking her to look there. Yutika had closed her eyes tight. The other part of the scroll was just glowing. Nothing was coming out of it. Professor Belinda stepped ahead and pulled her hand out. "Ouch," Yutika said as the professor turned her wrist, straining it. She pulled her hand up and stared deep at the palm. "Interesting".

All eyes were turned on Yutika now, especially after the loud talk of the professor. Yutika tried to free their hand from the professor's tight grip. The professor brought her right hand out from her robe and placed it on the scroll. Right where the weapon was supposed to come out from, she looked at Yutika. Her eyes glowed with hatred.

"Is she going to be okay?" Whispered Nyle. "Sssh,"

"Here," she said, giving her a sword. A simple sword.

"But-".

"-That's your weapon, Deshpande, get going!".

Yutika took the sword. There was nothing different about it. It was a rotten, dusty sword. Yutika frowned.

"Madam, I-".

"Did you not hear me? Get going. You got your weapon!".

"Amanda, we should," Nyle said.

"Just shh," Amanda said.

Yutika pulled the sword out. It was a traditional sword. But worn off. Its silver-like blade was just completely brown. Not rusted, but not so sharp either.

"Go Young Lady!" Yutika nodded, her face down.

Yutika knew for certain that she wasn't going to be on the professor's good list.

"Madam!"

"Now, what is it, Amanda?"

"What is her totem animal?"

"Quite fond of animals, aren't you?"

Yutika remained rooted. For some reason, the professor hated her. And hadn't allowed her to receive her chosen weapon either. And she hadn't told her about her totem animal. Was she pretending that she had forgotten? "A Cheetah." The answer came. 

"Go and try to cut those rocks now!". All the eyes diverted back. Yutika waved to Nyle and Amanda. And to Lucas. And walked to a random rock in a corner. Pretty far from others. She pulled her sword out of the sheath and gave one look at it before plunging it into action. It was a disgusting sword. She closed her eyes and gathered all the strength she could. Om Namah Shivay.

Crack!

"Good." Said the professor, wrath glowing in her eyes.

Yutika ignored the remark. She panted. The sword was shivering, but her hands were not. She quickly sheathed the sword and stared at the giant rock. Nearly everyone nearby gasped and looked at Yutika in awe.

"It's not broken, off to work, everyone!"

Yutika got this inner urge to punch the rock. The sword did not do the work. Picturing her brother, she closed her eyes once again. After a minute or so, she opened her eyes and flung her left fist at the rock. Breaking the rigid material into two pieces.

What the hell! Thought Heather.