Elementalists

9) Lock and Key

 We made our way back down the ladder that seemed to be far more daunting going up than the way down. Once we got to the bottom I once again took notice of the bracelet that Amaris held around her wrist. The flickering light that hung on the wall gave the silver band a shimmering effect on the room.

"You've got that look on your face" she said with a sassy expression.

"I do not know of what face you speak of" I said, returning her gaze.

"You have a question. Spit it out" I tried to pretend I didn't know what she was talking about, but I wanted an answer.

"Okay fine, I've seen almost everyone at Natura have these bracelets on. What is their significance?" I asked, wanting to know for a while. And to be honest, he almost felt a little left out. Even little Speck has one. Amaris examined her bracelet, and felt it with her opposite hand. Hers had four greenish glue lines across the grey material that upon closer inspection, looked to be a sort of carbon fiber.

"After each year of being here you get a band of specialization" I must of gave her a funny look because she just shook her head and continued.

"That means that you completed enough training in your specialized element to grant a sort of promotion, meaning more advanced courses and such" she finished.

"And you've been here for four years, explaining the four bands" she nodded, giving me a sarcastic smile like "good job baby Soren! did you figure that out all on your own?". She went to turn towards the door, but stopped when I lightly touched her shoulder.

"Wait, I have one more question" I said softly. The expression I gave must have told her that this question had much more weight to it because her features pulled taught, and the angles to her face hardening into seriousness.

"Why do you put up with a snob like Garrett, you don't even look happy to be with him" I said honestly. Her face had a flash of surprise, and even sadness, but it quickly turned to anger.

"Like that is any of your business Soren! You don't know what he's been through, or our history. All you need to know is that we helped each other get through a hard time, and that is all" She turned back towards the door and stormed out. I stood in shock and silence for minutes, trying to figure out where I went wrong. My stomach growled, and I thought to myself how dumb it was of me to not eat after exerting so much energy earlier today.

I finally walked out of the room, and closed the door behind me. The hallway was empty thankfully, and I wondered what time it was as I started down the corridor to my room. I was tired from the unexpected exercise Harken had put me through, and was for once excited to get some sleep. Even as a kid it was never easy for me to go to sleep. My mind would constantly be racing, and imagination creating worlds. But it was the nightmares that would keep me awake at night. The vividity of the horrors my mind would create would constantly astound and terrify me. Since the death of my parents, the nightmares became more frequent, and more horrific. The one constant that I could rely on to keep the nightmares away was my brother. Jonah and I would stay up for hours some nights just talking. We would talk about the simplest of things, like what the Los Angeles Dodgers starting lineup would be the next day, or what we would do with one million dollars. But they would still come to haunt me. I would see their faces, my mother and father crying out for me as I stood far away, and watching them die, helpless.

I finally made it to my room, and found that there was a paper wedged between the frame and the door. I yanked it free, and opened it.

"A new class schedule" I said aloud without meaning to. It read like this:

Then at the end of the schedule read a note.

Soren, I heard what happened in Harkens class yesterday and am glad to hear that you have discovered your gift, though I am not sure how it be possible. None the less due to your age and power, you are required to take higher level courses with peers of the same caliber. Also, since your newfound Elemental ability have been proven to be a plasma in association, you must move to the Fire wing of Natura by tomorrow. I will hand you what you need tomorrow in class, please do not be late.