Magic

Time for Training

~ Chapter 4 ~ Time for Training ~

"David Dylan Woodcharmer, please report to HeadCorrie's office. You're not in trouble I'm nice - I just require those remarkable crisps you are having. Mmm, Salt and Vinegar - how did you know, my favourite."

It's a Monday, and the whole school is roaring with laughter as Corrie Brian Wildbird amuses everyone - the headmistress had left Corrie in charge of her office and, of course, as everyone headteacher should know, that was a BIG mistake. Since morning, Corrie has been talking through the speakers - even the the teachers are entertained.

As I see David walking to the headmistress's officee with a grin on his face, I hear a ton of the girls in Year 7, 8 and 9 saying their usual unsettlimg remarks like "Aww, look it's Daviiiid" "He looks so cute today" or other creepy stuff.

I whisper to Black-Diamond, "Wow, I think they should get a grip."

She's still staring after David. "I dunno, he's kinda cute."

Me and my friends all laugh. Trust Black-Diamond to say that.

I look around me, beaming as bright as the summer sun, when I see Vanessa is raising my eyebrows at me, smiling, and I hear Tom say, "You don't think that do you", when the bell rings.

"Uh oh, it's class time! You go ahead and enjoy yourselves, kids, I'll stay he- "

"Corrie!" Ms Cooper (Stephanie's mum) shouts. "You still have to attend classes, as well, you know!"

"Oh no, br-" he was cut off as the speakers turned off, and the laughter was still booming through the halls as I walked into my first class.

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As I'm walking out the school gate with David, I feel a tap on my shoulder. It's Vanessa. "What you doing this time?"

David answers. "We're going to speak to my dad about her powers. We're going to have to be quick because dad needs to do something at four-thirty. Come on Blu, let's cross the road before it starts getting busy again," he says, rapidly, stupidly placing his hand on my waist, since my arms are full of my books - not revision books or anything, I just like to read. Books of course - it's hard to read people!

I know Vanessa will be super weird about that so I look back at her and I saw her grin this evil-ish smile, and you don't know what's coming when she does that. You don't want to.

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"So welcome to my home," David says to me, leaving all his stuff on the table. He looks at me. "You can dump yourself next to mine." I try to arrange my things as neatly as possible - I hate creating mess in other people's houses. "Da-ad, we're ho-ome," he shouts.

I hear a voice booming that sounds just like a deeper version of David's from the storey above. "Just make yourself at home Blu - I'll be down any second."

"You can sit on the couch." David walks through a door to his living room. He flops onto a soft purple sofa and pats the spot next to him. "It's comfy."

David's dad enters the room. He has chocolate brown hair, just like David, tanned skin, just like David, an arc of a hair curving over his forehead that stopped at his eyebrows, just like David, looked just like David, just like David, but grey eyes - not like David. I wonder where he got his eye colour from - and where did I, since both my parents' eyes were blue?

"So," David's dad rubs his hands together, just like David. "My name's Julian." I sit on the couch. It's extremely comfy. "By what David's said, you've just Awakened, and you want to know more about your powers... ?-"

I nod.

"So first, I'm going to take a test. David, could you get a plant, a bowl of water, a candle and Sophie. We'll go outside."

Me and David's dad - Julian - walk outside as David gathers the things.

"Okay," David says as he joins us. "Let's sit on the grass. Clear your mind and we'll se what happens."

I know what they're doing. They're trying to see if any of the objects will react to me - the plant will show if I'm a Thorn, the water will show if I'm a Mist, the candle, Blaze, Sophie - who appears to be a dog - Greytail, and it will be windy if I'm a Kestral.

"Okay..." I close my eyes and clear my mind. It feels lovely, being outdoors, feeling the wind in my hair, the smell of nature, a dog on my lap, the crackle of the candle flame and the feel of the water underneath my fingers.

I hear David's sharp intake of breath and Julian says, "That's interesting."

"Can I open my eyes now?"

"Yeah," says David, breathlessly.

"Wow." The plant had curled around my left index finger, the fire brighter and bigger, fighting the wind that, though warm, is strong, the dog is wagging it's tail at me and, though I had just felt the water, it seems as though it had been able to spread itself around me. David and his dad are dripping, and the bowl is suspiciously empty.

"This test does always work." Julian is stroking his chin. "But I have never heard of anyone who..."

"What? What did the test show?!" I ask.

"Well," He does one of those facial expressions where your cheeks are lifted like a smile but you draw your eyebrows together and it gives you a pained look. "You seem to be all of them."

"Usually faeries under eighteen train with their tribe but... it looks like you're going to have to go all of them."

"Yep," David grimaces. "The pretty lie or the ugly truth?"

"Um, ugly truth, though I hope this doesn't relate physical traits."

David grins a goofy, lopsided grin. "You're not gonna like this. Time for training."