The Forgotten Soul

chapter two

About halfway through science class we hear a loud, thundering boom coming from the courtyard. Most of the students ignore the teacher and rush over to the windows to see what the commotion was all about. Blue was in the very front of the discourse as usual, basically pushed against the glass, his face gawking at the scene he saw.

"No way! Max is arguing with Michael and the Irry!" Many of the kids get excited and before we know it most of them run out of the classroom including Blue. Around five of us were left alone, looking around cluelessly and confused as of what to do since none of us had our partners with us. Ms. Turner smiled dismissing us to join the commotion brewing.

By the time the rest of us got there Michael and Max were basically yelling at each other almost face to face, surrounded by the multitude of people. Michael's vibrant red hair stood out as he towered over his sister. I decide to watch from a distance as the twins continue yelling, just in case things escalate.

"It's not my fault that they're so useless! They're just jealous because they don't have an affinity!"

"What is there to be jealous of? Neither of us have mastered our affinities and we're already seniors. Why can't you just end this last year peacefully?" Michael says, pleading with his sister. She sneered.

"And let them think they got the better of me? No thanks," she replies.

"Why the hell are you so against them? They've literally done nothing to you. The way you avoid them like the plague is reason enough to think your pride has the best of you. You changed from bad to worse in only a few weeks and that's not the sister I know. Regardless of what anyone does, you show everyone your worst side and you wonder why you don't have a soulmate," Michael says. Max blushes all over which is a rare sight.

"It's not like you're going to find one anytime soon. You're g--"

A large heat wave began festering in the courtyard making the students who couldn't control the fire affinity duck. I almost forgot that I was considered an Irry so my reaction was a bit late compared to others. Luckily no one noticed.

Seconds later a blazing ball of fire began swelling above the masses before it aimed for Maxine hitting her on her shoulder making her step back. I saw last minute as Michael drew back the momentum of the attack so it wouldn't hurt her as much, but still. Being hit with anything in a situation like this will have a negative effect in the long run.

"You hit me," she questioned, disgust on her face.

See what I mean?

I'm sure if he actually wanted to hurt her he could because if there's one thing I've learned about these twins, it's that Michael is a lot stronger than Maxine. You probably would never be able to tell by the burning cinders that were Maxine's eyes as she glared down at her brother. By now they were both engulfed in fiery red flames that didn't seem to harm either of them.

Yet.

"Hell yeah. We got this Michael," Blue says, sparking up as well. His blue flame was mesmerizing and unique, captivating everyone's attention for a while as they stared in awe at him. He distracted the multitude which is probably why no one saw our headmaster walk into the sibling battlefield also known as the courtyard cafeteria.

"Would you care to explain why there is such a commotion distracting my students in my school?"

"He--" Max starts, but is cut off by a glare from the headmaster. She sighs deeply before crossing her arms, her fire blazing her emotions.

"Michael is who I meant," he says. The headmaster snapped his fingers and all three of the bright flames went out immediately without a trace. I smile.

Neutralization was a rare power that could cancel out your opponent's attack and defense if you were strong enough. I only know three people who have it and the headmaster is one of them. ​

Blue groans loudly but stepped back with hands raised and a smirk on his face when the headmaster glared at him. Something about his glare always gets people to conform to his will.

"While you're explaining Michael, everybody else needs to head to their next class. The bell rings in thirteen seconds," he says. A lot of people start walking including myself. There was no need for me to be there in the first place so why stay around for the aftermath of the situation? ​

After a dreadfully boring pre-calculus class which I also share with Maxine and Terra, I head to lunch and then the Battle Dome with Terra. Ignoring the glamorous eye appeal of the open field-like arena with lush grass and vanity streams filled with kois, this is literally my most dreaded class. The purpose of this class was to improve and hone your magic skills so you can compete to be the best of the best in the random tournaments that take place every few months. Everyone has the opportunity to strengthen their magic through a defense and offense class, but that's just the thing. It's focused around magic.

A large number of students are undeclared in magic skills. If you're like me and you haven't declared an affinity you go to magic for beginners class which is where teachers act as if you're intolerable because you can't do basic magic. A lot of people started in this class back in freshman year and stayed so we all got to know each other pretty well. Many of them were introverts who stayed to themselves, in their corners being the best wall huggers they could be, while others trained in hand in hand combat. They are surprisingly well at what they do, which the affinity users managed to neglect over the past two years. They were excellent and I often trained with them when I wasn't deciding on what affinity to declare.

Technically I didn't fit into either of two categories given. I could use magic which automatically puts a big fat X in the undecided box but I could use more than one affinity. Water, Earth, and fire are my affinities. According to history, it's really rare to have more than one affinity, especially two from across the spectrum. Only three people in history have been known to have more than one affinity and if anyone ever connected the dots, I'd be in for a rude awakening.

Not to mention the main reason I'm on this side of the gym, which is my next affinity, my secret that leads to more secrets and an even bigger secret. If anyone found out, I would be forced to run off, hide, grow old, and die a slow, painful, grilled-cheese-free death. I think you get the idea. Right now, it's better to stay quiet.

I snap out of my daze as I catch the ball that was zooming towards my face faster than anyone could guess.

"Get your head out of the clouds Anani. It's time to go to work," Terra said once she got in talking distance. I check the clock to realize I've been sitting and staring into nothingness for a good thirty minutes.I smile and stand up and throw the ball back at her as we head out.

Twice a week, Terra and I work at our foster mother's farm and tend to the crops. I told you about Ms. Stone right? Well she took us in around the same time at about age ten. She needed help on the farm and told us when we got old enough she'd rent us an apartment, pay for our bills and in return we had to keep working for her especially during crop season. Her definition of old enough was sixteen and since Terra is older, for me it was fifteen. It was a bit rough at first but Terra has been my best friend even before Ms. Stone adopted us and we always got a share of the crops so it's all good. It was for the best.

Right now we are running through the cornfield at high speed, winded and almost out of breath. Terra and I would see who could get the most crops and it was easy using our earth magic. We were always efficient but the job still took hours to complete. Why not make it fun because let's face it, running through a field was always fun.

The first thing I saw was the corn stalks, a lot taller than I was, sending shadows over my shirt as I blitz through them. The breeze was magnificent. I could almost close my eyes and let it sweep me away. The next thing I know, I'm lying on my back and staring at the sky. Who knew life took everything so literally? A few seconds later I heard a groan before the sun was being partially blocked by a head, making it kind of hard to see the culprit of this fiasco.

Woah. The feeling hit me like a truck and I knew immediately.

​Well this is just great.