Chasing the Sun

6

CHAPTER SIX

            "Sage Flores-Turner," a girl only a few years older than me called out.

            I turned around. "Yes?"

            "I'm Cassia Blake, and this is Adam Poulter," she said and gestured to the guy standing beside her. "We're your instructors."

            "Hey," Adam nodded to me and crossed his arms over his chest.

            "Asher went to the bathroom," I told them. "He'll be right back."

            "Asher Woode?" Adam asked. I nodded. "Huh, he got stuck on babysitting duties? Ha, that must suck."

            Adam chuckled at his pun and I rolled my eyes. We waited patiently for five minutes for Asher to do his business and when he came out we went into the forest by the building. There was a clearing; it was surrounded by trees making a perfect circle. A strange tingling sensation went up my right arm as I stepped into the center of the circle.

            "This is a witch circle," Cassia told me. She stood right on the edge of the circle, not going into it. "It's powerful magic; you use these when you have been almost completely drained of your powers. There is a witch circle in every major city, so that witches are always able to get to them. All you have to do is follow the pull of magic. Witch circles are also great for learning how to control your powers."

            "And if you're really good or powerful, you can become Elite," Adam said from behind me. "That's what we are- me, Cassia, and Asher. The Elite are like, I don't know- sort of assassins, I guess. We take out the bad guys."

            I glanced at Asher; he never told me any of this. Not that I expected him to, it's not like he owes me anything. I just thought that he'd tell me, because well, oh I don't know. I looked away, back to Cassia. Her brown hair flowed beautifully in the wind.

            "Now let's see what you can do," she suggested.

            Adam pushed me forward and I fell onto the ground. My face heated as I stood up. I glared at him and waited for him to attack me again. A ball of water flew at my face; courtesy of Cassia Blake. Adam approached me slowly, as if taunting me; a glowing orb pulsed between his fingers. He sent it sailing through the air towards me and I held up my hands to protect my face. I waited for the orb to crash into my fingers, but when I opened my eyes I saw that the orb was suspended in the air in the middle of other glowing orbs.         

            "Whoa," I breathed.

            Cassia sent a wave of water my way and I held my hands out towards her, thinking of water to combat water, but instead I got fire. Cassia's wave of water sizzled and went up in steam. I smiled, this was fun! I could feel the magic pulsing inside of me, joyous at the freedom. For seventeen years, my magic was dormant inside of me and now it was being released. Adam whispered something in Cassia's ear and she nodded. They both advanced towards me, hands held out. Adam's green eyes were glowing brightly and I knew he was calling all of his magic to him.  The air was heavy with the amount of magic we were all using. I planted my feet firmly on the ground, ready to fend off all of their attacks. The grass snaked up my legs, trapping me. I struggled against the grass, but the magic made them as heavy as steel. I placed my hands on the grass and willed the fire to my hands. The grass sizzled and burned as flames snaked down to the ground. Soon enough, I was free and sending waves of fire towards Cassia and Adam.

            "Stop, stop!" Cassia ordered. I paused and gazed warily at her.

            "Training is done for today," she said and walked away. Adam gave me an encouraging smile and followed her. I stared after them in confusion. What the hell was her problem? She attacked me.

            "What was that about?" I asked Asher.         

            "I don't know," he shrugged. "Anyway, we should go get some food. You're probably starving."

            "I'm really not that hungry," I insisted.          

            "Sure you aren't," he snorted. "You're just afraid I'll make fun of you again."

            "I am not afraid of anything," I retorted.       

            "Then let's go eat." Asher grabbed my arm and pulled me along behind him.

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