Journey to the Edge

Chapter 3

Several months had passed since the trio perfected their "Trio Jump."

The time had arrived that every member of the five academies awaited since their arrival: the day they officially graduate and return to their homes.

The academies in every one of the five regions do it the same: the children are enrolled in the school around age ten. For about six years, the children stay at the academy, where they are provided with housing, food, clothes, and proper hygiene.  The kids are educated and trained while being grouped by their elemental power. During their time in the academy, they were trained for those six years with occasional moments to visit their family. The academies did this mostly so the students would be able to work their own way with their powers rather than do what their parents would do. 

Now, Kira waited in anticipation as she stood on the edge of the large arena the often used for vigorous training and assessments. There were people watching in the stands, but they were enchanted so the training or assessing students wouldn't be distracted by anyone's presence. Kira thought it was pretty unfair why they couldn't see their parents cheering for them, nor even be able to hear them. Still, Kira waited patiently in the line she was assigned. They were lined up by element, much like how most of their classes worked. 

She wore the school-assigned robe, but they were allowed to pick what colors they wanted. For the main robe part, she selected a lighter shade of redwood. It was her favorite color, so she wanted to go through this day while wearing it. Even the girls were required to wear a tie, she she wore the traditional red tie of her region. 

The heads of the academy spoke to the invisible crowds. She wondered how ignorant or silly they thought they looked. Then again, they were the ones who created and cast the enchantment, so perhaps they weren't affected by it? Kira may never know. She wasn't paying proper attention and soon the main mentor of the students who used the power of Air, users of Aerokinesis is what Livy called them, began to speak. She quickly drew herself back in, for that meant the students with Aerokinesis were about to be called.

As much as she wanted to focus, she couldn't find herself able to. She kept daydreaming and ending up lost in her mind. Eventually, she heard the voice of the Earth mentor begin to speak. She perked up. Once this group was over, her element would be next. 

At some point, she heard the teacher of the Earth students call Mariela's name. She wanted to scream and cheer for her close friend, but the kids were instructed to keep silent. 

All of the Earth students were called. Kira took a deep breath as she watched her mentor take the center platform. If one looked at him with no knowledge of his profession, they wouldn't know that he was because of his personality. Normally, fire was associated with anger and hatred. However, Kira had witnessed it before, there are so many people who work better while feeling other emotions, such as calmness, jealousy, and sadness. 

Her mentor began to speak again, but she did not focus on his words. He said something along the lines of "I'm so proud of my students" and "they've worked so hard to get here." It was cheesy and cliche, so Kira tuned out most of his words. She just waited until her line began to move slowly; one by one. 

Excitement filled her senses and nulled everything else. Step by step, she was getting closer and closer to her dream.

Finally, her mentor called her name, "Kira Fenir."

Kira stepped into the large arena from the entrance that trails for a good many feet. She heard the dirt quietly crunch under her feet. Just as she had assumed, the enchantment was not lifted. It still appeared that she was in an empty arena, but she knew well that she was not. She gazed around at the seemingly empty seats, pondering where her parents might be sitting; watching her proudly. 

She quickly readjusted her gaze to face the makeshift stage her mentor stood upon. Her mentor's hair was tall and up straight. He also usually wore a small ponytail in the back. He was facing Kira, so she couldn't see if it was in. His brown eyes gazed upon her with pride and some other emotion she could not see properly. It seemed almost like sadness, but she couldn't be too sure. Had he grown so attached to the others, as well? 

She stepped up to him and bowed slightly, as they were instructed to do. He bowed slightly in return and pressed his index finger to her head. She felt warm in the spot he pushed, but it quickly passed over. She looked up with a wide smile. He smiled, as well, giving a slight nod. 

As she looked into his eyes, there was the emotion again. It was slightly more prominent this time. Either the feeling was stronger, or she was so curious as to what he was feeling, she paid more attention to it. She walked forward, getting nods and slight bows from the other staff as she walked towards the entrance to the arena directly across. 

She exited and was directed back to the area where they were assigned a sleeping space. Along her way, she glanced up at the stars, pondering if the Ancients were proud of her and her classmates. 

She changed from her ceremony clothes into her sleeping clothes. Kira approached and sat on the bed platform that was chained to the wall on one side, keeping it up. Glancing to the window, she didn't realize how dark it truly was. The arena had been enchanted with lights, so it was hard to tell it was this late. 

She laid down, staring at the bed platform hanging above her. She recounted the many times she had stared at it before, hoping it would lull her into sleep. This was the last time it would, for the next day was when she was reunited with her parents in their home. 

The pure excitement and happiness of it prevented her brain from resting. She thought about all the things they could do together to make up for lost time. Sleep kept tugging on her and begging her to fall into its clutches. Eventually, she gave in to the begging and closed her eyes. However, by the time she had, most of the others in her sleeping room had returned. After laying awake with her eyes closed for a little longer, she eventually gave in to sleep and it dragged her along the paths of dreaming.

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//Author's Notes//

Hello everyone!

As you know if you read the notes in my latest segment of The Dark Hours- A Warriors Story, I am back in school. T~T

So, apparently this year is going to be pure torture, since I'm taking four high school credit classes instead of taking plain advanced middle school courses. Thus, my writing and posting schedule will be even more random than it was before.  

Anyways, I guess that's all for this time! See y'all in the next chapter!