One Year Before High School

Chapter 19

Author's Note!
Quick note, I just had to say that this story's almost over. I might be a while until the next book. Thank you to everyone who stayed this far!

"Thanks by the way Maci, I wouldn't have made it without you" said Ivy. It was the next morning after their confrontation.

"No problem. And don't forget Ella. She was the one that told us about Stephany, and lent you some magic after all. Seriously though, you have to practice more. If I hadn't been there to pull you out, you'll need to rely on yourself."

Ivy nodded nonchalantly.

"Anyways, now that that's over, I doubt she'll try anything again soon" she continued, leaning back on her chair. Ella looked over. "Why's that?"

"Because of the big exam, duh"

"What exam?"

Maci turned to Ella, then back at the group. "Why am I always the one that has to tell her this stuff?" she says, exasperated. The group averted their eyes. Tanya hid a smile.

She turned back to Ella. "The exams is when the teachers test everyone on their progress.  We're supposed to do a simple spell in front of everyone, then the teacher'll mark us. But honestly, it's not that hard. Really just a progress check." she said.

Ella and Ivy exchanged very worried looks. Ella would pass, but not Ivy. If she was exposed during the test...

"What's the test like?" asked Ella. Maci shrugged, "I don't know.  She'll give us the spell then we perform it. But it'll probrably be levitation again. I asked some of the seniors" she lowered her voice, "and they said that it's been the same forever. It's not like we can do anything harder anyways. No problem."

"Yeah...no problem" said Ella.

But it was a very big problem indeed.

"We can ask for you to skip out on it" said Ella. They were walking towards their dorm, under the excuse of some studying. It was after school, and during classes they had done nothing but review.

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"We can't. Stephany is already suspicious of us, and she hates me anyways. If we skip out..." she trailed off.

They walked in silence towards their dorm. Once inside, Ella shut the door. "Well then, we can borrow a charm from someone, and lift you past the test." she suggested. Ivy nodded, "I was thinking that too".

"Lets do it" she said, with uncharacteristic firmness. Ivy smiled. She had come a long way.

It turns out, magic was a lot harder to mold than what Ella thought possible. The coolness of her magic, the small flakes of snowy shards, made holding them very difficult. It was like plunging her hand into a heap of fresh snow, cold and energy-sapping. She never had to focus this hard before, and never built up an immunity.

The tips of her fingers were red and pulsing painfully by the time she managed to get a snippet of magic crammed into the tiny locket. A small, angry fizzle could be heard, then subsided as Ivy tried it on. The cool locket rested, just containing enough magic to maybe make half a snowman or make a burst of cold fog.

Ivy raised up one hand, and instantly, icy sparks shot out. They flickered and danced until dissipating under the warm sun.

"So how is it?" asked Ella. Ivy flexed her fingers. "Different, but okay. I think I'll get used to it."

Ella smiled, then groaned as she realized that it would mean she had to refill it again. It had taken over half an hour to cram this much into the locket. She realized that it would be a long night.

The rest of the day was spent with Ivy practicing in her room. Carla's hair started to look suspiciously white, and Maci barricaded herself in her own room to avoid the wrath of a very inexperienced Ivy practicing with probably an equally inexperienced Ella. Sparks of white and blue would occasionally be seen flashing.

By the time they were done, Ella lay exausted on her bed. Ivy went to get a cup of hot water to hold.

It was very cold in that room for a while.

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