The Grower

Ch. 3 (Kage)

    
WACK!
    
“Faster!”
    
WACK, WACK!
    
“Again!”
    
THUMP!
    
I shake my head as I walk around the training circle.
    
“You need to move faster. Do it again.” I watch as two of the new earthling recruits attack each other again, jumping and spinning in the air, trying to land a disabling blow.    

The smaller of the two boys makes
the hit, again, straight to the middle of the bigger ones back. The bigger one drops to the ground and slams his fist on the dirt, grunting in pain.
    
“Kage!” I look behind me to see Iris, a beautiful brown haired, brown eyed earthling, running towards me. I turn, raising an eyebrow in question. “The new recruits are here.” Her eyes widen, “There’s a Grower with them.”     
I smile knowingly and look
back at the boys in the training circle.
    
“You’re free to go, I suggest you go freshen up on the combat you do know.” I turn and walk around to the front of the school, secretly eager to meet this Grower.
    
As I round the last corner I see the wagon enter the school. I hate these wagons, they’re a nuisance to use and take forever to get here from the border. I look up from the stupid wagon to the people inside, their faces full of wonder and excitement. I’ve
seen enough people from the borders to know that it's completely different here than here. Most of the people from the border don't have shoes or wagons, let alone elemental bikes or polished marble and gold plated statues.
    
I adjust my black training shirt and walk up to the wagon. As I approach, the head of the Flames walks up to me, “Ah, Kage, looks like you won't have anymore new Shade recruits. Buuttt, you do get a recruit.” I stare at him with a blank expression, definitely not in mood today for one of The Great Angi’s riddles. His smile drops, “You get the pathetic Grower.”
    
I look at him and smirk, “The only pathetic people here are people like you, so sad they pray on the weak.” I turn away from Angi and walk towards the newcomers. Watching how they naturally group together by powers.
    
“Listen up everyone!” Iris yells, effectively gaining their attention. “When your power is called you will be taken by your instructor to your dorms, get washed, changed, and settled in! You will have rules, if you don't follow them, well, you don't want to see what will happen! Lets get started!”
    
“Air Walkers! You will be with Aatish!” A white haired, muscular man of thirty solstices raises his hand. Two girls, twins, walk up to him.
    
“Earthlings, you are with me! Iris!” Four Earthlings walk up to her, each of them considered wealthy for their meager town, with shoes and clean clothes.
    
I look at whos left and see only one girl, the Grower. She’s small, the top of her head will barely reach my chin. She has light brown hair and vibrant green eyes, and she’s young, more than likely only fifteen solstices. I walk towards her, slowly, as
everyone else leaves to the dorms.
    
“You must be the Grower I’ve heard a lot about.” She looks up at me and shivers. I get that a lot, the shivering, my aura is dark, like a shadow, it makes an unnatural chill in the air. “My name is Kage, I’m a Shade. You are under my care.” She nods.

“My name is Lilly.” Her voice is musical and holds a sense of innocence.

“Well Lilly, please follow me.” I start walking towards the dorm rooms with her following closely behind. “As you should know there are no other Growers here, you are our first and only. Because of this you will be training under me. You are the only newcomer I have this solstace. My other five students are all third on their third term. Which means you will be the only one following me around. So I hope you don't mind silence.” I turn around to look at her, her green eyes are wide and she’s out of breath.

Sometimes I forget that the Shade dorms are at the top of the highest tower, but if you climb them everyday for five solstices, you tend to not notice these things.

I push open the heavy oak door and allow her to walk in before me. Every common room for each power is different. It represents our power, our gift. The Flames have big hearths, fluffy couches, and everything is glittering gold and red. The Air
Walkers have floor to ceiling windows, wind chimes, an array of wind instruments, and hammocks. And the Shades? We have stained glass windows, dark purple walls, soft black carpet, big sofas and lots of blankets, as well as one huge fireplace.

As we enter the commons room I grab one of the thick purple blankets from over the back of one of the sofas and drape it around Lilly’s shoulders, she’s been shivering since I opened the door.

“Melany!” At my call a tall, willowy, raven haired girl floats down the steps, her nose in a book.

“Yes, Kage?” Her black eyes holding many questions, most of which I know she will ask me.

“Could you light the fire? Our new friend here is from the border.” Melany nods, understanding completely, and walks over to the fire. Melany neals down next to the fire
pulling out a set of matches and striking it, holding it to the pre-set kindling, the fire roaring to life in a matter of minutes. I smile at Melany as I place my hand on Lilly’s back
leading her to the big black sofa to sit down. Melany nods her head and walks back up the stairs, more than likely going to her room to read her book in silence.

I look at Lilly, her green eyes reflecting the brightness of the fire. “We have twenty rooms.” She looks up at me, meeting my eyes. “We each get our own.” Shenods. “Yours is right next door to mine, would you like me to show you?” She gives me a small smile and a short nod. I stand up and walk towards the stairs, when I look
behind me she is staring into the fire, watching the flames flicker and grow. “Are you coming?” Her head shoots in my direction, eyes darting between the fire and the dark staircase. Her hands tighten on the blanket as she turns and follows me up the stairs.