Chapter 4

Crystal paced back and forth in front of the nurse Madame Sapphire's office.

Madame Sapphire was an elderly woman. She had her hair done up in a bun and wore white gloves.

"She's taking an awfully long time." Crystal said.

"Sit down, you didn't mean to." Ripple said.

"What am I going to say to Amber?" Crystal asked. "And why are my legs so tired?"

"You're pacing," Ripple said. "And you can just tell her the truth."

"Oh sure, Hey Amber, I got into a fight and won, oh and I might have killed Breeze, you're joking." Crystal scoffed.

"Actually, that was exactly what I was thinking." Ripple said to herself.

"What was that?" Crystal asked.

"Oh nothing." Ripple smiled.

The door to the office opened and Breeze walked out.

"Oh my god, I thought you died." Crystal said hugging Breeze tightly.

"Ow, you remind me of River, your hug is tight." Breeze said.

Ripple smiled and waved.

"She was so calm, and I, I was-"

"Crystal, we heard you." Breeze laughed. "You were very loud."

Crystal blushed.

The three girls heard footsteps come from the left side of the hallway.

River, Icy and Mantis came sprinting down the corner.

"Baby, thank god you're alright." Mantis sighed with relief kissing Breeze on the cheek.

River stuck her tongue out in disgust. "Gross."

Icy clapped happily and hugged Breeze.

Breeze looked content as Icy let go. "Why does she always make me so happy, she's just so warm."

"I think you answered your own question." Crystal laughed.

Suddenly, Professor Seed rounded the same corner.

"Breeze, Ripple, Crystal, Icy, River and Ash please follow me." Professor Seed said reading from her scroll.

"Who's Ash?" River asked.

"Oh, I have already collected him, well then children, follow me." Professor Seed smiled.

They said goodbye to Mantis and followed Professor Seed.

They traveled into her office as Aspen opened the door.

River gave him a dirty look and continued on her way.

"Are the girls here?" someone asked.

"Yes, they are." Professor Seed said.

"Leave us, I need to talk to these students in privacy."

Professor Seed left the room, Aspen however stayed.

"Prince Aspen, leave."

Aspen smiled in delight and left the room.

"Excuse me, but would someone tell me where the heck am I." A boy said. He looked like your average fire mage. Fiery hair, brown tattered robes and burnt skin.

"I am the Governess, and you have been chosen for the ring."

Ripple gasped at this comment. "The ring?"

"Yes, the ring." The Governess said.

"What is the ring?" Icy asked.

"Two teams face off to the death and whoever survives the longest moves on." Breeze explained.

"But we're new, we barely know any magic." Crystal protested.

"True True, but you have beaten Magma who survived last year's ring." The Governess said.

Crystal and Icy both had worried looks on their faces.

"Now, then children, I will return in two weeks to pick you up, make sure you get to know your teammates." The Governess left the office.

Icy was crying into Crystal's arm, Breeze and Ripple were looking confused.

"Wait, why is River here, there's usually only one of each mage." Ripple asked.

"I'm guessing as an extra, just in case one of us," Breeze paused and gulped. "One of us dies."

"Well I hope it's Mister fire mage over here." River said happily.

Ash sighed and left the room.

Crystal got up and followed him. "Ash, hey wait up."

Ash turned around, "What do you want?"

"Don't mind River, she's like that." Crystal said with a reassuring smile.

"I don't blame her, everyone thinks that all fire mages have a bad temper, the water mages came and killed half of our population because our leader commenced war against them." Ash sighed.

Crystal patted Ash on the back, "If you can survive that, then you can survive the ring."

Ash didn't say a word, he left Crystal standing in the empty hall.

Breeze, Crystal and Ripple all walked back to their dorm.

Ripple was teaching Crystal strategies to help against water mages.

Breeze practiced floating up in the air with her eyes close.

"How is that going to help?" Ripple asked Breeze.

"What happens if I get blinded, huh?" Breeze asked.

"I don't know, walk?" Ripple suggested.

Breeze looked offended, "I have never walked in my life."

They waved goodbye as Ripple went to her dorm.

Breeze and Crystal walked into their dorm room where the other girls waited.

"Is it true that you guys are going to the ring?" An air mage asked.

"You guys are going to die!" A fire mage laughed.

"Oh shoot, Blaze Academy better watch out." A water mage said.

Breeze flew up to her bunk and fell asleep. She floated an inch from the mattress, it looked weird and Crystal felt like at any second, Breeze would fall.

Crystal hushed the excited girls and went to sleep herself. She couldn't believe the day she had. First she attacked Breeze, then she was chosen for a life or death competition. What have I gotten myself into? She thought, I probably won't survive this. Crystal was scared for herself, River and Icy. They were all new to magic and River and Icy were young, they had so much to live for.