Tredecim

NEW FACES

We walk into a very large courtyard filled with students divided into four groups in perfectly lined up rows. "I heard that your Paliar is Gaia" Kwaku asks with a bit of doubt on his face

Amongst the people I've met here, he's the one I like the least. Well after Yohan.

"Yes" i answer

"May I?" he stretches out his hand, like he wants to receive something. I get confused. What does he want from me?

"Give me your hand Princess Arina" he asks smoothly.

I glance at Yoda, unsure, but she gives me a nod of agreement before I place my hand in his. His palms feel rough and hard. He gently flips my hand over and presses his thumb deep into my palm till it hurts. "O-oww" I howl, snatching my hand away from him. 

"I'm sorry about that, but that was the only way to bring out your Paliar," he explains. I look at my palm and I see it glowing a bright Red light for a few seconds. Then it changes to Blue, then Green and then silver light.

A few students who were close to us and could see what was going on gasped audibly.

"This is interesting." Kwaku mumbles.

"What does it mean for us?" Barbara speaks. This is the first thing she has uttered since we met. He doesn't glance at me, not even once, as though h=she is purposely avoiding eye contact. I observe her. Her bright blue hair, though odd, suits her perfectly. She has two long braids on both sides of her face, as well as what looks like seashells in her hair. It is not surprising that she is the Aqua Section leader, she really does look like she leans into the whole mermaid persona. Extremely beautiful and entrancing.

"She will spend time in all the sections, one after the other, till she has mastered control over all the elements" headmaster Idris, whom i didn't know was present said.

Barbara huffs and rolls her eyes. "Can't wait till you come to Aqua," she says, looking directly at me. I feel a shiver run down my spine.

"And Yoda, did you say she could take Gaia's form?" headmaster Idris asks, looking curious

"Yes headmaster" she stands at attention and answers

"Could you show us Arina?"

"I - don't think- "

"Surely, you must try" he presses

I reach into my mind for the voice of Gaia who has gone awfully silent for a while now

"If you think I will bend to the demands of just anybody, then you must have lost your mind" she says

"Please Gaia"

"No"

"She doesn't want to come out," I explained. His face drops in disappointment but he straightens himself up

"How sure are you that Gaia is even her Paliar?" Barbara asks

"Section Leader Aqua, that is not your business" headmaster Idris scolds her.

"Starting now, you will be assigned to the section leader of Terra, where you will learn to master the element of Fire and war Combat" he directs

As if my luck couldn't get any worse, I had to be assigned to the most egoistic person I had ever met.

Kwaku takes a deep breath and clasps his hands in front of him."Well I guess all is settled now, Please join the red quadrant at the far left end, your uniform will be delivered in due course."

I take a deep breath and start walking in front of the entire assembly of about a thousand students. I try my best not to look at them, knowing well that their eyes are following me. Behind me I hear the others following and I see Yoda branch off to Section Ignis (Green). Mateo and Yohan stay behind me the entire time, until we reach Red.

"You're Terra?" I whisper at him when he's beside me in line.

"No, just here to guard you" he answers with so much sarcasm 

I notice that the section leaders stand in front of their sections facing us.

As much as i hate to admit he looks majestic.

"Welcome back friends" headmaster Idris, who is now on the podium speaks

"For the first years, who have yet to learn the ways of this society, we urge you to humble yourselves and learn the teachings of your superiors, observe them and strive to be like them, or greater, as we always say here; May you guard your power as the Frinx guards you" he finishes and a round of applause erupt across the whole yard.

"I don't understand something. If Darynem cannot hurt anyone, why do you train, why does this school exist" i whisper to Mateo

"Darynem cannot fight until we are fought. We can only defend our land and the glaciers" he explains

"Attention everyone" Yohan speaks

"For the second and 3rd years, you already know the rules. Class and training begins first thing in the morning. You may retreat to your dorm rooms." he bellows

"See you later alligator" Mateo whispers and squeezes my palm before turning around and walking away from us with the other students.

"First years, gather around."

I draw close to listen. 

"You might want to put those locks into a bun" a voice says beside me

I see a petite girl, about my age looking at my hair. She has golden hair with pink dyed streaks and a clean cut bob.

"Those fans right there will snag your hair and rip them right off you scarf" she points to the wind turbines that hang suspiciously low, towards the exit of the courtyard

"Thank you," I muttered. I pick up my hair, braid it and tuck it away with my hair pin.

"I'm Evelyn, and you must be Arina, right? I know because my mom works for Her Highness Frieda and she told us all about the night of your arrival and since then I've been wanting to meet you so bad" she says in one breath

I shift uncomfortably.

"Oh I'm sorry, I tend to ramble a lot when i'm nervous" she adds

"It's okay" i say, offering a small smile

"Quiet!" Yohan shouts

We both turn our attention back to him.

"Rule number one. Never question your superiors. Rule number two. Never question your superiors. Rule number three: NEVER. QUESTION. YOUR. SUPERIORS."

You sure made that clear

"Scary much" Evelyn mutters and we both stifle our laughter

"Did I say something funny? Princess?" Yohan asks us .

The crowd parts in front of us until there's no one between us and the section leader. He walks through, stopping only inches from my face.

"Mind sharing with us what you were laughing about?" he asks so loudly

I hold our gaze, not wanting to look away first

"S-sorry Section leader" Evelyn mutters in a tiny voice

He breaks eye contact to look at her instead

He turns his back, walking back to the front. "There shall be no preferential treatment. Nobody cares if you're a Princess, or a King, all students are equal in the academy, and will be treated as such" he finishes. Looking straight at me.