I woke up feeling comfortably strange. The event of the previous night replayed in my head. So does it mean I now have access to my ability, whatever it may be I wondered looking at my body. I better get ready and head to the training ground I don't need no one to tell me I have to keep all this to myself and keep a low profile as well. Meaning no confrontation of any kind with anyone until I at least know what's going on with me.
I arrived at the training ground with everyone looking at me. I know I'm a little bit late but it does not warrant the stares i'm receiving, or do they know i've unblocked my energy flow. Don't be ridiculous I chided myself.
Hey ionia, this way I heard and saw celeste calling me.
Why are the boys with us today again? I asked.
That's not the major point ionia I came to look for you yesterday but couldn't find you and I did not know where else to look since you don't have any friends other than me. I later came back at night but I met you fast asleep and I couldn't wake you.
Why where you looking for me, I thought you went out with some of your friends?
Don't tell me they ditched you?
It's not that ionia, celeste said with a sad expression reaching out to hold my hand.
Hmmm celeste can you tell me what's going on is it maybe related to why everyone is staring at me?
Well you see, an announcement came from the palace yesterday declaring that you no longer bear the name fallenvale.
Is that all?
I know you act as if things don't get to you, but I am your friend ionia you can be free with me. Surely you must be devastated your family just cut you loose.
Celeste I said clasping her hands. You have to believe me, I do admit that I was disappointed but devastated never.
That family has never accepted me as one of their own. I had always been a fallenvale in name only taking away the name changes nothing. I assure you I am fine, better than fine actually I told her with a smile. Now put your worries aside and tell me what's going on.
Well always know that I'm your friend and will always support you. As for what's going on I don't know I came here not too long ago and met the same scene I asked around but everyone is just as confused.
We should wait for Frances and jasper then I told her.
Is that the king and crown prince came the bewildered voice of a boy sitting not far from us. Immediately everyone stood up and bowed to the king and crown prince.
Greetings to his majesty, greetings to the crown prince everyone chorused.
Standing with the king and crown prince was my dad and Adryll, Frances, jasper and their dad. Illaesa and some members of the council including Clarissa and rhea's dad.
Good morning everyone began illaesa we are here to assess your development so far. As you all know the fate and future of our kingdom rests on you young ones and congratulations to you all on the success of your last mission.
Everyone clapped.
Now the king and elders are here today to personally witness your progress. In ataraxia it is tradition that once every two years a ceremonial duel and competition is held. It is a symbol of discipline, respect, honor and integrity. People from the age of fifteen upwards are eligible. However this year we will not be alone. This year we will be joined by others from neighboring kingdoms. This year you not only fight for the respect and honor of your family but that of ataraxia as well. The competition is divided into different categories. Already we have jasper and Frances as our reigning champions in combat, Adryll and Leticia fallenvale as champions in thelsia and of cause clarissa and rhea as champions of edrasos. Though our kingdom does not have too many people who can bend the elements but our beloved prince Daryl is the best elemental this kingdom have seen for years now. And let's not forget our crown prince Emmett who is perfect in both combat and magic. Now they are a lot of you who I'm sure will be participating. I want you to know that you have a week to decide and put down your name if you will be participating and after that week you have five weeks to prepare for the competition. Meaning those of you who decides to participate will be assigned masters to teach and guide you. You all won't be training together till the competition is over those of you who won't be participating will help in decorating our castle and kingdom as well as strengthening our security. Though you are protectors of our kingdom and its magical heritage, ataraxia is not without its soldiers. The soldiers will be responsible for the safety of our kingdom and its people till the competition is over.
Young ones the honor of our kingdom now rests on the shoulders of those who will be representing us. Do your best and make us proud.
Everyone clapped and some of the boys even whistled.
Take your position began jasper and Frances and we began our normal training with the guests looking at us.
After hours of grueling and complex fighting techniques, normally I should be spent but I found myself charged up. I sat down on the ground with the rest of the people who can't do magic we amount to a total of six boys included. We watched the others demonstrate their magic abilities. At least for us without magic all we have to do is train physically in combat, those with magic train physically as well as learn how to master their abilities.
I saw our esteemed guests talking among themselves. Emmett and Adryll seem to be very close seeing as they are talking together with their heads bent and almost touching. I waited for the others to be through and together celeste and I started walking to our rooms.
I don't know if I should participate this year began celeste.
Why won't you?
Because last time, I lost terribly. It was really embarrassing and now this time around we will be having guests from other kingdoms competing as well. I don't think it will be wise of me to compete.
If you are feeling you are not suitable for competing why not do it for the fun of it.
What do you mean by for the fun of it?
I mean we all know that Frances and co are the ones who will go head to head with the people coming, why not use this as an opportunity to test yourself against others and see what you've got.
That's not actually a bad idea at all.
You are the best ionia what you just said removed the pressure of the competition and instead gave me the zeal to push myself and see.
I'm glad I could be of help. I take it you are hanging out with your friends later?
Well you know me, I'm sure with all these things there will be lot of gossip to go round.
Have fun then I said entering my room.
I went inside my room, changed my outfit and called Lucien who did not waste time at all to show up.
I know you hate answering my questions but what are we doing today? I asked him after he had apparate me to the woods.
We will begin your training he said.
Okay but so you know, my mom was a good spell caster when she was alive and she was among the few people magic don't work on and my dad's family are known for thelsia.
Where do I fall into?
Let's find out shall we he said. Remove your shoes take a deep breath and feel the earth beneath your feet focus on it and say supriatis.
I followed his instruction and said the word and waited but nothing happened.
So does it mean my energy flow is still blocked I asked?
It means you don't have edrasos, you can put on your shoes.
Why did I remove them in the first place? I asked putting them on.
You just got your powers if you have edrasos you just can't do it yet, you must have a trigger. Others have been practicing for years they know how to channel the earths energy but you on the other hand don't. You need the earth as some sort of a booster.
How do I know you gave me the right spell?
Supriatis he said and immediately the ground I was standing on became a quick stand dragging me with it.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry I shouted.
With a wave of his hand everything became normal.
By the spirits, you don't know how to take a joke do you I said glaring at him.
Wait a moment how were you able to do that you have edrasos as well? I asked with my eyes wide open.
Thelsia magic comes from the force of life, everything is connected. Now close your eyes and feel the air around you, feel the heat of the sun. The sun gives life to everything, feel your environment, focus and channel that energy.
Say expelundo
I followed his instruction and could feel something like a current passing through my body, I opened my eyes as I said the spell. Immediately a pure yellow surge of waves appeared creating several balls of fiery fire. I was so excited that I lost focus almost burning the forest.
Lucien waved his hand and the fire was put off.
Did you see that I shouted excitedly.
We have a lot of work to do came his reply.
Other than you having thelsia you also happen to be an elemental.
What? That's impossible I mean not impossible, but rare. Only members of the royal family are known to possess several magical abilities. And those who possess more than one ability and are not from the royal family are extremely rare.
You did say your mom was a talented spell caster and one of the few magic don't work on. Well your mom happen to be among the extremely rare people you mentioned. So it shouldn't be surprising you took after her.
But how do you know?
Expelundo said Lucien and a pure surge of yellow waves appeared creating several bolts of frosty energy he circled it around himself and turned it to droplets of water falling around us.
While your element is fire mine happens to be water he said. If it were to be someone with thelsia alone, only a surge of waves would have appeared.
Wait !you have thelsia and also an elemental? I said freaking out.
Who, no what are you exactly? I asked looking at him as if it was the first time I'm seeing him.
What?
Are you scared now? he said looking at me in a certain way as if taunting me.
No I managed to voice out. I'm not scared, just confused by you. I mean you are a mystery I just don't understand. But I think I'm beginning to understand why you are called a demon. Your abilities in all honesty seems to be demonic.
Your abilities are impressive all you need is the proper guidance. I'm glad you did not turn out to be a disappoint he told me.
Trust me I'm glad I did not turn out to be a disappoint to myself more than you can think of. But how can you do things without saying a spell ?
I don't need a spell to use any of my abilities I say them because of you to help you. I only say a spell when I'm casting a spell or doing an incantation. There is a level you will reach you too won't need to say them but for that to happen you ned to train hard.
I'm willing to train but I don't know how this coming weeks will be giving that we will be hosting a competition and those of us who won't participate will have to help out around the kingdom.
What competition?
Ataraxia traditional ceremonial duel that happens every two years. This time however they said people from neighboring kingdoms will be participating as well.
Is that so said Lucien but I couldn't help but feel as if there is another meaning to it.
Is everything okay I asked?
Why won't you be competing came his reply ignoring my question yet again.
Me, compete? As what exactly?
You are no longer the powerless girl you were.
Please Lucien don't be funny. You want me to compete with the best of our land as well as neighboring kingdoms? me that just discovered I have magic, to compete with people who have known all their lives they can do magic and has been trained to use them. That's simply outrageous.
You have me to train you.
Your abilities is not inferior to theirs and you also have the element of surprise. If I will be training you which other opportunity to test your progress will there be? I'm not asking you to win, I want you to test yourself.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahah, few hours ago I was telling celeste the same thing now I'm having it thrown back at me. Okay fine I will compete but in which category and I told myself just this morning that I need to keep a low profile.
I don't want you to be the center of attention either, I don't want you to have eyes on you but at the same time I want you to stand out.
Which of the category has less powerful people from ataraxia?
The elementals, why?
Then it's settled you will compete in the elemental category. You won't be going against anyone powerful and you can test your abilities against other elementals take it as training, and learn from them.
Prince Daryl is our elemental champion I said.
I told you that you don't have to win. Just test yourself the prince is an advantage even because with him there no one will pay attention to you.
Hmmm you are right who will pay attention to a nobody when a prince is competing. It's official then, I will compete and you my dear master will guide me.
Focus and master your spell, control your ball of fire and neutralize it without burning the forest.
What!? How do you expect me to do that?
You know the spell, be in control of your powers. The energy comes from you control it, own it. Keep practicing I need to do some thinking.
I watched him go sit down on a stone by the side with his eyes closed completely ignoring me. I focused my thoughts and said the spell but this time around I was calm. I realized he was right, with my thoughts and focus on the spell I realize the intensity of the fire is based on the energy I'm feeding it. So I decided to stop channeling my energy and just like that the fire went off.
Good it wasn't that hard now was it?
I turned to look at him with a big smile on my face. I felt like screaming for joy and I did just that.
Enough practice for today I have some things to do so I'm taking you back, we will continue tomorrow.
He brought me to my room and was about to go when I stopped him.
Thank you for everything I told him, meaning it.
And just like that he disappeared without uttering a word.