I am standing in the middle of a city made entirely of gray stone, and I am completely alone. The streets are bare, as if nobody has been here for hundreds of years. There is rain falling all around me, in a heavy torrent. It shows no signs of letting up.
I look up at the sky. The rain beats my damp black hair out of my eyes, and for a moment I see a purple flash in the sky. It is thunder, but I hear no sound. I can't hear the rain, either.
Deep gray clouds are swirling overhead. As I look around, surveying the world above me, I see a bell tower. In an instant, I hear the droning sounds of bells. It is the only sound I can hear. I can't even hear myself breathe. The bells go off. Once. Twice. Three times…
I begin to lose consciousness, and I only stop hearing the bells when I fly out of bed.
I look around. Everything seems to be in order. Marc is sleeping at the other side of the room. I am on the top bunk, and I look down to see if Kael is still there. I notice he isn't; Kael must already be awake. I crawl down from the bed and check the time. It is only five in the morning, which is too early even for Kael. I leave the room, even though I am still in my nightwear, to go find him.
Today is the day of our graduation.
I stumble through the hall of the barracks, noticing Kael standing at the other end of the hallway. He's by a window, and he's looking outside. I wonder what he is looking at for a moment, and then I realize that it is raining. I can hear the pattering of the rain on the roof.
I walk up to Kael and join him there, next to the window. I don't announce my presence at all, but he knows it is me.
"It's hard to believe it has been two years, already…" Kael murmurs silently. He speaks like he doesn't want to disturb the rain.
"Yeah," I reply. I look outside. The rain is coming down hard, just like it was in my dream. I can hardly see out of the window.
"Do you remember when we were little, we used to wait for rainy days to come, and then go out and play?" Kael smirks. "We used to love to run around in the rain, for some reason. And we'd always be freezing or sick when we came back in, but it never mattered to us."
"Of course I remember," I say. We stay quiet after that. Kael and I don't always have to have deep conversations when we're together, because I feel that, for the most part, we already understand each other completely. There's a sort of unspoken bond there, where we don't have to talk to each other to know how the other is feeling, or what the other is thinking. That's what being best friends for your whole life is all about.
Kael and I have been best friends for so long, and yet we've made a lot of friends here at the Spiritguard Training Program. Graduation means that some of these people will be going away, though, after our final exercises. Natalia has a village to go back to protect, and a family to reunite with. Marc is going to be headed back to Greenwald Village, alongside Mira. All of those towns need new Spiritguard recruits to protect them. Kael, Lance, and myself…we'll be staying in Arcona Village. We'll be the protectors from now on.
I don't know where Kavella will go. After she told me she was abused by her parents, she's refused to tell me anything else about her past. I don't pry, though, because I know it is deeply personal to her. I always figured one day she'd open up more to me, but that never happened. We've managed to stay close friends ever since our first expedition into the Arcon's Nest, however.
I wonder if Kavella is planning on staying in Arcona Village. It doesn't seem like she has a family to go back to, so I can hardly blame her if she does stay. In her shoes…I would stay as well.
Every town, village, and city has some sort of Spiritguard presence. We are free to work wherever we want, and that is one of the perks to being a Spiritguard. They'll also provide you with lodging, if you need it. All you have to do is present your credentials to the town you'd like to work for, and they sign you right up.
Arcona Village is the only Spiritguard Headquarters that is sizable enough to train students, though, in our region. It's probably the best one to work at, because they pay higher wages and there's a lot more to do around here. The area around Arcona Village has abnormally high levels of Spirit activity, after all.
"At least there's a few more months of paid training we go through, after we graduate," Kael smiles at me. "It's not like everyone will be gone after today."
It's like he read my thoughts. Kael has grown a lot smarter during our time here. He can read the expressions on even a stranger's face now and know what they're thinking. In addition to that, he's no longer shy. I won't deny that he's still very reserved, but he has the confidence now. The confidence he'd always been lacking before.
I think I've changed too. When I look back to how I was when I was younger, it seems like I was a lot brattier and more headstrong. I'd like to think that I've matured a bit, since I came here.
We're standing out there for about twenty minutes when Lance walks over. "Hey guys!" he calls out.
I turn to him and smile. We had our disagreements in the past, but over the past year I've warmed up to him. He apologized for everything that happened between us in the past, and for the most part, I believe him. I know what it's like to be emotional and angry…I've definitely been there. I try not to hold his previous actions against him, but I know deep down that he has a lot of malice in his heart. For now, though, he's civil. So I will be too.
"How are you?" Kael asks him.
"Pretty good. You guys?"
"I'm good," Kael says.
"Feelin' pretty awesome."
It's the day of our graduation, and it feels so much like the end of everything. I know it's only the beginning, though. After today, we're allowed to move back home, if we live here. Those who don't live in Arcona Village can either get their own housing or stay at the barracks. A week from now, we start post-graduate training. That all ends after the Day of Darkness. That will be our first mission. Our first real one, anyway. After that, we'll be considered full-fledged Spiritguards and we'll be able to go and work wherever we want.
By the time the ceremony starts, the rain has let up. We all stand, the thirty-nine of us that are still here, and one by one Mark Copper calls up our name to receive our diploma. With that piece of paper, we are given a lot of freedom. After Mark presents us with the diploma, Ms. Borden is there to say a few enlightening things.
I look out at the sparse crowd and notice my mother has shown up for the event. I'm happy for that. I see Kael's parents are here as well. Since many of us are not from Arcona Village, there aren't too many others.
"Natalia Rose, rank three," Mark says. I snap out of my daydream and I go to see my friend pick up her diploma. I notice she leaves a bottle of Vitarine she's been drinking out of in the place where she was just standing. She's getting pretty bad with those things…she can't even stop drinking them during her own graduation.
"Natalia Rose," Ms. Borden smiles. "When we first met you, you were an easily agitated sixteen-year-old girl. Now you're eighteen."
That was all Ms. Borden had to say, and Natalia bursts out laughing. "Good one," she grins, shaking her head. Natalia has a habit of giving Ms. Borden a bit of sass, and it's sort of funny that she called her out on it.
"Kavella Montale, rank five."
"Kavella Montale, you're one of the best students I've ever had, when it comes to Animus," Ms. Borden says. "I'm very impressed with you, and I hope you'll consider coming back here as a teacher. We could really use someone like you."
"Sigmund Felice, rank six."
"Sigmund Felice," Ms. Borden smiles. "You've been a huge help to me, you and Kael. You've been like my little assistants these two years, and I'm sad to see you go. I know you're not only strong, but you're intelligent, too, when you put your mind to things. Just make sure you always think before you act, because sometimes you're a little impulsive and that gets you in trouble. Take care," she says with a grin.
Okay. I am NOT impulsive.
I don't listen to most of the names, but Lance comes up at number ten.
"Lance McLoosh, you've always been a good friend to those around you, and I know you always try your best to be supportive. Just remember that you need to be a little selfish sometimes. Make sure you put yourself first on occasion, you deserve it."
After Lance, Kael comes in at number thirteen. I feel bad, because Kael really deserves to be number one. That kid had a perfect score in the academic part of our learning. That should count for something.
"Hands down, the smartest student we've ever had here," Ms. Borden nods. "It's true. You may not be much of a fighter, Kael Weston, but you don't need to be. I see you going far in life, and honestly…honestly, I recommended you to the Spiritguard Tribunal. I think you should be one of the people who is at the very top of the Spiritguard institution, because I know you could change the system for the better. You care about people at every level, and if you were on the Tribunal…well, maybe we'd have less to fear from the Spirits. I know I could sleep a little easier every day knowing someone like you was taking care of things up above. Not only are you a bright, talented young man, but you've helped me out with things more than I can imagine. This kid here," she looks to the crowd, "Even helped me design lesson plans. Thank you for everything, Kael, and I know you'll have a bright future ahead of you."
Marc comes in at number fifteen. "Marc Olsen, I know you're the youngest in the family to join the Spiritguards," Ms. Borden states. "I know you feel like you've been living in their shadow this whole time, but I want to tell you how wrong that is. When you first came here, you were very meek and very caring. You are still that caring person, but now I see you are full of confidence and potential. Don't forget who you are, Marc, because you're brilliant in your own, unique way."
It's a long gap before anyone I care about is called. For a while, I think Mira's name will never come up, but it does. She's the very last person.
"Mira Beger, rank thirty-nine."
Mira blushes and walks down to receive her diploma. "Mira, Mira, Mira," Ms. Borden shakes her head with a smile. "You might not excel in fighting or academics, but you have another skill that nobody else here has, and it is absolutely essential to have in the world. You, Mira, have this unique ability to bring people together, no matter their background. I'm pretty sure you're the only person here who everyone considers a close friend, Mira, and it's no surprise why. Keep that talent of yours, and use it to your advantage. Your ability to bring together people to work as a team is one of the most valuable things a person can have in life. You'll be successful, in whatever you do, because you have an amazing charisma and charm that is unique to you."
After that, Ms. Borden informs us all to meet there in one week to engage in post-graduate training. It isn't necessary, but she highly recommends it. I'll be doing it, and so will all of my friends. We're looking forward to it, actually!
After the graduation, I work my way through the wet ground and reach my mother. She is beaming from cheek to cheek when I see her, and she pulls me into an enormous hug.
"Number six! I'm so proud of you, Sigmund."
"Number six, yeah," I say. "There's still five people better than me."
She pulls me away and looks at me admiringly. I notice a few white strands that have appeared in her flowing black hair. Her eyes have a bit of a wrinkle to them, now, and there are laugh lines clearly visible around her mouth. I haven't seen her much in two years, but she's changed so much. Can two years really have aged her this quickly?
As we walk home, I think it finally hits me. I'm a Spiritguard now. I stand up taller, breathe deeper. And this is just the beginning of my story.