Aren
"I want her expelled!" Jayden roars at the Dean. Once Nurse Stone finished looking over Ora, and gave her the green light to continue her exams, Jayden and I went straight to the Dean's office, to inform him of what happened.
"I'm sorry, but I can't expel her. This academy has a lot of young shifters. Fights are to be expected." Dean Charles patiently explains.
"This wasn't a fight, it was a murder attempt." Alpha pheromones spew from Jayden. If the Dean was any weaker of a shifter, he would be cowering.
"Ora is a shifter." Jayden opens his mouth to retort, but Dean Charles adds quickly, "I know she hasn't had her first shift yet, but she is still a shifter. If we expelled every shifter that attacked another, there wouldn't be any students left to teach and train." Jayden looks pissed, like he might attack the dean, so I put a calming hand on his shoulder, even though I'm not close to calm myself. Dean Charles looks at both of us and then continues. "You claim Eudora is innocent in this, but two other students claim Eudora instigated the fight. It is your word against theirs. I can't punish a student without any evidence of wrongdoing."
"Are Ora's injuries not evidence enough?"
"As I already told you. Ora is a shifter and I can't stop shifters from fighting. Sometimes these fights lead to injuries."
"So what? Eudora's just going to have to live with that maniac until she succeeds at killing my little sister?"
"Since this isn't the first time someone has raised a grievance against Madison, I am going to put her on academic probation."
"That's it?"
"That is all I have the power to do right now."
"Fine." Jayden storms out of the room and I follow him.
Back at the room Jayden turns his angry red eyes to me. He storms up to me and shouts, "You kissed my sister!"
"Jayden, you know I have a healing ability. Kissing was the quickest way for me to heal her. I panicked and there wasn't any time to think." I respond quickly.
"You didn't have to kiss her like…." He throws his arms up in frustration.
"Like what?" I ask, doing my best to stay calm.
"Like you wanted more than to just kiss her." He practically growls at me.
"The magic from a healing kisses can be… overpowering. It's intoxicating. It is hard not to get swept up by it. It happens to everyone I use my magic kiss on."
Jayden's angry face relaxes a little, "I guess that makes sense. I'm sorry for yelling at you." He takes a deep breath and claps me on the back. "Let's go watch the first year's physical exam. We can keep an eye on Ora, and maybe one of them will be placed with us and Ryland in level 4."
"Sounds good."
We make our way down to the athletic field and sit on the bleachers. A few other students are there watching the exam. They are probably older siblings or friends of the first years. The exam is the same one I took last year. All of the shifters are tested on their control of their shifts by running through obstacle courses, maintaining partial shifts, and then finally combat. I am watching a fox shifter try to maintain only having his arms shifted, when I spot Ora. Since she hasn't had her first shift yet, she is in a group with non-shifters. She is making her way through an obstacle course, and she is making great time. She is minutes ahead of the other non-shifters on the course. Even though she hasn't shifted yet, she is still stronger and faster than the non-shifters. Her long hair has been braided in a crown around her head, and she looks fierce as she climbs a wall and throws herself over it.
The next part of the physical exam is combat. Ora gets partnered with a huge non-shifter girl, who is twice her size. Ora takes her down easily, by sweeping her leg and then pouncing on her. I know she is fighting a non-shifter, but I am still proud of how confidently she fights. After being attacked earlier, I was worried she would be skittish in the combat fights, but she is doing amazing.
Eudora
Yesterday was a disaster. After the attack, I still managed to do my physical exam, but I was distracted the whole time. All I could think about was Aren kissing me. My fingers touch my lips with the memory of how my first kiss felt. In a daze, I navigate the dining hall and Gia and I fill our trays with food and find an empty table to sit at.
"I can't believe they are letting Madison get away with attacking you." Gia states.
I push my food around with my fork. "Apparently, her only punishment for attacking me was being put on academic probation." What bullshit. At least she's a second year student, so I won't have any classes with her.
"I think it's crap that she didn't get expelled. What kind of janky ass rules does this school have, that attempted murder doesn't have any consequences."
"Apparently, shifters attacking each other is just part of life on a campus with such a large shifter population." I respond, dejectedly. Gia takes a bite of toast. She chews and swallows before she answers.
"Yeah but you didn't attack each other, she tried to maul you."
Before I can respond, Jayden sits down next to me and Aren takes the seat next to him. Both of them don't have any food.
"How are you feeling this morning?" Jayden asks. I'd roll my eyes at him, but I refuse to move my eyes away from my tray. I'm afraid that if I look up I won't be able to help looking at Aren, and I can't look at him right now.
"Jayden, I am fine. Aren healed me and I performed well at the exam." I respond, still not looking up from my food. Aren's hand appears and swiftly takes a piece of toast from my tray. Normally, I would have been indignant, but right now all I can do is blush. The rest of Jayden and Aren's suitemates make it to the table with their trays overflowing with food.
"We should go. Our next exams start in fifteen minutes." Gia says, sensing my discomfort and saving me from Jayden's interrogation.
"Good luck you two." My brother says and I finally look up, which is a mistake because Aren is sitting right next to him.
"Yeah good luck!" Aren says and I can't keep my eyes from snapping to him. His friendly face breaks out into a breathtaking smile as our eyes meet. A teasing glint crosses his face and I am breathless. My body begins to heat and my eyes keep flickering between his eyes and his lips. Gia manages to break my trance by grabbing me and pulling me into the hall.
"What was that?" She asks.
"What was what?" I feign ignorance.
"You were acting like a blushing idiot in there. Do you have a thing for Aren?"
"I don't know!" I admit. "I can't get that kiss out of my head. I always had a little bit of a crush on him, but he's my brother's best friend, of course I was going to have a crush on him. What girl doesn't have a crush on her brother's best friend."
"EEEEEE!" Gia squeals. "This is amazing. You too are very compatible. Do you think you'll have a string with him when you come of age? Do you want to have a string with him?"
"I've never really allowed myself to think about it too much. What if he doesn't see me that way. I've always been an annoying little kid in his eyes. I can't let myself believe being with him is a possibility." I respond.
"You're definitely not a little girl anymore." Gia states, eying my boobs. "Your body is all woman." She lifts her eyebrows at me suggestively.
I slap her arm playfully, "Are you hitting on me?" Gia smiles at me flirtatiously.
"If Aren is dumb enough to not see how great you are, I'll gladly step in."
"Thanks, for now I think we should get to our placement tests." We continue down the hallway together as far as we can before we have to slit up to go to our different testing rooms. I have the interview portion of the exams first thing today. The interview portion is where all the first years get individually questioned by a group of Professors. This gives students the chance to voice their preferences, when it comes to placements. It also gives the professors a chance to gauge the students in a more individual and personal way. I enter the room and look around for any open seats.
"Hey Ora! Come sit over here." I look around to see who is calling me, and spot Koda sitting by the windows waving at me. His twin brother is not with him, but there is another guy I think might also be one of my brother's suitemates. I make my way over to them and sit down.
"Hello Koda! It's good to see you again." I say then turn to the giant man sitting next to him. "I'm sorry, but I don't remember your name."
"His name is Max." Koda responds, speaking for the giant man.
"Where are you from Max?" I ask him.
Koda answers for him again. "He's from the Grassland Kingdom."
"Oh nice. Can he speak?" I ask, shifting my body and directing my question to Koda.
"He's really shy, and I knew the answers to your questions, so I figured it would just be easier for me to speak for him." Koda responds quickly.
I flash a smile at Max, already feeling warmth towards the gentle giant. Something about his presence calms me. Before I can try to engage him in anymore conversation his name is called, leaving me and Koda.
"So where's Kaden?" I ask.
"He's in a different test right now." Koda responds. "Just because we are identical twins doesn't mean we are attached at the hip." I bite my lip guiltily, because I think I've upset him.
"Yeah sorry, you're right. I guess people group you together all the time. You have very different personalities though. You're so happy, and all he seems to do is scowl."
"Yeah, we are very different. Kaden is right handed and I am left handed. All Kaden wears is black and I love wearing colorful clothing. Kaden Likes women and I like men, and he loves eating fish, but my favorite food is pizza." Koda states.
I smile. Koda is so open and easy to talk to. He really is the antithesis to his brother. Koda and I continue talking until his name is called, and not too long after that, my name is called.
"Welcome, Eudora. You may take a seat." A tall dark haired professor greats me as I enter the interview room. I quickly take the open seat that faces the table where five professors sit.
"So Eudora, you are from the Forest Kingdom?"
"Yes." I respond.
He continues, "And you are a female with pheromones who is eight weeks away from her 22nd birthday, but you have not shifted yet."
"Yes."
"That is unusual." A different professor with a long gray beard states. I resist the urge to roll my eyes. I know I am unusual. If I wasn't annoyed, then I would be upset at the reminder of my inadequacies.
"I know."
"Your father has made us aware of the unusual happenings around your birth." The dark haired professor states. This surprises me. My father's affair has been a secret firmly kept by my family. Heck, even my existence was mostly kept a secret.
"He has?" I ask, my throat is dry and my voice comes out as a squeak.
The dark haired professor smiles, "Yes, the teachers here are very good at keeping things quiet. As you know your father is an alumni from here, and he trusts this school with not only training his children, but also with knowledge about his children that could be imperative to training them properly."
"Thank you sir." I respond.
"Okay, now that that has been discussed. Do you have any career preferences?" The dark haired professor askes.
The rest of my interview goes by in a more normal fashion. After it is over I have an hour and a half before my magic exam, so I decide to take a walk. That interview started off a little weird, but I think it went well. The interviewers seemed like they really care about every student ending up on the right track. I'm distracted as I exit the building and I walk right into a wall of a man. My body bounces off of his and I almost fall right on my ass, but large warm hands catch me and steady me. I look up and recognize the face as Max's. He is so handsome and large.
Max immediately releases me. "Oh sorry." I say and step back. He looks embarrassed and just nods before walking away.
I walk around the campus for an hour, before I head back and grab a quick lunch with Gia and Jay's suitemates, before making my way to the magic examination.
Again all the students wait in a separate room, while one by one we are called and taken to a different room to be examined by Professor Solace, the magic professor. Koda and Max are in this exam with me as well. Max and I are mostly silent, while Koda excitedly chats at us. Time slowly ticks by as the room empties out. Finally, I am the last person remaining.
The door opens, "Eudora Manon" Professor Solace calls my name. I stand and she guides me down the hall into a small dark room. The room doesn't have any windows and all the walls are covered in thick dark curtains. The only light comes from what is probably dozens of candles. I look around and see some cabinets against the walls, a large ornate mirror in the corner, and a round, tablecloth-clad table with two chairs in the center of the room. The round table has a crystal ball sitting in the middle of it.
"Tea?" Professor Solace asks, pouring two cups of tea from an ornate teapot.
"Yes please." I respond, accepting the cup she holds out to me. She leads me over to the round table and gestures for me to take a seat. As I sit, she takes the seat directly across from me. I look down at the teacup in my hands and inhale the steam from the tea before taking a sip.
"The magic exam is different from the other exams you have taken. Magic ability is something you are born with and cannot be trained in people who have no affinity for it." Professor Solace states. Her long boney fingers grip her cup of tea, raising it to her lips. After a deep swallow of tea she continues. "Magic is a gift that not many people receive. You not having your first shift yet may complicate my exploration of your magic, but rest assured, I will be able to decipher if you have a magic aptitude." She smiles at me reassuringly. I wasn't even worried about my shifting having an impact on my magic exam until now. "Please place both your hands on the crystal ball." She gestures towards the crystal ball sitting at the center of the table. I put down my teacup and place my hands against the ball. Unexpectedly, it feels warm beneath my skin. Professor Solace places her hands against the ball across from me. I shift uncomfortably while she sits in silence with her eyes closed. After a few minutes she opens her eyes, and removes her hands from the ball.
Professor Solace stands up slowly and walks over to a cupboard. She pulls out a yellow and red candle and brings it over to me. "Cup your hands and hold them out." She demands. I do as she says, and she places the candle in my hands then lights it. She stands next to me while I continue to sit, staring at the flame. After a few minutes, she looks away. Her brows are furrowed and I have no idea how my exam is going. She puts out the candle and takes it from me walking around the table and placing it back into the cupboard. She straightens up and walks across the room to the large mirror.
"Come over here Eudora." Professor Solace beckons me over to her. "Look into the mirror."
I do as she says. When I look into the mirror I don't see my reflection. All I see in the mirror is black swirling smoke. I lean in and try to get a better look, and to my horror the glass shatters. Stunned, I recoil back, stumbling over a curtain. "I'm so sorry." I sputter as I regain my balance. I look over to see Professor Solace bent over. I rush to her, worry fills me that I did something wrong and she ended up injured. As I place my hand on her quaking back, I realize she is not bent over in pain, but with silent laughter. Relief rushes into me.
"What is going on?" I ask
"Nothing for you to worry about, child." Professor Solace manages to get out between laughing fits. "Now go along. I have a lot of work to do."
"But what about your mirror? I broke it."
"It's okay. Do not worry about that. It is just a tool that has broken. I will acquire a new one." Before I can say anything else Professor Solace manages to shoo me out of the room. I stand in the hallway confused about what just happened.