Once they’d cleaned off the breakfast table, Jae suggested they take their homework to the wharf. It was nice outside, sunny and warm. It had been raining for the last three days. Quite a few students had gathered near the shore to study. Everyone wanted to be outside enjoying the weather.
Jae and the twins found a comfortable spot to sit and study. Nona scampered off to chase something. Probably a mouse, assumed Meghan. She watched the other students; some had their noses glued to the inside of a book. Some were questioning each other. A few were practicing actual magic. All were prepping for the exams looming over them.
Mireya, being a level above the three, studied with another group of friends she found nearby. There was a lot of giggling and pointing to a few cute boys not far away though. They weren’t getting much studying in.
The twins and Jae decided to take turns questioning each other for a written part of the exam. Mostly they questioned Meghan. Jae already knew the answers and Colin had no trouble remembering them either. This part of the test required them to recite (in written form) the predetermined answers they were to give when in the outside world. In order to keep their magic a secret.
They’d heard Jae say a few of these things when they’d first met him back in Cobbscott. And now that they were learning it themselves, they realized how many rules he’d broken when he’d gotten stuck there.
Meghan had a thought pop into her head. She wondered if this was part of what was wrong with Jae. Was he feeling guilty? About the rules he broke, or how he got his family in trouble? She was sure he had to feel that, at least on some level. But even so, she didn’t think it was all of it.
They spent an hour having Meghan recite the answers. She was slow, but did eventually get them all right. She wished she had Colin’s memory, he was so much better at this sort of thing.
Nona returned, sauntering back to curl up on Meghan’s lap. She stroked the kittens back absentmindedly. After reciting answers for an hour, they moved on to memorizing the Svoda Goals. Again, the main theme being that each of them was responsible to maintain the safety of the group. And live a life that was conducive to helping, not jeopardizing, the end goal: getting back home to their island off the coast of Maine, permanently.
Jae and Colin also had these down, so Jae questioned Meghan.
“Um… the first one was something about secrets,” she replied, shaking her head in annoyance of her poor memory.
“Yes, it is,” encouraged Jae. “But you’ll need to be specific if you expect to pass.”
Colin put the words own actions in her mind as a clue.
“Oh, right, I got it. As Svoda, we must make sure our own actions don’t divulge any magical secrets to the outside world since that would compromise our safety.”
Jae grinned. “Good job. How about the second goal?” This one was easier since it was an offshoot of the first.
“It is also every Svoda’s responsibility to watch over our fellow Svoda, and if compromises are witnessed, report it to the proper authorities,” she answered.
“You’re on a roll, Sis,” boasted Colin.
“Maybe we should stop while I’m ahead,” she jested.
“It won’t help you pass if we don’t keep at it. But maybe for today it’s not a bad idea.” He sighed, lying back on the ground. “This might be one of the last nice days of the year. The sunniest anyway. We can do more memorization later.”
“We could do actual magic practice,” suggested Colin. Meghan sneered. Her brother was always up for this. He’d even begun to draw small crowds of other students who couldn’t believe he never got tired. Meghan was glad Colin’s confidence was building, but she unfortunately, showed little improvement.
Jae agreed and got up with them. They collected driftwood, rocks, and books they’d brought, and practiced moving and stacking them. They had to coax Meghan to try; she failed miserably each time. They both feared she might not pass the practical part of the exam. So far, she’d never been able to stack the pillows in class, never mind move them. But they encouraged her nonetheless.
When she tried, she felt every eye staring at her. Normally this would not have bothered her, but for some reason when it came to using magic, she just didn’t have the confidence her brother did. It didn’t help that everywhere she looked she swore there was someone pointing and whispering.
Why? Because of what she was? Was being a Firemancer really such a freak thing? Their leader was one after all. Nona shifted between her legs. Maybe it was because she owned a Catawitch. She just didn’t get why they still did this. They weren’t the strange newcomers any longer. And they didn’t do it to her brother.
After a bit they gave up on the stacking and moving, Colin and Jae getting their kicks by throwing rocks out into the ocean. They had a contest with a few others to see who could throw the farthest, and make the biggest splash. Jae got frustrated and quit halfway through. His throws, getting worse and worse. But then so did each student, except for Colin.
Meghan grimaced. Instead of pointing and whispering, the other students clung to Colin almost like… “Oh my God. He’s popular,” she sputtered in realization, watching them adore him. “How the heck did that happen?” Her brother was never popular. The teachers all loved him too.
Colin grinned over the attention. His cheeks a bit red, and he still stumbled over his words a bit. But they all loved him. Meghan didn’t know how to feel about this. And from the look on her brother’s face he had no idea he was popular. He just really liked doing magic and was good at it.
Before long, the sun was setting and it was time to head home. And far too fast, the weekend was over and Monday rushed in with a vengeance. Any weekend relaxing they’d done was gone. Each student now keenly aware that the fall exams loomed, a mere week away. Tension reigned thick throughout the town, from parents, teachers and students alike.
The weekend before the exams, the twins finally got the leaf they had been waiting for. It was safe to visit their uncle. The twins took Jae aside after lunch to let him know.
“Finally got a message from Uncle Eddy, it’s safe to go. We won’t be gone long though.”
Jae nodded that he understood.
Timothy met them outside of the wagons and led them down a pathway they’d never been on before.
“New place,” explained Timothy. “Your uncle scoped it out yesterday.” He floated in circles over their heads as he talked, looking for any potential hidden dangers. Shortly, they were in a clearing near a small pond with their ghostly uncle hovering back and forth, waiting.
“There you are, there you are.” Eddy let out a ghostly sigh of relief. “Getting along better than the last time we were together, I hope.”
The twins glanced sideways at each other and grinned in reluctant agreement.
“Good. There’s no lesson today, and I’m honestly not sure it’s safe for you to be here. But I wanted to see how your progress is coming along. Do either of you have any questions pertaining to your exams? I realize you must both be anxious.”
Nona trotted along with Timothy, playing near the edge of the woods. Meghan watched her as an excuse not to discuss the exams.
“I don’t think the exams will be too hard, Uncle Eddy, but we’ve certainly never been so busy.”
“It’ll keep you both out of trouble,” he chuckled, winking.
“I don’t get into trouble,” argued Colin.
“Ah yes, but if you were not so busy, would you?”
“I don’t get into trouble,” he repeated.
Uncle Eddy laughed and changed the subject. “How about you, Meghan, how do you feel about the exams?”
“Okay,” she shrugged.
Colin knew she did not feel good at all. He didn’t feel any better about her prognosis than she did.
“I think the written part will be okay,” she told him. “But the magic, it’s just not happening for me, Uncle Eddy. I suck.”
“You don’t suck, Meghan, never think that about yourself,” he sp
oke kindly. “All you can do is concentrate, and do your best.”
“And if my best means I fail?”
“Then you fail. And you do it again. Many have. Is it such a devastating idea, that you might fail?”
Colin cleared his throat.
Meghan scowled.
“Failing is not the end of the world,” claimed Eddy. “It just means you haven’t learned everything you can yet.”
She nodded, but maintained little confidence that she’d pass. She loathed the idea of failing. There were enough reasons for people to whisper behind her back. Failing the exam would just give them more kindling for the fire.
“By the time your exams are completed, I hope to have located a safe place for us to meet again,” said their uncle.
“Do we have to wait for you to send a leaf first?” asked Colin.
“How about, you send me a leaf when you’re able to come, and I will let you know if it’s safe or not.”
“Okay,” agreed Colin.
Meghan huffed and crossed her arms. “Why are you hiding?” she blurted out. “Sorry,” she spoke quickly, letting her arms fall. “That came out wrong. But why do you have to hide?” It was a question both she and Colin wondered about, but hadn’t dared ask. Eddy went silent. After a long minute, he finally answered.
“There is a ghost out there determined to steal your book, Colin. I don’t want them to track you down, by tracking me down. So yes, in a way I am hiding. But this doesn’t matter today. What does matter are your exams. Put all else out of your minds this week.”
Vague answer, thought Meghan. And it didn’t get by either of the twins that he had specifically looked at Colin, claiming the book was his. Not theirs. He wasn’t telling them everything. Perhaps he was right though, today was not the day.
He pretend hugged the twins, being sure not to really touch them, so they didn’t have to suffer the icy brush of death that came with touching a ghost. He wished them luck and asked them to send along a leaf after each exam, to let him know how it went. They departed, followed as always now, with Timothy flying up overhead, and Nona trotting on the ground below.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The first exam morning was chaotic; no one had slept and anxiety was high. Sheila had asked Ivan to escort the foursome to their exams, just to be sure they arrived on time. Even Irving Mochrie went to work late.
“Hard work will pay off!” he told them as they departed, his face stern, but hopeful.
It just made Meghan extra nervous, seeing how seriously everyone took exam day.
Ivan took the lead, commanding them to hurry as they left the Mochrie house. He did not look at, or speak with them, the entire walk.
“What exactly is his deal?” bleated Meghan, watching his smug strut up ahead.
“Ivan, he’s actually quite shy,” answered Mireya. “And, oh, I don’t know… sometimes he’s rather a big turd,” she giggled nervously.
Meghan laughed, which she needed; her nerves were getting the best of her.
Ivan waited at the school entrance, and then made, what the twins believed to be, an effort at a smile.
“Good luck. I am sure you don’t need me to remind you how important this day is.” His eyes grazed Meghan’s, but briskly darted another direction. He promptly sauntered off.
“Does he have friends?” questioned Meghan. “I can’t even fathom who’d take the job.” She couldn’t help but find his actions infuriating.
“Ivan’s a workaholic,” said Jae. “I don’t think friends are high on his list of priorities. Dad loves him for it, but I,” he stopped, the twins waited, but he did not continue on the subject. “We better get inside.”
They were about to enter when an eerie shudder rained down Meghan’s spine. She whisked around, swearing someone was watching her. “What’s new?” she mumbled, shaking it off as nerves.
Not far away, at the entrance of the school grounds, Ivan Crane caught his breath and let the branch he’d been peeking through, drop. She’d almost caught him. “No matter,” he whispered with a wry grin. “It’s all too easy really. She’s utterly predictable. Easy to read. She’ll suit just fine, once,” he cut himself off. Meghan’s eyes honed in on his location. His smile faded as he deftly backed away onto the road. Right smack dab into another student.
“Oh, Ivan, excuse me. I didn’t see you there.”
“Um. Hello. Maria.” It came out awkward when he finally did speak. He wasn’t sure how to explain his sudden materialization out of the woods.
She smiled brightly, not even bringing it up. “Lucky you. Already graduated.”
“Yeah, I guess,” he said breathlessly. “You should be too,” he found himself saying. “Or at the least, in graduate level.”
Her cheeks blushed. “That’s very kind of you. But I volunteered to start over.”
“Really? You’re so smart.” He was honestly surprised by her admission.
“Well I did miss two complete school cycles. I spoke about it with my father, and the Banon. She left it up to me in the end. She thought intermediate would be a better place to start over. Maybe it would have, but I’ll get back to the advanced levels soon. Honestly, it’s been nice to do something easy and familiar. And I get to help the younger students too. I enjoy that.”
She would be a great teacher, Ivan thought. Without thinking, he blurted out, “I’m sorry about your mother.” He snapped his mouth shut. It was a terrible thing to bring up. Especially now, right before a test. And so late; her mother had died almost six months ago, after a long battle with an illness.
He wished magic could heal everything. But it wasn’t all powerful. Or all possible. He knew this on a personal level, all too well. He chided himself inwardly for bringing up the subject of her mother. His breath hitched when she grasped his hand and squeezed it compassionately.
How did she always manage to be ridiculously kind? Even after everything she’d gone through, watching her mother succumb to illness.
“You’re a busy guy these days,” she said, letting go of him.
He nodded. But being busy was no excuse to wait so long.
There was a clang from the school that startled them both.
“Guess I’d better get going. Don’t want to be late on exam day.”
“Good luck, Maria. Although I hardly imagine you need it.”
“No. I suppose not. But I’ll take it anyway. Goodbye, Ivan. It was nice to see you.”
He nodded.
She hurried into the school.
He scurried off before he was caught by anyone else.
##
They stepped into the school to find the hall abuzz. All students were routed into a small auditorium and organized into their class levels; elementary, junior, advanced and graduate. The trio mouthed good luck to Mireya, who was in junior level, and not expected to pass since it was her first try. Meghan, Colin, and Jae took their seats amongst the beginners.
It had not been so bad being amongst them on their own, but sitting with a group of youngsters, with an average age of eight to eleven, and with most all the other thirteen and fourteen year olds in junior level, they were uncomfortably out of place.
This was not helped by Darcy Scraggs or Dulcy Hadrian loudly taking their seats alongside the other intermediate level students, and sending fake greetings in their direction.
Meghan thought she’d had just about enough with the never ending gawking and staring. “So Jae,” she started, ignoring them. “There are four levels, and once you pass the four, you’re done?”
“Yup.”
“That’s not much, four grades,” she replied.
“It’s not that easy,” he told her. “It takes some students a few tries to pass one level. Everything has to be perfect, or you don’t move on. As you can tell, sometimes it’s a bit like a competition, to see who can get to a higher level the fastest.”
“It doesn’t seem like a fair system,” she mumbled.
He shrugged.
Colin sens
ed his sister’s nerves tensing and caught onto a real worry: he might go to the next level without her. She might get stuck behind. With a bunch of kids. How humiliating.
She must be nervous. She’s letting her mind block break. Colin wasn’t sure how to help her. This usually went the other way around, she was helping him.
Jae continued explaining the classes. “It works well, actually. There is a bit of competition, but really, you get to learn at your own pace. Most kids start school around age eight, a few sooner, some later, like Daveena over there.” The trio laughed nervously. “With our traveling schedule though, most kids don’t get to juniors until age eleven or so, and then advanced level around fourteen, and then graduate starts at about sixteen. Ivan was sixteen when he passed graduate, the youngest ever; very smart and spectacular at magic.” He stated it matter-of-factly, not as if he was impressed.
Meghan huffed and jeered. “I suppose, when you’re like Ivan and have NO life, anything would be easier.”
She cast a knowing look to Jae. He grinned and agreed silently.
A bell clanged. The entire auditorium convulsed in unison. The school advisor, Muckle Mauch, asked for silence.
“Today is an important day!” the advisor reminded. “If you have studied hard enough, you will all succeed and move forward. Moving forward should be your highest priority since it leads to full initiation. Without getting through graduate level, you cannot attain full status.”
“What’s he talking about?” sent Meghan to Colin. Curious himself, he threw Jae a questioning look. He leaned in and explained in a whisper.
“Initiation means you have pledged your life to the Svoda, sworn to the Svoda way of life. Mostly ceremonial. But something everyone goes through.”
“Oh,” they answered together.
“Before we begin,” carried on Muckle Mauch, “we have a special guest, who will share a few encouraging words.” A door in the back opened and the crowd squealed as Banon Juliska Nandalia Blackwell strode in. A low murmur whizzed through the students.
Shifting (The Prophecy, The Spy, and The Ghostly Guardian) (A Fated Fantasy Quest Adventure Book 2) Page 15
