by Katie Pottle
"Yep. Can I have the package that Mira sent to me?" Cadin asked impatiently.
"After dinner."
"But, mom..."
Sara gave him a look that ended the conversation.
Cadin ate as fast as possible, sharing food with Gur when his parents weren't looking, and sped up the stairs to his room, prize in hand. The package fit neatly into his hand with a note secured to the top.
In true teenager fashion, he ripped into the package before glancing at the note, revealing a metallic box with unique etchings along the wall and lid. Cadin gave the box a shake, and heard rattling within. Unlatching the ornate lid, he peeked inside only to be utterly perplexed by the contents. Nothing more than bits of dirt and stone rolled around the polished metal interior.
Nonplussed, Cadin unfolding the note and instantly admired the smooth and embellished penmanship that hinted of a different era. The note read:
To Cadin, son of Talvarian.
My dear boy, I have heard much about you as of late and have decided to bestow a gift to you. I'm not entirely sure how useful they might prove, but I have a strong feeling that your futures are intertwined.
The cloud-stones within are raw gins.
Cadin stopped reading for a moment and glanced back in the box. He rubbed a little dirt off one of the stones. It looked nothing like the raw gins that Master Emilio had presented to him to fuse, but he took Mira's word that they were in fact gins and continued reading.
I mined those years ago from a decidedly temperamental cloud and have not found any others since.
The box they arrived in is traditionally called a ginex, which is magnetic in nature and properly isolates the gins.
Use them well.
Sincerely,
Mira
Cadin double checked to see if there was more to the note. It felt like a big gift with very little explanation.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Challenge
“Do you think that more people will come to the Challenge Club today?” Sun asked anxiously. They brainstormed over Winter Break about how to change the Archery Club to include as much training as possible to help everyone achieve more badges. Treven suggested that they change the name, and everyone agreed on ‘Challenge Club.' They spent most of their break planning lessons and making schedules for classes and badges that would ensure that they each establish eligibility. Vincent, Treven, Jade and Xeno formed an unofficial team and committed to becoming full-time members of the Challenge Club.
Over break, Cadin also found time for some blue Aura training lessons with his parents. Cadin found the differences between green and blue fascinating and started working some of the lessons into their Challenge Club schedules. The other Gladers were not as thrilled with the changes, stuck in their comfort zone; however, Sun supported the changes and the others grudgingly went along with it.
"It is good to have a healthy mixture of different color strength training," Instructor Kade added when they showed him their schedule upon returning from break. "It probably should be done more often in Commons High. However, most of the cloud-lands now are homogeneous in color. Instructors are uncomfortable teaching what they don't know."
"Maybe you should set up some kind of instructor exchange program or something," Cadin said while trying to string up an old crossbow that they found in the school storage.
"Interesting idea..."
"Ouch, what is?" Cadin pulled his pinched fingers out from the taught string.
"Your idea, just now." Instructor Kade laughed.
"Right, instructor exchange. It would be helpful for the Club. Were you able to spread the word?"
They had asked Instructor Kade to inform the other instructors about the Challenge Club and to invite students from every class to join them, including upperclassmen.
“Of course,” Instructor Kade answered as he helped pull out the archery targets. They got to Yi’s Field early to set up.
“What about the third and fourth years?” Sun asked.
“Probably not if they are anything like Gregor. They will probably think the training is beneath them. But, it was still good to offer.”
Instructor Kade walked over the hill with Bart, their hands full of bows, arrows, swords and shields.
“All set?” Bart asked
“Almost, just have to tweak a couple of targets.”
“Thanks for offering me a spot on the team by the way,” Bart said shyly.
“No problem Bart. We are happy to have you,” Sun said as she re-positioned the targets exactly where she wanted them.
“That guy Gregor just has a big ol stick stuck up his…” Sun stopped short as Instructor Kade walked up to help.
“Now all that we need are students,” Instructor Kade said.
“And I think we have them,” Bart added as he pointed over the hill.
Lep led a large group of first years and some other students that Cadin didn’t recognize. Cadin suggested for Lep to stay back near the exit to help guide people to the field, or remind them if he needed to. Apparently, he had done his job well. Cadin heard that once the school announced the opening of the Games to second years, more people attempted badges during the Winter Badge Day than ever before. Many of those attempts had also failed. With over half of the first years and some second years making their way across Yi Field, Cadin guessed people were ready to put in some extra work.
He personally stepped up his game by registering for an advanced Cloud Shifting class the second semester after both Instructor Kade and Instructor Zephran recommended it. He thought about it over break and found that a level two cloud-shifting badge was good for both the Warrior Path and Academic Path eligibility.
The next month of the Challenge Club went well. A few of the kids that started with them on the first day did not show up again; however, many more showed up during the next few classes. They were up to forty-five, and they usually had to break the club up into groups and rotate stations. The training was a catalyst for Auras emerging. At least ten kids in Challenge Club had Auras emerge within the first month. Just that day Vincent had strutted over the hill with a new green Aura and Jade hanging onto his arm and looking at him with a dopey love-struck grin on her face.
“Wow, looking good,” Cadin said as Vincent approached.
“Yeah, it took long enough! My brother got his Aura well before Winter Break. I hope you guys hurry up and get yours,” Vincent said as he looked around at Cadin, Jade, and Treven. “It will be so much easier to earn badges once you have your Auras. I already feel twice or even three times as powerful,” he said as he puffed out his chest. Jade swooned, and Cadin covered his mouth to keep from laughing.
“So, what are we doing today?” Xeno asked.
“Actually, we will have a chance to earn a Warrior Path badge today,” Cadin answered.
“Nice!”
“Cool, what is it?”
“Hang on; we gotta wait until the whole club gets here.”
Vincent, Xeno, Jade and Treven stayed and kept looking around to see if there was something different to the usual setup that might give them a clue as to which badge while Cadin ran over to help Instructor Kade and Lep carry over the rest of the equipment.
“All right, everyone quiet down, please!” Cadin said. He guessed that news about the badge had spread. “As you all know, to take advantage of entering the Qualifiers next year, we must all first establish eligibility by earning enough school badges. Today, we have some cool news Instructor Kade is going to tell us about.” Cadin sat down on the grass with the rest of the club.
“Thank you, Cadin. I have been talking to Headmaster Tripharian, and he has agreed to let us hold badge certifications for Warrior Path badges during our Challenge Club meetings!” Bart and Lep gave each other high fives, even though they both had known about it before this announcement. “This is open to the whole school, which means we may get more students to participate in the club. Yes, Vincent?”
“Can we go for any badge, or will there be a speci
fic one?”
“There will be specific badge certifications that will rotate between Aura color strengths.
“What do we get to try for today?”
“Since this started as Archery Club, I thought we would honor Miss Sun and begin with the yellow Aura strength of archery!”
Sun blushed a little bit but took over with pride. “Alright, we have thirty minutes before the badge attempt, so let’s get practicing!”
Sun lined up five targets at twenty feet from the green line.
“To earn a badge, you must hit at least the outer red wrath’s-eye at the one hundred, one hundred and fifty and the two hundred-foot mark,” Instructor Kade told everyone. Cadin practiced along with everyone else and was doing fairly well after an entire semester of practicing with Sun. He did not hit the red wrath’s-eye every time, but he no longer missed the target completely.
Ten minutes before they were scheduled to start the badge certification, the older students trickled onto the field. Apparently, the badge opportunity appealed to many of the older Warrior Path students. Cadin guessed few ever had the opportunity to earn an archery badge in the past. Thirty extra students littered Yi’s Field when Instructor Kade called ‘time’ on the practice.
Headmaster Tripharian flew over.
“May I offer you my help, Instructor Kade?” Headmaster Tripharian asked.
“I would be honored. Would you like to say anything to the group before we get started?”
“Thank you, I would.” The students were completely silent as they waited for Headmaster Tripharian to speak.
“Welcome,” he said with a smile. “I fully support the Challenge Club. It’s a concept that I am a bit surprised we did not implement sooner. I am proud of all of you giving up your free periods to train so studiously. It is a beautiful day to get more metal on your arm guard!”
“Calm down please so I can tell you how you can earn the badge,” Instructor Kade said. “There are fifteen targets set up at the one hundred-foot mark. Each station has a set of three arrows that are distinct from any other set. Take note of your arrow markings when it is your turn. Each student will have three shots at each distance. Those that hit the red or black wrath’s-eye will move on to the next round. To earn a Warrior Path badge in level 1 distance weapons today, you must hit at least the red wrath’s-eye at all three distances. Any questions?”
“What if the bows do not have the proper tension or the arrows are bent?” An older, dark-haired girl asked.
“All of the equipment out here today has been personally inspected and tuned by Sun.”
“How can we trust that she knows what she is doing? She is just a foreign little first year.” Instructor Kade did not look very happy with the comment.
“First of all, never be so disrespectful to a fellow student again. If you had bothered to train at any of the Challenge Club sessions, you would know that Sun is probably the most knowledgeable person in all of Glade when it comes to archery. Secondly, if you miss the target, do not blame the equipment. Rather look into your training and change what needs to be changed to succeed.”
The girl did not respond but flashed Instructor Kade a scathing look.
“Let’s get started. You each pulled a piece of paper from the hat upon your arrival with two numbers on it. The first number in red indicates which group you will be shooting in. The second number in blue indicates which target station you will be shooting from. Anyone that acts in an unsafe manner will be asked to leave immediately. No second chances. Let’s have group one line up.”
Cadin looked at his piece of paper. He was in group two, position number three. He looked up to see Sun and Lep both stand up for group one.
“Good luck!” He called after them. Gur got excited and added a little squeak. Cadin laughed and patted him on the head. Gur had become more vocal over the past week, and Sara said he was trying to communicate. She suggested that they go and listen to other rock dragons so they knew what to expect.
They had sat with Gur on the rocks at Mist Lake, Cadin worrying at first that his baby dragon was going to recognize his family and leave him, but that did not happen. Gur got excited about the many clicks, squeaks, and growls that were coming out of the other rock dragons, and he tried a few new noises out while they were there. He now had quite the repertoire and was not afraid to use it. It hurt Cadin’s ears when his dragon “talked” right next to his face without any warning.
The other people in group one from the Challenge Club were the twins from Nightan’s class, Lexi, and at the far end in position number fifteen was Xeno. Gregor’s crony was also in the group and standing to Sun’s right. Sun did not seem bothered that a large unfriendly third year was casting his shadow over her space. She had explained her competition mode to him once as ‘tunnel vision,’ not seeing anything but the target.
Instructor Kade called ‘begin’, and Cadin was thrilled to see a black wrath’s-eye from Sun and a red wrath’s-eye from Lep with their very first arrows. Xeno came close, and one of the twins hit the red wrath’s-eye as well. Everyone finished their set of three, just in case it was too close to call, or out of courtesy to the other students. Xeno and the second twin hit their second shot, along with a couple of older students, and Lexi was the only one to hit on her third shot. Gregor’s friend was mad and about to throw his bow when Headmaster Tripharian caught his eye.
Instructor Kade walked with Headmaster Tripharian up to the targets after announcing ‘bows down.’ At each station, they would look closely at the target and where the arrows hit. After Headmaster Tripharian announced ‘wrath’s-eye,' the archer from that station would have a seat to the left and wait for the next round.
Cadin was in the second set and wiped the cold sweat from his palms before he stepped up. He looked down at the set of arrows at his station. Each had three blue stripes near the tip, and two yellow feathers with one red feather in the center. The yellow feathers reminded him of Sun, and he remembered everything that she had taught him in the club.
“Good luck, man.” Cadin looked up to see that Treven was in position number one to Cadin’s left.
“Oh, thanks. You too.”
“Everyone take your place!” Instructor Kade called. “Begin.”
Cadin took a deep breath to calm his nerves as he picked up his first arrow. He fitted it into the notch and zeroed in on his target. He raised the bow and pulled the arrow back towards his mouth. Sun and Lep cheered for him from the sideline. He tried to concentrate on the target, but his heart beat madly and he was having difficulty keeping the arrow steady. His arm cramped right before he fired. His arrow quivered just outside of the red wrath’s-eye.
He shook his head and stepped back for a second.
“That’s okay, Cadin!”
“You still have two shots left!”
“Oh, you gonna go cry to your mommy!”
Cadin turned to see that the last comment came from Gregor, who was sitting in the crowd awaiting his turn. Focus! He pulled up the second arrow and remembered what Sun said about releasing the arrow on the exhale. He pulled the arrow into position, focused on the target. He tuned out all the chanting and cheering from the sidelines and just concentrated on his breathing. The arrow lined up with the center, and as he exhaled he released. This time he watched the arrow fly as if in slow motion soaring through the air and landing in the red.
Noticing that Treven too had hit the red, Cadin gave him a thumbs-up before pulling up his last arrow. He didn’t think about it nearly as much as he did the first two arrows and just let it fly. It too hit the red wrath’s-eye and Cadin celebrated by giving a little wave over to Sun and Lep, and then extended it just a bit to include Gregor. Gregor spat at the ground in Cadin’s direction, and Cadin shook his head and watched the rest of his group finish up. He realized that most of group two was made up of Challenge Club members, and most of them got at least one wrath’s-eye.
When Headmaster Tripharian announced ‘wrath’s-eye’ at his target, he
celebrated with the rest of his group. Thirteen of Cadin’s group moved on, and one of the kids to not make it was a young girl from Nightan’s group that had just joined the Challenge Club at their last practice. She looked a little upset as she went and sat back down in the big group. Cadin caught her eye and gave her a wave. She smiled through her tears and waved back.
“Nice job,” Lep said as he punched Cadin’s arm in a friendly manner. This jostled Gur, who slept through the entire first round. Gur hissed his annoyance at Lep as he stretched and sat up.
“Sorry, Gur.”
“You did great too, Lep. And Sun, you were amazing!” Cadin said
Sun beamed a big bright smile and then considered the crowd and frowned.
“What’s wrong?” Cadin asked.
“Oh nothing, I just have to mentally prepare for round two. You guys should too. Just sit and clear your minds.”
The remainder of the first round concluded with many of the Challenge Club members making it through. About half of the second year, students and two-thirds of the third-year students including Gregor made it through to the second round.
Sun and some of the other students moved the targets back to one hundred and fifty feet and the second round was under way. Cadin put his hand over Gur for a few seconds to calm him down.
“We need to focus now,” Cadin whispered to Gur, who seemed to understand. Gur stopped pacing and anchored himself to Cadin’s shoulder and stared out like he was on guard duty.
Lep, Vincent, and Xeno were also in the first group. Cadin felt Gur focusing as he pulled up his first arrow. Gur’s claws dug into his shoulder as Cadin tensed up, pulling the arrow up close to Gur’s perch. Normally Gur liked to play with the feathers on the arrow and would even strum the string with his claws, but not this time. The dragon just sat and focused on the arrow as Cadin focused on the target. He watched as the arrow soared and broke the edge of the red, sitting half in the white. It still counted as a wrath’s-eye if any part of it was in the red, but he would like to get a more solid shot in to get him through to the final round.
