The Earth Awakens (Elemental Academy Book 2)

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The Earth Awakens (Elemental Academy Book 2) Page 29

by D. K. Holmberg


  It pressed in upon him.

  Pain squeezed his chest, filling him.

  Tolan collapsed.

  When he dropped to his knees, his hold on the bondars faded and he dropped them. All he had was his furios—and the runes around the park. He reached for that power, feeling the faint stirring deep within him, and he tried to push outward.

  For a moment, there was a reprieve. The power pressing in upon him waned, but briefly.

  And then it pressed in upon him again.

  He lost track of time. The pain was intense. And then it faded.

  He crouched there for a moment, trying to gather himself, steadying his breathing.

  The bondars that had slipped out of his hand lay useless on the ground.

  Master Shorav was the first one there. He reached out, offering his hand, and Tolan took it, getting to his feet.

  “The testing is complete.”

  “That’s it?”

  “You will learn of your results later today.”

  Tolan looked at the others. Master Marcella had a streak of dried blood down her nose, and she watched him. He had expected there to be anger, but that didn’t seem the case. It was almost as if she had pride shining in her eyes.

  He took a shaky breath and turned back toward the entrance to the park. Master Sartan waited, but Draln had already left.

  Master Sartan escorted him through the archway, and once through, a powerful shaping burst from him, holding onto Tolan. He carried him to the Shapers Path, guiding him back along the Path and toward the Academy. Tolan was thankful for that. He wasn’t sure if he would have had the strength necessary to return on his own.

  When they lowered once again to the courtyard outside the Academy, Master Sartan tipped his head.

  “How did I do?” Tolan asked.

  Master Sartan cocked his head, watching him for a moment. “I’m not at liberty to discuss until your results are known.”

  With that, the master shaper took to the sky again, disappearing along the Shapers Path.

  Tolan took a deep breath, which meant he hadn’t done well enough. He thought of some of the creative shapings he’d seen from Draln, and the way he had used various elements, twisting them together. He’d shaped all of them at one time, something Tolan hadn’t managed to do. He might have demonstrated each of the elements, but had it been enough?

  He found his way through the Academy, trudged up the stairs, and paused in the main room. Draln sat in one corner, alone for the first time Tolan could remember.

  Tolan took a deep breath before heading over to him.

  The other man glanced up and nodded. “That wasn’t what I expected.”

  “What did you expect?”

  “I knew we had to shape each of the elements, but…” He looked back down at his hands.

  “I don’t think they were trying to hurt us.”

  “It felt that way.”

  “You did well. I watched, and you were mixing each of the elements—”

  “Do you think I need your approval, Ethar?”

  Tolan took a deep breath before standing. “I just wanted you to know I thought you did well.”

  Draln glanced up, glaring at him for a moment. He opened his mouth as if he was going to say something but bit it back.

  Tolan turned away, heading back to his room. Once there, he found a folded slip of paper resting on his bed. The seal of the Academy held it closed.

  He stared at it. The other beds in the room were empty, which meant Ferrah, Jonas and Wallace were off somewhere else—possibly even at their testing.

  Grabbing the piece of paper, he held it.

  What was he waiting for?

  Tearing open the paper, he unfolded it. His gaze skimmed across, and five words were all that stood out:

  Promotion to the second level.

  Tolan looked up, holding the page in hand, and smiled to himself.

  Click now for book 3 of Elemental Academy: The Water Ruptures

  The Disciples of the Draasin Lord have again been defeated, yet a traitor remains within Terndahl. The Inquisitors have come, and their presence has everyone on edge.

  With the help of the Keystone, Tolan has discovered the ability to shape each of the element bonds. Now that he’s passed testing to the second level at the Academy, he finally feels as if he belongs.

  Still, he can’t shake the feeling that his shaping is different than others—and tied to the elementals. Discovering the reason why leads him to ask dangerous questions. Between that and knowing someone works against the Academy, Tolan finds himself in the middle of a dangerous plot on the Academy itself.

  Only this time, with Inquisitors involved, he might not be able to escape.

  Author’s Note

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you so much for reading The Earth Awakens. I hope you enjoyed it. If you would be so kind as to take a moment to leave a review on Amazon or elsewhere, I would be very grateful.

  I’m also always happy to hear from readers! Email me at [email protected]. I try to respond to each message. Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook as well!

  Review link HERE.

  All my best,

  D.K. Holmberg

  p.s. If you haven’t signed up already, subscribe to my newsletter for a few free books as well as to be the first to hear about new releases and the occasional giveaway.

  For more information:

  www.dkholmberg.com

  Also by D.K. Holmberg

  Elemental Academy

  The Fire Within

  The Earth Awakens

  The Water Ruptures

  The Cloud Warrior Saga

  Chased by Fire

  Bound by Fire

  Changed by Fire

  Fortress of Fire

  Forged in Fire

  Serpent of Fire

  Servant of Fire

  Born of Fire

  Broken of Fire

  Light of Fire

  Cycle of Fire

  The Endless War

  Journey of Fire and Night

  Darkness Rising

  Endless Night

  Summoner’s Bond

  Seal of Light

  The Elder Stones Saga

  The Darkest Revenge

  Shadows Within the Flame

  Remnants of the Lost

  The Coming Chaos

  The Shadow Accords

  Shadow Blessed

  Shadow Cursed

  Shadow Born

  Shadow Lost

  Shadow Cross

  Shadow Found

  The Collector Chronicles

  Shadow Hunted

  Shadow Games

  Shadow Trapped

  The Dark Ability

  The Dark Ability

  The Heartstone Blade

  The Tower of Venass

  Blood of the Watcher

  The Shadowsteel Forge

  The Guild Secret

  Rise of the Elder

  The Sighted Assassin

  The Binders Game

  The Forgotten

  Assassin’s End

  The Dragonwalker

  Dragon Bones

  Dragon Blessed

  Dragon Rise

  Dragon Bond

  Dragon Storm

  Dragon Rider

  Dragon Sight

  The Teralin Sword

  Soldier Son

  Soldier Sword

  Soldier Sworn

  Soldier Saved

  Soldier Scarred

  The Lost Prophecy

  The Threat of Madness

  The Warrior Mage

  Tower of the Gods

  Twist of the Fibers

  The Lost City

  The Last Conclave

  The Gift of Madness

  The Great Betrayal

  The Book of Maladies

  Wasting

  Broken

  Poisoned

  Tormina

  Comatose

  Amnesia

  Exsangui
nated

 

 

 


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