Chapter 9
The sound of dripping water chanted in the room. Suddenly, a hand reached out, grabbed the handle of the sink and turned it, stopping the water from dripping. Rhen yawned and stretched her arms. She looked trough the window, seeing all the people crowding around the city.
Flashback
"No problem. And you should check out the Shadwood Academy" The boy said, running into the crowd, leaving Rhen puzzled.
End of Flashback
Thinking about what that boy said yesterday, Rhen realized she didn't have anything better to do. She took one more look on the window and left the room.
Rhen looked hopelessly around the crowd. It happened again. She got lost again. Clenching her teeth, she started towards a random direction, hoping she'll eventually find the good way. The crowd was thick and it was very hard to make your way trough it in a straight line. The people were pushing, tripping over, falling, bumping into eachother but seconds later they were continuing their ways like nothing happened.
Escaping from the mass of people, Rhen felt like a boulder was taken off her chest. To her relief, she also found out that she finally found the right way to the Shadwood Academy; way that was pointed by a cooperant signpost that was pointing towards the North-West. Another signpost made sure you knew where you were indicating the black carved letters on it: "Shadwood Academy".
Rhen passed the entrance to find herself in a well-kept welcoming garden. The oriental environment from Ghalarah was also noticeable in Veldarah too. The palm trees filled the garden, along with many other oriental plants that were new to Rhen.
Not feeling like admiring the landscape, Rhen passed trough the aromatic garden and entered the building known as the Shadwood Academy. The inside was as eye-catching as the outside. A small pond welcomed Rhen as she entered the building. Smaller palm trees in flower pots were surrounding the pond and found their places in almost every corner. The lobby split in two hallways.
Hearing voices from the one in the left, Rhen took the left one. The hallway leaded to the left to another space which could hardly be called a room as it had only a few plants in the corners. Inside was a blonde man which appeared not to pay attention at the things surrounding him as he didn't seem to notice Rhen passing, or stopping in front of the room.
"That boy is a pain in the ass, Lorad, I'm telling you." A blonde, long-haired woman said to a red-haired man as they came out from a different room. "Ever since he got here, he turned all the sorcerers into little devils." She continued, spotting Rhen. "Hello, there" She said, approaching her.
"Alright, who's screwing with my mind?" The redhead named Lorad said, annoyed, putting his hands on his hips and looking around, frowning.
"What happened?" The woman said, turning to him.
"I feel like when someone's using sword power. But I see no using such things here" Lorad said. "If any of you, students, are hiding and trying to give me a headache so you won't take that test tomorrow, I must say it's not working" Lorad al most yelled as Rhen looked puzzled at him.
"Okay, Lorad, we got it" The woman said, going up to Rhen and taking her hand. "Come with me before he starts blowing things up." She continued, glaring at Lorad, and turning to leave the room, dragging Rhen after her.
"I have a headache when I feel sword power, Ghelda. And this one is pretty powerful and it's not going away." Lorad said with a 'duh!' look on his face, seeing the blonde woman's expression. But Ghelda exited the room and closed the door behind her.
"Hey! It disappeared! I feel so much better now!" Lorad said from the other room, as soon as Ghelda closed the door. She rolled her eyes at his remark.
"But don't think that the prankers who did this will get away that easy!" he continued, making Ghelda frown.
"So, ignoring my colleague's behaviour, why are you here?" She asked Rhen, looking at her. Rhen heard the question but she was too busy examining the room, who seemed to be a classroom, but with no students. She then looked at the tall, blonde lady.
"I don't know, really. I was told to come here. Is it an orphanage or something?" She asked. Ghelda giggled at her question.
"No it's not. It's a special school for gifted children. The person who sent you here didn't send you for nothing. Do you have any magical abilities?"
"Not as far as I know" Rhen said, shrugging her shoulders as Ghelda hummed and looked down, thoughtfully. She then suddenly widened and lifted up her green eyes.
"Wait a second... Lorad's headache...Then it means...." She looked one more time at Rhen "Wait a second on the chair over there. You may really have a gift" Ghelda said, pointing to a chair on the opposite side of the room before leaving it.
Rhen looked confused at the closing door. She spun around and went to the chair and sat on it, waiting. She started hearing voices outside of the door before it opened, Lorad and Ghelda entering the room and Ghelda closing the door.
"You didn't let me take that aspirin" Lorad said, frowning at Ghelda and crossing his arms, childishly.
"Forget about the damn aspirin! Does your head hurt?" Ghelda asked, annoyed.
"It does but not so much. It's like a very deaf pain" He said, concentrating and closing his eyes. Ghelda made a sign for Rhen to approach. Rhen complied and came up to them. "Now it really hurts." He said, noticing that Rhen was now right next to them. "How funny, eh?" He said, chuckling. "When this girl was on the other side of the room, it didn't hurt so much, but as she was approaching, the pain..." Lorad stopped speaking widening his eyes at Rhen.
"I was right." Ghelda said, looking at Rhen "You have the gift of sword power" She said, smiling.
"That's clear as daylight. But how is it possible? I can feel your power without you having to perform any skill." Lorad said in amazement, taking Rhen's hand in his. "It's like you're emanating energy." He added, letting go of Rhen's hand. Rhen listened in shock and happiness everything they have said.
"Is this bad?" Rhen asked, worried.
"No, but I think I know what's going on here...." Lorad said, making a pause. "Has anything odd related to magic ever happened to you?"
"No" Rhen said, her voice shaking a bit.
"How old are you?"
"Sixteen" Rhen said, not sure where this discussion was leading to.
"And it all makes sense now!" Lorad said, happily. "You never used your powers all this years, but the power continued to conserve in you as you grew up. And now it's "overflowing"." Lorad said, smiling.
"But even though this makes sense... Have you ever seen something like this before?" Ghelda asked.
"Never ever in my entire life I've seen a person to have so much power that it had to be emanated so it doesn't affect the user's abilities" Lorad said in a serious tone, making a pause. "I'm so cool! I'm the first one who discovered something like this! Mum is going to be so proud of me" Lorad said, grinning and rubbing his palms. Ghelda sighed and turned to Rhen.
"I'm sorry that my colleague isn't in the mood to answer your questions. I guess you're extremely confused." She said, smiling pitifully at Rhen who looked down.
"Sort of" Rhen said shakily. Ghelda put an encouraging hand on her shoulder, shot a glare at Lorad and left the room.
Rhen watched as Lorad was talking with the blonde-haired man she met earlier. To Rhen, it only seemed like their lips were moving. She was euphoric, worried, shocked and proud all together. All these emotions combined made her lose her concentration ability. It wasn't like she didn't hear or see, or anything else. She just didn't pay attention to these aspects.
The excitement started running trough her veins faster when she received a metal key and a paper, being told that her room is in the bedrooms wing of the building. She walked silently trough the academy's garden, not paying attention to the students. After a few indications received, she finally made it to the sword singers' bedrooms. She found her room, entered and locked it from the inside before throwing herself on the bed, squealing of happiness.
- - - - - – - - - - - - - - - – - - - - - - - – – -
Real: Alright, one more left and I'll be happy.
Good: you know, I always wondered.... hell is hot with fire and such... and the bad guys are always hiding in a cold, dark lair. Then evil is hot or cold??
Evil: if one of these "evil environment" wouldn't have existed, what would you have asked now??
Good: oh, lots of things ^_^... I was thinking the other day....
Evil: * tapes good's mouth with adhesive tape * aaaahhh! How I like the silence ~_~
real: -_-'
