Rain

Chapter 1

As famed as Lightsbridge Academy for producing mages with unheard of skills and prowess and surrounded by an aura of quiet, rural tranquility, Niva of Ramon felt a home and at peace, even though her real home was miles away, a small farming village called Ramon. She had only recently entered the temple community in hopes of completing her novitiate. Her first step into the area had made her nearly sing with joy- she could feel the light, the life around her, serene lights that played before her eyes whenever she approached a garden, the chorus of voices she alone could hear. The plants here were more alive than she had ever heard a plant to be, and she sang to them as they sang back.

Plants had always called to her in this way, though she had never known the reasons behind it until recently. The real reasons for her skill had been shrouded in mystery and superstition and ignorance. When Niva had been about eight or nine years old, the village hedge witch had studied her as she studied all the children in hopes finding a child with magical aptitude. The report had come back to her father that she was a good, strong girl, that she would go far- but not in the field of magic. The news crushed the hopes he had cultivated secretly, that his only daughter would be magically endowed. Needless to say, he and her brothers had been terribly disappointed.

It seemed at the time that her only gift was a love for plants. At a young age, Niva found she could easily coax the most stubborn shoots to bloom; the plants understood her defiant nature and soothed her soul when it seemed she would never recover from the misfortunes life aimed toward her- her best friend being brutally raped, her father locking her in the cellar for helping a neighbor grow plants- the cool green light of the plants, the calmness they seemed to radiate at all times, pacified the fiery, stubborn fire Niva seemed to glow with.

She needed their serenity now, as she sat quietly in class and struggled to pay attention. Hyrt Brighteyes, the mage who had taken her from her home and showed her a whole new home, had taught her basic reading and writing, which she devoured eagerly once she learned that the queer black symbols were a language to help her learn. But the classes at Winding Circle held in the Earth Circle, could not be devoured as easily.

Most of the girls, Niva had to concede, were from rich, snobbish families, whose surnames were their passports in life, guaranteeing them every comfort and luxury available. Niva had no such luck, and the comforts many of the wealthier students took for granted she did not possess at all. She slept in the same dormitory as the other girls, she received no allowance from doting parents to spend on the days students had no classes, and her clothes were only the leave-behinds other students left in the laundry permanently, that the kindly matron gave her to mend to fit her stocky frame. Niva scarcely spoke to any of the girls, and they were content with watching her down their noses, giggling in turns and whispering at night after lights-out.

The boys were another world entirely. They studied diligently, but in their spare time teased, flirted, and generally mocked every female their age and below it. Niva was a common butt of the few jokes she did hear, but the boys had yet to say one to her face- though at first glance she seemed innocently pretty, with slightly curled auburn hair framing alabaster skin and large brown eyes, her tongue was anything but innocent, and her stubborn chin left nothing to imagination.

Only one boy made direct contact with her, and she had been disgusted with him ever since. She knew he was called Isas, but that was the extent of her outside knowledge about him- all other information she had concluded herself. He was taller than her by a head, with long arms and limbs that swung every which way, a blade-thin, long nose that he used to look down on people, and short black hair that was unruly and coarse as he was to her. She had not developed an enmity with anyone as of yet, but she could see herself acquiring one with Isas.

Whenever Isas passed her, he never missed the opportunity to glare down the length of his nose at her, only to receive a fierce scowl that left many students tongue-tied and frozen in place. Unfortunately, the glare she had used as her own passport around school did not carry a similar effect on Isas. He commonly quoted his family name (as did many other rich students) as his token in the small temple community. Even more disgusting to her was the fact that they were both studying plant magic, one of scarce few students in the entire academy, which meant that they also shared classes as well.

It was in the class now that Isas had taken a seat adjacent hers, glaring at her with renewed vigor. Their bustling teacher arrived, her green habit swishing around her. She was a no-nonsense lady with a strict disciplinary code that was sure and swift. As soon as she entered, she began to dictate notes on the recognition of plants in oil form, which the students dutifully copied down on spare parchment. Niva wrote as tiny as she could- parchment was expensive, a detail that had been hammered into her mind at birth.

Writing small was the least of her worries. She had not yet mastered the art of writing, and was having trouble now keeping up with the teacher. Some words she could not understand and wrote them as she heard them, vowing to look them up later.

Isas watched her smugly. "Can't write?" he whispered. "Too bad."

Niva glared fiercely at him. "I'll make your beak longer if you don't shut up. That pen'll do good for the job."

Ignoring the slur on his nose, he continued, "Can't see how they let a farmer's girl in."

"Can't see how they let some prissy, twitterpated cloud-brains in, either. Your ma still has to wipe you, I'll bet."

The teacher suspiciously glanced their way, so both scribbled anxiously until she looked away. The teacher then announced, "Students! Today we are studying the recognition of herbs and flowers, such as the novellas proptusa. This is not a new concept; we have been studying it for several weeks. We will begin by a brief meditation to clear our thoughts. Then, look at the covered parcels on your desk and use them to discern each herb and flower."

Niva obediently shut her eyes and began to meditate. All around her, other students were meditating as well, though they were having trouble with it. Niva had learned to meditate from the ornery village hedgewitch, who believed that it did a child a world of good to learn, and had little trouble calming her mind and releasing her thoughts. After several minutes, Niva inhaled deeply, taking in all the scents next to her. Seeing Isas scrambling to write the answers on parchment, Niva scribbled down the names of the scents she recognized.

Cinnamon, she wrote thoughtfully. The spicy sweet aroma that she had grown familiar with was a new scent to her, but she adored it already. Rose petals were in the next parcel, she realized as she rubbed it to release the fragrance, and lily petals in the third. There was some jasmine, an exotic white flower she had grown to adore for its honey sweet fragrance. As she jotted down the scents, she snuck a swift glance at Isas, who met her eyes squarely, his thick eyebrows meeting as he scowled at her.

Here it comes, she thought with a sigh.

"Stop cheating," he said loudly, frowning at her. She glared back.

"You don't have 'em, why bother cheating?" she replied tartly.

"I do so, you're just-"

"Children!"

Both froze in their tracks.

"Since you seem to be pressed for conversation, continue it with First Dedicate Airhawk. Now."

Isas got up with a huff, slamming his books together as he exited the classroom. Niva shrugged and walked out the door, though silently she was trembling with fear. First Dedicate Airhawk had once made a boy recite every lie he had ever told when the boy refused to tell the truth about cheating on an exam. Rumor had it that the poor boy had stood delivering the list for hours, and had collapsed on the spot when the spell released him. He was called "Honest Hory" now, because he had never lied again.

That was not the extent of Airhawk's powers. Supposedly, he could scry the present, and watched the students continue through their daily activities with a scrutinous eye. Though she had never met Airhawk personally, experience told her that anyone who held a larger consequence than the gods in Earth Temple was worth avoiding.

Isas and Niva held their mute silence for scarce seconds, both contemplating what awful things would happen to them if Airhawk was not in a good mood. Isas broke the silence first. "This is your fault."

"No, it's not," Niva hissed. "Stop being prissy and acting as if it's all my fault when it's not."

"It is your entire fault, I don't need to act."

"Wanna act in pain?" she snapped. She was already tired of Isas, and would have dearly loved to knock him up a bit if she had not been warned that physical infliction of pain was prohibited. Instead, she contented herself to imagining him in serious hurting.

"I would love to see you try," he taunted. Niva took a deep breath, barely containing herself from landing a blow on him that would knock him out cold.

"And waste breath on a half-stick, jumped up noble's son who can't keep his beak outta my business when-"

"Admit the truth. You are scared stiff." Each word following was enunciated perfectly. "Just like a girl."

Nothing infuriated Niva more than those words "like a girl".

I oughtta knock your head through your sandals, she growled inwardly.

"Not as stiff as your beak," she retorted.

"I don't have a beak."

"Fine then, a blade of a nose. I've seen horses with shorter noses'n yours."

"But their manes weren't as coarse as your mane of hair," he sniffed.

Gods of mercy, save me before I kill this half-twit of a boy.

"Least I got hair, not an oiled rag top of my head," Niva countered.

Unknowingly the pair had reached Airhawk's office. Both hesitated in front of the wooden door until Niva knocked boldly and waited, hopping with impatience. She wanted to leave, now, leave this brazen crane of a boy with his too-long arms and nose and go back to the gardens she had discovered behind the dormitory.

A gruff voice came from inside. "Enter!"

Niva opened the door and stepped in, followed by Isas.

Niva had never seen the Dedicate, but had to agree that he made an impressing figure seated on a leather chair at a mahogany desk that held a small bowl of crystal clear water. A receding hairline was offset by the most spectacular beard Niva had ever laid her eyes on, bushy and salt and pepper flecked, with more salt than pepper. He was tall, lean, and had frightening dark eyes that seemed to swallow the person whose eyes he was holding. Right now, his view was making her heady and nauseous. Blinking woozily, she stopped trying to meet his eyes squarely and stared at her feet as her muddled head began to clear.

"Isas, slurring her family name will not aggravate Niva in the slightest," he began as soon as they cautiously entered the small office. "It is below a young man of your age and stature, and I expect you to refrain from it in the future."

Both jumped, startled at the thought that the infamous Dedicate knew what had happened. It made the whole situation from frightening to eerie.

Ha, Niva thought smugly as Isas's face tinged with red, though he continued to look at the man, or at least, a point near his head.

"And you, Niva." Airhawk turned his fearsome gaze to her, which she met squarely even as her knees turned to jelly- show Isas how to look at someone properly. "Provoked or not, your comments were also uncalled for."

She didn't bother asking him how he knew what her comments had been. Instead, she shrugged and nodded. The truth was the truth, and they had been more than called for.

"I don't want to see either of you in here again unless it's for a good reason. Understood?"

Niva nodded, as did Isas. Both left feeling slightly abashed, though the mute silence held a tone of relief- they had gotten off easy. The feeling soon faded as another dedicate strode quickly down the corridor. She was infamous for her strong perfume that was washing over them now.

Unknowingly, Niva began to analyze it mentally, as she always did with unfamiliar scents. Meanwhile, Isas was muttering frantically a little in front of her.

"Sweet peas, jasmine, guarana root, and, er, pillory . . ."

"Wrong," Niva sang, delighted to know something he didn't.

He glared at her. "I'm not wrong."

"Yes, you are."

"No."

"Yes. It's sweet pea, jasmine, cowslip, peony, and rose oil." Niva felt entirely certain of the mixture.

"It can't be."

"Watch." Niva quickly caught up with the dedicate and hurriedly bowed. "Dedicate?" she said meekly, the very picture of a humble novice.

The woman turned to her, her snowy white hair fluffy around her droopy face and deep-set blue eyes. "Yes, m'dear?"

"Your perfume. It's lovely."

"Why, thank you, dear." She turned to leave.

"Wait! What's it made of?"

The woman seemed delighted with the attention. "Why do want to know?" she asked, eyeing Isas, who was scowling in the background.

"Oh," Niva continued blithely, "my beau over there said he'd make some for me."

Isas paled with anger, his cheeks subsequently flaming red. Niva stifled a giggle. After getting in trouble so soon, Isas wouldn't dare respond to the jibe, though she would pay dearly for it later.

"Ah, young love," the woman said elatedly, eyeing Isas with a critical eye. "He's a handsome fellow," she whispered to Niva. "Tall, and straight, and lean. And such eyes!"

Niva almost gagged in shock, but contained herself. Barely. "He's well enough." Isas was hardly a specimen of male beauty. "So, what's the perfume got in it?"

The dedicate shook herself from her musings of young love and smiled down at Niva. "Sweet pea, jasmine, cowslip, and peony, with a hint of rose oil for fragrance. It's lovely, isn't it?"

"Stunning," Niva agreed, though silently she said, Just in smaller amounts. "Thank you, mum," she said, a triumphant grin on her face as she walked toward Isas, who was practically steaming at the ears.

"Dear, dear, boy, remember that," Niva said.

He glared at her.

She beamed back.

A.N.- All concrit welcome- this is going to be a three part story.