Hi c:
So a couple of people have complained that the chapters are too short: I agree that they could be longer, but they're short for several reasons:
1) If I try to write for too long at a time, I get writers' block.
2) I don't have time to spend ages on here, as I'm pretty busy :/ So I come on when I have the chance and update in smaller parts more often, rather than occasionally uploading longer chapters.
3) I prefer to write in small chapters because I find, when reading fanfics, I lose interest if the chapters are too long.
So yep, basically I can't/won't make the chapters any longer. So if you don't like it, don't read my fanfics xD
Yours sincerely,
Catnip394
"Caelyn?" called Kieryan, on the day of the tests.
"Present," replied Caelyn. Kieryan marked a small cross by his name.
"Cato?"
"Present," Cato answered, confidently.
"Clara?" he said, next.
"Present," came Clara's cool voice.
"Clove?" he called, marking a cross by Clara's name.
"Present," I said, calmly, though inside I was shaking.
"Diana?"
"Present."
"Dylan?"
"Present."
"Elian?"
"Present."
"Freya?"
"Present."
"Lucile?"
"Present."
"Oak?"
"Present."
"And finally, Robin?"
"Present."
"That's everyone, then," Kieryan said, putting down the list. "We have two examiners, so two students can be tested at a time. Caelyn and Cato, please follow me. The rest of you, stay here.
Kieryan lead the two boys away, and we sat on plastic chairs and simply waited. Freya and Lucile chatted quietly. Clara sat close to Dylan; very close. Dylan put his arm around her shoulders, whispered something into her hair. She glanced at me and giggled.
I noticed Oak staring at me, and frowned at him, quizzically. He shrugged, and looked away. His eyes were brown; a deep, chocolate brown. I frowned slightly. Why did I notice his eye colour? Why did I care?
And why was he staring at me?
We waited in the room for an hour or so, until Kieryan arrived. Caelyn and Cato weren't with him; he explained that they were waiting in a seperate room, as it would give us an unfair advantage if they were to tell us what would be expected of us in the tests.
"Clara and Clove, please follow me."
We followed him through the corridors of the academy. After about 10 minutes, he stopped, motioning towards 2 identical doors.
"Clara," he pointed towards the left door, "Clove," he pointed towards the right door.
"Good luck," Clara told me, smirking slightly. I smiled back sarcastically, knowing she expected me to fail, and headed on through the right doorway.
I found myself in a large hall, three stern-faced examiners seated at the far end.
"Clove," they greeted me, in unison.
The examinations began.
First, they quizzed me on survival skills. I was asked to start a fire with a tinder and flint, name several edible plants from sketches, tie various different knots.
Then they gave me a bow and arrow, and I groaned inwardly. My first arrow missed the target. My second hit it and fell, and the final stuck in the outer ring. I was handed a sword, which I used to feebly decapitate the dummy. Fearing that I had destroyed my chances, my palms were sweating as I picked up the knives.
My first knife hit the bullseye. Relieved, I relaxed as I threw the second. It clattered to the ground.
The examiners were looking at one another, scribbling in their notebooks, shaking their heads. Desperate, I racked my brains for something I could do to impress them. My last chance to escape being an avox.
I ran over to a crate of tennis balls, as my minutes ticked away. Taking a handful, I crossed the hall, handing them to the puzzled examiners.
Choosing seven knives, I said "Throw them."
One of the examiners shrugged and threw one, and my knife left my hand, pinning the ball to the wall.
They raised their eyebrows, and each threw 2 of the remaining balls.
My hand was a blur as I threw the six knives. As the buzzer sounded to signify the end of my time, the knives pierced the 6 balls and pinned them to the wall with the first.
I smiled and walk out.
The next day, Kieryan told us how we had ranked:
Cato
Dylan
Clara
Clove
Oak
Caelyn
Robin
Elian
Freya
Diana
Lucile
I was fourth. I was safe.
Robin, Elian, Freya, Diana and Lucile were taken away. We never saw them again.
Well, I saw one of them again.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. That wasn't for a few years.
I'll get to that.