Chapter 10 – Strengths and weaknesses
Pippa had called Ambros and Mildred to her office as she wanted to go through the reasons behind the staff's decision of picking them both. She knew this discussion would not be easy though she was confident in them both.
Ambros was first to arrive, and they waited for Mildred who walked in ten minutes later with a face like thunder.
"Come on in Mildred". Miss Pentangle smiled warmly.
"I wanted to speak to the both of you together to prevent me having to say it twice. Now I can tell neither of you are happy about our decision in picking you for the upcoming trial, now I wanted to let you both know that we have complete faith in you both and that we did choose very carefully".
"Super carefully". Mildred muttered with raised eyebrows.
"We have seen a drastic improvement in all the academic fields with you Mildred, even your flying is much better than it was, you may actually be able to take your flying exam with everyone else at this rate".
Mildred looked at Miss Pentangle as though she had lost her marbles.
"Ambros you were chosen as you are in the top five of the class of which you are the only boy in the top five. We have complete faith in you both, Ambros if there's nothing you want to say you are free to go". She watched as he left the room. "Mildred, I know your livid though I do have some good news. Maud Spellbody has been chosen as one of Cackle's first years as well as another student. Also, Enid Nightshade will be joining us.
Mildred perked up at this news. "When are they coming?". She asked.
"Next Monday, along with the other students from all nine schools, I will assume you would like to be in a room with Sapphire, Maud and Enid?".
"Yes please". Mildred breathed. "I guess the other person from first year will be Ethel?"
"Unfortunately, though her antics will not be put up with here, mark my words. We have a zero tolerance for bullying here. Our school, our rules". Miss Pentangle stated with a solemn expression that told Mildred that she meant what she said.
The following day There was another announcement, and everyone was sitting quietly whilst listening to their headmistress speak with respect.
"The students from the other nine schools will be with us next Monday. First, second and third years will be doubling up. There will be a list up in each lounge which states who you will be doubling with, if you're not happy we will see if we can change it. I do not want any fights or duels going on do I make myself clear? That includes spitting venom at them". She looked around the room and noticed many of her students were nodding.
"What if they start it?" Zack asked.
"Then a member of staff will deal with it. We have held a zero-bullying tolerance within the school for the past twenty years and we have not had any in years, we would like to keep it that way. Our school our rules. The students of ours competing will not be attending normal lessons this next week. A new timetable is being sent out to you as I speak now, I will give you a moment to look at it".
Mildred and Zack looked at theirs and realised they where still in the same classes together however they classes were no longer, potions, spell science, chanting or flying. They are now, survival skills, the elements, defence and offence, disguise, and teamwork. They were both very confused as they looked at the other competitors, they realised that they too were confused.
"I can say that I expected the looks of confusion. Trial of the times will test you and it will require your entire magical skill set. Each competitor of ours has been chosen very carefully, each one of the fourteen has a different quality to the others of which you will all figure out. You will go into the trial as a big team of fourteen, you may end up in smaller teams, however the entire team has to cross the finish line. You will need to focus on your own team, the staff will be situated all over the forest to ensure no accidents happen, that will be our staff including our grounds staff, some of the other teachers from other schools have volunteered to be situated around the forest as well. The trial could take a day, it could take a week, it entirely depends on your teamwork. The record for the trial of the times has been three months".
"Whose idea was this?" Martha asked.
"Mine actually" Miss Pentangle responded with a half laugh.
"Someone please send this woman for a cat scan, our school might depend on it". Martha stated whilst shaking her head in disbelief.
Over the next week the fourteen competing in the trial of the times had all their new classes in the forest. Mr Spellman and Miss Fountain went through the different berries and plants. Quizzing them on which ones were edible and which would make them ill, they also went through carnivorous plants. Luckily for the fourteen there were five of which were green witches, so this was not a problem for them. They realised that this would be one reason why they were chosen as well as their magical skill set.
Miss Quickstep went through some flying aspects as well as tree climbing and best types of places to hide. There was a member of staff that only those in fourth year and above knew, this was Mr Light-ray, he was a tall man with long hair who taught spell science. He went through different ways of disguise. He asked the green witches to come forward, they were very confused, and he had them hold their hands out and low and to circle their wrists, they did so and they felt the pull of the earth, they were then asked to pick a plant to disguise as. One went with a Dabbat el-art, this plant was red with black spots that had six petals that formed a mouth and hundreds of tiny razor sharp teeth on the inside of each petal which you could tell went down the inside of its stem. The others chose a tall Venus fly trap, another picked a heavy boulder, and one became a part of a tree. This magic was seldom seen. Mildred and Zack rather liked Mr Light-ray he had similar way of teaching to Mr Spellman.
"Green witches are earth benders, they are not called green witches for nothing, I am loving the boulder, Worrick, he's the least likely to get attacked although Martha's is just as impressive, believe it or not no-one will suspect a tree especially with a student so well disguised". He gave some spells for the students to try so that they could see what they prefer.
There was another teacher that the first years did not know, and this was Miss Rein, she taught them about the elements, as basic and obvious as the students thought it would be. It turned out they knew very little. Miss Rein went through each element meticulously and how the students could use each one to their advantage. However, she was very clear that lightning and suffocation was never to be used and was a one-way ticket to Wormwood academy for the criminal. This teacher was a mixture of Miss pentangle and Miss Hardbroom. Surprisingly Mildred didn't mind her and found she could put forth her opinions in the class discussions.
Miss Pentangle went through teamwork with them. She brought out a ridiculously long broom which stood six students on at a time and the goal was to get everyone from one side to the other without anyone falling off. She also made a version of an escape room in the main hall which they all thoroughly enjoyed.
The fourteen were sat in one of the schools' grassy courtyards and they were discussing the upcoming trial.
"Mr Light-ray, is he always like that?" Zack asked.
"Yep, he's very similar to Mr Spellman, isn't he?" Verity replied.
"How many teaching staff is there?" Mildred asked.
"Forty-two, I believe, we are in good hands" Martha stated.
"Millie what are your strengths?" Cobain asked kindly.
All of them stopped talking and waited for Mildred to respond, who looked rather taken aback after being put on the spot.
"I don't know, I don't have any" Mildred said confused.
"Everyone has strengths and weaknesses; it would be good to get it out in the open so we can figure each other out more. Help us all play to our strengths". Melody reasoned and then looked back at Mildred. "I've heard you have an eye for detail, art is your best subject".
"No way? that will seriously come in handy for disguise and I bet your probably good at problem solving, with an eye for detail". Klaus reasoned.
They went through each other's strengths and weaknesses. Where a fair few lacked in confidence their strengths more than made up for it.
Pippa had chosen her students for the trial with precision, she had picked a team that could work together. She had the perfect view of the grassy courtyard from her office window, and she watched as they were all discussing something, she did not want to pry. She would be proud to know they were figuring each other out, she watched them laugh and joke with each other and get along swimmingly.
There was a soothing music coming from behind her and her favourite song was playing. Pippa loved the song walking in the air by Chloe Agnew. It was the song that always played when she was being mirrored. She turned around to answer it and she was slightly surprised to find it was Hecate.
"Hi". Pippa said softly.
"Hi, I called to see if Monday was still our arrival day".
"It is, unless you're wanting to come later in the week, though most are arriving on Monday".
"Monday is fine, what exactly will our students be doing for the week?"
"You may use the forest as needed for any training; your students may join ours in classes though they will be treated as if they where our students, to ensure everyone is treated the same. Entirely your choice, providing you don't wreck the place". Pippa responded with a wink at the last part.
"Interesting, are we aloud in those classrooms?" Hecate replied with an air of suspicion.
"Entirely your choice, providing my staff can do their jobs". Pippa smiled as she knew Hecate far too well.
"How are you Pip, in general?" Hecate asked rather softly, a voice she seldom used.
"Same old, it's been an interesting week to say the least". Pippa laughed; she noticed the puzzled look upon Hecate's face. "My competing students had a go at an escape room in our main hall. Surprisingly they cracked it in two hours, we did make it ridiculously hard for them".
"How is Zack doing? He was in a state when you got him wasn't he?"
"He was, he's much better he's around the right weight now and is sleeping much better. Thank you for the tweaked version of the Calming solution".
"You're very welcome".
"How have you been, Hiccup?"
"Still using that name you used to call me in school?"
"Yes, yes I am" Pippa softly said with a cheeky glint in her eye.
"I too am fine, the usual. Are your students ready for what lies ahead?"
"They are, and yours?"
"Most of them are, I have to go as Dimity wants me for something, I'll see you on Monday, oh before I go what's the best way of getting to yours?"
"I'll be putting a portal up on the grounds of each school which will bring you out to my school".
"See you Monday" Hecate said softly.
"See you Monday" Pippa breathed.
They both stood up at the same time and as Pippa walked away before Hecate ended the call, she took a really good look at the gorgeous woman in pink.
Hecate and Pippa as it so happened, loved each other, though no-one was making that first move. They had been rekindling their friendship since the spelling bee. Their friendship was almost back to how it was before Hecate randomly one day just stopped talking to Pippa.
Pippa planned on being the one to make that first move, she knew Hecate loved a good walk in the woods and picnics, it was a very Hecate thing. She had planned on being around her as much as she could without it seeming too obvious. The Picnic she would do on the day after the trial, this would be the last day with Hecate. She wanted to make sure the students wouldn't see or any other staff, she knew a spot that only herself and the green witching staff knew off, it would be the perfect spot.