"You are such a brat, no?" An unfamiliar blonde girl appeared from behind her, "This is THE Freya Diruza." She introduced the first girl as if she were a queen.
Freya Diruza? The name sticks out but can't really place where it belongs.
"And I am Ali. He is Ashton Migler, so who the hell are you?" Ali barked.
A soft chuckle leaves my lips, "Are you deaf? I just said I don't see the compelling reason for me to tell you anything."
Freya folded her fist, eyes shooting daggers at me.
"Come on Frey, let's just relax." Ashton tried to get around the situation but the bomb had already escalated between us.
In the heat of tension, Storm appeared out of nowhere and rushed to where I stood. Took my hand and sharply turned to face Freya,
"She is new, she doesn't know you but I will explain it to her. Please, Freya."
Freya's steamed for a moment, then she gave Storm a glance and shifted her gaze on me as she said, "Teach her well else she won't be able to run that mouth for long." She faced Ashton, "Come on." And then they left. My gaze followed their retreating figure.
Storm slapped my shoulder. I winced.
"What is wrong with you? I thought I warned you about the three students you must stay away from? But in one freakin day, you met all three!"
"Aha! I was thinking where I heard that name, Freya, Ashton, and Rain." I chuckled.
Storm gave out an exaggerated groan, "You don't understand, do you? Freya could have blasted you with her water energy and you'd be dead by now."
"Dead?" My eyes lowered to the ground, "Death would be a gift to me."
She sighed and said, "I don't know where the hell Eagle plucked you from, but you are definitely not a village girl."
"I will see you around." Shot her a smile and strolled off.
Reached Sickly's office and knocked. "Come in." He yelled from inside.
Sickly's affluent cold office reminded me of my stepdad's study. He kept it simple and mature - bereft of any gaudy colors.
Sickly motioned for me to sit as he bends towards his desk and pull out a square shaped golden box.
"There used to be four elements of magic: water, fire, wind, and then …Light." He casted me a glance over his glasses, "But now there are officially only three."
He flipped the lid, removing a black hand statue placed on a silver plate. Only the thumb and index fingers were erected with a round transparent stone sandwiched between them, the other fingers were folded.
"This is the Bloodrial device, using your blood, we will be able to determine your element of magic." He explained, now picking up a small pin, "Give me your finger."
Extended my hand towards him. He took hold of my index finger and pricked it. Warm blood pumped out, he squeezed my finger - more blood rushing out, and then he let my blood drop onto the transparent stone. He cleaned my finger with a white cotton cloth and then released me.
"If the stone turns red, it means fire. Blue for water and purple for wind."
"Why purple for wind? The wind doesn't have any color." I spoke out of turn. Sickly flashed me a frown, "That was a stupid question."
I went mute and lowered my head, "Sorry."
Sickly ignored me, now focusing his attention on the stone as different colors started flashing on and off.
I leaned, growing curious by the second.
Half an hour later, the stone becomes transparent again.
"This is odd." Sickly mumbled, wary gaze studying my face as if I were a book. "Where did Eagle say you come from again?"
"A-A village in the west."
"Yes, I already know that. But where exactly in the west? Is it the mountains, the island, the town of Midrin or that um …" he snapped his fingers and sharply sucked his teeth, "What was it called again? Aha, Land of Rimi."
Swallowed a huge lump, sweat trickling down my face, "It is the uh …Land of um …"
A knock on the door saved my ass.
"Come in." He finally looked away, his eyes now pinned on the door. A male student walks in, "I am here to know my element of magic."
"Miss Freda, I am afraid I will have to investigate your situation a little more. Perhaps something you ate is hindering with this examination. I shall summon you later."
"Thank you, Sir." Sharply gave him a nod and hurried out of the office with a sigh of relief.
UNKNOWN POV
I sharply opened my eyes as if I had a sick nightmare, not a sick nightmare though. I just rose from the dead.
Sitting up with a groan, my eyes scanned the room and then fell on my body which has now transformed to my original form.
Wrapping my hand tightly around the knife, I yanked it out of my jugular with a soft groan and tossed it down - clattering on the floor.
I underestimated that girl Freda, she was swift and a skilled fighter; gave me a good beating.
After examining the room, noticed traces of magic. It seems a portal was opened here, it has to be someone with a teleport pass, probably a …Scouter.
If the master learns of my failure, I will be banned back to the dark lands. That cannot happen!
I followed her scent, it brought me to another realm - Ellorhia, she is here! I can feel her energy.
Staying in the shadows is my best skill, makes me invisible to naked eyes. To get close to her, her roommate is my best option.
Followed her scent to the hall, she seems to be in a squabble with some students. Storm showed up and saved her, then they parted. I followed Storm. She waddled to the library, searching for something.
My eyes studied her features, my bones molding, flesh squelching to imitate her body. Finally, I became her.
She turned to leave when our eyes met. Her mouth widened, the book wrapped in her hand falling off with a thud on the floor, "Who …What are you?"
My lips curved as I inched closer to her. "I am you." I said, swiftly grabbed a book from the shelf and knocked her out with it. She was too stunned to fight back, after all, how can one fight themselves?
I dragged her body deeper into the library and tied her in a secluded corner. It will take me less than an hour to kill Freda, take the light within her and deliver it to the master. I will be done before the real Storm awakens.
Freda, I am coming for you.
FREDA's POV
The relief I felt when that student showed up in that moment, if I had any money with me, I would have gifted him a hundred dollars at least.
On my way back to the students dorm, someone called me from behind.
Swiveled and found Storm approaching me in rushed paces,
"There you are. I have been looking for you." She said, smiling.
I glanced over her shoulder, "Where did you pop from?"
"Uh, the library. I had been meaning to give you a tour. How about I show you our school's pool?" She offered.
"Pool? And what's so interesting about it?" I was skeptical and mostly exhausted - I needed rest and Storm wasn't willing to offer that much to me.
"Come on." She grasped my hand in a tight grip and pulled me with her. She felt cold, "Did you swim? Why are you cold?" I asked.
"I am?" She immediately released me, "Must be the weather." She said, "Come on" took the lead and ushered me.
We reached the gymnasium and within the blue door at the end of the hall sits the massive square shaped pool.
The water in it churns - blue tiles reflecting from within it.
I stepped closer, stretching my head to see the pool, "This is beautiful."
"Did you think you could evade me?" Storm suddenly asked.
"Huh?" My head tilted slightly towards her, "Did you say something?"
Storm had a crazy look in her eyes and when she smiled, I noticed a striking familiarity with Trey Reed.
"The thing about light is…" The changeling started approaching me.
Slowly, I retreated, finally realizing it was not a familiarity, rather, it was really the changeling.
"How did you find me? What have you done to Storm?" I interrogated.
She continued, "It always attracts darkness." And suddenly, she pushed me.
Slipping, I plunged into the pool with a scream. The cold water pressed into my lungs, tried swimming up but the changeling had already jumped in was now trying to strangle me. I fought, even screamed - it came out in bubbles.
My eyes were burning in the water, i could barely see the changeling's wicked grin as it strangled me, and then everything went dark.
The next thing I felt was warmth that slowly went through my arm and instantly enveloped my entire body. My eyes shot open as the water in my lungs suddenly surged out, I sharply sat up and coughed out every little bit till my throat started to burn.
I am not dead.
I looked up to see my savior and staring back at me with a widened gaze turns out to be Rain Grey. My eyes shot to heaven, "How did you get here?"
He is like the cliche' male lead in a drama; always there to save the heroine.
Rain looks more shocked than me, his face had gone pale, and then he said, "What are you?"