I felt lethargic as I slowly opened my eyes, hearing nurse Arryn, and professor Duskdore talk.

  “Fena, I told the Chancellor.” Professor Duskdore said, sounding out of breath. “He said we are not to let anyone find out about what happened here today, there will be a meeting in the hall shortly between council members. The student council was just announced, and students are dispersing as we speak. I came as quickly as I could.”

  “Pierce, this is a serious thing, this girl could’ve died.”

  “Let it go, Fena, it would cause chaos if it got out, and we don’t need that right now. I have to go, we’ll be having a council meeting about this shortly.”

  I lay still, waiting until his footsteps became distant. I let out a small groan, letting nurse Arryn know I was just waking up, even though that wasn’t entirely true.

  “Aries, dear, happy to have you back.” She said, scurrying over to my bedside. “How are you feeling?”

  “Surprisingly, not bad,” I replied.

  “That’s good to hear, you should feel like your old self in no time.”

  I thought about what Professor Duskdore said, that there was a council meeting about the incident.

  “Can I leave?” I asked, moving myself off the bed.

  “Uhmm, wouldn’t you want to lie down for a little longer?”

  “No, I’m okay, thank you,” I lied, as the room still spun when I moved my head.

  “Right, well then no reason to keep you.” Nurse Arryn shrugged. “Aries, if you could please ensure that no one knows about what happened to you today, just until we can understand how it happened.”

  I swallowed hard. They were hiding something big. “Of course.”

  “Right, off you go then.”

  I made my way back to the floating building, moving towards the assembly as a couple of students walked in the opposite direction. I saw Professor Duskdore whispering something to Professor Rartia at the side entrance of the hall, her eyes widening with every word that left his mouth. I snuck closer so I could make out words like ‘cover up’, ‘barrier’, and ‘memory spell’, but it was all so soft I could barely make out the rest.

  “Do you need something, Aries?” Professor Paskel asked, flanking me from the left.

  “Uhmm, no.”

  Professor Duskdore turned around, alarmed at how close I was to him and Professor Rartia.

  Professor Paskel rested his cane against my chest, moving me back, “The hall is off limits right now for a meeting, you’ll have to check back later, assembly has ended.”

  “I had no idea, apologies, Professor,” I said, giving Paskel a sweet smile.

  “I trust you can find your way back to Hiems, Vygros?”

  “Yes, Professor,” I nodded, watching Professor Duskdores’ alarmed eyes finally break away from me, following Professor Rartia into the hall.

  Dread filled me as Professor Paskel walked away. Why didn't any of them want anyone to know? Why did it feel like there was more going on than any of the students were aware of? I let out a soft sigh, before making my way back to the Hiems dorms.

  “Congratulations, Eros,” a small dark-haired girl squealed as soon as I walked into the Hiems common room.

  “Thanks, Vivienne,” Eros said, smiling.

  Eros looked up just as I was about to take a seat on an empty couch, gesturing for me to come to him.

  “Hey, how did it go?”

  “I missed the entire assembly,” I said.

  “I know, but how did the thing go?” he asked, nodding towards my hand.

  “It was painful,” I whispered. “It hurt so much that I fainted.”

  “Oh, Aries.” Eros frowned, his eyes softening.

  “I’m not allowed to talk about it with anyone…”

  “What do you mean?” Eros asked.

  “The Professors don’t want to cause panic because of what it was.”

  “The Professors know?”

  “Nurse Arryn informed them, and then it went to the council.”

  Eros nodded. “I guess it’s serious, at least it’s gone right?”

  I lifted my healed hand up towards him.

  “Thank the gods,” Eros breathed.

  “What did I miss?” I asked, noticing how many Mesial were patting Eros on the back as they walked by him.

  “The student council was picked.” He shrugged.

  As Eros finished his sentence my smart watch beeped.

  Trigon Admin: You have a new email from Trigon Administration.

  To: AllTrigonStudents

  From

  Subject: Student Council

  Dear Trigon Academy,

  It is with great pleasure that we announce the Student Council of Trigon Academy for the year 8985.

  Third Year:

  Azriel Aura

  Eros Altrus

  Khai Sephiran

  Mara Nyx

  Rafe Soren

  Second Year:

  Alya Alvatore

  Lucian Evillian

  Ziya Darkmore

  Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

  First Year:

  Oriel Donahue

  Congratulations to the new student council. We know this will be a challenging but rewarding role, and we look forward to seeing what great things you as a team will achieve during this coming year.

  Kind Regards,

  Trigon Academy Administration

  http://rrw.trigonacademy.realms’

  Every student in the room was reading the school's announcement. Some groups whispered with excitement, looking at Eros with googly eyes.

  “I guess congratulations are in order?”

  “Thanks,” he said, a rosy pink spreading across his cheeks.

  “Did I miss anything else?”

  “We don't have class for the rest of the day, but other than that, I wasn't as focused as I should've been.”

  “Why?” I asked.

  “Because of the thing.”

  “Stop calling it ‘the thing’,” I laughed.

  Eros blushed. “Sorry. What are you going to get up to for the rest of the afternoon?”

  “Now that we don't have classes, I may just go lie down for a little.”

  “That's good, rest up before class tomorrow.”

  “What about you?”

  “Not much, catch up on some reading.”

  “Well, I hope you enjoy your reading,” I said, getting up from the couch. “I'll see you tomorrow?”

  “Definitely.”

  Once I was back in my room, I reviewed my class schedule one last time.

  Wednesdays: Free Period, Elemental Theory, Alchemy, Lunch, Cryptozoology, Applied Elemental, and Herbology.

  “Where the Caedes is this class?” I muttered loudly, as I tried to make my way to Elemental Theory.

  “Do you normally talk to yourself?” Rafe asked, popping up around the corner.

  “Do you normally just pop up everywhere?”

  “Maybe.” Rafe smiled smugly. “Your Elemental Theory class with professor Rartia is that way.”

  “Thanks, how did you know?”

  “I’m not just a pretty face, Aries,” Rafe teased, looking playfully offended. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I don't want to keep Professor Colborn waiting.”

  Rafe was undeniably attractive, but he was too arrogant for his own good.

  I was hoping to be early for class, but by the time I had arrived all the water elementals were already seated. The room was gigantic, with a wide green board fitted on the wall, and large windows overlooking the school grounds on the right. Chandeliers made of enchanted water were scattered along the ceiling. The water droplets pulsated, creating a soft blue light across the room.

  “Aries, we saved you a seat right in the front.” Professor Rartia gestured, studying my face before her eyes darted over my hand and arm. “Now that we have all students here, welcome to your first Water Elemental Theory class.”

  Water sprayed across the ceiling, from one chandelier to the other. Different streams swirled around us, before evaporating into thin air.

  “In this class, you learn how to control your elemental magic, how to cast, protect yourself, and more importantly have a little bit of fun with your element,” Professor Rartia informed, smiling for a brief moment. “Do we have any volunteers to assist in kicking off the lesson?”

  “No one?” Professor Rartia’s eyes darted around the room.

  “I’ll assist,” Mara volunteered.

  Mara was seductively beautiful with her deep tanned skin, and dark brown hair. She commanded attention wherever she went.

  “Fantastic, Ms. Nyx, let's see what you can do,” Professor Rartia said, looking excited. “I want you to clean this glass of water.”

  “But it's clean?”

  “Is it?” Professor Rartia teased.

  The water changed from a beautiful clear to a murky brown, raising gasps from most of the first years. Mara seemed unphased and confidently turned her gaze to the water. She lifted both her hands towards the glass. The water started spinning, before changing back to the way it was, beautifully crystal clear.

  “Well done, Ms. Nyx.”

  Mara walked by, glaring at me. I remember hearing about the Nyx family growing up, but I couldn't remember anything that would leave Mara with such disdain for me.

  “Ms. Vygros,” Professor Rartia called.

  “Yes, professor?”

  “Let’s see what you can do,” she said, gesturing for me to come up to the front.

  I heard a couple of whispers around the room and tried to silence them out of my mind to focus.

  “Ms. Vygros, you are a first year correct?”

  “Yes, professor.”

  “But you are also a Vygros, one of the most powerful families in Tenebrous, are you not?”

  “Yes, professor.”

  “I want you to refill the same glass of water,” Professor Rartia directed.

  “How?”

  “I will show you once and then you will repeat, understood?”

  “Yes,” I agreed, nervously.

  Mara and the rest of the class’s eyes were fixated on me.

  Even though Gaduna Rartia was small and petite, her confidence radiated across the room. She had barely turned her watery irises towards the empty glass before it filled up with water to the rim.

  Professor Rartia emptied the glass, “Now it’s your turn.”

  I stepped up to the glass, focusing my attention on the water. I stared and stared, but nothing happened.

  “Clear your mind, Aries.”

  I narrowed my eyes, clearing my mind, at least thinking I was. The sound of students whispering around the room, and the feeling of their eyes focused only on me, not allowing me to focus on anything else.

  “Focus your energy on the water, not the glass, Aries.”

  “Maybe she’s a dud,” Mara quipped.

  “Mara, enough,” Professor Rartia warned.

  Soft giggles erupted around the room, with Mara sniggering and shaking her head in my direction.

  “Aries, try again.”

  “Come on,” I whispered.

  I looked down at the glass, hoping with every fiber of my core that I would make something happen, but I had no luck, giving Professor Rartia a look of defeat.

  “Aries, I know you’re overwhelmed, but try one last time.”

  I turned my gaze back to the glass, which had somehow filled with water. For a moment I thought it was me, but when the water started spraying all over me, leaving me soaking from head to toe, I knew it had to be Mara.

  “Ms. Nyx, Chancellor's office now,” Professor Rartia commanded.

  Mara was laughing uncontrollably. She gave me a mocking smile, before grabbing her things to head to the Chancellor’s office, not even the slightest bit bothered by her punishment.

  “Vygros, are you alright?” Professor Rartia asked.

  I nodded, humiliated. My father would have disowned me if he saw my underwhelming performance. The mighty Vygros heir couldn’t even fill a glass with water.

  “Your name carries a heavy burden, Aries, don't let that deter you from excelling at your magic.”

  I nodded. “Thank you, Professor.”

  “Go get dried up before your next class, the bell is about to ring.”

  I did as she said, and made my way to Alchemy. I lowered my head as I walked along the empty corridors, hair leaving a trail of drips behind me. I didn't know why elemental magic seemed so hard to conjure, especially since both my parents thought I’d be so good at it. Once I had squeezed most of the water out of my hair and managed to wipe the mascara lines from my cheek, I made my way to my next class.

  “Aries, you’re early,” Professor Orette stated.

  “Long story in Elemental Theory class, Professor,” I said.

  “Right, I don't exactly care to know, take a seat.”

  I frowned, taken aback by Professor Orette's coldness, but moved to the back of the class to find a seat.

  I heard bits and pieces of what Professor Orette was saying. “Alchemy is all about the philosophy of how to change basic substances like metal into other substances. We will study how those very substances are related to magic and astrology.”

  Looking around the room, I noticed Oriel sitting next to a blond guy. For a second, I thought about what it would be like to let another realmer in. Oriel was so friendly; unlike anyone, I’d encountered from my own realm. But if my father ever found out…

  The leftover water in my hair dripped all over my desk and shirt, wet patches clung to my skin. Professor Orette’s voice faded into the background as thoughts of failing at my elemental magic crowded my mind.

  A dud, that’s what Mara called me, and maybe she was right. Everyone including my family assumed I would be this incredibly powerful water elemental, but what if I wasn’t? What if it was never my destiny to be an all-powerful Vygros? The other Tartarean already didn’t like me, and now they had reason to taunt me.

  “Ugh,” I sighed loudly, forgetting I was in class.

  “If my classroom is boring you, Ms. Vygros, you are free to leave,” Professor Orette announced loudly, making the class of first years look back at me.

  “Apologies, Professor.”

  I sat in silence, feeling defeated, up until the bell for lunch rang.