“Aldona.” I look up and see Sister Hesta, who will be leading the session, walking over to me.
“Sister Hesta,” I respond politely, standing to attention.
She smiles slightly. “I want you to lead one of the teams today.”
Me?
I mask my surprise. “I’m only a second year, are you certain?” I ask politely, despite the satisfaction I feel over the fact that she even suggested me.
“Yes, and you are strong beyond your years. I want to see your skill as a leader, or if being a lone witch is all you will be.”
“I will aim not to disappoint,” I answer, determined to do my best.
It’s a challenge, because as witches we work better alone, unless things are preplanned… I skim across the witches as they teem in, going through everyone’s strengths. Depending on who Sister Hesta puts in my group, I should have an analysis of what they can do prior.
“Alright, today we’re doing something different! We received a gift that I requested from the King himself! And he delivered. This is going to be a little more dangerous, but it should help you for the overnight field examination that we will be having later this month!”
“Exciting,” someone says from behind. This class is for witches, but excluding those who have taken the healer’s path.
“So, we will work in two teams, in two separate parts of this field. We have a few teachers to help in case things go awry, but the winning team will be whoever defeats their opponent first.”
Opponent? So, we aren’t going up against each other.
A few of the other professors come onto the field, but they don’t hold my attention. Sister Hesta snaps her fingers, and the illusion she had created is brought down to reveal two large metal containers sitting on pallets. The shrieking from within makes my blood curdle.
Manananggals.
The containers shake and tremble as they scream to be free.
“Remember, they are rather hungry, too. This training can cost you your life,” Sister Hesta continues with a smile on her face.
And I’m in charge.
“Training for today, as you might have guessed, is to kill your manananggal first. The winning team will get some extra supplies on the Field Examination! Aldona leads team Sapphire, and Liremai leads team Ruby! If your palm is glowing red, you are on Team Ruby; the rest move to Sapphire!”
The sound of crisp grass crunching under the boots of the witches as they shuffle into their two teams is the only sound that I hear for a few moments as everyone obeys.
The witches on my team glance at me. For the most part, I have proven myself to them with class and grace, and for the few who still think I’m somehow just delusionally getting by, well, they’ll realise soon enough.
“Remember, manananggals are dangerous, be ready!” Sister Hesta raises her hand, ready to remove the seals on the containers, when Liremai steps forward.
“Won’t we get a few minutes for a strategy?!” she asks, casting me a disdainful look.
I turn my head and fire back an eye roll. “If we were attacked by a manananggal, we won’t have time to plan, but knowing you’re the team leader, you should be taking these few moments to perhaps start devising a plan, not complaining,” I reply haughtily.
“Snob,” someone mutters.
Call it what you want, it’s the truth.
Sister Hesta chuckles. “Aldona is correct, and it’s that attitude that will make you win. Now be ready!” she thunders,her voice magnifying as I step back, a partition rises between the two teams, and a dome is created around us, leaving us with the container inside the shimmering green walls.
“What is the plan?!” a first-year whispers.
She stands beside me. To be at this school, we are the strongest, but even strength doesn’t erase the quiet tremor before the first strike. Her eyes flick toward me, searching for certainty.
“We will be fine,” I tell her, hoping my confidence brings her ease.
“Fire witches, attack. Earth, hold the defences. Everyone else, protect the ones attacking. Olga, Maralai, you’re in charge of the left and right.”
