She narrowed her eyes and shifted into a seated position, clenching and unclenching her hands. She looked so frail now. How could that petite body cause something potentially catastrophic?
Her voice cracked, as she clutched her wrist to ensure the bracelet was still there. When she confirmed it was, she answered. “No. I mean I was at that game, on the ground, and then everything went black.”
So she didn’t remember what she had done. That wasn’t surprising. Anyone using their powers for the first time could wipe themselves out if they weren’t careful. The fact that she was older and her body wasn’t accustomed to it meant that the effects must have been more intense.
“We have a lot of work to do,” he said.
“What do you mean?”
“You have powers, Kamine. Powers that could kill us all.”
Kamine must have fallen asleep. When she woke up, her whole body ached. She adjusted herself to get more comfortable, and as she moved onto her side, she almost slipped out of the couch.
“It’s a mystery how someone like you received the powers you did,” Professor Grimot said from his own position on the opposite couch. He flipped a page in his book.
A soft blanket was wrapped around her legs, a feeling of warmth and safety.
“I think I need a recap of everything that transpired,” Kamine responded. Someone had taken her shoes off and brushed out her tight braid from earlier.
Everything from the last few hours—at least she thought it was only hours—had become foggy in her mind, like a window covered in condensation.
“There’s not much to say,” he said. “You had powers all along. It just took that game to finally get them to come out, or more likely your mind finally figured out exactly what was needed to call them out.”
Kamine wondered why that was. It wasn’t the first time she found herself in a life-threatening situation, and yet, her powers had never shown themselves, then. So what was different this time? Maybe it was as simple as the fact she was thinking too much about using her powers in all her previous attempts.
“I think it was because you were close to the ground.”
Kamine whipped her head to him, but he was still reading his book. “What?”
He shut the book. The fireplace crackled with flames, giving a warm glow to his face. It outlined his strong nose and sharp chin. His hair was pulled back tightly into a bun.
“Your whole body was on the ground when everything shook, your hands directly on it. You’ve tried so many pointless techniques, but likely never tried laying on the ground.”
Kamine supposed not. It wouldn’t make sense to do that if she were trying to get a rock to float. With these powers, on the other hand, it seemed reasonable that getting down to ground level would help her connect with her magic.
“I guess I should thank you, then?” she asked.
His fingers stopped their gentle tapping on the leather cover of the book. “Now, we need to train this power so that you can do it standing. Relying on having to lie down during your Undertaking would be a death sentence.”
“I’m not even sure how this power will help. Moving the ground doesn’t stop the falling rocks from hitting anything. I’d likely just kill someone by causing homes to crumble on top of innocent lives.”
“So we hone it,” he said seriously. He turned his palms upward and a few rocks pulled towards his palms, like he had a magnet in his bones. “All of our powers can destroy. It’s one of the first things we learn to do with it. The next step is putting everything back together. That part is harder to master, some never do.”
“And you’re willing to take on that role for me? Toactuallyteach me?”Instead of just sitting by, she thought, but didn’t voice.
He faced her fully now, and rested his elbows on his thighs. His white sleeves were rolled up, revealing his muscular arms, with those two stones in his clavicle on full display. “I’m your magic professor, am I not? I would be failing at my job if I didn’t.”
He said it with arrogance, but there was something deeper in those black eyes, as if he was making a promise with himself that failure was not an option. For some reason, Kamine was now a part of that internalized decree, and she couldn’t afford to fail him. They were in too deep. She just wondered what methods he would employ to get her powers to unleash, and then tame.
Eleven
“Iheard Kamine had some kind of breakthrough,” Dritoria said. Though her tone shifted to displeasure as she added, “After I heard that she almost got killed again.”
Professor Grimot and Headmaster Dritoria were in the first room of the school—the only room where any sun filtered through. With a metal watering pot in hand, she nurtured the few plants that basked in the light of the school’s one rare window. She looked so at peace as the sun lit her face, her dark skin glowing.She belonged out in the world,he thought. Not in this dark hellhole. But she was dedicated to her students, and he applauded her for the sacrifice.
Grimot had been on his way to his room and, unfortunately, had bumped into the Headmaster. He knew he would need to explain himself. Word spread that Kamine had been hurt,again. It wasn’t directly his fault this time, but he was still to blame for even bringing her to the game, despite it being a tradition that Headmaster Dritoria sanctioned and surely participated in, herself, years ago.
“Correct,” he finally responded, hands clasped behind his back. “Her powers are much greater than any of us could have expected. I’m now working to ensure that she can use them properly.”
