Tina raised her head as she heard Jack's voice. She wiped the tears of her eyes and cheek and met his question with a smile. Anything to hide the fact that a simple thing like this could cause tears in the girl's eyes. A smile and a blush. He must have considered her just as much a loser as she considered herself. She stumbled over a bucket and a broom, for heavens sake. She lowered her head again to avoid eye-contact. She was ashamed of being embaressed and she was ashame of being so clumsy. This was the kind of things she had been doing all life and that her siblings made fun of her for.
"It would be nice, yes"
Her voice was weak, almost whispering. She gently removed the book from his hands, still looking down onto the floor. She carefully put the book into the bag, but it fell right down and out trough the hole on the bottom of the bag. She fought more tears to not have him see how sad she was over such a minor. She gently picked the book up again, putting it under her arm. She ran her hand into the bag to check about the hole. And indeed, the hole had gone larger. It was more a tiny tunnle than a bag for the time being. She was so embaressed.
"On second thought. You probably have better things to do. I can handle this"
She said, looking into her bag.
Originally posted by spongeherbobBrad was sorry for Eve but he didn't want make her feel as if he was feeling pity for her. "Well," he said, "I'm just going to have to work that much harder to make you feel better today, huh? Well let's see what I can do.
Eve smiled and nodded her head as she started out in the hallway. She then remembered that she now has to explain the song she was playing on her ocarina, she turned towards him while walking "Well, the song I was playing was a song my mother had taught me before she died on my 6th birthday, the same days I finally learned about my powers" she said as she started to go over the memory in her head, she didnt know why she was telling him everything but she figured someone out in the world should know, she was tired of carrying her past alone. "She showed me how to play it but I was never good at playing it, to inspire me she even bought me a new ocarina, it was baby blue with a green design, not as pretty as hers though" she said with a smile not realizing that Brad has successfully pulled her from bad memories and into good ones, she was feeling better. "She would always fuss when she caught me drawing instead of practicing but she never minded it when I would show her my drawings" her face slightly fell, she never did like showing others her drawings after her mother died, she guessed that was why.Eve shook her head and smiled at him "The song was apparantly passed down in my family, it is said that the original song had beautiful lyrics but for some reason people stopped singing them, but I never paid too much attention to that, the song seemed beautiful and strange" she gave a sad smile "I guess I only truly knew how to play it after she died"
"How do you feel about international food. There's this little place that I know that my dad used to take me and my mom to when I was younger. He died so I know how you feel. But I don't want you moping, so I'll just leave that subject alone." He was sticking his foot in his mouth again.
andrew kept going to the end of the dummy practice..the last one was tricky, it had waves of dummies in a circle , set on on automated dolly's, moving inward towards the person...normally, this would be the hardest, but andrew was calm..this one, in his opinion, was the most fun, and one of the easiest...
andrew relaxed, and drew his celestial energy around him...in a flash, he spun in a circle, swinging his hammer with all his strength..needless to say, the 1st wave was sent flying..in 10 swings, there was nothing but scattered dummies and half, broken dolly's strewn all over the floor..andrew left the room grinning..that was too easy he thought to himself..I'm not getting the real practice i should be getting..
Eve smiled at Brad, she just remembered that she hadnt ate since morning and she was hungry. Her stomach gave a big growl of approval about the thought of food. Eve blushed and scratched the back of her neck sheepishly "Sure, I had forgotten to eat today anyway" she said quetly as she lowered her hand "Well, since I dont know the direction, I guess I will be following you" she said gaining a smile again
Sebastian sat outside in a very isolated spot, meditating for now. He wanted to relax his mind for now and keep himself from any grueling training for today. He did not want to do anything he will regret by injuring himself. Sebastian opened one eyes, sensing a chirp on his right side. He turns his head to the right to see a unique looking bird stand on his shoulder.
Sebastian: Nothing in our world is isolated when even animals and all living creatures can enter wherever.
Sunday, 5:00 PM
Headmaster Quiin sat silently in his office waiting to begin the final gathering before the Field Exams. In came Master Cecil, Locke, Helen, and all the other Cielo Masters who would be leading the teams in this year's Field Exams. On Quiin's desk was a pile of paper that was already people sending in missions for the students from all over Bulma Island. Quiin stood up and started.
"We have finally come to the last stages before the Field Exams. This is a critical moment for these students. This will make or break them. Many will discover that they are not fit to become Cielo Warriors...while very few will find the strength they need to make it," Quiin paused for a moment. "We have some we need to keep an eye on. These students could prove to be a great asset...or a terrible threat. The Field Exams is the final transaction from child to adult. Only the strong can survive this. We have had many...many die in the past from the Field Exams. Students will die again this year...there's nothing that can be done about that.
"But we must prepare these students the best we can during the Field Exams. Pushing them beyond their limits. Master Cecil, Master Locke, and Mistress Helen...you three will give out the test this Wednesday. Remember which students to keep your eye on. Sebastian, the younger brother of Aramis, and Eve. I can see a grand future for them all...or a terrible one for us."
Quiin turned around and prepared to give an announcement to the entire academy. The masters lined up single file and took a sheet of paper from the pile and headed off. Cecil, Locke, and Helen were the last three ones up but they did not leave. Quiin sat down and begun to address the academy.
"This is Headmaster Quiin speaking," the sound of his voice echoed throughout the halls of the academy. "Tomorrow is the Festival of the Moon. It is a celebration of the completion of the Bulma Academy. Wednesday the Team Tests will be given and the results for that test will determine who you are grouped with. The groups will try to be balanced based on the results of the test. Then on Sunday the teams shall be announced. Monday the Field Exams begin. Those students not willing to take the Field Exams have till Wednesday to back down.
"For if you take the test your fate is sealed. I'm not going to try to tell you that the Field Exams will be easy...for this is a very dangerous month for you. Many students have died in the past. I understand fully if you do not think you are ready. If you have no belief in yourself just yet then you have no chance to make it. May Aon watch over each of you and allow him to lead you. Thank you."
Quiin turned to face Cecil, Locke, and Helen who still stood side by side in his office. Each one was well known for a different trait. Cecil is known for his fighting styles, Locke is known for being able to control the elements, and Helen is known for her powerful healing abilities mixed with grand offensive attacks.
"Well..." Helen said pausing for a moment. "We shall see how many shall pull out for the Field Exams."
"We've done all we could," Locke replied. "It was all up to the students to take what we taught and apply it. If they didn't it was because they were lazy and had their mind focused on the wrong things."
"Sounds cruel," Helen said, "but that's the truth."
"You know what to do," Quiin said. All three nodded and left his office. Quiin sat silently looking out his window which overlooked the garden. The festival was all ready and all that was left to do was wait till tomorrow when the festival started. Quiin has watched some great students go off into the Field Exams and try a mission that was beyond their limits and die because of it.
Originally posted by ESB -1138
"No, I really have nothing to do for the rest of the day," Jack replied. Jack started to gather up her papers that fell from her bag. The scattered around everywhere and a few got soaked because of the water that fell out of the bucket.
Tina took a paper up and observed the soaked thing as it dripped. She sighed before starting to gather all of the paper. Most of it was notes and texts that would help her out in the test and she shook her head slowly, as she folded them and put them in her pocket. They sure would not stay in her bottomless bag if she put them there. She raised her head and looked at Jack.
"Thank you"
Her voice was quiet, yet a tad bit comforted by the fact that he helped her out.
She arched her ear as she heard the speakers of the school activate. It was Master Quiin with a briefing of the week scheduele. The festival seemed like a fun event and Tina had looked forward going to it. The only thing that was a bit sad, was the fact that she had no-one to...... She stopped her thinking and stared blankly into the ground. Her cheeks turned into a gentle, rose red color.
"Listen. Are you going to the festival with someone? I have no one to go with. So I was thinking that since I do not have someone to go with, that means I was going alone. If I was going alone then there would be room for someone else- By my side- When I go- to the festival- tomorrow- by my own- without anyone- Unless. So I thought that maybe you would like tooooo........- "
She paused and looked up, into his eyes. An icecold chill went trough her body as she broke eye-contact. What was she thinking? So stupid. He would never go with her.
She quickly looked back down, gathered the final books and had them wrapped inside her arms. Her papers was put into her pockets quickly, messy, sloppy, as she got up on her feet.
"- ..... Nevermind. Thank you for the help with the books and papers!"
"You stupid Tina" She kept thinking to herself as she turned her back on Jack and started walking with tense, quick steps, hugging her unfortunatly wet books tight. By hugging something tight, it always helped her to fight of stupid emotions for minor things.
Bralor stood inside of a training room, as he had been doing for most of his stay here so far. He was using his red sword, which had a slight glow to it. It was made from a type of ruby crystalline-titanium alloy, etched with symbols of the ancient Maldarians, which gave it special properties. He hadn't really understood what these properties were, so he ignored it mostly.
As he used his scimitar to slice down on the dummies, his precision was improved. Bralor could slice at every joint, at every exact location to make his enemy bleed profusely, drop their weapon, or take off their limb or head, killing them.
Jack watched Tina walk away. He noticed she forgot her mirror. Jack bent over and picked it up. When he looked up Tina was gone. Jack saw a crack running down the mirror. Jack looked at the crack for a moment then decided to head back to his dorm. Jack sat the mirror down on his desk that was covered with newspaper articles, notes, books, music sheets, and anything else. Jack walked over to the window and looked outside. His eye was drawn to his ring he wore that was his brother's gift to him when he first came to the academy. The ring had the head of a lion on it and was made of fine silver.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Master Helen walked in on Bralor attacking the dummies. She was pretty impressed with his aim, "not bad." She said examining the dummies. "But a still target is always easier to hit than a live one. I wouldn't count on your opponents to give you the same treatment. But your aim is impressive. If you can control your Celestial you may make it through the Field Exams."
"Child, I am way out of your league," Master Helen replied with a giggle. She waltzed over to the battle arena anyway. Master Helen kept her long jacket on just because she knew her Celestial level was far beyond his. "But if you want to spar then I would be more than happy to put you in your place."
Originally posted by spongeherbob"You know, Eve. You have a beautiful smile. You should do it more often and I can guarantee that you will after you have some of this delicious food."
Eve smiled at Brad, she just remembered that she hadnt ate since morning and she was hungry. Her stomach gave a big growl of approval about the thought of food. Eve blushed and scratched the back of her neck sheepishly "Sure, I had forgotten to eat today anyway" she said quetly as she lowered her hand "Well, since I dont know the direction, I guess I will be following you" she said gaining a smile again
Brad took Eve to a restaurant named "From Our Country to Yours". It was a nice place. There was nothing romantic about it but the ambiance of it was humbling. The waiter greeted, seated and handed them the menus. "You can order whatever you like. But may I recommend the Manicotti Florentine. It's the best thing to have at lunch," he smiled.
Bralor knew that he couldn't contend with this person. She was obviously one of the superiors here, but he wasn't a pushover himself. Not for his age, anyway. He would lose, but he was determined to give this master a run for her money. Bralor just hoped that he was at least on an average level of combat.
He stepped into the arena, standing in his own sword stance that he had developed over the years. It still had many flaws, flaws that he hoped to eliminate at his stay here, but it was a force to be reckoned with.
"Your move." he said.
Tina got back to her room, slowly walking in and slamming the door. She walked up by the bed, dropped all the books and papers before throwing herself on the bed. She burried her head in the pillow and screamed, into the sound-dampening pillow. What does it take to not be a loser? Her brother and sister made it out just fine, so why could not she? She wish she was as smart as her brother, or had the look like her sister. The strength of her father or the agility of her mother. But nooooo, she had to be the clumsy, second rate one.
She sighed as she thought about her pretty sister. She bended down to the bag, looking into it. A cold rush went trough her spine, as she shook it wildly. She then spread the pile of books down the ground. Where was it? She searched trough the papers. Then it got to her, and once more she turned to her pillow and screamed into it.
"I forgot my mirror and comb in the hallway! Of course I did! If I did not, I would have had luck and that would simply not be me!"
She sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed, staring in the direction of the door. She took a couple of deep breaths before getting up and walking to the door. That mirror was her second most valuable item, sentimentaly. She walked out of her room, looking down the hallway. She decided to walk down the hallway, to the place where her mirror was.
Unfortunatly as she arrived, all she could find was a wet floor and an empty bucket. As she kicked the bucket, she found her comb. A little smile got to her face, but that meant that someone had taken the mirror.
But who?
Sunday, 5:30PM
Master Helen lifted her left hand in front of her face and gathered her energy into it. The entire floor became covered in ice. Helen's feet became coated with ice so that she wasn't affected by the slippery surface. Master Helen then rose pillars of ice to surround Bralor and each one was completely clear and each one an image of Helen appeared. All the copies seemed to look just like Master Helen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jack examined Tina's mirror and decided to fix it. The crack wasn't that bad and Jack knew had to fix such things. His family was pretty famous for fixing diamonds and other fine jewelry and he learned a thing or two. Everything he was missing could be replaced with his Celestial that allowed him to fix the crack. The mirror was good as new in no time. Jack looked into the mirror and the reflection was perfect. Jack wrapped it in a fine cloth and sat it in his bag.
With that Jack headed out of his dorm and decided to go look around for something that he could use to prepare himself better for the Field Exams.
Bralor lost balance for a moment, but thrust his blade deep into the ice, grounding his own feet. He glanced around at the pillars.
Multiple images of the same person... he thought. None of them can be her, otherwise, she'd leave herself vulnerable to attack. I wonder, though...
He utilized the little knowledge of celestial energy he had and sent a pulse of aura through his weapon. It emitted a red wave, capable of breaking through the hardest of rocks, which extended in all directions against the bases of the pillars.
The pillars of ice all came tumbling down causing ice to fling up creating a circle of mist around Bralor. Master Helen appeared out of the mist and tapped Bralor's left shoulder with her index finger causing his left arm to become trapped in ice. Master Helen jumped back into the mist and vanished into it.
"They don't call me the Mistress of Ice for nothing child," Helen said with her voice echoing from all corners of the arena.
Bralor glanced at his left shoulder. She could have done that to his entire body. The coldness of the ice drilled through his black sleeve, searing into his pale skin. He slammed his frozen arm directly against his blade, cracking the ice. The pain was caustic, his arm numb and brittle. It was free, though, and that was enough. It was severely weakened, and he wouldn't be able to strike with the efficiency that he normal would. Thoughts of striking her were a bit premature, considering she could vanish into thin air.
With all his might, pulled the sword upward, shattering the ice below him. Bralor struck both of his boots into the ground below, retaining his balance, and then swung his scimitar around in a ring. It made a shockwave, which resonated through the mist around him, blowing it away from him.