She seemed shocked for a second before returning to her gentle smile. “Well then, let’s see.”
I followed her to a table with five boxes at the other end of the room. She went to the opposite side and stopped in front of the first box. “Let’s start with the easiest to identify.” She lifted the top and revealed a small planter with several flowers blooming. I wasn’t sure what to do, and I didn’t want to cause another earthquake.
“Hold your hand directly over the flowers.”
I lifted my right arm and hovered my palm a few inches over them.
Nothing happened for a few seconds, then all of the blossoms leaned in one direction, toward my hand. My eyes widened, and I wanted to pull away but didn’t move.
“Good.” She made a note and returned the cover before taking a step to the next one and lifted it. A bowl of water stood still. My heart pounded as I moved my hand over it. Was it going to shoot all over the room?
I sucked in a breath as the water rippled and droplets rose until they touched my palm.
“Interesting.” She made another note, and I wiped my wet hand on my jeans as she continued down the line.
The next box held a candle, which she lit, and I returned my hand to the position. I waited, watching the flickering flame, but nothing else happened.
“Okay.” She blew it out. The next one was a glass cylinder with glitter in it. I stared at it, and she laughed lightly. “If you can manipulate air, the glitter will move. It’s the most obvious way to see movement.”
That made sense. I held my hand over it, but after about twenty seconds, nothing happened.
“This next one is different,” she began. “The ability to manipulate Space, or ether, used to be more common, but over the past two centuries, it’s become quite rare. It includes changing the weather, creating and removing light, and influencing gravity.”
This one sounded by far the most interesting, but I doubted I had it if it was so rare.
A light bulb sat on the table, and she turned it on. I put my palm over it and waited for something to happen. It dimmed for a second, then went back to normal. I sighed and dropped my arm. I waited for a reaction from her but she quickly added a note before returning her attention to me.
“It appears you were correct. You have two strong affinities.” She grinned. “That means you have twice as much to learn, but don’t let yourself worry. The academy is full of people who can help you.”
I hoped so. Otherwise, I’d be expelled by Christmas. As much as I already missed my family and wanted to go home, having confirmation that I belonged here made me determined to stay. I had to learn all I could so it would be safe for me to be around my family again.
“You can take this to your counselor, and he can get you in the right classes.” She handed me her notepaper, and I went back to the chair to add it to my folder.
“I don’t normally offer extra help, but you are in a unique situation. If you would be interested in my tutoring you, we can come up with a schedule that works for both of us.”
“Thank you. I would really appreciate that.” She was so nice, and I would need all the help I could get.
“Now go on. The start of term assembly is at ten, and you don’t want to be late.” She walked me to the door of her office, and I thanked her again before taking the stairs down to the main floor and heading outside to go back to the administration building.
Only a few people milled around. It was probably class time, so I rushed down the path without the crowds. When I reached the back entrance of the building, I froze. I skimmed over the rulebook last night, but fell asleep before finishing.
I pulled out the packet and quickly signed the back like I was supposed to before heading inside. I hadn’t noticed anything that stood out from the basic rules I was used to from my old school. No mention of promising my first-born child for a sacrifice or offering myself up as a blood donor. I could finish reading over them later. I doubted there was anything all that unusual, and it wasn’t like I was the rule-breaking type.
Chapter 10
Istepped into the office, and Ms. Personality didn’t bother looking up again.
“I’m here to see Mr. Haddon,” I said quietly.
Without acknowledging me, she lifted the phone and held it between her ear and shoulder.
“Dallon, you have a student here.” She hung up before he could reply and continued typing.
I didn’t bother thanking her, just stepped back and waited silently.
“Good morning, Saige.” Mr. Haddon waved me to follow him back to his small office. “How did the assessment go?”
I took the same seat as the day before and pulled out the note Mrs. Hedgings gave me. “I have two affinities.”