My eyebrows scrunched as I processed all this information. “So what element could my mother control?”
“Elayna was earth, air, fire and spirit, one of the most powerful and unique combinations. Controlling four elements is very rarely seen among the fae.”
I raised my eyebrows at this. “Is there anyone who can control all five elements?”
Penelope nodded. “Just one, and she is our queen and your grandmother.”
“If the fae are so powerful, how come mages rule these lands?”
“In ages past, the fae were feared and revered by all races, but over the centuries—for reasons unknown—the magic of the fae has become weak,” Penelope explained. “Most of the fae born now are either air- or earth-fae. Fire-, water-, and especially spirit-fae are very scarce, and there is only a handful of your grandmother’s fae-knights left to defend her kingdom.”
I nodded. It was enthralling learning about the fae, but students had started filing in, so more would have to wait.
Healing was an eye-opener. I never expected that I could use my powers to heal, and to such a degree, although it would take years of intense training to do what Penelope could do.
In healing studies, we learned about different herbs and their properties to assist healing, how to combine them, and where they should be used and in what quantity. The most fantastic revelation was that I could actually learn to use my powers to heal a wound or a broken bone. It was difficult, but possible with my will and magic alone.
If I were able to use my fae powers for healing, I would never deplete my power source. But I couldn’t take the risk of even Penelope knowing that I was actually a fae-mage. Uncle Gabriel had explained the risks. So I went about my day learning what I could.
I was eager to test my powers and see what I could really do. I knew that in order to become a fully trained mage, I had to complete four years of mage studies at the academy. I also knew that I didn’t have that much time on my hands. The sooner I learned how to use my powers, the better. I had no idea what Uncle Gabriel had planned for me, but I needed to be ready to face whatever it was, and time was running out.
The Blackwaters
The next day at lunch, I asked for directions and found my way to the school cafeteria. Until then I had only eaten in my dorm house, where there was always something laid out for the girls to snack on.
My eyes went wide as I took in these new surroundings. The Evolon cafeteria was the most amazing school cafeteria I had ever seen. There were no benches or wooden tables for us to sit on. Instead, a vast and beautiful garden—more like a small park—stretched across the school grounds to the edge of the woods that surrounded the city. Evolon students milled around everywhere, strolling the narrow paths bursting with lavender-pink blooms and eating their food on colorful mats spread out on the grass.
It was such a lovely concept, a picnic in the park. Even the stalls that served the assortment of food were unique. Standing barrels decorated with flowers were stacked with a variety of delicious-looking sandwiches, small meat pies, breads, and cheeses. Various picnic baskets were packed and displayed on a round wooden table, and students could pick up a ready basket if they wanted a pre-set menu.
Colorful glass balls, which hung low from the trees, dispensed juice and water. The cut stump of a massive tree served as a wonderful dessert table, piled high with fabulous cakes and mouth-watering pastries.
I filled my exquisitely carved wooden tray and went to sit down on my own under a secluded tree. I was waiting for Vivienne, who was late as usual. I had soon realized that my roommate had absolutely no concept of time. Last night Mrs. Richbald, our housemistress, gave her a lecture for over an hour because she arrived late for dinner.
I was picking on a flaky meat pie when someone came and stood beside my tree, blocking the sun.
“You are the Silverthorne ward, are you not?” said a haughty, nasally voice.
I looked up, squinting against the glare.
A blond-haired boy, who looked like he was about my age, was standing near me with his arms crossed.
I nodded slightly. I was a little stunned that someone had come out of his way to talk to me. His voice was high-pitched for a boy, and he looked very arrogant. Although he was smiling, his smile never reached his cold blue eyes.
I nodded. “Why do you ask?”
“We thought,” said the haughty boy, glancing over at his friends who were sitting on a mat close by, “that since you are so obviously alone, you should come and sit with us.”
I was taken aback—he seemed quite full of himself, but it was better than sitting alone, and maybe it would be good to get to know some more people in the school. He was quite good-looking, I had to admit, but there was something about him that made me feel uneasy.
I tried to salvage some of my pride. “I’m not alone; I’m waiting for someone.”
He acted like I hadn’t even spoken and gave me his hand. “I am Damien, by the way.”
I hesitantly took it and got up, brushing remnants of stuck grass from my robes.
“Rory,” I muttered under my breath.
“You can wait with us,” said Damien, and before I could reply, he had already scooped up my tray. And so I had no choice. I followed him to where his friends were sitting.
Damien sat down and gestured for me to sit beside him. A big, muscly guy moved over to make room on the mat, and he didn’t seem happy about it.
“That’s Zorek,” Damien said, inclining his
