11. Ivy
IVY
M y reflection appears unfamiliar as I blink at myself.
Excessive amount of lace: gone.
Overly extravagant dress: nowhere to be seen.
Ridiculously small clutch: obliterated from existence.
I wonder what my mother would say if she could see me now.
Instead of focusing on all her favorite elements, I stand in my dorm room, dressed in the academy-issued uniform with my eyes locked on my floor-length mirror as I take in my appearance.
The patent leather loafers are more comfortable than the kitten heels I feel like I’ve worn since I learned to walk.
The black knee-high socks seem unnecessary with the sun out, but they’re cute, even if they’re more of an accessory than anything else.
My skirt is so short that it falls inches above what my mother would ever approve; the pleats tempt my fingers as I play with the ends.
It’s so short that my blazer only sits three inches higher, creating an almost depressing black-on-black look, but it’s thankfully broken up by the white silk blouse underneath and the red emblem that adorns my blazer pocket.
I fidget with the collar of my blouse, noting how low the first button is.
A simple breeze or bend in the wrong direction will reveal my chest or butt, whether I like it or not.
My mother would be rioting.
I love it.
Turning my attention to the emblem, feeling the stitching beneath my fingers as I run my hand over it, it reaffirms that I am a Fire Protector, and something about it makes me stand taller, with a surge of pride I wasn’t expecting.
It’s impossible not to fuss with my hair as I step closer to the mirror, inspecting my makeup as I practice a smile. I’ve chosen a half-up, half-down style, keeping my hair away from my face while letting it fall over my shoulders and form a subtle barrier between me and the outside world.
“Ready?” Ember asks, pulling me away from the mirror before I start to critique myself in my mother’s absence.
Exhaling, I nervously rub my lips together as my eyes dart toward the windows.
I move instinctively, looking out at the sunlight flooding the campus.
Butterflies occupy my stomach as nerves threaten to get the better of me, but I take a few deep breaths, willing my uncertainty to morph into hope as my brother’s words filter through my thoughts.
“Apprehension and exhilaration register the same in our nervous systems, Vee. It’s just perspective.
If you’re nervous about walking into the unknown, you’re going to be consumed by it.
But if you grab hold of that feeling and shape it, you can achieve anything.
Exhilaration comes from confidence in a matter.
If you feel out of your depth, you’re facing a higher mountain to climb.
All you have to do to turn it into a molehill is believe you are meant to be there. ”
Instinctively, I reach for the bag that came with my uniform and pull out my academy-issued device, hitting my brother’s name in my contacts for the twelfth time. My stomach clenches, but I’m not surprised when it rings out.
His list of apologies keeps growing, even as the nagging feeling that something’s wrong begins to take hold.
Clearing my throat, I reluctantly tuck it back into my bag before turning my attention to Ember. “I guess I’m ready,” I declare, the words louder than necessary as I try to strike confidence into them.
“I’m glad you finally found your tongue,” she teases, with a pointed look that quickly turns into a wink as she flutters toward the door.
Hiking my bag over my shoulder, I grab the food tray from my desk. Ember had the smart idea of having breakfast sent to my room again this morning so I wouldn’t have to stress about heading down to the dining hall.
Ember blows my mind as always as she darts straight through my door, leaving me to grab the handle and close it behind us.
Trepidation lingers as I descend the stairs, nerves zapping through my body as I reach the ground floor.
There’s a small end table containing a growing stack of trays, with a sign above it confirming it’s the designated collection spot, and I quickly add my utensils to the pile.
Stepping outside, I let out a heavy sigh, releasing my worries as I tilt my head back and enjoy the sun on my face.
Contentment.
It’s not something I feel often, but when I do, I bask in it for as long as possible.
No matter how uncertain I feel, it confirms that I’m in the right place, that my gut knows everything will come full circle, and that I just need to be patient and resilient.
“Do you remember where you need to go first?” Ember asks, fluttering at my side, and I nod.
“Down toward the caves on the opposite side of the cliffs,” I answer, and she smiles, whipping to a stop right in front of my face, an adoring look on her face.
“You got this!” she encourages before disappearing, leaving me with a smile on my face and a pep in my step as I walk away from the fire dorm.
Students dart in every direction, and I watch in wonder.
Ember explained that whenever I’m in a Fire class, Land, Water, and Air classes also happen simultaneously.
Regardless of your year group, we all take this lesson together.
Water Protectors head to the beach, Air to the clifftop, and Land out by the forest where we arrived.
Based on that, it’s easy to assume which sodality everyone is assigned to by looking at which direction they’re walking, aside from their uniform.
As I pass the pathways that split off in every direction, I stay to the edge with wildflowers dancing in the breeze beside me as the crowd disperses, and I find myself surrounded by Fire Protectors. I slow down, aiming to observe as I descend the steep incline toward the caves.
It’s not curiosity that has me hovering outside of the open cave when I reach the bottom, but doubt. With my lips pressed together in a thin line, I suck it up and dare to step inside with the others.
My pulse quickens as I venture farther into the darkness, watching the rocks shimmer with the reflection of fire, hues of red and orange cascading around us until the space opens up to reveal what can only be described as the center of a volcano.
There’s a small hole in the ceiling high above us, while the rest of the space is outlined with what appears to be damp igneous rock. Molten lava bubbles around the edge of the floor, with the occasional flicker of orange peeking through the black molten rock as it shifts.
I’m obsessed.
Perspiration beads on my temple, but I don’t feel hotter. If anything, the temperature is somewhat calming.
Feeling the same strong sensation of contentment in my chest, I smile as I step farther into the space, teetering across the wooden planks in place to pass over the lava as I join everyone else.
My grin and excitement falters when I spy familiar hazel eyes across the room.
Archer.
His back is stiff, and his shoulders are impossibly wide as he stands side on to me.
He’s talking with the leader of the Fire Protectors, Francesca, I think her name is.
Something gnaws at my stomach as they stand there, clearly familiar with each other, but I quickly turn away, refusing to acknowledge what it is.
He irritated me yesterday. Hell, he irritated me long before that, but the way he spoke, the way he sneered, and how he handled himself after knocking me to the ground was disgusting. It doesn’t matter who was right or wrong; a little bit of grace and understanding was definitely missing.
I almost gag at my mother’s words in my mind.
Clearing my throat, I try to refocus as a burst of flames races through the air, completely distracting me.
My gaze lands on an older woman standing in the center of the space, floating above the ground on a small slab of rock.
With her hands at her sides, palms up, and eyes intense, she exudes a presence that takes my breath away.
She reeks of power.
The crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes, the lines on her forehead, and the purse of her lips clearly show she doesn’t tolerate nonsense, and as she speaks, my suspicions are confirmed.
“Fire Protectors, for those new here today, my name is Professor Carbon. This lesson requires your utmost attention, whether you have connected with your gifts from The Fates or not. Each lesson, I expect you to find your place within our chambers and wait for my command. Those who understand their blessings must wait to the far left. Students who have awakened their abilities but do not yet have control, gather in the middle, and those yet to connect with their powers must congregate to the far right.”
Feet shuffle as a few people move, but I thankfully find myself in the exact spot I need to be.
My gaze snags across the room to where Archer stands, still beside Francesca, and I sink my teeth into my bottom lip before I return my attention to the professor.
I’m faltering, but I’m trying my best to suppress my expressions, hiding my emotions to maintain a rock-solid front, despite the bubbling unease underneath.
“Good, a few of you are ascending quickly,” Carbon says, her gaze dropping to the group gathered closest to her, and I follow her line of sight, startled by the fact that some have already been blessed with their abilities.
Jealousy and a hint of inadequacy run through me, but I try to suppress it.
“For those yet to be acquainted with their blessing from The Fates, I will be with you shortly to discuss how we might bring those abilities to the surface. My experienced students, you know the drill, my pupils in the middle, I will join you now.” She drops to the floor of the cave without a sound, despite the speed behind her movement, leaving me to blink at her in disbelief.