Chapter 2 Called to Greatness #2
I heard a chair scraping back across the floor. Someone was approaching. I jumped away from the door quickly. It flew open, and then I was staring into the wide, wild eyes of Seraphina, her face streaked with tears.
We stared at each other for what felt like an eternity.
I tried to compose my features, but what I'd heard must have been written all over my face.
I saw her countenance lose even more of its color.
It just drained out of her like a tightly-wrung dishcloth.
I opened my mouth to say something, maybe to apologize for eavesdropping, though it hadn't been my intent.
Before I could make my excuses, she pushed past me and hurried down the hallway and out of sight.
I looked guiltily back at Principal Lucius just beyond the doorway. He was standing in front of his desk beside the chair that Seraphina had vacated so abruptly moments before.
"Miss Wood, yes," he said, sounding flustered for the first time since I've met him. "Sorry to keep you waiting. Please," he gestured toward the empty chair.
I went inside and closed the door behind me, not wanting anyone to come along and hear what the Principal needed to tell me.
Now that I had heard him defending my presence in the school, I no longer feared that he was going to tell me there had been some horrible mistake.
Still, I was curious about what he wanted to discuss.
I didn't have to wait long. "I wanted to check in on you to see how you were doing this morning, after your period of isolation and rest. Because of the extraordinary turn of events your Summoning Ceremony had taken, there are some practicalities I need to discuss with you.
The first few weeks after the summoning can be quite daunting.
I remember my own, though it had of course been quite long ago.
After the excitement dies down and reality starts seeping back in, it can seem unbelievable to have bonded with a powerful mate.
You bonded with three, so I can only imagine what you must be feeling.
I'm here to answer any questions if you have any. "
He looked at me expectantly, and I was at a complete loss for words. Was I supposed to tell him about my dream the night before? Trapped in fear, exhilaration, desire, and excitement, all those feelings had been at war within me just as my three mates had been warring for my attention.
I looked into his steady gaze, his face that still seemed as if it had been carved from stone, giving nothing of his inner thoughts away.
No, I certainly could not speak to him openly about my lust, my sense of wonder whenever I thought of my three mates, and my fear that, soon enough, they would be left disappointed that they had bonded with someone like me.
"Um, well... I was just wondering what elemental magic you would have me focus on in the first few lessons? I understand that specific mates we bond with is indicative of the sort of elements our magical abilities will draw from and take shape in, but... Um..."
It was a good save, and the Principal nodded. He seemed to approve of my question.
"You bonded with three mates, so in theory, perhaps it means you have more options available to you.
Each bonding gives the Manaborn two elemental affinities.
What this could mean, if we are correct in our assumptions, is that you have an affinity with six different elements, where everyone else has only one or two.
Looking at the mates you have bonded with, you should have an affinity with the following elements: Fire, Darkness, Nature, Life, Blood, and Mind.
" Principal Lucius must have seen the disbelief on my face because he gave an incredulous little chuckle.
"To tell you the truth, in a lot of ways, you've stumped us all.
We won't know yet the true extent of what you are capable of until you have learned better control over your magic.
I would have liked to test you to see if our theories about your affinities are correct, but given how little control you have as yet over your abilities, I think the only one available to you at the moment is fire, so that is the element we will focus on.
In time, your abilities should become apparent, and then I hope that will give us some guidance on what we have to work on, what would be helpful in combat. "
I nodded. What he said made sense, and I wondered again why I was so different and what it would mean in the future. I knew that my control was at a lower ranking, Iron, than my Mana capacity was. I would therefore have to work hard to gain more control.
"In the future, you will be forced to prioritize what to focus on as each new spell is more difficult to learn.
For this term, I have paired you with an instructor who has an affinity for fire magic.
He will be helping you hone your skills, teaching you how to draw on your Mana well to achieve the desired result. "
Principal Lucius leaned forward, looking tense suddenly.
"There is another reason why the mate you will be summoning during lessons for now will only be your Abyssal Dragon.
I understand the desire to spend time with one's mates, but for now, I ask that you not summon the other two in the presence of other students.
Because you are the Trinity, we have had to go to great lengths to prepare the other students so the Academy can function as normal. "
I shook my head. I didn't understand.
"I doubt whether you're in a position to comprehend your situation fully, Miss Wood.
The Trinity is legendary, something that, until your summoning, we had thought was only myth.
Some would look at you and see you as the largest threat our world has ever seen.
Then there are those who would look at you and would want to use your power for their own desires. "
I felt myself grow still as stone as I considered this. "You mean, because I'm the Trinity, I'm in danger?" Is my family back in Hartwick in danger?
"Not here," he assured me quickly. "We have gone to great lengths to make sure your identity stays hidden.
You should not divulge that status even to your own family, at least for the foreseeable future.
For now, the larger world outside the walls of the Academy has no idea that the Trinity has even revealed itself. "
"What do you mean you've made sure my identity stays hidden? At the summoning, everyone saw what happened. They all know! Students, staff, they all saw what happened."
"This past week, while the students were spending time in forced isolation, we sent Mind Mages disguised as healers to every dormitory.
Their memories of the Summoning Ceremony were altered—as far as they are aware, you only summoned Vaerath, the Abyss Dragon.
As for the students who share the Apex Class with you, they have been compelled to lay down a blood oath of silence regarding your summoning.
Their memories will not be altered. The same goes for the instructors.
Sooner or later, they will see you summon your other two mates.
" Now, he leaned forward more and patted my hand.
"Besides, you will need someone you can confide in.
It will not be easy for you to be what you are.
You are to face challenges and obstacles I can't even begin to guess at.
We will not have you face them alone. I hope you know that. "
We sat in silence for a while longer. This explained why the girls in our dormitory had not mentioned my summoning, why they had been avoiding the subject.
I thought of the healers attending to us those first few days.
It was strange, but I could only recall one leaning over me and another one attending to Amber while we'd been in bed.
Little had I known they'd actually been Mind Mages or that the other students all over the Academy had been visited by summoners with the same magical abilities.
I didn't know quite what to say to the Principal. He was right. Until now, I hadn't realized how serious this business of being the Trinity was.
Then I thought of the incident in the library, the fearful look people had given me. "The other students act funny around me already. If it's not because they know I'm the Trinity, then why do they seem frightened of me?"
The Principal shrugged, "Well, as far as they can recall, you still bonded with an Abyssal Dragon. That's reason enough for them to look at you with awe. I think only one other student can appreciate a little of what you are going through."
"Cleopatra Invicto," I answered, and the Principal nodded. The Princess had bonded with an Archangel. She was the only other student in our year who had bonded with a diamond-rank being.
"So, how am I supposed to spend time with my other two mates if I'm not supposed to summon them in front of the other students?"
I first thought the question would make me seem desperate, but I couldn't imagine not spending any time for months at a stretch with Caelan and Aldric.
This past week, when I had only seen them in my dreams, had been difficult enough.
Was it strange that I felt I needed them, even though we hardly knew each other?
How could I already have these powerful, mind-consuming feelings for them when I had only spent a few minutes with them a week ago?
Principal Lucius nodded as if he understood, and thinking of the bond that was so obvious between him and his Ice Phoenix mate, I thought that perhaps he did.
"There are places inside the Academy that you can retreat to that will offer a form of protection when you are inside its bounds.
A magical barrier has been cast around them, and while you are inside, no student will be able to see you.
There, and only there, you can summon your other mates and spend as much time with them as your own control would allow.
" He took a piece of parchment out of the drawer in his desk and handed it to me.
I folded it open and saw a map of the school grounds.
Certain places had been marked in red ink.
I nodded my thanks, folded the map, and tucked it away inside my pocket.
"I would urge you to take it easy and rest up for the next few days. When classes start, they will prove to be demanding."
I was excused. We walked to the door. I glanced at the perch in the corner and, for the first time, wondered where Crystalline was.
Principal Lucius saw the question in my eyes and smiled as he walked with me to the door.
"I'm afraid my mate hates being awake this early in the morning.
The only time I can get her to set foot out of bed before midday is when we have new students to welcome to the Academy.
For some reason, she really likes meeting all of the new Manaborn and being present at the Summoning Ceremony. "
I nodded and was about to turn away when the Principal reached out to touch me on the arm. It had the effect of stopping me in my tracks.
"I don't know what you may or may not have heard of the conversation between me and one of your fellow students before you entered my office," Again, I cursed the fact that my face was an open book as I felt my cheeks immediately burn with guilt at having eavesdropped on all of that, "But I do hope you will have some compassion for Miss Ashworth and not tell others of her shame or her distress, as it is difficult for her to accept certain realities. "
I nodded solemnly. I wouldn't have said anything even without the Principal appealing to my better nature. He didn't know me yet, so it was understandable that he felt it was necessary.
"I also hope that you will not take some of the things she said too much to heart.
There is a reason why you were chosen as the Trinity.
I don't pretend to understand it all, and I don't expect you to either.
You have been called to greatness. Prepared for it or not, you have been called, Miss Wood.
All you can do is rise now to meet the challenge. "