The Eye of Elicion: The Kinowenn Chronicles Vol 1

by Rachel Ronning

  Even after all their preparation, they were still nervous the night before the competition. Everyone was. The Dining Hall was the quietest it’d ever been since the existence of the school. Lucy glanced around at her fellow students and noticed them picking at their food, their faces varying shades of green and gray. It was almost a relief to watch Gavin and Justin eating with their usual, though semi-unbelievable vigor. Gavin was on his third helping of meatloaf. Maya shuddered in his direction. She had carefully avoided the meatloaf on the basis that it did not specify what type of meat. Lucy was about ready to suggest they leave since the whole atmosphere was either going to depress her or make her really nervous when Darren appeared.

  “Hello,” he said to everyone at the table.

  “Hello,” replied Justin with an ironic smile.

  Maya and Lucy smiled while Gavin simply nodded, his mouth full of meatloaf.

  “Good luck on the competition tomorrow,” Darren said.

  “Thank you,” said Maya kindly. “We wish you luck as well.”

  Justin arched an eyebrow at Maya, but didn’t say anything.

  “Can I talk to you?” he asked Lucy.

  “Sure,” Lucy got up and walked with him out of the Dining Hall. Once they were in the hallway she smiled at him. “So are you guys ready for tomorrow?”

  “As ready as we can be,” he smiled and shrugged. “We’ve worked hard, but I’ve been watching your group a little, and there’s no way we’d ever be close to you.”

  “Don’t say things like that. I’m sure you’ll do fine,” Lucy said, trying to sound encouraging rather than placating.

  “Oh, we’ll do fine, but not as good as you. I can fight well, and Chloe is good with fighting and potions and such, but none of us have the raw magical talent that you and Justin have, much less the practice and training to use it as you can. Also, we are all new students. There are other groups that will do better simply because they have been here longer and have more training. On some level we can’t compete with students that have had classes we won’t even take for a couple of years yet.”

  Lucy simply nodded. She wasn’t sure what to say to that because it was basically true. Groups with students who had been here longer were bound to do better. For younger groups the competition was more for fun and experience rather than winning. Her group however, intended to win. Even with her small amount of time at the school, she did not think she was going to be too much of a detriment to her team. From what she had seen, few other students had the magical talents of Justin and, not to sound too egotistical, herself. The fact that Justin had Lucy in his group and was training her to his standards put every other group at a disadvantage. Unless, of course, one of the challenges was more academic than practical; she feared she would not do well with a challenge on magical theory.

  “Anyways,” he smiled, “I mainly wanted to say hi and find out how you were doing. I haven’t seen you much lately outside of class.”

  “I’m good, and you?”

  “Fine, are they pushing you too hard?”

  “Not too bad. It’s not so much them pushing me that worries me. I get more worried when they think up crazy ideas to push themselves and expect me to keep up. Asking me to try things they can do is one thing. Asking me to try things that might even be beyond their talents is a bit scary.” She shrugged and told him about Gavin’s horse training.

  “Wow, we are no where near even thinking about trying something that crazy. It sounds like a useful skill to have in battle in the real world when you’re with an army against an army, but it seems a bit over the top for this competition.”

  “I know and that’s what I’m talking about. It’s almost as though this competition is an excuse for them to train in even more extreme ways.”

  “I watch Gavin practice and see the things he can do. I’m glad that I only fight him to spar and in a friendly environment. I would not want to come up against him in battle.”

  Lucy laughed, “Definitely. The thing that really worries me is that he looks for a challenge. I shudder to think that he might see being grossly outnumbered as giving the other side a fighting chance. Here that’s fine, but can you imagine going to another land with him?”

  “Yes, it would go something like… ‘Wait here for me if you please, there are only 30 of them. It will take me but a minute, and if they see any more of us, they might get scared away.’”

  Lucy laughed even harder, “Exactly. However, in his defense, he might really be that good.”

  They walked down the hallway in silence for awhile, both picturing Gavin doing insane things like that and smiling. He might really be that good, reflected Lucy, but it was different beating people in a fair sparring match set up for physical training than fighting against people who didn’t just want to win, but wanted to kill you. How would Gavin fare under those conditions? Following that thought, how would she fare under those conditions? Darren interrupted her steadily disturbing train of thought.

  “I also wanted to make sure you were still coming with me to the banquet,” Darren said quietly.

  “Of course, why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Well, you have been spending a lot of time with Justin, and I wanted to make sure you hadn’t changed your mind.”

  “Justin and I spend time training together. I said I would go with you and that is what I intend to do.” Was he jealous of Justin? Was there a reason he should be?

  Darren looked like he wanted to say something else but decided against it. They reached the staircase that Lucy went up, and he went down and paused.

  “Good luck tomorrow.”

  “Thanks, the same to you. I’ll see you on the field of battle as they say,” replied Lucy with a smile.

  She continued up the staircase. Where it turned, there was Justin.

  “Honestly, do you lurk around every corner?”

  “Yes, it’s a trick having to do with particles and waves. I have the possibility to be around any corner. Because you see me, I happen to be around yours. However, I wouldn’t call it lurking. Besides, you could always choose not to see me.”

  “No, I don’t think I could,” Lucy responded. Justin’s soft brown eyes looked flattered. She was slightly confused by his philosophical reasoning, but did not want to get into it or even really think about it. “Is this kind of like the door trick Eric does? All things are possible until you choose one.”

  “Something like that,” said Justin looking pleased that she grasped these concepts. Some people never could, and that always lessened their abilities. “I sense you do not care to discuss the underlying philosophy further.”

  “Not tonight. I’d rather get a good night’s sleep before the challenges start tomorrow. I have no idea what they are going to involve, but I’m guessing that being rested for them can’t hurt.”

  Justin nodded and asked casually, “So, what did Darren want?”

  “I love how you pry in light, conversational ways.”

  “Merely conversing on something other than magical theory, which has dominated our every waking moment for the last couple of days,” he shrugged running a hand through his hair.

  Lucy looked at him and shrugged back. What did it matter?

  “He wanted to know how I was doing.”

  “He wanted to know if you were still going to the banquet with him.”

  “If you already knew, why did you bother to ask?”

  “I didn’t know for sure. I only know that if I were working up to a larger question, I would most likely ask after one’s welfare first. It’s a safe place to start.”

  “So, I should be careful next time you ask me how I’m doing.”

  “Of course,” Justin said like it was the most natural thing in the world.

  Lucy shook her head.

  “You’re impossible.”

  “Thank you.”

  They continued on in silence.

  “I assume you told him you were still going with him.”

  “You assume correctly.
”

  “Why?”

  “Why, what?”

  “He was giving you an out. Why didn’t you take it?”

  “I don’t really want an out.”

  “Don’t you?”

  “Stop that. It could be a pleasant time. Besides, it would be rude to back out now and difficult for either of us to find someone else to go with on short notice.”

  “Would you like other options?”

  “Why, are there other options? Don’t answer that. That’s not the point! I agreed to go with him so I intend to. I feel like I’m repeating myself tonight.”

  Justin looked amused. Lucy glared at him.

  “Simply making conversation,” Justin said amicably.

  They walked in silence to Lucy’s door. Justin looked like he had worked out the answer to something, and Lucy didn’t care to find out what the question or the answer was. They wished each other good night. Lucy brushed her teeth and wondered if she would ever be able to fall asleep. Despite her worries, she was breathing deeply within minutes of her head touching her pillow.

  Chapter 30

  Lucy awoke the next morning to a knocking on her door.

  “Come in,” she said.

  Justin entered and Lucy groaned.

  “Is it morning already? Go away and we’ll pretend morning is later,” she rolled over and hid under her pillow.

  “Get up. Come one. I’ve brought you breakfast.” Justin sat down on the edge of her bed.

  “Why?” Lucy asked, her voice muffled by her pillow.

  “Because the Dining Hall is scarier now than is was last night at dinner.I thought I would spare you that. Philip’s already fainted once under the pressure. Also, because if you were going to throw up due to nerves, I’d rather know about it now than right before we are going to start our first competition.”

  “I have never thrown up due to nerves!” exclaimed Lucy as she sat up and glared at him.

  “Good, I’d much rather have you feisty than nervous. Since you are sitting up… eat.” Justin handed her a warm banana muffin and a glass of mango juice.

  “How are the others doing?” Lucy asked while taking a bite of muffin.

  “Gavin is excited. He was working through his third stack of waffles when I left to come up here. He can’t wait to find out what we’re doing. I think he’s calm because he knows that he’ll excel at any physical challenges and he’s not responsible for carrying the group through any of the magical ones. That takes a bit of stress off it for him. Maya took one look at the mood of the Dining Hall and decided it would be far too depressing to stay there. She grabbed some toast and left to do yoga I think. She’ll be fine as long as she isn’t around too many negative influences for too long. It brings her down. Since we have no idea how you do in these types of situations, I thought I’d come up here and get you going.”

  “It’s only a competition,” said Lucy as she finished her muffin.

  “I’m somehow relieved and terrified to hear you say that.”

  “Well, it’s not like we die if we lose.”

  “True, but I’d like to see a bit more of a drive to win if you don’t mind.”

  “I’ve been covered in bruises for weeks working as hard as I can to help with this competition. If that doesn’t count as drive, I’m sorry, because it’s the best you’re going to get.”

  “Ok, I’ll take it. Come on, get out of bed and get dressed.”

  “Rather hard for me to do with you sitting there,” said Lucy pointedly.

  “I thought we could run over some basics while you get dressed.”

  “I thought you could wait until I was dressed before the lectures began. Really, it’s not fair to lecture someone before they’ve even gotten dressed. You can wait outside the door if you want.”

  “Fine, hurry up though. We only have an hour before things get started.” He stood up to leave.

  “An hour? Forget it. I’m not getting up and dressed so I can wait around for an hour. I’m going back to sleep.” She lay back down and pulled the blankets over her head.

  Justin stared at her for a minute unsure if she was joking or serious and wondering how he should respond depending on which one it was.

  “Lucy?”

  She threw her pillow at him. It nailed him in the stomach and fell to the floor. It completely caught him by surprise. She picked the pillow up off the ground and hit him again.

  “Ok,” smack “I’m up,” smack “and out of bed,” smack. “Get out,” smack “and let me,” smack “get dressed,” smack. Eat hit of the pillow had Justin taking a step backwards towards the door.

  “Ok, ok,” said Justin as he backed towards the door with his hands held up trying to block off the blows she so deftly administered with the pillow.

  Lucy laughed as she pushed him out the door. She pulled off her pajamas and pulled on some clothing. She brushed her teeth and washed her face. It didn’t make sense to shower now. She was awake enough and she was sure that any challenge they were given was likely to involve sweat or dirt or both. She French braided her hair out of the way and tucked the end under. Lucy opened the door to find Justin pacing.

  “Ok, let’s go win a competition,” she said and started down the hallway.

  “Splendid, now you’re talking. I was thinking…”

  “I wish you wouldn’t.”

  “I know, but we all have our flaws.”

  “Please, Justin, no last minute strategies, ideas, thoughts, reviews, plans, addendums, etceteras, ifs, alternative options, tactics, or procedural deviations. Let’s just get there and find out what we have to do and then do it.”

  Justin sat there for a minute trying to figure out what she might have left out.

  “How about encouragement?”

  “I’m good thanks. Do you need some?”

  “My, you are feeling feisty this morning.”

  “I am. So, I’d watch it if I were you. I’m pretty sure I could make my pillow appear if I feel you need to be beaten into place.”

  They bantered all the way down to the practice field where all the groups were supposed to meet to find out what their first event was. There they found Maya and Gavin already waiting. Gavin had a broadsword strapped to his back, a shorter sword at his side, a spear in his hand, and no less than 30 throwing daggers of different lengths attached to various parts of his body and sticking out the top of each of his boots. Lucy looked at Justin and raised her eyebrow. Justin shrugged but Lucy could tell by the tightness in his lips that he was doing his best not to laugh. Gavin looked from one to the other.

  “What? No arrows?” asked Justin unable to help himself.

  “It doesn’t hurt to be prepared,” Gavin said semi-defensively.

  “That’s true,” said Lucy trying to keep a straight face, “but don’t you think they’ll explain the competition and then give us time to arm ourselves appropriately before starting?”

  “It doesn’t hurt to be prepared,” he repeated.

  Maya smiled good morning and rolled her eyes as if to say that she’d already had that discussion with him and hadn’t gotten anywhere. The practice yard was filled with students crowded into groups of four. Off to the side stood the teachers and the rest of the students who were probably not participating but were definitely interested in watching. When Eric felt that it was time to start things, he moved to the center of the practice grounds and addressed the crowd.

  “Good morning and welcome. It is good to see so many of you are interested in participating in this event. The first event is rather basic. Your group will battle a physical fight, no magic, with another group. You fight until one group surrenders or can no longer fight. The schedule for this is over on the board behind me.” Eric waved his hand, and a board appeared along with lists of groups. “Once you lose you are out of this part of the competition. You can continue to watch and wait for the next challenge. If you win, rest while you can because you will fight another group. This will go on until there is only one undefeated gr
oup. If that means we fight all night, then we fight all night. The next part of the competition will begin tomorrow morning regardless. I’ve partitioned the yard off into four areas so that four bouts can go at once. Check the lists, arm yourselves appropriately, and get to the appointed area as quickly as you can. We will start when both groups fighting are present.”

  As soon as Eric finished his speech, there was a flurry of movement. Everyone rushed to get armed and check the lists. Since Gavin was already appropriately armed, he volunteered to check the lists while the rest of them grabbed weapons. They returned from the armory to find Gavin in the section marked 3.

  “We fight first,” he said simply. He twirled his spear. “Great way to start out the morning,” he smiled.

  Justin smiled back. They were at ease with their weapons and relaxed by doing some warm up stretches while waiting for their competition to show up. There were professors stationed outside each section to announce the start, make sure a fair match was conducted, announce the winner, and administer any immediately necessary first aid. Bumps and bruises would be ignored, but breaks would be mended. The other group arrived shortly thereafter. It was comprised of three guys and a girl. They held their weapons comfortably, but looked rather intimidated. Lucy couldn’t blame them. Gavin had a reputation.

  “Good morning,” said Gavin with a smile. “Do you need a minute to stretch or shall we begin?”

  “We’re ready,” said one of the guys.

  Gavin nodded towards the professor.

  “Take your places.” Both groups lined up facing each other. “On the count of three you may begin. One, two, three.”

  They stood there, giving the other group a chance to attack first. One of the guys took a swing at Maya, and they took that as their cue to begin. Maya blocked the stroke and followed with one of her own. Lucy disarmed one guy after three quick hits with her short sword, pinned him down, and looked up to see Justin with his boot on one guy’s chest. Gavin had knocked the guy who had attacked Maya unconscious. Gavin and Maya both had weapons pointed at the female member of the group who was also disarmed by that point. She surrendered, the professor declared the winner, and they went to get a drink of water. They were the first group done by quite a bit.