Elements of Power (Council of the Harvest Moon Book 1)

by Kate Stoessel

  Angrily, I spun around. I looked at her, and all of the students who had now gathered on the grassy hill between Coventry Hall and the dock. I faced them all like a vengeful goddess in ancient mythologies. The whole island was embraced violently by my storm and the use of umbrella charms was not going to keep anyone dry in its midst.

  Khlorie, President Sager said in my mind. I need you to come off of the dock. It is dangerous there.

  No! I shouted back at her in my mind. The waves crashed around me. This kind of emotional response was so unlike me, but it felt cathartic and empowering to let pretense and social courtesies wash away.

  Vibiana looked around and shouted at a nearby student. “Millicent, go get Orpheus now. He was sitting by the fountain. Run! Now.”

  I didn’t wait to see what she was up to, or to watch the mixed looks of fear and intrigue on the faces of the students.

  I have lived in a fishbowl my whole life , I thought. People have always watched me and my family. Go ahead and look. I don’t care anymore.

  I turned back to face the tempest that I had caused around this island. I was spiraling, now.

  I just want everyone to leave me alone! Everyone expects something from me or wants something from me, and I have nothing left to give. I don’t even know who I am!

  As my mind continued to churn, water began collecting miles out to sea as if an invisible hand was pulling the entire ocean towards our island. A great wave the size of a 10-story building grew on the horizon. The smell of salt water filled the air. Behind me, screams began adding to the din and discord of my storm.

  Amidst the chaos, President Sager was calling out to someone. “Orpheus don’t get too close. She’s going to be too powerful to calm completely, but even a little bit would help. I can get to her if you can turn down the emotions.”

  Turn down my emotions? What?

  I turned to see a student heading in my direction. His eyes were locked on me, even as his blonde curly hair flew in all directions and his feet sunk into the drenched ground with every step. He walked deeper into my storm, and I began to feel a warming sensation wrap around my body, like the most comforting hug you can imagine. With every step he took towards me, I felt a little more relaxed. It was as if my emotions were air that he was slowly letting out of a balloon. The stranger was almost to the dock before I was calm enough to realize what I had done. By then, the shadow of the tsunami wave had now reached the island, blanketing Spindlewick in the dark shadow of its looming destruction. I needed to do something fast.

  “Run! Now!” I shouted to Orpheus before he could come any closer to me. Clear-headed, but scared, I turned back to the wave. It was going to wipe out the entire island if it got much closer.

  You can stop this Khlorie , President Sager said. What is it you want more than anything right now?

  I don’t know! I replied as the wave came closer and closer. I moved my hands. I tried spells. Nothing seemed to be working.

  Think Khlorie . What do you want? I felt the pull of the water, the manifestation of my own helplessness.

  Control , I called back to President Sager in my mind. I want to feel like I have some control over my own life.

  Take control then Khlorie! Her words were calm, but I knew the situation was now urgent. I closed my eyes and cleared my mind. I had only seconds. I could feel the wave getting ready to meet the island. I sent my mind out to the water and I felt my turmoil mirrored back to me.

  I started this storm. I could end it. I could control it.

  “Water, hear me,” I cried out. I could feel the water respond to my call and I continued. “You obey me!” As I spoke, I held my hand out in front of me as if I could grab the wave and hold it. Slowly, I lowered my hand and, as I did, the wave lost height foot by foot. Seconds were left before the wave made landfall and my arm ached with the weight of controlling the water element. Searing pain shot up to my shoulder and I collapsed, releasing the wave. The threat of a Tsunami was gone, but the wave that was left was still quite powerful and came crashing down onto the dock where I was standing. The wood underneath me buckled and I began falling.

  This is it. I curled my body into a ball and braced myself for the impact of hitting the water. I knew I was going to be swept under. Just as my side touched the water, I was caught in something soft and powerful. The wind. It cradled me for a moment, hovering over the surface of the water before tossing me back on to shore. I landed unceremoniously halfway up the hill towards Coventry Hall. Collapsing on the drenched grass, my knees and hands sunk into the mud as I pushed myself up from the ground. It took me several tries before I was standing on wobbly legs. I felt like a baby deer trying to walk for the first time. Once I steadied myself, I took in the destruction I’d caused. The dock where I had been standing just a minute before now utterly ceased to exist. The only hints that it had ever been there at all were a couple remaining, but battered, peer supports. The rain was dying down and the water was now settling. The sun peeked its rays out from behind a cloud as if it was checking whether or not it was safe to come back out. Imagine that.

  Chatter behind me brought me back to the present.

  “Is everyone alright?” Professor Hola called to the groups of students who were congregating on the hill. Some were crying, processing what they’d just seen. Others were simply staring at me with venomous looks. A few other professors showed up and helped him do the work of comforting and dispelling my audience.

  Of course, my water power would manifest in a terrible, dangerous, and very public way. Great way to start college, Khlorie.

  Trudging through the mud, I made my way up the hill to where the handsome blonde boy was now laying on the grass. I moved as fast as I could, worry engulfing me as I saw him lying motionless.

  He tried to help me. He has to be alright!

  President Sager and a second student were kneeling down next to him, checking on him. They didn’t look up as I made my approach. Just as I reached the trio, my boot caught in the mud and I tripped over my drenched, full length skirt. Ungracefully, I crawled the last few steps over to the blonde student. After all, my dignity was not high on my list of priorities after almost wiping out an entire island filled with people.

  “Is he alright? Did I hurt him?” To my surprise, Orpheus opened his eyes and there was a twinkle of mischief reflected in their purple depths. He lifted his head slowly and smiled. Relief coursed over me.

  “Oh boy, you pack a punch huh?” He tried to sit up fully but was unable. He looked tired and weak, but not visibly injured. “You two are going to have your hands full with this one,” he laughed feebly. I looked over to see that the boy next to me was Perry, the wizard I’d met in the garden. My stomach fell.

  “She’ll be alright,” came Perry’s deep voice as he smiled down at his friend.

  “I’ve called for Healer Miyako,” President Sager told us. “She will be here shortly to help you recover.”

  “I’m so sorry,” I insisted. “I know that you helped me somehow and I’m deeply appreciative. I just wish you weren’t put into harm’s way.”

  “You made me a hero,” he joked. “You might be surprised by this, but being an empath is not seen as one of the more impressive powers around here. People think that sensing and controlling emotions is not that cool.” He leaned in conspiratorially. “We showed them, huh? A little replenishing tonic and I’ll be fine, but the story of my heroic actions will spread.” I smiled warmly, grateful that he was not only healthy, but sweet as well. I didn’t know how to respond to such kindness.

  “He’ll be even more insufferable than he is now,” Perry said calmly but with a look of concern still plastered on his face.

  “You bet I will!” Orpheus respond dramatically. Just then, a woman dressed in healers’ gold arrived and began examining him.

  Perry and I both stepped back out of the way and watched as the healer did her field work.

  “I want to get him up to the healing center and get him some tonic and a nap.
Controlling Khlorie’s emotions took a lot out of him, but he should be fine by lunchtime.” She conjured a stretcher with a wave of her hand and then turned to Perry. “Can you help me move him?” I expected them to lift him, but instead Perry held his hands out and a controlled breeze blew underneath Orpheus, lifting and cradling him before placing him down onto the stretcher. My breath caught as realization hit me. Perry had been the one to pull me off of the collapsing dock.

  “Oh no, I think that Tsunami girl realized that I am not the only hero here.” The empath smiled brightly at his friend. “Shame. I was looking to take all of the glory for myself.”

  “Her name is Khlorie, Orpheus.” He paused briefly turning to me. “And you are welcome to pretend I did nothing.”

  “I couldn’t do that,” I responded so quietly that I wasn’t even sure he heard me, until he gave me a tight nod.

  Healer Miyako enchanted the stretcher and was walking ahead now with Orpheus and President Sager. Perry and I walked behind as we headed up to Coventry Hall.

  “Thank you,” I said finally.

  “I’m happy you’re okay.” He looked down at me for the first time. When our eyes met, I was struck again by how blue they were, but this time it was just a fleeting glance as he jogged after he friend and disappeared into Coventry Hall.

  President Sager was waiting for me at the door, as I struggled up the hill in my wet and muddy clothes.

  She walked me back to her office, my shoes squeaking the whole way, muddy tracks following behind me. When we reached Mr. Ampyx’s desk he had a towel, a change of clothes, and shoes waiting for me.

  That is why he wanted my shoe size. He could have given me a warning.

  I toweled myself off and changed into the dry clothes before returning to my seat in President Sager’s Office. I didn’t say anything. I just plopped myself down into a chair and hung my head in my hands.

  “Everyone here is different. Everyone is learning,” she began, breaking the silence.

  “How do I control it?” I asked, my voice gravelly. It was like I had no liquid left in my body. Mr. Ampyx ran in with a glass of water for me. I nodded in gratitude as I took the glass and sipped greedily.

  “I have some thoughts.” The two of us sat down and worked on a schedule that would allow me to continue to do what I loved but would focus on my elemental powers. Some of the classes were already on the board and I simply joined them, like Magical Gardening and Spell Creation. Others, we created based on what we thought would be most useful, like Magical Weather and Fire Magic.

  “We want you to be working in all four elements each semester that you are here. Gardening will take care of Earth, Fire Magic will cover fire, Magical Weather will incorporate water and air,” she explained, taking some notes on a piece of blank paper clipped into my file. “You will also be taking on an independent study in Elemental Magic, as we previously discussed. I will act as your advisor, but we’ll have Perry Prentice act as your trainer. We never want our students to practice new magic alone.”

  I nodded but did not say anything.

  “Your trainer is someone who knows what you are going through. He has lost control of his elemental power before, too. They are hard to manage. I know that he will be grateful to have someone with whom he can practice. Before you, there was no one with whom he could work.”

  “Really?” I asked, relieved that I would not solely be a burden.

  “Here’s Perry’s information.” She passed me the piece of paper she had been writing on.

  Perry Prentice

  Cottage 25 (Oceanside)

  Air Elemental

  “I will make sure he has your information as well, but you’ll see him tomorrow because he is the Teaching Assistant for Magical Gardening.” She paused. “The two of you will decide what three times during the week you want to meet for training. Please report those times to me by the end of this week so that I know that your study is underway. Now, go home and take a nap. Your body will need it after that display of power. Mr. Ampyx has a copy of your schedule.”

  “Yes, President Sager” I replied.

  “Ms. Lethestone,” she said, startling me with her formality. “You triggered one of your powers and you were able to control it with minimal help. You did well today.” I nodded appreciatively in response.

  “Just...Try not to destroy any more school property.” She smiled at me as I walked out of the door.

  “I’ll do my best,” I said leaving her office. I hoped that Itzel was awake. I needed to tell someone about my morning.

  First Year Schedule: Khloris Lethestone

  Advisor: Vibiana Sager

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  “Happy First Day of School,” Itzel said to me as she ate a leisurely breakfast in the living room. “Did you wake up and find heaps of books and materials piled in your room?”

  “Yes, “I replied, checking my reflection in the hall mirror. “Little weird, right?” Wearing my long black skirt, boots, and top knot, I found comfort in the familiar. It was my blouse, which made me feel a little rebellious. Even though Spindlewick allows students to wear any color, I felt wrong wearing a color that I had not earned. So, my mother and I picked out an array of shirts from non-magically affiliated stores in Boston. We looked for blouses with multiple colors or simple patterns. Today, I chose a sleeveless cotton shirt with an emerald base and small white diamonds. The color brought out the green of my eyes in a way that made me feel slightly uncomfortable. Just another way I am different.

  Perry’s eyes are different too...

  Two small interactions with the air elemental and my mind kept finding him when it wandered. Knowing that I would see him today left goose pimples on my skin and butterflies in my stomach. Itzel chatting shook me out of my thoughts.

  “I really hope that the books and stuff were spelled into our rooms. Thinking about someone physically sneaking them in is more than I can handle.” She smiled warmly and took another bite of her lemon whipped goat cheese with fresh arugula toast. She was really handling having “Tsunami girl” as her cottage mate well. I didn’t know how I got so lucky to be able to live with her.

  “I am sure they were spelled in,” I replied absentmindedly trying to figure out which of the materials I would need for my first class, Magical Gardening. “Do you think I need to bring the bucket full of gardening tools on day 1? I am pretty sure that Mondays are for theory.”

  “It can’t hurt to bring them,” Itzel said. I motioned to the mountain of gardening supplies I would have to carry. “Maybe it would. That is a ton of stuff.”

  I smiled. “Well, I might be a defective elemental, but I can still do basic magic.” With a whisper, “apiskhnoō ” and a wave of my hand, I shrunk down all of the materials to the size of matchsticks. I ran into my room and got out five woven change purses and organized my materials into them based on class. Slipping all five into my small black bag, I grabbed my notebook and pen and got ready to leave. “There! Now I will have anything I could possibly need.”

  “That seems excessive,” Itzel said between bites of toast.

  “I am not taking any chances. I need to have a good day today. A normal day.”

  “Oh Khlorie,” she said kindly. “The day is going to be what it is. Don’t be too hard on yourself if things don't go according to plan. You have three massive powers that still haven’t been triggered. You can’t learn to use them if they haven’t fully manifested.”

  “I suppose you’re right,” I sighed.

  “Be grateful that you are coming into your powers here where people can help you. Not all of us were that lucky.” There was obviously a story there, but I got the sense that Itzel did not want to tell it just yet. I nodded sympathetically and tried to change the subject.

  “So, when do you get to take chanting again?”

  Itzel’s face exploded into a smile. She was really happy about how her advisor meeting had gone yesterday. Apparently, there were a number of students with voice-related powers and the
school had experienced success with many of them. Professor Canu thought that she could be wearing the chanter’s blue at graduation. I was so happy for her.

  “Tomorrow! It’s my first class. I cannot wait. Plus, I got a note on my enchanted tablet last night that I am going to be taking an Independent Study with that guy who saved you yesterday.”

  “Orpheus?”

  “Yeah, it’ll be him and a second year. They weren’t sure if they wanted to put me with some more traditional mind reading kids or in Orpheus’s group. Professor Canu said she wanted to talk it over with President Sager and voila! Weird group, here I come!” She laughed.

  “I think that’ll be a good fit. He seems like a genuinely kind person. I need to, like, bake him some cookies or make him a card or something. What do you think says ‘thanks for stopping me from destroying an island’ more?” Itzel laughed heartily and I collected my things, said my goodbyes and headed out into another beautiful Maine day. I was just hoping it stayed that way.

  Hustling across campus, I climbed the hill up to Coventry Hall and found my way to the gardening classroom. It was transformed! The walls were now covered in culinary herbs and there were four lab desks set up in the center of the room. Each one had a culinary herb (root, stem, leaves, and all) hovering in suspended animation just above the surface. Each lab counter also had an elaborate moon phase calendar laid out across the shiny marble. The back wall of the room was the only one lacking foliage, probably because it was made entirely out of glass so that you could look out into the garden. The only hint that one of the glass panels was a door was a small green knob shaped like a leaf. Just outside the door was the natural arch, still adorned in the white flowers I had inadvertently added. I could feel the hum of its power and started walking towards the door without even realizing it.

  Luckily, just at that moment, another student walked in. Well, walking was not exactly how I’d describe it. She was prancing with an air of entitlement that I was used to, having attended such a prestigious school for so long. Her blonde hair was braided neatly to the side of her head and her facial features could only be described as sharp, but not unappealing. She sized me up immediately and decided to walk over and introduce herself.