“Why don’t you have a seat?” the Grand Master said. He motioned toward a set of chairs situated near the hearth along one wall.
Tolan passed a tall basin with silver liquid within it. It was likely from the Convergence, though he couldn’t help but wonder why the Grand Master would have something like that here, or even how he was able to have that here.
His office was otherwise decorated with various artifacts. Some had a sense of power to them, and the more Tolan looked around, the more he had the feeling there was power here. Some of that power was naturally occurring, but some of it came from the Grand Master himself.
He looked over at Tolan and then at Ferrah, and he smiled. He stood near the hearth, watching them. He looked so warm and comforting, and yet given as powerful as he was, Tolan hesitated.
“I’ve been trying to understand if there’s anything more I need to be doing,” Tolan said.
“And what do you believe you need to be doing, Shaper Ethar?”
Tolan glanced over at Ferrah before turning his attention to the Grand Master. “With what happened with my mother. I need to be more involved.”
“As a third-level student, do you believe that?”
“I don’t know. I realize I’m just a student, but I’ve been involved in much more than others.” He had been involved far more than even some of the master shapers.
“You are just a student, Shaper Ethar.”
Tolan licked his lips, swallowing, and he thought about what his mother had said. He thought about what Master Minden had said, and then he thought about the things he had done in the time he’d been at the Academy. He thought about the way he had stopped Jory, the way he had stopped Master Daniels, and even when it had come to revealing the presence of Aela, and what she meant to the Academy.
How could all of that have been done by just a student?
“I’m just a student, but I want to know if there’s anything I can do to be involved in the search for the power of the Convergence.”
The Grand Master frowned at him. He pushed up his glasses, and he watched Tolan and Ferrah. A powerful sense of shaping washed out from him. It was spirit shaping, though not many knew the Grand Master was a spirit shaper. Tolan understood just how powerful of a spirit shaper the other man was. There was that sense of power, but there was something else mixed within it.
It was a desire to understand. He wasn’t sure why he should know that, but he thought he did.
“The power of the Convergence is dangerous,” the Grand Master said.
“So too is what my mother did.”
“It is,” the Grand Master said. “We have been searching for other sources of the Convergence.”
“You have?”
The Grand Master nodded. “Before you revealed there was one in Par, we weren’t entirely sure where to find them, or even how to find them. Even now, we don’t know quite where to look. We have focused our search on places of ancient power, places where the shapers of old found it valuable to house their most precious resources.”
“Have you found any?”
“Not yet,” the Grand Master said.
There was a sense of frustration from him… and something else to the way he said it, something that suggested another concern.
“You’re worried about something,” Tolan said.
“Perhaps,” the Grand Master said. “Unfortunately, that is also beyond you as a student.”
“We can help,” he said, glancing over at Ferrah.
They hadn’t talked about that, but he believed Ferrah would want to come with him, and he wanted to give her the opportunity to do so. She had wanted to be a part of understanding the Convergence from the very beginning and had come to the library from her very first days at the Academy, searching for information. It was something she was as much expert on as many others. If not for Ferrah, they might not have known there were other places like the Convergence.
“What about Ephra?” he asked.
“Ephra has to be a place of power,” the Grand Master said. “And we have found what seems to be a hint of that, and yet, there is something there that we aren’t able to fully understand.”
“What is it?”
The Grand Master smiled at him. “I’m not so sure you need to be involved in this, Shaper Ethar.”
“I can help,” he said.
“I’m sure you can,” he said.
Tolan leaned back in the chair, watching the Grand Master, crossing his arms over his chest. There was something about the way the Grand Master was looking at him, the way he regarded him, that suggested to Tolan there was something else beyond this.
It was about him being a student.
And yet, the Grand Master had never discouraged him before.
Did he want him to risk things on his own again?
It didn’t seem that was the kind of thing the Grand Master asked of them, and yet, if that were the case, then why? Why not simply state it?
Unless he couldn’t.
Tolan looked around, feeling for the barriers around them, feeling for the energy. As he did, he could feel the shaping the Grand Master held.
“How many other places of Convergence are you looking for?”
“We believe there are many others,” the Grand Master said. He turned his back to them as he studied the fire. “The ancients understood shaping in a way we don’t. Still, there are many aspects of the element bonds that we know better than they did. How could we not with all the time spent studying them? There were aspects to shaping—and the elementals—they knew better. And because of that, we have to defer to their expertise and their wisdom, and have to use what we can learn from them.”
It reminded Tolan of what Master Minden had said to him, the way that knowledge was added on, and yet, there was something more to it.
She had challenged him, wanting him to know what he had learned, and almost trying to remind him there was much he had learned from the master shapers, but there was much he had learned on his own. What reason did she have for trying to reveal that to him? It wasn’t as if Tolan didn’t know he had been able to learn on his own, but there was something more to what she was getting at, something more to what she had wanted him to know… almost as if she was reminding him that he didn’t need everything at the Academy.
He had worked on his own, studying in the library, working with the Keystone, and he had begun to understand the elementals; he had understood his connection to the elements, and the only thing he had really needed the master shapers for was in understanding the element bonds.
And in that, he had begun to know his connection in a way he hadn’t before. He had grown powerful and progressed through the Academy using his way of shaping.
“I want to be a part of the search for the Convergence,” he said.
“Unfortunately, Shaper Ethar, as a student, you are not able to do so. You are not even a fourth-level student.”
It seemed almost as if the Grand Master was trying to continually emphasize that Tolan was a student.
Was that it?
He glanced over at Ferrah.
“Are you trying to tell me I need to leave the Academy?”
“Is that what you want?”
Tolan took a deep breath, looking around. He had been at the Academy for a while now, continuing to progress, growing in his skill and understanding, and yet, because of that, he had mastered many different aspects of his shaping.
And now he was here, now he knew everything he did, he still thought there was much to learn. There were aspects of shaping he could master, aspects of those abilities he thought he could continue to learn, and the more he was here, the more certain he was that he could continue to learn from the various master shapers. But he had no idea just what it was going to take, just as he had no idea what else he was going to be able to learn.
Still, spending time at the Academy left him feeling as if he was wasting his time.
It was a shame, in some regards.
Ther
e was so much to do, so much to understand. If he wasn’t at the Academy, he could be working in the place beyond the mountains and if so, he might be able to work with the free elementals. He might be able to go to the tainted Convergence and try to understand just what his mother had done and how she had influenced it. He might be able to do more than he had done up to now.
The more he thought about it, the more certain he was that he was going to have to find a way to move beyond what he was doing here. To move beyond the expectations he had at the Academy.
He was going to have to move beyond asking permission from the master shapers.
And as he watched the Grand Master, he couldn’t help but feel as if the Grand Master knew. Almost as if the Grand Master wanted that for him.
“I don’t want to leave the Academy before I’m a master shaper,” Tolan said.
The Grand Master turned to him, watching him. “Are you requesting testing for promotion to master shaper? Few have done so before reaching the fourth level, but…”
Tolan frowned. Was that what all this was about?
He looked over at Ferrah once more. She stared at him, saying nothing.
None of them knew what it was going to take to progress to the next level in their training, to reach that point where they were master shapers. They had passed to the third level, and it didn’t seem as if it was even that long ago they had done so, but now, as he looked at the Grand Master, as he thought about what the other man was asking of him, Tolan couldn’t help but feel as if he needed to do more.
And perhaps that was the point. Perhaps the Grand Master was telling him it was time for him to take another step, to open himself, to be willing to risk himself in a way he couldn’t do here any longer.
And if that was the case, what did Tolan think he could do?
He no longer knew.
“Is that what it takes?”
“When a student feels prepared to promote themselves, they must request testing,” the Grand Master said. “Typically, there are conversations with some of the master shapers and some of the instructors, but you are something of a unique case, Shaper Ethar.”
“I’m ready,” he said.
“Then we will test you.”
4
Tolan sat in the park, staring at the small pond. Water rippled gently, rolling against the shoreline, and he couldn’t help but wonder what sort of testing he might be about to encounter. The more he thought about it, the more certain he was there was going to be something dangerous and deadly, and yet he didn’t think the master shapers wanted to harm him, only to ensure he knew everything he needed in order to succeed.
He curled wind, letting it swirl around him, and added a hint of fire, letting it float above the surface of the water. He held onto earth and made that rumble. On top of all that, there came the sense of spirit, and it flooded deep within him.
By mixing all the elements, he held onto that power, that energy, and he focused on it.
Tolan breathed out. He couldn’t think of anything else he could do, and the idea he was preparing to test for promotion to master shaper left him uncertain and unsettled, and yet, at the same time, he thought he needed to do this. There was something about moving on that felt fitting. The more he thought about it, the more certain he was that he needed to do this—and that he was ready.
The presence of someone pushed on him and he turned around, noting it was Jonas who was joining him. The other man made his way across the park, watching Tolan.
“What is it?” Jonas asked.
“Why?”
“You seem troubled.”
Tolan turned his attention back to the pond, focusing on his shapings, and released one at a time until only spirit remained. He held onto that sense, letting it flow through him, trying to find some connection and understanding.
“I’m not entirely sure what I need to be doing,” Tolan said.
“You don’t? Well, you probably need to return to your studies, because I’m sure Master Sartan has much for us to know.”
“I’m not heading back to my studies,” Tolan said.
“What?”
He’d wondered how much to tell Jonas but knew he needed reveal to his friend that he was being tested for master shaper. How could he not reveal this to the one person he had known the longest while at the Academy? Not by long; he had met Ferrah shortly after meeting Jonas, and yet he had been close to Jonas from the very beginning. And now—now, he was preparing to move beyond his studies at the Academy. Now he was preparing to be something more.
And the moment he passed—and Tolan wasn’t entirely sure he would pass—he would be given the opportunity to progress beyond just shaping. He would be given the opportunity to choose his next path. Whether that was to stay at the Academy and progress with his studies or whether that was something else, it would be up to him.
And he didn’t think he intended to continue to study with the master shapers. It wasn’t that he didn’t think there was anything he could learn from them. Tolan knew he still had much to learn, and the longer he spent here, the longer he was around the Academy, the more he knew he would learn. Whether that was from the master shapers, the master librarians, or even from the library itself, there was quite a bit he had to uncover. It wasn’t just about himself. He needed to know more about shaping.
But he didn’t think he could stay.
No. He knew he couldn’t stay.
“I’m being tested,” he said.
“Tested for what? What did you do this time?”
“I didn’t do anything other than…” He shook his head. He wasn’t allowed to share with other students what it took to be tested for master shaper. “I’m going to be tested for master shaper.”
Jonas blinked. “You’re going to be what?”
“I’m going to be tested for master shaper.”
He whistled. “You haven’t even been promoted to the fourth level!”
“I know.”
Jonas shook his head. “There haven’t been many tested for master shaper in a while. You’ll be the first.”
Tolan nodded. He had thought about that, and he had realized not only was it strange he was the first to be tested, but it was strange he truly felt as if he was ready.
“I think it’s amazing. The person who came to the Academy without being able to shape, and now you’re the first one to be tested.”
“You’re not upset?”
“How can I be upset for my friend? I’m thrilled for you. I worry about you, but I’m still thrilled for you.”
There was something more than what he said, though. Jonas might claim to be happy for him, but he detected something else. “If I pass—”
“If? You’re going to pass, Tolan. I’ve seen your shaping. I know you’ve been through so much, and if you can survive an Inquisition, and if you can survive all of the attacks you have, then I think testing for master shaper will be easy for you.”
“I’m not sure any testing is going to be easy.”
Jonas turned away, looking out into the pond, staring and remaining quiet.
Tolan used a hint of spirit, sending it washing over his friend. There was something off about Jonas.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“Well, the moment you get promoted to master shaper, you’re given the opportunity to leave the Academy.”
“I am,” Tolan said.
“Does that mean you’re going to return to Ephra?”
Tolan smiled to himself. He couldn’t imagine going to Ephra and working with Master Salman. The other man might not even understand his new shaping ability, though he would probably be impressed by the fact Tolan had progressed as quickly and as far as he had, but the idea of going to Ephra…
It wasn’t home to him.
After everything that had happened there, and everything he had been through, the memories he still had, he wasn’t sure if he would ever be able to return to Ephra.
Still, there was a part of Tolan that th
ought he needed to go back, if only to unravel what he’d truly experienced from what was a memory shaped upon him by his mother.
“I’m not going back to Ephra,” he said softly.
“Good. I was afraid Amitan was going to lose you.”
“I don’t know that I can stay at the Academy, either,” he said.
Jonas looked over at him. “What are you going to do?”
“There’s more going on than you can even know about,” he said.
“Why can’t I know about it?” Jonas immediately became defensive, and Tolan understood. There had been far too much Tolan had been a part of and Jonas had not, and he had only found out about later. Tolan understood his friend wanted to know, to be a part of what was taking place, and to be included.
Wasn’t that what anybody wanted?
“It’s all about the last attack,” Tolan said.
“You mean the one where you were attacked on your way back from the Selection?”
Tolan nodded. “It’s more than just that.”
“I thought it might be. The Grand Inquisitor has been in and out of the Academy, and we’ve seen far more activity throughout the city than we have recently.”
“What sort of activity?”
“I know something Tolan Ethar does not?”
Tolan cocked his head to the side, frowning at Jonas. “I’m sure you know much I don’t know.”
“These days, I don’t feel like it. There was a time when we first came to the Academy, and when we were first learning, I thought that…” He shook his head and smiled. “I suppose it doesn’t matter what I thought. There was a time when we first came to the Academy, I was trying to understand what role I had. The more I began to understand, the more certain I was I was a powerful shaper. I thought I would progress quickly, that I would become a master shaper within a few years. Even that was still progressing rapidly, you know.”
The Chaos Rises (Elemental Academy Book 6) Page 4