The chanting rose to a roar as the other schools responded.
“Where have you been?” Jane asked Mark.
Mark waited for the crowd to settle down before taking a seat and replying, “Watching them set up for the first Assessment. It looks amazing,” he grinned.
“Pillar, Pillar, Pillar!” the tables howled.
Gradually, the chanting died away as the Head Masters and teachers entered the dining hall, the presence of the staff dampening the atmosphere. Max suddenly wondered what he had got himself into. He understood that passing all three Assessments meant he would join the Elites, but at what cost? He looked across at Chris, who seemed to be relaxed. Was it Max’s nerves that were showing through? He barely had control of his own power and now he had to showcase it in front of the whole school.
“Nervous yet, Maximus?” asked Mark.
“Not sure,” he replied.
Max was excused from all of the day’s classes in order to prepare for the event. The time drew closer with every conversation he had on his way back to his room, stopping to chat with most of the students and taking in last minute advice and good luck chants.
Max sat on the chair in the middle of his room, the curtains closed, hoping for the glowing writing to appear. He concentrated to his fullest, but it didn’t work. When Jimmy tapped and opened the door his senses returned.
“I’m ready,” said Max in a confident voice, giving Jimmy goose bumps.
“Good. You should get out there,” he replied. He spun around and set off towards the grounds. Max smiled at Jimmy’s enthusiasm, following him out and closing the door behind him.
His mind went blank and he followed Jimmy as if he were a dog. He reached the steps and slowly descended, seeing that everyone had crowded up to a mini-stage by the cliff’s side.
Max was surprised by how seriously they took this; he looked around at all the banners advertising each team. Inch by inch he crept forward, pushing through the crowd.
“Good luck, Max,” said one of the girls, giving him a big grin. He returned her smile and continued to the front of the stage. All three of the Head Masters were present and they sat in a row, chatting to each other.
“What are we waiting for?” asked Max.
“The other members of the judging panel,” replied a boy from Main.
The atmosphere was tense as the participants measured each other up in dead silence in an effort to intimidate.
“Tactics” said the same boy.
It was an extremely hot day with not a cloud to be seen and the servants constantly toured around the group with sunblock and cups of water, ensuring that no one collapsed from sunstroke.
The crowd’s attention was drawn to a procession of the head students of the schools, each carrying a lit torch. They marched in unison, keeping to the prepared route. Each head boy placed the lit torch in front of his respective Head Master. One of the teachers rose to his feet.
“A very warm welcome to all the students here today. I am old man Jack and I will be your host for today,” he announced, grabbing everyone’s attention.
Jack had white hair and a large cloak that hung past his knees. His vibrant personality stood out when compared to the rest of the teachers and he certainly had a way with the crowd. His warmth and quick jokes instantly defused the tension.
“Welcome to the youth of today. It brightens my day to see all your smiling faces looking up at me with such excitement, such energy. It makes me want to jump off the ledge with you,” he said, gaining a few laughs.
“As you all know, we are here to watch a display of excellent skills. It is a test of one’s attributes, determination and courage to complete the first Assessment. So, please put your hands together for all the participants.” There was a roar of clapping and cheering as the host finished his speech, overwhelmed by the students’ enthusiasm. The old man raised his hands, waving the crowd to silence.
“Talking on a more serious matter, does anyone want to put their name down for the contender?” said the old man sweeping his gaze through the participants from left to right.
Something seemed familiar to Max; he had heard that phrase before. He searched his brain, going through every possible memory, repeating the words over and over in a soft voice. An imaged stopped from the cycle in his head and he recalled that he had seen it on his wall: “The contender was designed by Philo to challenge the toughest Power Users by adding intense bombardment to the Assessment.”
Max slowly looked around at the students’ faces. The students were hushed as they waited for the first hand to be raised. Max’s hand shot up to the sky, followed by Chris and a student from Main. Chatter and applause erupted from the crowd and teachers.
“Your ancestors would be proud, electric user. You always make for a good show,” said Jack, winking at Max.
“Looks like we have two Pillar and one Main. Not like you to shy away, Spear,” he barked sarcastically.
There was an uproar of yelling and chanting, with three big screen projectors focusing on Jack.
“It has been twenty years since we have had three. What do you think, Head Masters?” he questioned.
“Only the highest standard,” Alexander replied with a smile.
“Okay, quiet now,” Jack ordered. “If you don’t know what the first Assessment requires, then listen up. Our contestants will be encased in a large, hollow rock without the ability to see or hear. They will then be thrown off the pillar. Their objective is to break the rock before hitting the ground and make their way back to the top in whatever way they can within the allotted time. For the contenders, we have something special planned. Now, I will hand you over to the Head Masters to start us off,” said Jack, setting the scene.
Chris shot Max a quick glance as they made their way to the stage. All the supporting students patted and cheered them on as they pushed past to the front. Jimmy saw Rachel and Hilary stopping both boys simultaneously.
“You never told me you were going to do this,” said Rachel to Chris.
He grabbed her hand and moved out of earshot of Max.
“I couldn’t back down, not after what happened on the field,” he replied, angrily.
Max’s smile grew as Hilary took his hand, looking up at him with large eyes.
“Be careful,” she whispered.
“I will,” he smiled, embracing her.
Max watched as the tension grew between Chris and Rachel. He still hadn’t said a word since their altercation and he wasn’t going to be the first to speak; it wasn’t his fault.
“Look,” said Hilary.
Rachel stopped arguing and launched herself into Chris arms.
“I can’t think about this.” Max released Hilary’s hand and made his way to the stage.
“Good luck,” she repeated as he stepped up out of the crowd.
Alexander could barely hide his excitement as he observed both boys.
“Did you have any idea they were going for contender?” asked Master Lee.
It had been two generations since the role of contender was last utilised. Alexander had hoped that Max would revive the heart-stopping event.
“I had no idea,” relieving Lee’s suspicions.
“Neither did I, but let’s just see if the three of them can pull it off.”
Chris could now feel the pressure, restraining himself from chewing on his fingernails. It was necessary to set these Assessments at such a high standard for two reasons: The first was so that the students could strive to pass through the ranking system within the school and the second was to maintain the balance within the powers association and fill the opening spots available. The Head Masters had to consider all three of the boys for admission into the Elites if successful.
“We shall begin with the traditional horn that has echoed through these canyons for centuries. So if everyone could bring their attention over this way,” said the host, signalling for the horn to be blown.
The young horn player took a huge breath, releasing it through the ho
rn. There could be heard a loud, low tone that spread in all directions through the canyon, making half the people in the front row jump and giving Max a sense of power.
After a moment of silence as the last tone died away, the first student was called. A sense of anticipation enveloped the crowd awaiting the student’s jump.
A cameraman was on standby, preparing to capture the student’s effort, broadcasting it to the big screens in front of the crowd.
The first student approached the launching area, his hesitant steps giving away his nerves. He half-staggered up the stairs, standing between two Pillar students. The students raised both hands, summoning their power. Rock formed around the participant’s feet, gradually engulfing him in a sphere and trapping him within. He could not see a thing on the inside, the darkness overwhelming. He banged his hands against the hard surface, unable to budge it.
“Why do I have to be first?” he muttered as he leaned back.
Max stared at the big screen TV as the two students launched the rock sphere off the side. The rock fell with increasing speed and the crowed watched with bated breath.
The contestant’s technique was interesting; he filled the sphere with water and shot out of the top as the rock turned to mud. Using his hands as water thrusters, he propelled his body back to the top of the pillar.
There was a round of applause as the student tumbled down to the platform. He was covered in mud and grinning widely as he waved jubilantly.
Master Lee had turned his head in boredom, having seen this many times before, but both the other Head Masters clapped politely in acknowledgement of the completion of the task.
The heat lingered and the servants continued to hand out plastic cups of water to everyone in the crowd. One by one the students passed through the task, three of them failing. Master Lee was still not impressed. He was waiting for one student in particular.
“The next student from Pillar - Chris!” yelled the host.
Chris bit his lip as he looked towards the two students, who stood waiting for him.
“Good luck!” someone yelled out from the crowd.
Chris didn’t hear the comment, all of his senses angled towards the canyon. He could feel the vibration of his shaking legs; it wasn’t like him to get so nervous. He usually thrived under challenges such as this.
“Be gone, weakness,” Chris whispered as the task began.
Master Lee stretched on the edge of his chair. Finally, the contender challenge.
In the blink of an eye it was over and Chris stood at the top of the pillar, successful.
“Congratulations, Chris,” announced the judge.
Chris turned to look at Alexander who stood up and gave Chris a little nod, pleased by his achievement.
“Next contender challenge, Maximus!” the host shouted.
Max made his way over to the stage, giving Chris a nod as he passed. Chris shrugged it off with no response.
The crowd’s volume grew to a roar as Max approached the two students and he tuned into an inner silence. The crowd slipped away as he zoned them out.
“Now it’s my turn to show you how it’s done,” muttered Max to himself.
On the stage, Danny, the headmaster of the sister school, was saying, “I propose a little bet.”
“Go on,” said Alexander with interest.
“One thousand gold coins says Max falls to one of my rock students,” proposed Danny.
He seemed pretty confident in his rock users and he smiled at Alexander.
“It sounds intriguing, but I am no gambler,” he replied, looking over at Lee.
“Well, of course I’m going to take the bet, but why didn’t you make it with Chris? You would have had a better chance making money off that bet,” said Master Lee pulling out a coin bag and placing it on the table.
“Chris is an ice user and Maximus is an electricity user, so it’s logical to pick the person who is weakest against rock. So! We have a deal.” Danny rose to shake Master Lee’s hand and then re-took his seat to wait for the main event.
“Yes, but you shouldn’t underestimate someone like him,” replied Lee. All three men spun their chairs around to the TVs, waiting for the action to begin.
The atmosphere had changed. It was no longer loud and chatty; everyone was now staring at Maximus as he stood close to the edge of the cliff. It was quiet enough to hear a pin drop.
He quickly scanned the far canyon wall where he could see four students suspended on rock ledges scattered at various levels.
“Here we go,” said Master Lee getting to his feet. The old judge’s voice came over the speakers, checking that the rock students were ready. At their thumbs-up, he turned to Maximus.
“Let the second contender begin,” he called out.
Max watched as the student Elites held their hands out in front of them and braced himself in preparation. The two big screens flicked to the replay of Chris’s fall.
Chris was locked into the same rock that Max was now in and falling through the air. A thick layer of ice froze the rock in mid-air and Chris broke out with a small kick, jumped out and perched himself on a small, icy ledge that he had created. The number of small projectiles being hurled at him by the other students was astonishing. He extended his icy perch into an ice trail that climbed up at a steep angle, and then another and another. His skill at jumping from one trail to the next was breathtaking as he dodged all the rocks he could, ducking and weaving.
He watched as his ice trail broke away behind him, making the crowd gasp, but he had saved enough energy to extend the ice ledge all the way to the top of the pillar and releasing his ice wall protected him from the rocks.
He emerged at the top, taking a step onto the pillar. As he did so, the crowd erupted into applause. The video ended and now it was Max’s turn.
The darkness within the rock gifted Max the alone time he craved. He kicked at the rock that surrounded him, disappointed by his weakness. His nervousness grew as he contemplated what came next.
The order was given and the rock with Max inside rolled off the edge, dropping with even more speed than Chris’s ice trail. Max tumbled inside until he found himself floating in the air as the rock hurtled towards the ground.
He positioned himself upright to avoid hitting the rock ceiling. He felt exactly the same as the moment when he flung himself off the pillar for Jimmy. Max knew it was a twenty-second drop and time was running out. Without thinking, he quickly charged a large amount of electricity, forcing it out in front of him, jolting the rock back towards the pillar. The rock surface of the sphere crashed into the side of the pillar, cracking the first layer. Max punched the crack.
“Idiot!” he yelled, pulling back his fist in pain. He charged a second jolt, ramming rock against rock.
The slamming sound was loud enough to make everyone jump as they watched on the big screen.
He shifted his energy out of the palm of his hand and towards the cracked rock.
Lightning particles remained as a cool breeze blew through a gaping hole in the sphere.
“Half way,” yelled the host as he watched the stone sphere plummeting to the ground. The crowd began chanting Maximus’s name as they watched.
There was no time to admire the scenery as Max dived out of the sphere head-first. He began free falling as he pushed himself away from the rock and it wasn’t long before the Elites had destroyed the sphere with a barrage of propelled rocks. It was hard to hear through the sound of the wind rushing past his ears but he only needed to look to witness the hundred small rocks travelling at high speed in his direction.
He had ten seconds left until he hit the bottom of the canyon. When a piece of flat rock from the sphere fell right in front of him he had an idea. He pushed off the side of the pillar, barely catching the platform as he spun in mid-air. His electrical current flowed across the bottom of the flat rock, producing enough energy to slow his descent. He hovered in mid-air as the rock sparked from left to right.
His scar on hi
s neck once again burned as more and more energy poured into Max. He felt amazing; his fingertips sparked and his eyes felt as clear as they had ever been. Looking up, Max could see the spread of darkness that consumed half of one side of the canyon. He was nearly overwhelmed by the sheer number of obstacles being hurled at him. The four Elites were aiming to finish him.
“Here we go!” he yelled, smiling.
“Why is he waiting so long? Is he mad?” shouted one of the Elites opposite him.
“Fire more!” called another in response.
Max could feel the power surge within him and he bent it to his will as he waved his hand from left to right. A lightning bolt fizzed from the left side of the canyon to the right, smashing through every single projectile. The dust spread as the shockwave blew past the Elites. It took them all by surprise and they clung on to the canyon’s surface for support.
“Do you believe this guy?” one of them yelled.
Max looked up to see two falling figures above him. They stopped and clung to the pillar as they positioned themselves for an attack.
“Six Elites,” Max smirked.
Master Lee sidled closer to the edge, trying to gain the best view he could without falling over.
“This should make it interesting. Six Elites. I ask to double the price on our wager,” said Master Lee tactically.
“You’re going to make me a rich man after today is over.”
“Very well,” replied Master Lee.
“Can you tell what’s happening?” Jimmy asked the other students clustered around him watching the TV screen.
“Only glimpses, but there’s some serious light-work going on,” replied a girl. Jimmy gave up trying to see the TV and edged his way closer to the top of the cliff, but was stopped by the judge, who pushed everyone back for their own safety.
The sight was astonishing; a downpour of rocks that would have immobilised anyone other than Maximus.
“This ends now,” he whispered.
He jolted away the platform, coming to within inches of his two targets. A small dose of electricity in the right spot was all that was needed to overwhelm them. He clung to the unconscious bodies as he carefully lowered them onto their platform.
Maximus Thatcher Page 18