Page 29 of The Song of Sunrise
“Starwatchers are extremely rare. There has not been a person identified with that affinity in decades. Many times, Starwatchers are used as court spymasters due to their ability to harness memories of the stars. Makes for excellent spymasters,” he adds as an afterthought.
“Even the amount of people with Moon’chers’ affinities are waning as the moon drifts further from the earth.” Professor Novak looks to the side thoughtfully for a moment. “We will start with the usual protocol. Akemi will be the first to test.”
“Good luck,” Ramona calls from the back, and some of the cadets chuckle.
All I can muster is a small half smile. I know what it must look like. A picture of serene calm—relaxed even. Yet my insides are boiling, water rolling over the top of the pot uncontrollably.
“Here, try this.” Professor Novak places a silver stone on my shaking hand.
The moment it touches my skin, the room fills with an ashy smoke. I hiss at the pain in my palm, like someone is pushing an ice cold needle into my hand.
By the stars!
Frantically, I shake my hand, trying to dislodge the stone that’s stuck to skin like a leech.
“Nope, nope, nope. Not a Moon’cher, that much is apparent…” Professor Novak takes the stone off my hand and carefully places it back in the box. Beads of sweat drip down my brow as he collects the golden stone from the box with a set of tongs.
If Professor Novak cannot touch the stone, what type of pain will it inflict on me? Sun burn me… or shall I say stone burn me? Fuck!
He must see the alarm in my eyes because he says quietly to me, “I’m a Moon’cher, so holding that Affinity Stone does not harm me. This, on the other hand”—he waves the golden stone between the prongs—“is a Sun’cher stone, and I don’t feel like getting burned today.”
“Mm hmm,” I acknowledge through pressed lips.
Okay, so that didn’t help me feel any better.
My shoulders lift and my eyes scrunch, anticipating the pain as he places the golden stone on my palm.
The stone drops into my hand, and it… it doesn’t hurt! It stings like the flame of a candle burning a little too close for comfort, but it doesn’t hurt. The room sputters with a soft golden light.
“Interesting…” Professor Novak tweezes the stone out of my palm. “Interesting, interesting…”
“What is it?” I ask barely above a whisper, but the professor doesn’t answer me as he circles back to his desk, pulls out a large leather bound tome, and scribbles down a note.
The classroom is painfully silent.
After a few moments, the professor straightens and his thoughts seem to return to the room as if suddenly remembering he is in the middle of a class.
“The second-stone I tested you with was the Sun’cher Affinity Stone. You had a positive reaction to it, but a true match would have filled the room with blinding light. And as you saw, only a mere flicker of light is what you conjured."
A woman with dark red hair snickers until Ramona’s deathly glare cuts her off.
“Shut it, Sabra,” Ramona warns.
“I'm pleased to announce our first cadet has been assigned an Affinity.” Novak looks to me then to the class. “Akemi, you will train as a Sun'cher!”
The classroom erupts with cheers as the professor hands me a round sun embroidered patch, woven in golden thread.
Excitement percolates the air at the first cadet being sorted into a faction, but all I can focus on is the sting of disappointment from almost failing my first test.
10
My Name is Akemi
The cafeteria is lavish with polished, pristine checkered floors and candelabra chandeliers that hang high above, with glimmering gems in blue, silver, and gold. Rows of long, rectangular wooden tables fill the floors in clean lines where some cadets already mingle. Along the wall, slender stained windows arch to a point, cradling a view of the gardens beyond.
Ramona guides me toward the delicious smells of roasting meat, rosemary, and sage. A counter frames the kitchens beyond that are bustling with food preparation. My heart fills with homesickness at the sight. Where Rosie’s kitchen was wooden and warm, this is expansive, clean, and much more grand.
I fill my plate with blackened chicken, seasoned potatoes, and carrots and follow Ramona to a table near the windows.
