Page 4 of In Between Darkness
Miss Worthington adjusts her blue blazer, giving it a sharp tug at the collar. “If you should ever need a certain book you cannot reach,” she looks up at where the high ceiling meets the last row of books, “there are always Influencers in here between the hours of seven am and eight pm. They can summon the books for you.”
She diverts her attention to a middle-aged bald man wearing a tweed blazer, a yellow t-shirt and matching tweed trousers. “Mr Eddingbrow, please could you show the students the book of the History of Palidonia?”
Mr Eddingbrow smiles. “Of course.”
He shuts his eyes and rubs his thumbs and forefingers together. We all look up as a shuffle can be heard from the ninety-ninth row. A book glides seamlessly through the air and makes its way down swiftly, straight into Mr Eddingbrow’s arms. “The book of the History of Paldonia,” he announces, brandishing the tome.
We look on in awe.
“Miss, how much Influence would it take to lift Jemima over there?” Alex Rotherman says with a smug look on his face, his mates chuckling around him.
Jemima is a shy girl who happens to be on the plumper side. Her face darkens with embarrassment.
“What? It’s a genuine question, Miss,” he smirks.
Yep, Alex is still an ass. No amount of hotness is going to change that.
“Probably the same amount it would take to make your shrimp dick bigger!” I interject. I watch as his face turns bright red and the class bellows with laughter.
Nala nudges me on the arm. “You’re kind of a badass, aren’t you?!” she grins.
Jemima looks at me and mouths a small “thank you”. I smile back.
“That’s enough of that!” Miss Worthington snaps. “There will be no tolerance for bullying. Remember, Mr Rotherman, when you are given your Gift, whatever it may be, the same hands that give it can also take it away. Be careful how you act. The Gods are always watching!”
And with that, she makes her way to the courtyard. We quickly follow behind. I stumble a little as Alex forcefully brushes past me.
“Watch it, Freak!” he sneers. He used to call me that in Pen School. So much for starting afresh. Two hours in and I’ve already made an enemy.
The courtyard is big and open. Blossom trees surround the perimeter. In the far-left corner there is an elevated platform. This must be the sandpit where the combat takes place. I can see this from my bedroom window. There is a man standing on the platform. He is holding a rake in one hand and has a large bag of sand resting on his other shoulder. He simultaneously pours and rakes, replacing the bloodied sand with the fresh new sand. They must’ve recently had a combat class; the blood still looks fresh.
To the right, there is a large dome-like feature. It is transparent but not completely see-through. The windows that make up the building shimmer in the sunlight. This is The Greenhouse, where the teachings of Poten take place. Where life can be restored.
“Many of you will not need to know this building; Poten rarely gives Gifts. There have only been a handful of Restorers this century,” Miss Worthington remarks. “Inside grows an eternal garden made by the life enchanters from the power of God Poten. As you well know, if you are lucky enough to be gifted by Poten, plants and agriculture will not be the only things you can bring to life.”
“What’s that over there?” a fellow student shouts out, pointing towards Campus B.
The stone wall that separates each campus begins behind The Greenhouse, as the blossom trees are interrupted by a dark pine forest surrounding the second campus. The trees are unevenly staggered, giving the campus a dishevelled and sinister look. Crows perch on their twisted branches as if they are standing guard.
“Ah…” Miss Worthington starts, her eyes gazing at the gaps between the trees. “That is where the Moonkind reside. You will not go over there under any circumstances! Trespassers will be punished accordingly.”
The castle stands tall and mirrors ours, but theirs is a good mile away.
“Where are they all?” the same boy asks.
I think his name is Toren. But I am not too sure. Has he not heard the stories of the Moonkind?
“Excellent question. Moon enchanters are more powerful at nightfall, which is why they train at night and rest throughout the day. Not dissimilar from us Sun enchanters, whose magic is weakened at night.”
She carries on walking past The Greenhouse and moves our attention elsewhere. “Now, how many of you think you can become tamers?” she asks and Nala’s hand shoots up.
I wish I had Nala’s courage. Taming is not something I could ever see myself doing.
“Not so many of you I see. Probably for the best. Still, more than last term.”
She looks up and motions towards the far valley. You can see the cable carts, Influenced to take individuals up and down. “This is where the taming quadrant is. We are fortunate enough to house ten elions at this school.”
Only the bravest apply to become tamers, and even then, some don’t make it back in one piece.
