~Arriving at Crescentville~

[Valerie]

“You look extremely excited,” Irene commented dryly when I joined her for the morning run. I shot her a deadpan look. The comment was no doubt because of the visible dark circles around my eyes. I could hardly sleep yesterday and when I finally got some shut-eye, the alarm blared painfully in my ears and every ounce of sleep just fled. 

We ran for an hour. Both of us pay attention to our energy levels and speed. I glanced at my watch. 10km, not bad. I was beginning to feel slightly winded but Irene looked like she could run 10 more kilometres. 

“What happened? Are you that excited about leaving home and starting an independent life?” Even though she had asked the question lightly, playing it off as teasing, I detected the underlying concern. I decided that lying would be the best option because I had no explanation for mom’s outburst yesterday. 

“Yeah. Imagine I will finally not be babied by everyone,” I replied enthusiastically, sounding slightly out of breath. Irene shook her head, her blue-dyed ponytail swinging from side to side. “You are the youngest, you can’t expect anything else. Look at Luke, mom still fusses over him and we were born minutes apart.” There was no actual heat in her voice but I did get her point. However, I couldn’t get rid of mom’s concerned and anxious tone last night. Why did she sound like that? 

Our running petered to a jog, and then we parted ways. Irene had early alpha training like Luke and I had to prepare for today’s journey. “Take care and text me often,” she said as she gave me a tight hug. “I will,” I promised, feeling my eyes turn moist.

~~~~

“Don’t you have a day full of meetings today?” I asked mom. My suspicion only increased with her odd behaviour. When I had returned to the Castle, I was surprised to find my mom there because usually, she would be out by the time I came back from the run. It was even more strange to see her pack a suitcase, not as big as mine but definitely not small either.  

“Ah, I missed my parents, and this would be a good opportunity to meet Elias as well. I haven’t met him since he went touring,” she said with a nervous smile. That was enough for me to know that she was keeping something from me. I nodded nonetheless because I knew prodding and probing would lead me nowhere. 

As I packed away a few more remaining clothes, I wondered if she was going there to be a mediator. She knew, hell, everyone in our family knew my relationship with Viola. But then again, she never tried to intervene before. Was it because I had not even improved as a mage, not even an iota, and she just wanted me to shield from the inevitable embarrassment in front of Elias? 

“Honey, let’s go,” dad’s voice brought me back to reality. 

“In a second,” I hollered back. After doing a last-minute check, I zipped my trolley and rolled it out of my room. Mom was already waiting and so were Xyan and Georgia. Dad outstretched his hand which wasn’t wrapped around my mom’s waist, and I silently took it. He kissed my forehead and then hugged me for a while. Ah, I missed this….I would miss this. 

~~~~~

I leaned back in the seat, my eyes trailed the objects and people outside. Dad couldn’t accompany us because of a conference, but Arnold did. I plugged in my earphones and closed my eyes and soon sleep had cradled me in its arms. 

~~~~~

“Val, wake up. We are here.” I heard someone call my name and felt someone shaking me then it stopped and then someone shook my arm again. I swat away whoever was trying to wake me up and turned only to fall sideways on the back seat. I groaned and heard someone…no multiple of them snorting and snickering. I got up and looked at the other side - Mom was standing with the door open, clearly laughing at my plight and Arnold was trying hard to contain his laughter. 

“Morning,” a voice drawled and it was then that my eyes went over mom’s shoulder and settled on Maia. Huh? We are here?

“Yes, apparently and if you want to sleep, there’s a nice room that has been prepared for you,” my mom said as she left the car door ajar and went back to help Arnold with the luggage. Still half sleep-addled, I clumsily got out of the car and shut the door with more force than I should have. 

“Are you groggy enough to swat me away if I try to hug?” Maia asked mischievously. I shook my head. She chuckled and wrapped her arms around me. Maia was a year younger than Viola and Xyan, but hugging her like this made me realize how much I’ve missed her. 

“Now, I can annoy you every day,” I said as I pulled away. Maia let out an exasperated sigh. “I have to endure, unfortunately.”  

I grinned before taking my suitcase from Arnold. “Have a safe journey back.” Arnold nodded and patted my shoulder. “Take care, pup.” I nodded with a smile. Maia took mom’s bag and together we walked towards the main Packhouse. 

~~~~~~

My maternal grandparents were as usual happy to see us. Nana complained as usual that we should visit as a whole family, mom deflected the topic as usual and I wince slightly as usual. Drake and Gray would be returning later this week from a tedious conference, hopefully, they might even drag dad here as well. 

My eyes wandered around as we walked into the living room. It has been a while since I visited. However, a distinct lack of Viola was not missed by my mom. “Where’s Lola?” She frowned. I didn’t wait for Nana to answer. I followed Maia to what will be my room for the next few years. 

“Elias will be returning soon. He was excited, you know?” she said as she opened the door. I bit back a smile, feeling happy. “I am nervous though,” I replied, dumping my bag on the queen bed. 

“You will do fine. Don’t worry,” she said with that warm smile that always placated and calmed the nervous rhythms of my heart. For the first time in a long while, I looked forward to the next day. 

~~~~~

“The first and foremost thing in order to gain control of elements is to know which Element you can control,” Elias began, walking from one end of a long table to the other. I clasped my hands behind my back and listened attentively. It was a bit of a shock when I was informed that I would be joining the beginners. I suppressed the sting in the corner of my eyes and the disappointment in my heart and joined everyone else in the front yard of a new building that had been assigned for the training of mages for the time being.

Viola was still missing, but Maia told me that she had met mom. I wasn’t keen on meeting her either. 

“....we will begin the training,” Elias continued. 

There were five of us. A usual number for mages. In the last few years, many witches and wizards have tried to become a mage and finally, mom passed a rule where only mages or witches and wizards showing potential for the same will be allowed to train. But not without a test. 

“Mr. Victor Kent, step forward.” Elias still maintained and addressed everyone like he might have done when he was royalty. I smiled at this gesture. 

My gaze honed onto the first mage, a raven-haired, tall and sturdy guy probably my age. 

“Hover your hand over each of these Elements and wiggle your fingers and try to feel them. Since wind is not really visible to us, we will try that in the end. For the first we work with three.”

The guy nodded diligently before following his instructions. When he tried to make the dirt in the jar move, it didn’t. When he tried to make the water spill from the glass it didn’t. But the moment his hand hovered over the candle, the flame crackled. 

He wiggled his fingers and they moved from one side to another. This wasn’t the trick of wind and Victor looked at Elias with what could only be categorized as excitement, all reddened cheeks and glittering hazelnut eyes. Elias smiled in acknowledgement. 

The next one was a girl, Faith, a petite stature Nigerian with fiery brownish yellow curls. Her element also turned out to be fire. The next guy’s name was Irfan, as tall as me and I am not kidding because I’m taller in my family. He looked ecstatic when his element turned out to be Earth. He smiled at Elias and joined his palms in a gesture of gratitude. 

Francis, a tall and lanky guy literally yelled when his element turned out to be wind. Everyone sort of clapped because mages who could control Wind was far lesser than those who could control Water, Fire, and Earth.  

And lastly…

“...and next is Miss Valerie Ravenwood.” My eyes snapped up and met Elias’ gaze. He nodded subtly, encouraging me to step forward. My heartbeat kicked up a notch as I willed my suddenly heavy feet to move. Would I be able to show considerable change in any of the elements? 

‘Have faith in yourself,’ a voice echoed in my brain. It was so soft and it faded so quickly that I thought that maybe I had imagined. I blinked and looked at the elements in front of me.  Was it my….? No…it has been two years. Even late bloomers bloom by this time span. ‘Stop thinking all this now, Val. It might be your inner voice,’ I reprimanded myself. 

“Valerie?” I looked up at Elias, startled. His eyebrows were furrowed. I swallowed back the fear and focussed on the task at hand. I hovered my hand above the candle first. I could see my hand trembling. Nothing happened. Elias didn’t comment. I moved to the dirt. Nothing as usual. 

I moved to the water next, and it slightly sloshed, but that was it. I felt no tingling sensation in my palm or any kind of heat like mom had described. I felt no power course through my veins. I felt…..nothing. 

I let my hand fall by my side. I didn’t meet Elias’ eye. Everyone else seemed silent behind me. I felt the telltale burning in the corner of my eyes. Why…why could everyone else so easily move the elements in their desired way, why couldn’t I?

“Your element is water, Miss Valerie.” I nodded, head still bowed, and stepped back. The familiar feeling of failure once again drowned me.