CHAPTER 7

Kairi caught snippets of muffled conversation as she floated in and out of consciousness. 

"…pass the Test of Light?”

"…is she even alive?”

"…did what was required…"

"…nearly killed herself…”

“…wasn’t contained to the circle…”

"…never seen that before…”

“…strong in all elements…”

“I’ll let you know as soon as she awakens, Jaspyrr.“

The voices all seemed to be arguing, but she could barely focus on it through the pain. She could not tell where she was or who was around her, and finally slipped into blessed darkness once more. 

***

When Kairi at last came to, she was lying in a soft bed. She lay still to avoid the pain that throbbed throughout her body with even the tiniest movement. Slowly she picked up on a hushed conversation, and she opened her eyes a crack, examining the room through the curtain of her eyelashes. The whole scene was slightly blurry, and she struggled to focus.

A man stood with his back to her a short ways off next to a row of empty cots, his back to Kairi. Kairi could not hear what he was saying, but she guessed by the way he gestured with his hands that he was trying to convince the woman he was talking to of something.

The woman was facing Kairi, shaking her head disapprovingly. She wore pale yellow robes with a white apron tied around her waist, her dark hair was pulled back in a tight bun. She was frowning, her lips pressed together in a tight line. She shook her head again, causing her glasses to slide off her nose. As she pushed them back into position, she raised her voice, speaking sternly. "You will not!" She looked over at Kairi, and Kairi quickly closed her eyes, pretending she was still asleep. The man began to speak, but she cut him off, "That is final, Jaspyrr. She nearly killed herself. You can't possibly expect to disturb her the second she wakens." 

Kairi's eyes snapped open, and she ignored the pain caused by the brightness of the room. She looked more closely at the man, and realised that he was indeed the head Mage. The woman glanced at her again and noticed she was awake. Turning back to Jaspyrr she let out an exasperated sigh. "You may speak to her, but do not do anything to worsen her condition or I will have your head!" 

"I wouldn't dream of it, Briellina," Jasper said, amusement evident in his voice.

The woman glared at Jaspyrr, but her gaze softened as she bustled towards Kairi.

"Hello, Kairi. It's nice to see you awake finally. You've had us all worried for last few days." Kairi winced with pain as she was helped into a sitting position. The woman pressed a small glass full of opaque, green liquid into her hands. "Drink up, Dear. This will help."

Kairi lifted the glass and sniffed its contents. She wrinkled her nose with displeasure and, taking a deep breath, drained the foul-smelling liquid in one go. The effects were immediate; as the cool liquid slid down her throat the pain in her head disappeared, her vision cleared, and the pain in her arms and legs slowly receded until it was hardly noticeable.

"Better?" The woman smiled down at Kairi, who was looking at the cup with astonishment. "Excellent. I'm Briellina, the head Healer. This is Jaspyrr, whom you met before, I gather. He'd like a word, but if he starts tiring you, you just let me know." She gave Jaspyrr a stern glance before bustling out the door at the far end of the room, closing the doors behind her.

Jaspyrr came and sat down on the edge of the bed. He looked at Kairi a moment before speaking. "I have no doubt you are wondering what happened the other day." Kairi nodded, and he continued. "First, let me inform you that you passed your Test of Power,” he hesitated, “in every element." He raised an eyebrow. "Tevel had told me he thought you had Potential, but the Power and control you showed was frankly astounding. Tevel suggested that I oversee your Test, and I am glad that I did, even more so because of what happened."

Kairi's eyes widened. "Sir?" she spoke tentatively.

"Yes, Kairi?"

"Didn't—" she hesitated. "Didn't I do the last part wrong?"

Jaspyrr smiled. "Most of our entering students make mistakes during their Test. Really the only purpose is to see how much control you have over the different aspects of your power so we can place you appropriately in your training.”

"Besides," he continued almost as an afterthought, "technically speaking, the only thing required of you was to create a light using your power, which you did. Even though your method was rather," he paused searching for the right word, "unconventional."

Kairi's eyebrows drew together with confusion, and she looked down at her hands twisting the sheets. "Did I pull the wrong thread?"

"Thread? Oh, you must mean lines of Power." He looked at Kairi strangely. "I'm impressed that you have already figured out how to use the Sight. I'm afraid that every Mage draws upon their own power differently, so the only thing I can tell you is that the light you created was not made of Power, but of your very life-energy."

Kairi gasped. She looked up at Jaspyrr, her eyes wide. "My life-energy? You mean I—" She looked down at her hands, which were trembling. For a moment the only thing she could hear was the pounding of the blood in her head.

Jaspyrr spoke softly, "I am glad to see you understand the gravity of what nearly happened."

Kairi nodded, her heart beating loudly in her chest. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, opening them when her heart slowed.

Jaspyrr looked down at her with a troubled look. He searched Kairi’s eyes, as if determining how strong she was, and finally spoke.

“I wanted to talk to you about your power, while we're on the subject." Kairi nodded, and he continued, "Let me first say that every Mage's power has a signature colour. Mine, for example, is a pale lavender, while Briellina has a power that is dark red in colour. I have seen that stunt of yours done only thrice before, by three different Mages, during a great battle. Each of those Mages threw their life force at the opponent in a last-ditch attempt to turn the tide of battle, destroying themselves in the process. Their life forces matched the colour of their respective Powers." He paused, as if looking back on his memories. 

Kairi waited anxiously for him to continue, and after a long silence he started and cleared his throat.

"Oh dear. I lost myself for a moment there. Memories have their own power, don’t they. What I wanted to talk to you about was the colour of your Power, and your life force."

Kairi looked up at him. "Why? Is it unusual?"

“Very. I have never heard of it occurring in a person, except in Myth.” He raised an eyebrow. "Undoubtedly you can see why I am intrigued."

Kairi opened her mouth to ask one of the hundreds of questions that had sprung up, battering against her consciousness to be asked, but she was interrupted by a loud crash as the doors flew open and Briellina bustled in, followed by Hallie, the cat who was not a cat.

Kairi felt the bed jolt as Jaspyrr's weight was removed from it in one quick motion. He looked down at Hallie, and Kairi could sense that some dialogue was going on between them. After a moment, Jaspyrr frowned and looked at Briellina.

“It’s started, Jaspyrr,” she breathed, wringing her hands.

“Who is it?”

“Mather, Sir. It was poor Mather,” Briellina spoke softly, her eyes looked red and slightly swollen, and Kairi wondered if she had been crying.

Jaspyrr shook his head, frowning. He looked back at Hallie. “Well there is virtually nothing we can do about this now. We knew it was going to happen soon.”

“But, Sir!” Briellina glanced at Kairi. “What if he knows? Mather's aniih told us before she died that he’s searching for-”

“Briellina!” Jaspyrr spoke sharply. Briellina's eyes flickered towards Kairi, who was looking back and forth between them with confusion.

“But—.” 

“I am well aware, Briellina. However,” Jaspyrr spoke firmly, “Right now, your primary concern is getting Kairi back to full health.” His voice had a finality to it, and Briellina, after hesitating for a moment, nodded, and set herself bustling about the room, sniffling occasionally.

Jaspyrr turned back to Kairi, his face somber. “If you are feeling well enough, Kairi, I would very much like for you to begin your Training with me tomorrow afternoon.” When Kairi nodded, he continued, “You will find a set of students’ robes waiting for you when you return to your room.” He gave the sign of greeting and strode out the still-open doors, his robes billowing majestically behind him. 

***

Kairi woke up the next morning, gingerly pushing her aching body into a sitting position. Briellina bustled about the room as before, although this time with a more harried appearance. She looked to be preparing for something, and Kairi wondered if it had to do with that Mage being killed.

On one of her frantic turns about the room, Briellina spotted Kairi rubbing her eyes and hurried over, feeling Kairi’s forehead. “How are you feeling?” 

Kairi rubbed the back of her neck. “Better, I guess. It still hurts a little.”

“I’m not surprised. Trying to get your life force back into you was no easy task. Drink this up.”

Kairi groaned as another glass of the foul-smelling medicine was pressed into her hands. Briellina chuckled as she watched Kairi gulp down the liquid as fast as she could, “Well, what did you expect? It’s a potion. It’s not supposed to taste good.”

“Ugh. There are a hundred Mages here, and no one’s thought to make potions taste tolerable at least?”

Briellina let out a strained laugh, the corners of her eyes crinkling, not entirely managing to erase the lines of stress. She helped Kairi stand up and helped her get dressed. “Well the point, I believe, is to discourage people from nearly killing themselves.” 

Kairi smiled. She liked Briellina; she reminded her of Kiryona with her motherliness and her dimpled smile. Kairi was overcome with a wave of homesickness, and fought hard to keep the tears locked away behind her stinging eyes. She reached up to her moonstone and discovered that it was nowhere to be found. She looked frantically around her bedside, her heart pounding. Where was it?

Briellina looked at Kairi with concern. “Are you all right, Kairi? If you’re not ready I’ll tell Jaspyrr to wait another day.” She reached into her pocket and drew out the small pouch containing her moonstone. “Oh, I nearly forgot, Jaspyrr said this belonged to you. Kairi let her breath out in a rush, and took the pouch, her hand shaking. She closed her hand around the bag, drawing comfort from the moonstone.

“I’m fine, Ma'am. I—I’m ready.”

“Please, call me Briellina.” 

Kairi nodded, and Briellina led her to the doors at the end of the room.

“Now, Kairi, take care of yourself.” Kairi nodded, and stepped out the door, suddenly turning around.

“Um, Briellina?” Kairi asked, frowning. “How do I get back to my room?”

“Oh! Forgive me. Simply concentrate, and make three right turns. As long as you know where you want to go, you’ll get there. Jaspyrr’s study is five left. Although, I imagine young Sythrian will be escorting you to your first lesson. It takes a little bit of getting used to, finding your way around here.”

Kairi looked at her skeptically. “That’s it? I just have to think about it?” Briellina chuckled and nodded, and Kairi shrugged. “All right then. Good afternoon, Briellina.”

Briellina smiled and gave a small wave before closing the doors once more.

***

Kairi reached her room a few minutes later and smiled. Magic was really a fascinating thing. She opened her door, and immediately went to the washbasin, and gave herself as much as a wash as she could. She would have to ask whether there was a place to have a proper bath, but for now it was enough to be clean. She pulled on her new student robes, which lay waiting for her on the bed, and surveyed herself in the mirror. The robes were black, two layered, and fell to her ankles. There was a black tabard that went over the top, and it was belted around the waist with a large strip of leather. She rather liked the effect, she almost thought she looked the part of a Mage.

When she had just finished lacing up her boots, there was a knock on the door, and as she opened it, Sythrian poked his head inside. “Hey, Kairi. You ready?” Then spying the fruit on the table, Sythrian gestured towards it, “Do you mind?” Kairi shook her head and Sythrian picked up one of the fruits, tossing it into the air before biting into it. “Excellent. Let’s go then.”

They turned left and began walking down the hall. Sythrian glanced at Kairi over his shoulder as they turned left a second time. “What’s Jaspyrr want with you this time?”

“Umm,” Kairi hesitated, her attention caught on a rather curious painting of a young woman seated on a chair, one hand resting on the scruff of a magnificent white wolf, “I’m starting Training.”

Sythrian stopped in his tracks, and Kairi trod on his foot, still looking at the painting. “Jaspyrr’s doing your Training personally?”

Kairi finally tore her eyes away from the portrait, suddenly anxious. “Is that bad?”

“What? Oh, no. I’m just surprised, is all,” Sythrian started walking once more, scratching his head. “I don't think I’ve ever heard of Jaspyrr doing anyone’s training personally.” Another left turn. “You must be good. The whole Tower’s been talking about your Test. Not many people pass all the elements in one go!”

Kairi sighed. “Great.” They approached two young-looking boys as they turned again. One nudged the other as they passed Kairi and Sythrian, and they began whispering frantically as they walked around the corner and out of earshot.

Sythrian slowed to walk beside her and then stopped and touched her arm, his voice suddenly soft, “Hey, are you okay?”

Kairi shrugged, trying to hide the tears and homesickness that threatened to overcome her.

Sythrian smiled kindly, “Don't worry. You’ll make friends in no time. I’ll introduce you around at dinner. Everyone’s really nice. There’s always drama here, don’t worry. They’ll soon find something else to talk about.”

They made the final two left turns in silence, finally reaching the door to Jaspyrr’s office, and Sythrian knocked three times. He turned to Kairi. “Well, good luck! Call me when your lesson’s over, and I’ll take you to dinner.”

Kairi smiled nervously. “Thanks. I’d like that.” She watched him saunter off down the hallway, admiring the way the light played on his hair as he walked. When she turned, Jaspyrr stood in the doorway, watching her with amusement.

“G-good afternoon, Sir,” Kairi stuttered. She hadn’t even heard the door open.

“Well-met Kairi of the Forest. Shall we begin?” He beckoned her inside, still smiling.