Chapter 44 Sparing with Sage
THE FIFTH ELEMENT 🌊🔥🌪️⛰️☯️
Cassie's POV ~
When the elementals barged into the training center, I instantly got chills.
They said they were just here to observe the students but that made me feel cautious of myself.
I noticed from the corner of my eyes that Sage's mother was staring directly at me.
Does she know i now know about her son's secret?
I maintained my gaze towards the instructor, not giving out any form of emotion on my face.
After we, the students were asked to pair ourselves with one another, I looked over to Madeline's side but she was already clinging to someone else. Jake.
I thought she was just with David some seconds ago.
I shifted my gaze from them before one of them caught me staring.
Stacy was already cozying up to someone from the water tribe.
Same with David and Monique.
I decided to swallow my pride and go ask someone or anyone to pair up.
I saw Sage with Cara talking and I assumed they decided to pair up.
I thought they didn't like each. Maybe they're friends again.
I put my face down, a bit disappointed but when I looked up I saw Sage walking away from Cara.
See! I knew they didn't like each other.
After contemplating, I decided to ask Sage to pair with me.
I tapped her shoulder once to call to her attention.
"Hey Sage, um I was wondering if you wanted to pair up with me?." I asked her when she opened up her eyes obviously interrupting whatever thing she was doing with her eyes closed.
She blinked a few times without saying anything.
"Well?"
"Sure. We can pair." She replied and shrugged.
"Okay. Good." I said to her.
Both of us stood there awkwardly without saying anything else to each other and waited for the instructor to continue with the rules.
"Now that everyone is paired up and set, let's get in position. And Please leave enough space between each pair of you! Thank you."
Everyone started spacing out in the training center.
"Very good. Now Everyone face your teammate, leaving some space between each other." The Instructor said and everyone complied.
Sage and I faced each other. Which was really weird and awkward by the way. I didn't dare look her in her dead eyes.
"Nicely done. Now one of you must conjure up a threat to launch at your partner and your partner has to block it using their own powers or any means possible." The Instructor said and that earned a lot of murmuring from the students.
"That's insane. What if we're not able to block the incoming impact, what then? We just stand and get knocked out?" A girl from the fire element asked.
"You just don't stand. You do something to help yourself. Block the impact, dodge or let it hit you in the face or you can always run. But if you run around for long, you'll officially be failing this class." The Instructor said with arrogance.
This isn't fair. What am I supposed to do here if not run? I don't know how to use these powers of mine like that yet.
I bet Sage will enjoy this one too much. Hitting me in the face countless times would definitely lift her gloomy mood.
"Don't you think this is a little dangerous for us? We could hurt each other." Madeleine spoke up.
"Yes you could. But that's why we have an infirmary in the school with the best of healers. You'll be fine." The Instructor said.
"I don't think this is a good idea. I don't want to hurt anyone and definitely don't wanna get hurt in return." A boy from the Air element said.
"Students! This is not a time to be overly soft with you all... We're running out of time and we need to be prepared for what's coming!" Sage's mom, the principal said in the loudest coldest way possible.
That got everyone to keep quiet.
"What do you mean? What exactly is coming?" Jake asked her boldly.
"Our doom. Only if we don't prepare ourselves. Now all of you, stop whining and just do what your instructor asked of you." The principal said and went to take a seat at a corner.
She seemed and looked really serious about what she was saying. I guess she was referring to the war. Which no one even knows when or if it'll eventually happen.
"They've been emphasizing on 'being prepared' ever since I got here. Who exactly is this enemy we're fighting?" I asked Sage.
"Shush! Keep your voice down. This isn't exactly something you want to talk about here. Too many ears." She replied with a whisper, looking at the greyed uniform students.
I just nodded at her.
"Now students, please let us start with the training. You can choose which one of you wants to be the offender or defender partner." The Instructor said lastly.
All the other Elementals joined Sage's mom in sitting. They were still facing towards us from the high podium, so they'll be seeing everything that was going on with everyone.
"So how are we going to do this?" I asked Sage.
"I'm thinking. How much can you do with your powers?" She asked me.
"I.... don't know. I'm still figuring it out. So nothing much I guess." I said to her.
She didn't need to know I could read minds now.
"Can you still remember what you did the other day? When we were treasure hunting?" She asked me.
Oh. The mind control thing. I haven't tried it for a while....
Which made me suddenly remember Mr Ken Griffey. I haven't had any lessons with him since the last time we saw.
And I don't usually see him around school anymore.
Is he on holiday or something?
"Yeah I remember." I said to Sage.
"If I'm advancing at you with my sword, just use it on me..to stop me from killing you." She said and smirked at the last part.
"Huh? Killing......me?" I stuttered a bit, mortified.
"I'm just kidding." She said but she didn't look like she was just kidding.
"Okay. I'm trusting your words here." I said laughing awkwardly still obviously scared.
She chuckled slightly.
"Now loosen up. So when I advance at you, just slow me down with your powers and we'll end this really quickly." She said and backed further away from me.
She conjured up a water sword and held it in place.
"You ready?" She asked me and I took a deep breath and nodded.
I shook off the nervousness by shaking my hands and stood firmly, trying to find a connection to her mind.
'I can do this' I thought to myself.
I watched her as she advanced towards me in full speed....at first I thought I got a good but small grip and hold of her mind but then it started to slip away.... everything started to clear up quickly and I regained myself consciously.
But it was too late. I wasn't able to control her mind or atleast dodge the cold stone edge of her sword that landed right on my head painfully.
I fell flat on my back.
Ow! I groaned out in pain. Holding my forehead.
"I can't believe you actually hit me." I said softly, still lying on the ground while rubbing my head where she just hit.
I know it's probably red, bloody and bruised now.
"Why didn't you stop me! I thought we went over it!." Sage said angrily.
"Yeah I guess you hitting me in my head is my fault then." I said still lying on the ground.
"Yeah actually it is. I told you to stop me with your powers and you just stood there like an idiot!" She kept ranting.
"Fine. You win this one. And I wasn't just standing there, I was trying to do something but nothing happened. I told you before that I didn't have full control of this power yet." I said to her now sitting up a bit from the ground.
She just sighed heavily.
"Fine. Get up. Let's go at it again." She said to me and went back in position.
Seriously? She can't even help me up.
I stood up on my own and winced a little from the sensation of pain I felt on my head.
I positioned myself, trying so hard to concentrate. I got ahold of her mind again but this time it lasted for a few more seconds than the last time.
She launched herself forward and I thought I had her this time but when she was just a few inches closer, I lost the connection I had over her mind and her sword swinged so close to my face which made me shut my eyes in fear.
I opened up one eye to check what had just happened. But she had a horrific look plastered on her face.
I finally opened up both my eyes.
"You didn't hit me." I said to her but she looked down.
"Actually I did." She replied quietly and pointed to my face.
I furrowed my eyebrows and inspected my face with my hand and that's when I felt it.
The side of my cheek was dripping with liquid, I looked at my hand and saw the scarlet red liquid that came from my face.
Blood. My blood. She cut me.
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