Day4: The Test

The room was getting pretty full with other prospective students. The boat that I had come on was one of many that came full of students, and the other boat's students were beginning to arrive, making me claustrophobic. I closed my eyes and sat forward, Ceorn curled up on my lap, trembling. I was stretching my neck when the girl sat across from me and she finally introduced herself. Her name was Elywin and her panther was named Nayne. She was wearing a simple dark blue tank top and tan cargo pants, her outfit clearly meant to be for function. Her light blue hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Her emerald eyes met mine as we talked, trying to pass the time.

A few hours later, the Head Proctor came out. He was a rather imposing man who was entirely decked out in black. He started to call out names in groups and individuals. I was called up with Elywin and another guy named Baron, who wore a brown robe with a bow on his back. Bows were favored over guns for a number of reasons, but mostly because guns, when wet, don't work. We were told to go and change into battle clothes that the school was providing based on our Auras, and we were directed to a room where there were three packages and three changing rooms. I quickly opened up the package, surprised by what I found. Black cargo pants and a black tee-shirt were on top, but what was under that was something I didn't expect. A snow white trench coat type jacket was folded up neatly, the golden border shining in the dull light. I quickly changed, finding everything fitting comfortably. I took my sword and tried a few techniques, and I seemed to have even more mobility and comfort than when I had my old clothes. I noticed a pair of black gloves with no fingers still in the box, as well as white shoes. I was sitting when Elywin came out in a dark blue shirt, and loose light blue pants. Baron came out with full blown plated bronze armor, but he moved as naturally in it as he did in the robe.

There was a knock at the door, making us jump. The proctor who checked me in led us outside to the mountains and we were given our task, find the Aura Cavern in the mountain range by the end of the day. Ceorn and Nayne joined us, as well as a falcon that was apparently Baron's. We were told the general direction and left to our own devices. If we made it, we were to bring back proof, three Aura crystals, one Light, one Water, and one Earth, and if it was too much, we were to return with nothing. It was also an all or nothing deal, meaning we all had to come back.

Our first plan was for Baron's falcon, Stane, look from the air. We started running, trying to find the cavern. We hadn't even been searching for an hour when Stane came back, leading us to the cavern. I let my Light form an orb in my hand, lighting up the cavern. Walking forward, words from the old language were written on the far wall. Elywin translated them:

Only sand can stop the sand of time

After she read the words aloud, the walls cracked and sand started to flow from the rock. Baron stepped up, trying to clog the holes, but the sand would just flow around his aura. Elywin figured it out as the sand reached our ankles, and she combined her Air aura with Baron's Earth, creating a sand storm. Their sand clogged the holes and the wall crumbled away. Running in, we found the Brown Earth crystal and the White Air crystal, but the Yellow Light crystal wasn't there. I accidentally let the Light dim, but light emanated from another source. I let the Light go out all the way, and the crystal appeared next to the cluster of Earth crystals. I grabbed it and we made our way back to the Academy, where we presented the crystals and were given our room assignments, where I went and crashed after putting my pack on a desk and making a bed for Ceorn again.