Enchanted Life - 3. Chapter 3 Information Overload

Ashlynn and Talan shared the same class as me. Which made my first time in class a lot easier. The only thing I have an issue with is: having to stay in one classroom all day. Listening to one teacher, and looking at the same students. It would be hard getting used to sitting in one classroom again. I haven’t did this, since I was in fourth grade.

Something did register the moment I came to class. Celestial was a sea of guys. I remember Talan telling me it was an ‘all guys’ school, but I think it didn’t sink in until I sat down. There were all kinds of guys, who portrayed a normal appearance. You couldn’t tell if any of them had powers. You wouldn’t even expect it, unless they told you.

Class was in session, and Ashlynn would not stop talking. I found him to be an excessive talker. That is all Talan and him did while the teacher stood at the board. Sometimes they would ask my opinion on certain matters they disagreed on. They continued to ignore the teacher but tried to include me on everything they discussed. I couldn’t hear what the teacher was saying sometimes because of them.

Having these two sitting by me was a major distraction.

When the teacher finished the lesson. She passed out worksheets. Ashlynn had to help me understand the wording on these worksheets. It was harder than I thought. These worksheets seem to require more than someone listening to the teacher, or reading out of the chapter.

Ashlynn was able to finish his worksheet in no time. I kept wondering how did he finish so early, when he hadn’t listen to a single word the teacher said?

I needed help on battle field strategies. It was a section of the worksheet that I couldn’t get any answers, no matter what I thought of. Ashlynn moved his desk next to mine and explained to me useful strategies during battle.

Never use all your strength in the beginning of the battle, try to think ahead of your opponent, when you strike try not to miss, and always protect yourself. There was much more things he explained. Things about: controlling your ability, knowing when to use your powers. It was so much to absorb that some information was slipping away.

This Academy was the real thing! They were actually teaching students how to battle using their powers.

I wanted to ask a question. So I thought I would ask Talan since Ashlynn was already busy helping me with my worksheet. “Why do they teach students battle skills? It’s not like we need them. Aren’t we all on the same team?”

Talan for once wasn’t talking, but concentrating on the answers he was writing. When he heard me asking him something he answered. “Some years Celestial Academy holds tournaments. Everything you are learning you will definitely need during those tournaments.”

I dropped my mouth at his reply. It’s day two at Celestial Academy and I’m still being surprised. As soon as I think I’m getting the hang of the school there is another curve ball.

I better absorb every lesson I’m taught. I don’t want to look stupid if I get called to a tournament and I don’t know the basics of fighting. That would be an embarrassment.

I finished my work. I indulged in a talk with Ashlynn and Talan. They did talk a lot but they knew when to stop and take care of their business.

They both seemed interested in my eyes. “Why does your eyes glow like that?…it’s like a yellow color.” Talan asked in wonder.

“I’ve been asking myself that same question.” Ashlynn spoke, hoping to get an answer. “Are they contacts or something? Because I have never seen anyone’s iris’s yellow like that.”

Talan had the strange, pretty, silver eyes. Ashlynn had the mesmerizing, powder blue eyes. I don’t know why either of them would find my eyes of interest. They both had pairs of unique colored eyes.

“I get my eye color from my mom. It’s my natural eye color, no contacts.” I tell them hoping their interest is somewhat satisfied by my answer.

The three of us exchanged endless questions to fill each other out. These were the type of guys I liked to be around. I had to admit, Talan and Ashlynn were awesome!

Lunch time came. Ashlynn instructed me to walk beside him. While we walked, We were searching for a place to station ourselves.

That’s when Talan decided; today wasn’t an eating day for the three of us. He clearly said ‘this would be the precise time for you to get familiar with everyone’s tables, faces, names, and powers.

“This is our table.” Ashlynn said while taking a seat. Soon after, he pulled a nail filer from his shorts.

Talan sat beside him, as they both began using nail filers on their nails. When their nail files started moving, their mouths began to rain information about the guys seated at the tables around ours.

“Okay, just so you know,” Talan swallowed “There are four different groups in this school. Five if you count us.” He blew on his nails for a minute then started talking again. “See those boys over there?”

I looked in the direction he pointed his nail filer. Looking for the guys he was talking about. I think he knew, I didn’t know where he was pointing because he kept adding more details.

“Over there, wearing the chains on their pants” I was trying to look past people to see. “They are wearing all black, from head to toe… With the stern faces. You see them?”

Right when he asked. I saw them. They were a little too weird for my taste.

“Those are the Goths!” Talan said, before he examined his hands. Looking to see if his nails needed more work.

“Yeah,” Ashlynn said picking up where Talan left off. “and they all have this power that gives them the ability to manipulate dark forces and shadows.” A streak of worry crossed my face, and I guess Ashlynn saw it. “No need to get worried. There are only three strong people in each group.”

“No need to worry?” I said challenging his suggestion. Dark forces and shadows? That sounded intimidating. Who would want to challenge someone with that ability?

“Trust me, when I say there is no need to worry.” Ashlynn stopped filing his nails to say. “Only the top three in each group can sometimes be threats. You just have to know your battle skills, when it comes to them… other than the top three, the rest of them are amateurs.”

The conversation switched to Talan. “The only three you need to worry about in the goth group is: James, the one with the spikey black hair,” I immediately saw James. His weird spikes made him noticeable among the rest. “Then there is Damian. Sitting there with the iron spiked neck choker.” When I located Damien, I was surprised anyone could wear such a dangerous item without cutting their throat open. “and Mason. You can’t miss him. He’s wearing the black lipstick.” Talan said sounding excited and bored.

He sound like he was happy to be talking, because that was his favorite thing to do, but he seemed bored because he was talking about guys he already knew. Guys he saw everyday.

Ashlynn chimed in as soon as Talan was done. “Look at that table of boys across from them.”

He waited for me to find them. Which wasn’t hard since they were a small ways away from the goths.

Ashlynn knew that I found them. “Yeah, them! Those are the jocks.” He added while grinding his nails with his nail filer. “They have a mixture of powers at their table. I don’t know why.” He made a confused face.

The soft scratching of Talan’s emery board stopped for a second to let him say something. “I don’t know why either.” He shrugged, “but I did hear the principal say something about ‘sticking students there when their powers didn’t fit the other groups.”

Ashlynn looked at him as if he was saying ‘I never knew that.’ But he never spoke about it. He kept it to his self and talked about the top three jocks.

“The only three jocks you need to worry about is: Brady. Who is the crinkly blond muscular guy. He can create illusions. John should be easy to spot. He only wears blue. He wouldn’t be caught dead without it. I think John’s need to wear blue has something to do with his ability to control water. Hydrokinetic is another name for it.”

Ashlynn’s pink lips were moving. I bet he had a battery somewhere in them. It was the only way anyone’s lips could move so fast.

Talan sniffed as if that was Ashlynn’s cue to let him take the third person. “Lastly, there’s Cameron. a.k.a. Mr. Lightening. Cameron is known for controlling electricity. The proper term for that is electrokinesis. Those are the top three in the jock group. They might be buff but it doesn’t slow them down in battle.”

My mind was processing the information the best way it could. This was like an information overload. I was trying to remember the names they were telling me but I was having trouble. With time, the names and faces should match up correctly.

Ashlynn hadn’t stopped shaping his nails, “Anyway.” He said flicking his bleached hair out of his face. “Those are the emos.” His powdery eyes moved to another table. “They might look like Goths, but there’s a big difference between the two groups. An easy way to distinguish Goths from emos is: Emos wear black with varieties of other colors, Where Goths only wear black all day long.”

“They have the oddest colored hair streaks I have ever seen.” Talan interrupted, laughing to himself. “But I did hear that their streaks had some odd association with their powers.”

When Talan finished talking. Ashlynn went back to introducing. “The top guys over on the emos side are: T.J. he is to the left. The really skinny one with the black hair and green streaks in it… you see him?” I nodded, letting him know I identified who T.J. was. “Don’t be fooled by his size, he is geokinetic.”

My eyes squinted wondering what the word meant. “Does that mean he has a disease or something?”

“No.” Ashlynn laughed, “It means he can control anything that is rock, sand or mud. Anything that’s of the earth.”

“Whoa-“

“That isn’t the half of it.” Talan told me, his silverish iris’s growing wider. “See that other guy with the shaggy black hair and all the piercings?”

“I think…” I didn’t see this guy with the piercing until one of the other emos moved their head. “Yeah, I see him now.”

“That is Adrian. Oh boy! That guy has this deep sonic scream that can burst boulders into microscopic pieces. The noise is so deep it can turn a brick into dust.” After hearing that, I didn’t know if the goths were worse or were these guys worse. “I know, scary right?” Talan went back to filing, he seem like he couldn’t wait to introduce Adrian.

“The third strongest emo is: the boy with the red streaks.” Ashlynn pointed his trimmed nail at the guy. When I saw who he was pointing at. An immediate snap of recognition hit me.

I know that dude!

He continued, not knowing I already knew the guy he was talking about. “That is Chance…the flame! The fire! He can produce flames from his hands. He can even produce fire from his eyes. He is a weird one because heat doesn’t affect him at all.”

Talan might be right when he said the emos powers might be oddly associated with their hair streaks. Take chance for example. Blood red streaks, and he can control fire. T.J. with the green streaks he can control earth.

It could be true.

I watched Chance interacting with his emo friends. They were laughing dryly about something. It didn’t look too funny. But they all seemed bored and decided to laugh. There was something far more strange about him than anyone else. I still wanted to know why he came by my dorm?

“I don’t know where he gets his olive skin color from. It’s always been a mystery. I want to know what race he is so bad.” continued Ashlynn. When he finished he switched his nail filer to his other hand. To file his other nails.

I eyed each table. Trying to keep up with the motor mouths sitting at my table. I gave myself a review of everything they told me, and everyone they mentioned.

There is: Jocks, Emos, Goths and… oh yeah! Us sorcerers. I made a list in my head so that I could remember these people better.

Jocks: Brady(illusions), John(water), Cameron(lightening)

Emos: T.J.(earth), Adrian(screamer), and Chance(fire)

Goths: James(dark force), Damien(dark force), Mason(dark force)

I think I’m getting the hang of the groups now, but something was wrong. When I counted the groups I only kept coming out with four. There is supposed to be five, right?

“Oh, let’s not neglect the preps.” Ashlynn sang, I knew something wasn’t adding up. “The preps have mental powers. Their powers are centered around the mind.”

Okay here is another group I have to add to the gigantic list. Preps, power deal with the mind. Got it! Now all I need is names.

I think Talan was doing names for the Prep group, because Ashlynn gave him a killer glare. It was like Talan forgot his part on stage. “Oh, oh, oh, right!” Talan said after realizing the look on Ashlynn’s face. “The top three preps are: Kyle, he’s the one with the blue American eagle polo with the collar popped. The only thing about Kyle he is telekinetic. Not much else to say about him.” Talan moved on, as if Kyle was one of the least interesting of the top three.

“The dark brown haired dude, his name is Reese. Who is a complete mind bender. He can toy with your mind...you will have to see it to believe it. His power isn’t something I can just explain.” When he finished with Reese, he was blowing bits of left over dust from his pinky.

I don’t think his pinky nail was filed into the same shape as the rest of his fingers. So he got back to it, as he mentioned the last prep. “Finally there’s Aaronn. The boy who is impossible to miss. His hair is sleet white, and his eyes are a nice violet color. Aaronn happens to be the only teenager I know with white hair.” Talan said almost in shock.

When I saw his hair, it was white and soft looking. just like Talan said. I had to be honest, It added a mature edge to his features. He made white hair look neat for youngsters.

Talan was still talking, “He wears the best sophisticated attire everywhere he goes. He is very proper, prim, and organized. One of the smartest people you will ever know. I must let you in on a little secret.” Talan move closer to me with his hands cupping his mouth, in an attempt to whisper.

I leaned closer to his cupped mouth and tilted my left ear to his lips. “Most of the other guys from the other groups are scared of Aaronn-"

“Why?” I said out in the open.

Talan’s eye brows wrinkled at my loud question. His silver eyes were frowning at my ear. “Shhhh.” he said shushing me. “They are scared of him because of his ability…he can see visions.”

Wow!

The boys here could be dangerous competition, if I’m ever put up against them. They seem like their powers give them more to offer on a battle field. In a lot of ways their powers seem greater than mine. Especially, since they have been coming to Celestial for years learning how to sharpen their powers to a fine point.

I’m still striving to be the best sorcerer. These guys are half way to their goal. From the things Ashlynn and Talan told me, I can’t say which group gives me the most goose bumps.

Being introduced brought on fear and feelings of anxiety. I thought knowing these guys would help set another mode of familiarity with the school, but I was wrong. Sometimes I wish I didn’t know the things I knew about them. Maybe I would have been better off not knowing.

My head was in a sort of spin. I was trying to keep talking to Talan as if I wasn’t bothered, but I kept skipping to the faces and names. Wondering what techniques or moves they each could do. Sometimes I would wonder, which person in particular would be my biggest competition?

There was too much on my mind. I let the doubt drone out by talking about other things outside of abilities with Ashlynn and Talan.

It was amazing how we got along. It was like the three of us have been friends for years. I was starting to believe if I stuck with these two, my chances of survival were better. I decided I would claim them as… friends.

They talked to me throughout the day. They talked to me while walking me to my dorm. It was like they never let me out of their sight.

On our way to my dorm, I heard “Hey! Witch boys!” I saw Cameron’s buff arm was swinging in wave like motion. If I remembered correctly he was the jock that could control lightening. Standing next to him was his other jock friend John(water) who was staring our way. Brady(illusions) was with them not waving. His crinkly blond hair was thinking of other matters.

Ashlynn’s hand went up quickly waving at Cameron. Talan’s hand was slower in response to greet them. I didn’t wave at all. I didn’t know these guys, and I viewed them as competition. I wasn’t going to let their powers out match mine.

When they finished waving we began to walk again. Ashlynn asked me ‘why didn’t I wave at Cameron?’ then, he and Talan took turns telling me how cool the jocks were.

On the inside, I didn’t care for the jocks. I didn’t think Ashlynn or Talan should be friends with those guys. They weren’t in our group. So, I tried to find a small excuse to get them to see the jocks as competitors or enemies.

“Witch boys?” I gave them an agitated frown. “We aren’t witches, we are sorcerers.” I corrected. Cameron’s witch comment was another reason for me not waving.

“It’s almost the same thing.” Stated Talan, as if he could care less about what he was called.

Ashlynn spoke right after, “I know witches and sorcerers are different, but that’s what the boys call us around here. It’s just a title they gave us. They don’t know the difference… it’s something you have to get used to.” He strode on, blowing the situation off.

They walked me to my dorm. It was a long day for me. I was loaded with all kinds of information. My head felt like it was pounding. The only thing I wanted to do was, take a shower and retreat to the comfort of my new snug bed.

Night took its toll. Making the sky a dark blue sparkling sight. I froze blankly, staring at how captivating it was. While lying in bed unable to release my eyes from the stars, I listen to the night sounds of crickets chirping.

A ‘Knock! Knock!’ Alerted me, and I lost sight of the stars, bouncing up into a sitting position in bed.

As the door knob twisted, the door opened far enough to a crack. I soon saw a head of black hair, with red streaks. Without guessing I knew who it was.

I knew him now. Thanks to Ashlynn and Talan, dumping that load of information on me at lunch. My only question is, what does he want?

”Hey, Julius.” He said nervously. “Is it okay, if I come in this time?” he began fidgeting with his fingerless gloves.

Was he trying to be friends? Was he trying to learn what abilities I could do as a sorcerer? Did he see me as a target or a threat? A million thoughts were bearing down on me.

If he knew I saw him as a threat, or one of my competitors, how would he react?

Then a good idea hit me.

I can use friendship as a way of learning more about him. Who knows what I might find out. I probably will be able to get in good enough to learn his weakness.

This will turn out for my better!

“I guess it’s okay for you to come in.” I told him, using a sneaky whisper. He didn’t have any idea what I was up to. When he finds out how malicious I can be, maybe he will scurry off. As for now, I think I can have my fun.

Chance entered the dorm slowly. Easing the door shut trying to make less sounds as possible. He and I, both knew the risk he was taking coming in my dorm when he wasn’t apart of my group.

Chance was taking a ‘chance’, but I knew he wouldn’t be taking this chance for no reason. This kid is determined to figure out more about my power.

He stood two feet from my bed. Staring strangely and curiously through his blood streaked hair. His eyes roamed from wall to floor, to closet, to ceiling. It made me uncomfortable again.

What is he looking for?

“Don’t get caught in here.” I warned him, but he said nothing back. It was a moment later when he started talking. Each word that came was slow and uncertain.

I sat there listening to him,

I think it’s time to play like I’m his friend. It was urgent that I learned his weakness…and his purpose for knocking on my door.