Ethelyn Adventure

Chapter 2

*pic of Natasha Caddel above*

"The Ceremony of Talents is tomorrow!"

Cyrah's high-pitched squeal interrupted my thoughts as we walked through the hallway, me receiving pitying looks after my agonizing PE class. I was beaten up by Maeva and Mariana again and sent to the infirmary again, but hey, that has become my schedule anyways.

"Tomorrow?" I asked worriedly, biting my nails.

"Why do you look so scared? We're finally gonna find out about our powers!" Cyrah nudged me excitedly as she jumped up and down.

My heart went cold as I counted the days. How could time pass so fast? I know we're supposed to be enthusiastic like Cyrah and her boyfriend Cody is, but what about Evan? What if I never get to see him again if we're splitted into different talent departments? He doesn't even talk to me often and oh shit does he even know that I exist? The day of separation is coming soon. What should I tell him? Maybe I'll find someone else in my department, but there's no one like him.

Please, please, I implored in my mind, let us be in the same department.

Tears welled up in my eyes at the thought of never seeing him again.

"Hey," Annalise says, sidling up by my side, " you'll get to see mom, dad, and me every Sunday."

"I know," I said glumly.

"Well," said Cyrah brightly, still not picking up on my mood, " we'll find out tomorrow!"

~~~

"Cyrah Rose Silvermoon!" called the First Leader, Sapphira Cardaiveron, holding the megaphone as she read Cyrah's name on the list.

"Whatever department we get into, we'll always be besties in our hearts, right?" Cyrah whispered. squeezing my hand as I stood up to give her a hug, wrapping my arms around her. The thought of losing Evan already kept me up all night, but Cyrah, the one who's always been there for me....it was worse.

The leaders are Sapphira Cardaiveron, Aurora Blake, Caspian Silvermoon (who's Cyrah's grandfather), Mandel Laurier, and Natasha Caddel. Natasha Caddel was the youngest leader and the most beautiful human being that ever existed. Her beauty was literally the reason that she became a leader at such a young age. She was wearing a tight off shoulder mini black dress with sparkling 6-inch high heels. Her chocolate brown hair was pulled back into a graceful upsweep hairstyle with jeweled barrettes.

I saw Cyrah glance up at Sapphira expectantly, her stunning smile plastered on her flawless skin.

Sapphira placed the power crystal (which detects our power magically) in Cyrah's pale, shaky hands and placed both of her hands on the surface.

The power crystal swirled with different colors, and Sapphira's hand started glowing brightly.

"You're an illusionist!" announced Sapphira, as Cyrah's grin spread and her eyes shone like the stars.

Everyone stood up respectfully and clapped. There are eight powers in Ethelyn. Fire, Water, Wind, Ice, Earth, Plants, Illusion, and Feelings. A Fire can control heat and fire, a Water manipulates the water molecules and can breathe underwater, a Wind can control the air, the wind, and the weather, the Ice can command the ice (and they usually work well with Water), the Earth can shake the ground and sense minerals, and Plant can talk to plants and veggies and stuff. Illusion and Feelings are the two most powerful talents, and they don't get along with each other. At all. An Illusionist, which is Cyrah's new talent, can create illusions, and some extremely powerful ones can even make people feel the illusion of pain. Feelers can read other people's feelings and charm each other. Rare ones can control what other people are feeling, which may sound weak and girly, but it's actually very useful.

I know that Cyrah always wanted to be a Water, just like her father, mother, and stepmom, but now she looks like the happiest teenage girl in Ethelyn. I heard her stepmother Paige Silvermoon whooped with pride and joy as she watched Sapphira and Aurora give her the lavender choker-style necklace that indicated her power and her age.

Cyrah doesn't have the best relationship with her stepmother Paige, just like any normal teenager. It's not like Paige's the evil stepmom kind, but they just don't click for some reasons. She told me that she dislikes the way Paige just waltzed her way into her family 3 days after her mother Rosaline's death, and replaced her so quickly as if she belonged there. Her older sister Selene also hates Paige probably 2 times more than Cyrah does, since she spent way more time with her late biological mother than Cyrah did.

"Andromeda Jazlyn Valkyrie!" boomed Sapphira, as I stood up on my shaky legs, trembling fearfully. Annalise hugged me tightly as Cyrah beamed at me from the other side of the auditorium, where she's sitting with the other kids who already know their talents.

I placed my quivering hands on the smooth, oval power crystal and felt something power coursing through my veins.

"You're an Illusionist!" Happiness overwhelmed me. I have the same talent as Cyrah! She couldn't stop smiling, and I couldn't either. Annalise squealed with joy and rushed up the stage with mom to hug me tightly. Walking back to Cyrah's section of the auditorium, I felt a spring in my steps. She dashed towards me and threw her arms around me like a freaking blonde hurricane.

"We're together," she whispered, overjoyed.

But this isn't over yet.

"Evan Quillian!" the Leaders called again.

I clenched my fists nervously. I know I should already be grateful to be in the same talent department as Cyrah, but now I wish Evan could be with me too. I watched him go through the same processes that I did, and....

"You're a Feeler,"

My heart dropped.