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 |  The Legend of the Eyebright was thought to be just a myth... |
| The following morning, Kasity didn’t get to learn much about Karynn Ames. When Miss Mira’s shrill call of, “Get up, girls! Rise and shine!” echoed down the bunk room, the other girl jumped in her bunk, climbed down to the floor, and scurried into the bathroom. Most other girls, however, took their time, stretching and yawning as they clambered out of their bunks. Kasity could already see the large cluster of children heading towards the bathroom, and thought that Karynn Ames had the right idea to get up and wash up first. Kasity decided that it would be a while before the line shrunk, and took her time getting up while surveying the others around her. She watched as a particularly chubby girl lumbered off her bed and got stuck between two bunks, and listened to the different dialects and languages that floated around the room. She saw Miss Mira shake a couple girls awake, and noticed Adely emerge from the bathroom, wearing one of the tan-colored uniforms, her nose wrinkling. A small group of girls surrounded her, all dressed in the same tan uniform. “Adely, I heard the prince was here,” one girl cried. “Is it true that he’s your cousin? What is he like?” Adely’s eyes narrowed. “Aidan? He’s nothing special,” she scoffed. “We practically grew up together, and Uncle Abner—” “The King?” shrieked another, and Adely tossed her head. “I think that it is disgraceful that they don’t use titles here at the Academy,” said Adely, and for a second, Kasity was sure that Adely had purposely shunted the conversation away from Aidan. “I mean, obviously there’s no need for it if you’re an Aé, but what about the other noble families?” “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to not saying high Cé,” replied one pretty girl with hazel eyes and hair. “And of course you want to know who’s a high Cé and who’s a middle Cé, Cairbre,” remarked Adely. “All I want to know is who designed these hideous uniforms,” sniffed Cairbre. “They itch.” “I’m going to wear black and green when I get into Wyvern Cloud,” announced Adely. All the other girls around Adely started to mutter, and Kasity remembered Miss Mira telling them that Wyvern had led the standings last year. “Adely, how do you know for sure?” whispered Cairbre. “Morwenn—she’s the Leader of Wyvern Cloud, by the way—gave me her private assurances,” she smirked. The crowd around Adely grew in size, which was just as well, because Kasity needed to use the bathroom. Breakfast was in that same dining hall again, and Kasity ate alone, glancing at the colorless walls and the small, circular windows that dotted them. All throughout breakfast, Miss Mira peppered them with instructions, and Kasity learned that they had Cooperative Economic Living after lunch. She thought that sounded interesting, but then Miss Mira told them that Cooperative Economic Living was just a fancy phrase meaning chores, and lots of them. After breakfast, Miss Mira directed the girls through the large wooden doors that led outside, but instructed them to bring their dishes and eating utensils with them. As they stepped outside, Kasity spotted three long rows of wash basins, complete with soap and cleaning rags. She realized why Miss Mira had told them to bring their dishes with them. Under the leafy canopy of the jungle, they all washed and dried their plates (Kasity saw Adely make grimaces of disgust before tossing her things at another girl, who, to Kasity’s amazement, sullenly washed Adely’s plates). After that chore was done, they re-entered the dining hall to find that about fifty older students, wearing a variety of colorful uniforms, had assembled there, three or four students sitting at each of the round tables. “Alright, girls,” yelled Miss Mira from the head of the line. “Now it’s time for testing. You will each proceed to the table I direct you toward, and you will move to the next table when your tester tells you to.” A thrill ran down Kasity’s back as she wondered what kind of tests would be administered. Would they be difficult? Perhaps they would involve magic! “Kasity Ké! You’re to table nine!” shrieked Miss Mira, and Kasity hurried toward the table she pointed at. Three older students sat around the table, and two girls Kasity’s age huddled together at the opposite end of the table. As Kasity approached, she heard the older boy wearing a maroon and yellow uniform say, “Don’t be nervous. This is just the height station.” Miss Mira blew her whistle, and a dull buzzing filled the hall—the sound of many voices talking at once. The maroon and yellow boy stood up and headed towards Kasity, measuring tape in hand. As he measured her, she couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed; this was nothing but the same boring, mundane tests that they took before even coming to the Academy. "Kasity Ké?" her height tester said while he scribbled something on a piece of paper. “You can go on to the visual checkup." She went to the next table, still feeling let down, and sat down at the nearest stool. "Hi. I’m Kael. What's your name?" asked another older student, her examiner. Her other examiner hadn’t said hi, and Kasity looked at him in surprise. He was wearing the same sort of silver-blue uniform that Calixte had been wearing. "Kasity, middle Ké," she replied absentmindedly, still studying his uniform. "No titles,” he reminded, running a hand through his tan hair. “You say Kasity Ké now. Alright, sit down and close your eyes. I'm going to test your visual acuity." Kasity wondered how closing her eyes would help him test her eyesight, but she obeyed. She felt an odd bright light under her closed eyelids and snapped them back open again to see Kael rubbing his freckled nose. "Skies, I forgot to explain,” he exclaimed. “This is going to test your eyesight using a quick, simple spell. It'll be really bright, and it might sting. We're going to try again. Don't open your eyes this time." Kasity shut her eyes and felt the bright light flooding her pupils and settling in the grooves of her eyelids. She resisted the urge to open her eyes until the light dissipated. Kasity saw little white spots against a black background and blinked furiously. "Who's holding up the line?" said a high, snotty-sounding, female voice. "Sit down next to Kasity,” said Kael. Kasity squinted at the newcomer. It was Adely. "Kasity," said Kael, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Stay here until the glare goes away." "Alright," Kasity said, eyes still watering. She closed them and settled instead for just listening to the conversation between Kael and Adely. "Name?" Kael asked Adely, sounding bored. "Adely, noble Aé," she replied, stressing the noble. "Adely Aé," he corrected. “We never use titles at the Academy. Close your eyes." "What for?" came Adely's contemptuous voice. Kasity opened her eyes and squinted at the blurry shapes of Adely and the tester. "Testing your eyesight," said Kael. Kasity imagined him rolling his eyes. "Didn't they tell you at the weight station?" "Are you Sylph?" asked Adely. "Yes. Close your eyes." Kasity’s vision was clearing up now; she could make out that Adely did not, in fact, have her eyes closed. "I'm going to be in Wyvern," announced Adely, and Kasity wondered just how many people Adely planned telling that to. "My cousin was in Wyvern. Did you know that Sylph and Wyvern are enemies? Wyvern came in first last year." "Sylph and Wyvern are opponents, not enemies. And don’t worry; Wyvern won’t beat us in the contests this year. Close your eyes." Kasity now could see the exasperated look on Kael’s face but decided to stay and watch the drama. Adely closed her eyes with a self-satisfied smirk. With a touch of envy, Kasity noticed that she had very long eyelashes and dimples even when she didn’t smile. "What's your name?" "Kael. Don't talk." Adely yelped. Kasity noticed a small smile of satisfaction on Kael's face. "Sorry. Forgot to explain. Eyesight test. Really simple spell, but really bright. Might sting, too." Adely rubbed her watering eyes and glared at Kasity. "Who are you staring at?" "You," Kasity said, unable to hide a little smirk. Adely narrowed her eyes. "Do you know who I am?" "Adely Aé?" Kasity replied with a shrug. "Alright, Kasity, move on to the next station. Auditory tests. Table to the right," Kael said. Kasity hopped up and bounced away. She could feel Adely's eyes on her back and hear Kael muttering, "First steps," under his breath. Kasity supposed that Adely expected deference from her because she was Aé, but she was quite proud of her open defiance. After all, hadn't Miss Mira said last night that they were all equal at the Academy, regardless of background? |
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