Page 10 of Elemental Hall: Nautica
“The elementalists of Lumina are often called on to oppose renegade elementalists, raiders from Umbrae, even their military, testing its strength. That means that you must be prepared to take on other foes who have mastery over the elements. Today, we’ll be seeing what you can do against an enemy as skilled, as ruthless, and as well trained as you are: your fellow classmates.”
She pauses as if we’ll all be shocked by that. As if we haven’t all been preparing as much as we can for this next challenge in our training. Most of the others have been working on water control, while I… well, I’ve at least picked up the smallest hints of other elements. I can summon a breath of air now and make an ember glow bright if I need to. Tiny things, but they are a beginning.
“Your objective is to get to that island and capture this orb.” Elemental Mistress Halan waves a hand and a shimmering image appears in the air, of an orb ringed with jewels, divided into light and dark halves. It takes me a second to realize that it’s meant to be a representation of Lumina and Umbrae. “You may do this in any way you wish, but your classmates will be competing for the same goal. The first pair to hold it between them will be the victors, and the others… well, I think a hundred laps of the bay on foot should be sufficient to encourage you to do better.”
“What may we do to gain the orb?” Sybil asks.
“Anything you wish,” Elemental Mistress Halan replies. “I and my fellow masters will be on hand to provide healing as required. Although anything that permanently deprives Lumina of a potential elementalist will be judged harshly.”
So, anything short of killing one another is fair game. I’m not sure how I feel about that. It seems harsh in the extreme. But then, I already know that Nautica is harsh.
“Step forward when I call your name and that of your partner.”
Already, I’m trying to assess the best way to the orb. The island is a relatively short swim away, but I can see that there are powerful currents there that will make it a difficult swim for many. There are small rocks that might serve as stepping stones, but they are wide apart and slick with salt water. It is possible that we might be able to find a boat or run around to what appears to be a bridge on the far side of the bay, but that will take time.
“Sera.”
I’m snapped out of my thoughts by the elemental mistress calling my name.
“You will partner with Orion.”
I can see the glare of jealousy Sybil shoots me as I step forward. I don’t know why. It isn’t as if I have a choice in this. Orion seems pleased as he steps up next to me at a line in the sand intended to serve as a starting line.
“How do you want to do this?” he asks.
That’s a surprise. A part of me assumed that he would want to make the decisions, but I guess a big part of this exercise is about taking into account the strengths and weaknesses of your partner.
“Can you make the swim?” I ask.
He nods calmly. “It shouldn’t be a problem. Especially not if you’re helping.”
There’s no time for any more planning. Elemental Mistress Halan takes out a horn and blows a single blast on it, the sound filling the air of the bay.
Around Orion and me, students burst into motion, some plunging into the waves, some making for the rocks, a few hurrying toward the distant bridge as if hoping that speed will be enough to make up for distance. I glance over at Orion, then jump into the surf.
The currents are treacherously strong, threatening to dash both of us against the shore. Already, I can see students being thrown back onto the beach, some of them jumping into the water again, others giving up to try another route. I can see Orion shaping the water, using the elemental basics he’s learned to let himself breathe while I do the same. I reach out for the currents, tapping into them, feeling their power. I can’t change all of the currents of the bay, but I can at least push back those trying to toss the two of us around, giving us a chance to swim freely and quickly through the water.
Orion pulls through the bay with powerful strokes. It would be easy for my attention to be solely on him, but I know enough to look around for danger. It’s just as well, because I see Sybil concentrating a little way away, and I see the water ahead of me bubble with sudden heat. I change direction at the last moment and manage to flick the current toward her, sending her reeling away.
In an instant, the water in the bay is a free-for-all, and I get to see all the things my classmates have been working on. Some are brawling in the water, pulling one another back, trying to slow each other down with blows. One is caught in tangling weeds beneath the waves, another pummeled by rocks that rise up from the seabed at the command of one of the others. A feware knocked left and right by small bursts of the current. It’s a reminder that I’m a long way from being the only one with power here.
Orion and I are forced to defend ourselves on the way across. I’m surprised by what a good team we make. He’s large and he knows how to fight, so he’s able to knock aside a couple of the others who try to grab us. I’m able to use the water around us to push back any aggression using the other elements, allowing us to keep moving, keep swimming toward the island’s shore.
We come up onto it, the first to emerge from the waves. It feels strange to be breathing air again after several minutes underwater, the first gasp of it into my lungs almost unnatural.
“Are you okay?” Orion asks.
“I’m fine,” I assure him. “We need to keep moving.”
We might be the first there, but it won’t be long before the others reach the shore. We hurry toward the interior of the island. There are stone steps running up a small hillside. We set off up them. Too late, I see the tripwire stretched across them.
“Orion, look out!” I call. It’s too late. He trips over the wire, and I hear a rumble as above us, rocks start to tumble down the side of the hill toward us. I throw myself at Orion, pushing him aside, but all that means is that I fall with him, lying there on the steps, looking up at the approaching boulders with terror. There’s nothing that control over water will do aboutthisthreat.
Then Orion throws up a hand and they twist from their paths, rolling around us rather than over us, missing us in a shower of rock dust as we lie there.
Abruptly, I’m aware that I’m lying atop Orion, where I’ve tackled him out of the way. I get up hurriedly.
“Thank you,” he says.
