Soul of Light by Sophie Matthews (best new books to read TXT) 📖

allowed me to skip. But today I had a good excuse and she had to surrender.

-Fine, but you’ll have to copy all my notes and let me tutor you or you’ll fall behind.

-Yes, Li. I had said her name as I would’ve said mom.

She gave me all her notes for the morning classes. Since the break was almost over they all had to go to the classrooms and I had to go back to the dorm. I said goodbye to Lia and Shiel, but Mirai stayed behind for a second. She was just looking at me with catlike eyes.

-What? I asked in the end.

- You tell me, she said smiling.

The bell rang. She took my hand and said looking into my eyes.

-         We need to talk later, but only if you want.

Then she let go and ran to her classroom. I wanted to talk to her too, but I was so confused that I didn’t knew what I could say, what I wanted to say. I went back to my room, hid beneath my blankets and fell in a dreamless sleep.

24 June 2011

                                                                  

Chapter 4

It had been a week since Nemesis had come to our school. None of the changes he had promised could be felt and most students began to believe that it never will. But we were all going to find out that nothing was at it seemed when it came to our new Supervisor.

It was a sunny Friday afternoon and we were all waiting anxiously for the weekend. We had just finished our morning classes and were heading to the cafeteria for lunch. A big group of students were gathered around the announcement board and were chattering like a flock of sparrows. Mirai showed up from the crowd and came next to me.

-What’s going on? I asked almost shouting, trying to get through the racket.

- Follow me, she yelled back.

We got ourselves a table were we could speak without yelling and then Mirai began to fill as in.

-Apparently, the new Supervisor is not all talk and no action. He came up with some changes, and some drastic ones. The S students are dead furious. He wants the L students to form pairs of two with the S students and study the same curriculum.

 I think I dropped my jaw when I heard her. Lia’s eyes were gleaming. She had always wanted to study advanced magic. Until now that had been the privilege of the S students. Shiel looked as if he had swallowed a sour lemon.

-Does that mean we are getting more homework?

-I don’t know, but it means we can be in the same classroom again, said Mirai cheerfully.

My heart skipped a beat when I realized that Mirai and I will be together again. I almost jumped off my sit and went to hug Mirai. Shiel rolled his eyes.

-         Do you really think the S and their parents are going to allow that so easily? Even if they manage to get this new order they will make our life a hell.

I never understood how Shiel managed to be a buffoon and a pessimist in the same time. Lia gave him a scornful look and then asked Mirai:

- What else is going to change? 25 June 2011

- Ok, said Mirai with a mysterious smile on her lips, listen to this…

She paused emphatically and looked around as if to check if we were listening.

-         Oh, common tell us, snapped Shiel. Stop being so self important.

She threw him an angry look and said:

-         You are never going to believe this. They are going to make the S students do volunteer work.

-         What?! I said in genuine disbelief. Most of those kids haven’t worked a single day in their lives.

-         So that’s why they are being so noisy, said Lia chuckling. The young ladies are afraid that they are going to break their nails.

-         They also said the number of training sessions will be increased, Mirai continued.

Shiel and I gave a cheerful shriek while Lia frowned in objection.

-         They also say that we are all going to study all the advanced magic and let the S tutor the L.

It was Lia’s turn to smile with glee and ours to be gloomy.

-There also was some talk about practical sessions, seeing the real mages and priestesses at work and actually helping them.

This time we were all enthusiastic. It was very rare to see the pro’s and even less unlikely to see them doing their job. Helping them was only an impossible dream, especially for the L students that had chances close to zero to work with them, not to mention to become one.

-         When are we gone have to start following these rules?

-         Since Monday, Mirai said. There is going to be another gathering. These are just rumours. They’ll give us the details tomorrow.

-         Great, I said with a sour smile. We are going to have a wonderful year. They just couldn’t wait another year until I finished school. And to think that I wanted a quiet senior year.

-         Look at the bright side, said Mirai. If we are lucky we are going to be in the same classroom.

-         And if you have enough bad luck you just might end up Haire’s partner, said Shiel with a teasing smile.

I grabbed my schoolbag and threw it after him. It landed softly in his arms.

- If you really want to make some damage, you’ll need more strength V, he said with a cunning look.

Lia grabbed him by his ear and said:

-         Don’t worry I’ll give her the fast course.

-         She’ll need it if she wants to finish the year alive.

He froze the second he said that. In light of the recent events that wasn’t too far from reality to be a good joke.

-         Sorry V, he said looking remorseful. I didn’t think about what I was saying. I’m sure you’ll be alright.

-         It’s okay, I said smiling but I couldn’t help to wonder if it was going to be that way.

-         You’ll be fine, said Lia. Maybe a few broken limbs but nothing more.

We all burst into laughter. We held hands. We all knew that whatever was going to happen we are going to go through it together and that is going to make things easier because we are not alone. Everything was going to work out.

26 June 2011

                                                           ***

 

  Saturday was always a day all the students, reach or poor, at the institute, looked forward. The reason was simple. It was the only day of the week we were allowed to leave the campus. Sundays were dedicated to prayer and meditation, the so called cleansing of the soul, before beginning a new cycle, meaning a new week of study. I was certain that those prayers worked. It was a miracle that I haven’t failed my exams every year and all the praying must have had something to do with it. So, when we were told that this Saturday we had to come back earlier in order to attend the meeting we were all outraged. But there was nothing we could do about it. So I decided to go to the city market with Mirai, Shiel and Lia, as we did every Saturday. We didn’t have much money so we didn’t buy much. Just some of the delicious food we couldn’t resist. We put our money together and shared some gastronomic wonder. Except for the food, we went to see the street performers. You never got bored to watch them. They always changed their tricks, songs and dances. If you had enough money they would play the ones that you wanted. If you didn’t, you just had to settle with whatever they were doing at the moment. I’ve made really nice memories and I know the place by heart by know. Sometimes we gave the street vendors a hand and got some small appreciation tokens in return. I’ve saved them all in a box in my room: pieces of precious memories that will never go away.

I was laid on the grass in front of the main gate. Lia was late. She always took so long to get dressed on this day, even longer then on a normal school day. After I saw her changing in and out of about a dozen outfits I couldn’t take it anymore. I decided to wait outside and left the room in exasperation. Shiel wasn’t anywhere to be seen so he was probably still sleeping. He always woke up in the last moment and that’s why he was always late. Usually he gets up when Lia comes to knock at his door. The few times that I went with her I heard weird noises that sounded as if he was tearing the room apart, after which he opened the door looking like a grumpy owl. I could bet Mirai was ready but, unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed to step in that side of the campus. So here I was, alone, enjoying the nature, listening to crickets and humming birds. Once every other minute I looked at the massive golden gates to check if any of my friends was coming. I had just checked and I lay back on the grass with my eyes closed, when I felt a shadow fall on top of me.

-Finally, what took you so long? I said and stood up on my elbows.

- Sorry to keep you waiting, said a voice that didn’t belonged to the ones I was waiting for.

I jumped on my feet and saw Nemesis in front of me. He chuckled when he saw my embarrassment.

- Sorry, I said in a hurry. I was waiting for someone else.

- That was obvious, he replied.

He took in my outfit and asked:

-         You’re going to the training grounds?

-         NO! I’m going to the town village, I retorted angrily.

Everyone kept telling me how un-lady like my clothes were. I didn’t need him to point that out too.

-         I didn’t mean to upset you. Everyone has their own style. If that’s the kind of clothes you want to wear is your problem. But I don’t understand why you don’t like more girlish clothes. They would look good on you.

I blushed when he said that.

- Maybe they would, I answered, but I’m not used to wearing them and it would make me seem a little helpless damsel.

He burst into laughter.

-         I don’t think there is any kind of outfit that could make you look vulnerable.

-         I’m not…

-         I know, he said lifting his hand in front of him to stop the torrent of words that was about to come from my mouth. I’m not trying to pick up a fight. I just saw you here and I was curious.

-         Do you always let loose your curiosity?

-         No, just when I’m really interested in something, he said smiling.

I could’ve looked at him and listen to his voice for ever, but Mirai came from behind the gates. When she