Whispers Under Water, page 10
Sensing her hesitation, Justine turned to Alaia and Dusha. “We were going to go for a walk around campus, before the assembly. Do you guys want to come?”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
“Definitely.”
The campus was much busier than the previous day, the paths teeming with students. Cheerful rays of sun bloomed across the chromatic landscape, the warmth cutting through the cool, early fall air. The girls had on jeans and carried light jackets or sweaters. A large shadow passed over them as they walked by the air dorm. Caitriona looked up at the floating bubble drifting overhead. How strange would it feel to think of such a place as home? Would she think of it as home?
Home was San Fran. Home was Fianna, Georgia, Wyatt, and the bakery. It had been disorienting to wake up on a weekend and not hurry to the bakery kitchen. To spend her morning surrounded by the comforting smells of baked bread and fried dough.
“What do you think your element will be?” Alaia asked.
Justine thought for a minute. “I don’t know. I can’t think of anything that ties me to one more than the other.”
“I think mine is probably water,” Dusha said. She brushed some of her long, silver hair off her shoulder. Not a single knot or snarl appeared anywhere amongst the glistening strands. She hadn’t even brushed it after getting out of bed. “I always loved the Little Mermaid. Still do.”
“Oh, me too!” Alaia sang the first lyrics of Under the Sea and Dusha joined in.
Justine and Caitriona exchanged smiles before singing along.
Caitriona noticed that Dusha and Justine sang the song in English. Though that wasn’t surprising. She knew that kids across the world preferred listening to American movies, TV, and music in their original versions. But Dusha’s Russian accent, despite her attempts at a Jamaican one, became more noticeable when she switched to English. As did Justine’s French accent.
They finished the song in a fit of giggles. Caitriona would have it stuck in her head all day.
“What about you, Caitriona?” Alaia asked.
“I don’t know. Any of them would be cool.”
“Totally.”
“It would be pretty amazing to fly.” Justine chimed in.
Caitriona thought about the dancers the night before. Would she want to breathe underwater or underground? Would she rather fly? And what about touching fire without burning?
“Caitriona? Earth to Caitriona?” Dusha broke into her internal monologue.
Caitriona blinked. “Oh sorry. What did you say?”
Dusha pointed to a group of people. “We were just noticing that.”
They’d come to a grassy park along the inland lake. Clumps of people decorated the lawn. Older students relaxed on benches, or on the grass in the shade of trees. They chatted with the eager freshmen who gathered around them.
Dusha pointed to a group of girls huddled around a large, brightly colored macaw. It rested on the shoulder of a taller girl holding a small brown sack. One of the freshmen girls stroked its vibrant red plumage while another offered it a berry from the sack. Its head cocked, a beady eye focusing on the small fruit before snatching it.
Caitriona carefully scanned the people again. A yellow snake, thicker than her arm, coiled itself around the body of a boy who didn’t seem concerned about it strangling him to death. The scales rippled over the deadly muscles. Its eyes closed, and its tongue flicked lazily, languishing in the curved finger caressing its chin.
A student sitting at a picnic table sported a raccoon across their shoulders. The masked creature turned a puzzle ball around and around in its paws, coaxing out the little treats trapped inside. Its ringed tail brushed across a girl’s face as it concentrated. She laughed and batted it away.
As they wandered through the park, Caitriona and her roommates pointed out the different animals to each other like a zoological version of I Spy.
Alaia spotted Jasper, who cradled a koala bear. She made a squeaking noise and hurried off to coo over the fuzzy creature.
“Да ты что.” No way. Dusha stopped.
Caitriona turned to ask what was wrong, and Justine latched onto her arm.
Three immense moose with riders casually trotted past. They stopped at the side of the lake and the rider’s dismounted, sliding effortlessly from their position six feet off the ground. They held the reins loosely so their moose could step forward and drink.
Justine looked at Caitriona with her eyebrows almost disappearing into her hairline. Everyone in the area, including a lot of the older students, crowded around. Dusha bolted over. Caitriona made to follow, but Justine, still clutching her arm, didn’t move.
“You okay?” Caitriona asked.
Justine stared, her eyes unfocused. “I’m…I’m fine. It’s okay.” Justine blinked and focused on Caitriona’s face. “You go, I’ll wait here.”
“I can stay with you.”
Justine shook her head. “No, honestly. It’s alright, I’ll just wait here.” But she hadn’t released Caitriona’s arm.
The heads of the moose loomed above everyone gathered around. The antlers were paddle-like and covered in a velvety fuzz. The fur covering their long faces and bodies was a dark chestnut.
The riders let a few people forward at a time to stroke the neck and shoulder of their mount. Dusha ran a hand down a moose’s nose as she chatted with one of the riders. It was the same girl from the bonfire. Her helmet was buckled over two short braids of black hair and creamy brown skin. She had a friendly, round face and little beads of sweat dripped steadily from her temples. She stood almost a foot shorter than Dusha, and she didn’t even reach the moose’s shoulder, but her frame was sturdy.
Caitriona snuck a glance at Justine. She was pale, watching the scene with a mix of awe and unease. A movement in the trees over Justine’s shoulder caught Caitriona’s eye. She stared into the shadowed wood, squinting her eyes. Something flicked, like the swish of a horsetail. She wondered if it was another moose but then noticed the moose didn’t have tails like that.
She leaned forward, straining her eyes. The animal’s fur was black, making it nearly impossible to discern from the surrounding darkness. Her heart leaped into her throat. She searched for a lion’s mane. But the tail whispered again, in a very non-lion way.
She followed the faint outline of an equine body and met its eyes. It looked directly at her, the eyes reflecting light like a deer in headlights. Caitriona’s pulse jumped. The creature watched her for a few breaths, and then turned its head and moved away, deeper into the trees. Caitriona spied a glimmer between its ears. She blinked and lost track of it as the shadows swallowed it completely.
“Caitriona? Are you okay?” Justine’s brow furrowed with a crease. “You look a little pale.”
Caitriona looked at her with a blank expression. “I think I just saw a fucking unicorn.”
The freshmen gathered for an assembly at two o’clock in the auditorium. It was open to the sky, with walls made from wisteria growing between trees with vibrant orange leaves. Small birds in jewel-bright blues, greens, and yellows twittered and hopped amongst the branches. The ground was covered in clover and tiny, white flowers. The chairs were carved from the trunks of trees, the seats padded with moss, and arranged in rows.
Dusha explained to those around her about a sport involving the moose, their riders, and large birds of prey. Justine listened to Dusha with an uncomfortable expression on her face. Caitriona sat between Justine and Eero, who’d caught up with them as they left the lake.
“They ride the moose around a field, using some kind of stick to toss a ball back and forth to each other,” Dusha said.
Eero leaned in towards Caitriona, so as not to be heard. “Y’alright, mate?”
She nodded but didn’t meet his eyes.
Her father’s stories had countless mythological creatures, and she’d seen a lion acting like a house pet. But her nerves were shattered. A ringing echoed in her ears, like a frequency at the high end of her range of hearing. It wasn’t that it was a unicorn. It was how it had looked at her and the sensation that coursed through her when she’d met its intent gaze. Her father had felt so close over the past day and she couldn’t get the thought out of her head that maybe, however insane it sounded, that it was somehow connected to him.
Eero cocked an eyebrow. “Go on. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
This made Caitriona laugh. Which sounded crazier, seeing a ghost or a unicorn? Or a unicorn she thought was possibly a ghost?
Viera and Professor Kamali walked into the auditorium. Shango strolled behind, his black coat gleaming as the sunlight shone down on it. His long tail swung back and forth in a much different way from the creature in the woods.
Justine shrank into her chair and Caitriona made a mental note to ask her about her fear of animals later. Eero turned his attention to the dean and their counselor but glanced sideways at Caitriona.
“Hello students!” Professor Kamali greeted them. They wore another simple robe, this one in an autumn yellow, the chain around their waist secured in place. “I hope you all enjoyed your time to explore campus this morning.”
There were a few murmurs from the crowd.
“I wanted to take a moment today to greet you all again and say a few things before I leave you in the hands of Ms. Linden.” They gestured to Viera, who acknowledged Professor Kamali with a head nod.
Shango surveyed the group, his eyes roaming over them slowly. Caitriona felt like she was under an x-ray machine.
“I mentioned last night that this world is beautiful but dangerous and I wanted to expand on this. Yesterday you all experienced many wonderful things that demonstrated the magic of our world. And it is only the beginning. You haven’t been here twenty-four hours and think of all that you have seen. But there are many mysteries yet to uncover.
“You each hold an ability to control an element and that function within the landscape of the world is far from frivolous. Your first term at ELA will be unique in the years that follow as you will not only become acquainted with our world and way of life, but you will uncover the elemental power that lies within you by tapping into your mind and inner strength. You will learn to look within and better yourself. Your professors will be instrumental in this, and you will find that their teachings extend beyond the classroom into each moment of your daily life.
“If, at any point, you prove that you are incapable of learning these lessons, then your effectiveness at ELA will be reexamined.” Professor Kamali spoke with fervor, sweeping their gaze across the frozen freshmen.
“By accepting your position here, you are binding yourself to an agreement created by the universe itself. This contract can be broken if the laws are not followed. Your abilities are a gift and are to be used appropriately.
“This is not something that should be taken lightly. You stand on the cusp of a world more remarkable than you can imagine. But with the beauty comes danger and sacrifice. You’ll not return to your previous life the person you are today.”
Caitriona’s head spun and she squeezed her father’s medallion as she felt her palms break out in a sweat.
Professor Kamali continued, their voice calmer and quieter now, “the next time you return to your homes, you will have grown in many ways. You will experience many phenomenal things here that will be unexplainable to those you’ve shared your life with up to this point. And you will find that keeping secrets is easier than unraveling the marvels of our world. Your life will have continued down a path that your loved ones will be unable to follow.
“And on that ominous note,” Professor Kamali brightened so suddenly it was alarming, “I’ll pass it to Ms. Linden. Again, welcome to ELA, and I look forward to getting to know you all.” They exited the auditorium with Shango, leaving a disturbed audience in their wake.
“Well then,” Viera stepped forward, “hopefully she didn’t scare you all away.” She smiled like the idea was foolish, but Caitriona wasn’t the only one in the crowd shifting in their seat. A few hands rose into the air and Viera motioned them down. “I understand how you are all feeling right now, but don’t mistake Professor Kamali’s warning for anything more. It is important that you understand the gravity of our world. But this school, and the professors, are here to prepare you for the dangers of our world long before you encounter them. No harm will come to you while you are here.
“Now, let’s move on to an easier track. I’m going to go over a few of the basics to school life with you all, and at the end,” Viera paused and repeated herself, driving the point home, “at the end, I will answer some questions.”
Realizing her audience’s focus was elsewhere, she clapped her hands, causing a few people to jump in their seats and sending the birds scattering from the treetops. “Please, everyone. I know Professor Kamali’s words were shocking. But the information I’m about to give you is important, and honestly, it will help to put your minds at ease. So please, try to pay attention.”
She began a long lecture about the school and what was expected of them. Caitriona pulled out her notebook, taking advantage of the distraction. She could unpack Professor Kamali’s words later. And Viera was right. The data dump calmed many of her frantic concerns.
“Okay, let’s start with the basics. First, and you’ll all be pleased to know, your professors won’t grade you or take attendance. There isn’t any homework or tests. At least, not in the way you’ve experienced school work in your lives so far.”
Cheers went up at this revelation.
Viera held up her hands to ask for quiet before continuing. “Instead, it is your responsibility to attend your classes, learn from your professors, and choose how you spend your time outside of the classroom. Keep in mind,” she paused to make sure she had everyone’s attention, “your first year is limited to learning what element you will belong to. This seems simple, yes, but it’s not easy and it will take a lot of hard work. You will only make this discovery if you apply yourselves, and for most this won’t happen until weeks after we return from holiday break.”
This gained a silence as the freshmen calculated how far away that was.
“And even after you’ve discovered your element, you won’t master any control over your abilities until you return for term. Next year. When I say master, what I really mean is produce any effect at all.”
The silence deepened.
Viera smiled at the familiar effects her words had on the group. “After your first year, you still won’t have any tests or homework, but you will have island chores and responsibilities, as well as an end-of-year exam with each of your professors. This will be a one-on-one meeting in which your professors will discuss with you whether you are ready to move on to the next year. A minimum of four years is required at ELA, but it’s not uncommon for students to be here longer. Your progress will be your own, and will only move at a rate equal to how you apply yourself.”
Viera continued for another hour. She briefed them on the five classes they would take for their first year, explaining they would get their class schedules on Sunday evening. They would also get their new cell phones then. She described the different areas of the island, called biomes, detailing where they were free to explore and where they were only allowed to go under the supervision of their professors. She talked about the holiday break and told them the ferry’s daily schedule, reiterating that they were allowed to leave the island whenever they needed. She talked about sporting events, more shows and concerts the students put on, and other day-to-day activities.
Caitriona filled ten pages, front and back, in her notebook. Her butt was numb by the time Viera opened it up for questions. Many were too complex for her to answer adequately without launching into an entirely separate lecture.
“Does time move the same here as at home?”
“There is no shift in how many seconds in an hour, precisely, but there is a rather unique calculation required to determine our relative time to any of the timezones on Earth.” She reassured them that their teachers would cover those subjects extensively during their classes.
A few questions were easy, with simple answers.
“Are we allowed to go into the other dorms? The ones for the elements?”
“Yes, by invitation of those living there. I wouldn’t suggest wandering in unannounced. But if you ask, I’m sure anyone would be happy to give you a tour. And you will also tour your own elemental dorm at the end of the term to pick out your room for next year.”
“Do we have to go home for break?”
“No, you are welcome to remain here. That goes for the summer as well. Many students only go home for a quick visit when classes end and come back long before their next year’s studies begin. Some don’t go home at all. One of the many things you will learn this year from each other is that we come from all walks of life.”
“Do we get to keep the cell phones?”
“Yes, they are yours forever. Or, until they break, at least.”
A girl named Zuzanna asked, “What if we don’t discover our element?”
A hush fell over the conversations rippling through the freshmen.
Viera smiled at her. “There’s always one that asks. Like I said, as long as you use your time wisely, heed your professors’ lessons, and commit to your studies, you will, without a doubt, find success. And I find that the fear of not making your discovery tends to be adequate motivation.”
Viera wrapped up the assembly by assuring them that her door was always open and, “I hope you have a wonderful, prosperous, and happy first year. See you all soon, and enjoy the rest of your weekend.”
They filtered out of the auditorium in chunks, the conversations bursting from the pressure of so much new information. Caitriona’s group joined Eero and his roommates as they headed back to the dorms.
