The element within

Chapter 4

“So” I asked “why were you lying on the ground?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. We’d better be getting back to class anyway.”

I frowned at him and stopped him from walking past me.

“Mark. You can tell me. If it’s something that will dent your manly ego or whatever I promise I won’t tell anyone.”

He sighed and I gave him a small but sincere smile to let him know that I was telling the truth. Something inside him changed a little and with another sigh of regret and a slight hesitation he revealed the truth.

“Look, I just got in a bit of a fight with Alex.”

“What?” I stared at him; very puzzled.

“Oh, not you, there’s a different Alex. He’s in fire and a total jerk...Anyway, it’s no big deal. He wanted a fight so I gave him one...Just I lost and he won.”

“So...are you ok?”

“Pfft, course. I’ve got a scratch on my arm but it’s nothing that I, or you for that matter, need to worry about.”

I stared at the burn on his arm, where presumably, Alex had scorched him.

“Ok then.” I agreed. I didn’t really want to fuss over him and decided to say nothing more about it. Plus, I made a promise that I wouldn’t say anything to anyone else, so I may as well shut up now.

“So then” I asked “How come all the fire’s are such jerks. Well, from what I’ve heard anyhow.”

“Well, they’re not all jerks. That’s just another stereotype. No, not all of them are; especially not Alyssa.”

I raised my eyebrows in suspicion “Alyssa eh? What’s she like.”

“She’s beautiful...” He drifted off before he realised who he was talking to. “Well, yeah, and she’s urm nice too...”

I let out a little smirk before suggesting that I should probably be heading back to class. I then turned around and headed back the way I came. Walking back down the winding corridors, I was just about to reach the back door that I had entered when someone grabbed me.

However, as I twisted my head round to see who my attacker was, relief flushed over me as I saw Lilly’s familiar face. However, her usual smile had disappeared and was instead replaced with a frown of concern.

“Where did you go?” She asked.

“Well...I’m not really sure, I mean, one minute I was following you and then next I was, well, somewhere else...”

“I came back here to look for you...”

“So, I take it you didn’t find out who was hurt.”

Lilly shook her head in disappointment.

“Well Lilly, have no fear, for when I was journeying through the treacherous corridors of the school I just so happened to stumble upon Mark.”

Lilly’s face lit up like a light “Really? Was he ok?”

“Well, he did-” I began, before I managed to stop myself “He’s fine.”

“Oh good, cause I was worried that he might have gotten into another fight with Alex. Oh, but ano-”

“Another Alex, not me.” I finished.

“Yeah, that’s it exactly. But the problem is he’s been getting into fights with him for a while now because, trust me, those two do really not get on.”

There was a small pause when neither of us had anything more to say. Then, at the same time, both of realised that we were while having a very nice conversation outside the classroom and everyone else was inside; probably being registered.

Lilly slowly opened the door and I quietly trailed behind her.

“And what do you think your two are doing!” called out a cold, stern voice “sit down immediately!”

Cringing I noticed that Lilly was blushing red as we quickly took a seat at the front of the room. Stiffly, I sat down at one of the small, blue armchairs and looked up at the woman who had shouted at us.

She was fairly tall and slender with an upright posture. Her ice blue hair was pulled back in a tight bun and she wore a long, light-blue dress that just reached her ankles. Yet the most interesting thing about this woman was that, despite her obvious age, her face was smooth and almost flawless.

“Alexandra copper I believe.” She said as she stared down at me in disgust.

“Yes, urm...”

“Ms Thornstoke.”

“Yes Ms Thornstoke.”

“Well, I don’t really think that you need introducing to the class, but if there’s anything that you need to know; simply ask. Now class, it looks like it’s already time for first period, so, off you go, Class dismissed.”

Confused as to where I was actually mean to be I started to stand up and just as I was about to head out the door and probably follow Lilly somewhere someone tapped me on the shoulder.

“Aren’t we forgetting something?” asked Ms Thornstoke as she held out a piece of paper in front of me.

I took it from her and scrolled through it. It read:

Timetable for Alexandra Copper

Monday-

Period 1 – Group training,  Period 2 – Maths,  Period 3 – House training,  Period 4 –Silent studying

However, I thought it best to leave the other days for later because everyone apart from me and Lilly had left the classroom by now. I thanked Ms Thornstoke and scurried out the classroom along with Lilly.

“So, what is group training?” I questioned.

Lilly smiled “You’ll have to find out for yourself. But I think you’ll like it.”

“So where is it?”

“In the hall just down there” She said, pointing down a corridor.

“You’re not coming?” I asked.

“Sorry, no. I’ve got magical studies. But I’ll see you later, okay.” She replied as she headed off down another corridor.

I made my descent down the corridor to the right until I reached a large doorway saying.

“Main hall –For combat and group training only”

Half nervous, half excited I willed myself to push the door open and I headed inside where a man with grey hair and a friendly smile was waiting.

“Welcome Alex. Welcome to group training where you will learn how to harness your power.”

Smiling nervously, I entered the room but then something made me stand dead in my tracks.

The other Alex, the one that had run into her earlier, was standing there. And he didn’t look particularly pleased to see me.

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So, how was it? Please tell me what you think cause I would really appreciate your comments :3