It ends up taking me and Claire a while to find someone willing to lend us some towels, a process not helped by how we both kept giggling at the explanation of why we needed them. Over that period, I spend a decent amount of time with Claire, who insists on calling me Little Blue.
Claire, as it turns out, is just an intensely curious and quite light-hearted person. Whereas I would find jumping in the GDF Headquarters’ fountain to be absolutely mortifying, Claire had apparently decided that it could be an excellent swimming hangout if the water was warm enough. After testing the water and finding it quite cold, she’d thought that she might get used to it if she just leaped in all at once. Hence, our current circumstance.
All in all, Claire is just kind of a blast to be around. Although, I’m now sure that Baylee and I will both be keeping an eye on her whenever she’s around. I feel almost like a mother minding a child as we make our way back to the group wrapped in towels; Claire always seems on the verge of wandering off to go look at something or other.
Now, it’s easy for someone to look at all that had transpired and decide that Claire wasn’t all that smart. I, however, end up gaining a very different opinion. Claire doesn’t come across as stupid to me at all. Very curious and a tinge mad, sure, but not stupid. When I can manage to get her to focus on something, she seems to focus on it very intently. Occasionally, pulling out very strange and interesting views on the subject.
After rejoining the team, we ultimately end up parting ways after a bit more discussion — mostly Baylee whining that there is no way we will call ourselves Team Picnic. Sadly for her, she is thoroughly outvoted, and Team Picnic is here to stay.
Riding the elevator down to the lobby with Claire, Baylee, and the quiet Haruto by my side. I find myself smiling softly as I evaluate my first meeting with my team. Honestly, I like them quite a lot. Haruto is quiet and steadfast but is very steady and reliable. Claire is chaos incarnate, but it seems like she will be very good at what she does. Finally, Baylee seems quite organized and outspoken; she is the obvious fit for team leader. Baylee seems to already be extremely attached to all of us and especially acts protective of me. Once again, I wonder if it’s just because I’m a blue or if it’s something else. I suppose it could also be that I’m one of the youngest on the team, although not by a lot.
That leaves Akari. I just wish I knew more about her. She had seemed withdrawn and sad the entire time I’d seen her, and I wish I could make her feel better. Heck, even just getting her around Claire for a while would surely cheer her up, right? Then there are the rumors about Akari’s family that Baylee had been telling me about. Baylee warned me again that Akari could be dangerous and not to go talk to her alone. She hadn’t seemed dangerous to me, though, and I think I’m fairly decent at reading people. Overall, Akari is a big question mark, and I just wish I could help her.
Just as the elevator is near the bottom, my phone buzzes with an email alert. That isn’t so odd by itself, except for the fact that every single one of us receives the same alert at the same time.
I frown, looking down at my phone and seeing that the email is from the GDF. Reading the subject line, I only get more confused. “A mandatory meeting with the Sanctum Collective?” I ask aloud, wondering what’s going on.
Beside me, Baylee nods to herself, reading the email on her own phone with narrowed eyes. “I’ve heard rumors about this, but apparently it is true.”
“What is true?” Haruto asks, also pulling up the email.
“In politics, the GDF and the Sanctum Collective are often viewed as opposing forces.” Baylee explains, “The Sanctum Collective is heavily against the GDF’s militarization of magic and sentinels. They hold the view that our powers should be used to benefit humanity as a whole rather than fighting the Volcora.”
“Fighting the Volcora does benefit humanity as a whole,” Claire says, her voice suddenly low and lethal.
“It does,” Baylee agrees quickly, “but the Sanctum Collective sees things differently. They are primarily researchers and healers. They understand the need but provide opposition to the GDF’s views nonetheless. What’s surprising is that the GDF and Sanctum Collective must have some kind of deal going on. Especially if we need to go and meet with them.”
“I mean, they’re researchers. Doesn’t it make sense that the military would have a deal with them so they can keep ahead of magical advancements?” I ask, putting in my two cents.
Baylee shrugs, “I suppose it does.”
“I’ll tell them anything they need, so long as it gets more Volcora dead,” Claire states, her voice alight with a burning rage.
I turn towards her in surprise, not sure what had come over my fun-loving new friend. However, before I can say anything, the elevator dings open, prompting the end of our chat.
We all step into the lobby and make our way through together, drawing quite a bit of attention. Apparently, a group of teenagers leaving through the lobby has a high likelihood of being a sentinel team. Luckily, though, anyone trying to raise their phones to take pictures gets a very stern look from the armed guards placed all around the lobby.
Quickly, our group breaks up, Baylee and I heading in one direction, with Haruto and Claire heading in another. I’d expected Baylee to break off from me rather quickly once we got outside, but she ends up walking with me to the exact same tram station.
I look over to her as we both sit down in the tram together. “You live by Silver Ridge as well?” I question, and she nods.
“I’m pretty excited you do, too,” she admits, her voice a bit more somber than usual. “I moved here fairly recently, and I don’t have a lot of friends yet.”
Sensing the vulnerable mood of my new friend. I wrap my arm around her in a side hug. “Sure, you do. You have me, and Claire, and Haruto. I think we’re even in a few of the same classes, so we can study together if you like.”
For a long moment, Baylee studies me as if she’s trying to determine if I’m serious. Eventually, a grin breaks out across her face once more, not doing much to mask the wetness of her eyes. “Thank you, Serena. I’m glad I met you.”
I match her smile with a shy one of my own, my cheeks flushing. “You too,” I say, reflecting on my own lack of real friends.
For the next ten or so minutes, we ride in silence. Before, finally, I speak up again. “I want to try talking to Akari,” I tell Baylee, wanting to get my thoughts out. “She seemed so sad to me and… I just think that we should give her another chance.”
Baylee nods slowly, “I’ll come with you then. Just… be so careful around her, Serena. I’ve read too many news stories about her family. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
I hold out my pinky to Baylee, “Promise.”
With a childlike smile, Baylee wraps her pinky around mine, and we shake. “Now that you’ve promised,” she says, “I think I know where we can find Akari. If my eye for faces is correct, I think she goes to Silver Ridge too and is a year below us.”
We talk for a while longer, but it’s not too long later that we arrive at our destination, and both head our own ways. I can’t seem to stop smiling as I walk away from Baylee, ecstatic to tell my dad about the new friends I’d made and the crazy experiences I’d had. So far, sentinel life is just as promised.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
Scene Break [https://i.imgur.com/Z04uyRy.png]
The next morning, I find myself standing nervously in the lobby of the Sanctum Collective’s Shinara branch. Like all of the Sanctum Collective’s buildings, the entire place is built in an old Victorian style, standing out starkly against the rest of Shinara’s silvery skyline. While the building doesn’t hold a candle to the GDF’s headquarters in size, it easily surpasses it in beauty. Enough to show just how much funding the predominant experts on magic were receiving.
Unlike the GDF’s lobby, the lobby of the Sanctum Collective doesn’t appear busy. If anything, there’s hardly anyone here. I suppose that makes sense for a Saturday, though. The lobby itself is mostly made of wood and resembles an old library. There are old books packed into shelves all around the lobby, with dozens of small, comfortable reading nooks placed around stained-glass windows. More than a few of the reading nooks are occupied, with people curled in plush seats leafing through books. The entire lobby is filled with the slight scent of lavender incense, reminding me of Celeste and calming my nerves.
In fact, the entire vibe of the place seems designed to be calming. While the people here are certainly important, how could people who liked books this much be bad? They even have hand-painted artwork on the walls, and a large part of me would love to simply wander the building, enjoying the art and the peaceful tranquility of the space. Sadly, I’m here for a reason. I’ll have to ask if I can have a look around at another time.
So, squaring my shoulders, I make my way towards the large wooden reception desk and the handsome young man sitting behind it. The man wears a crisp business suit and a pair of inscribed glasses. He looks up at me before placing a bookmark in a large tome and regarding me carefully. His eyes flick to me, then my left shoulder where Celeste is currently perched.
My eyes widen a fraction as I stop before the desk. Had… had he seen Celeste? No one had ever seen her before, at least, not unless she wanted to be seen.
Before I can even speak, the man gives me a genuine smile. “Miss Solace, I take it. How kind of you to arrive early. We are ahead of schedule today, and a representative is already waiting for you. I will page her now. While we wait, can I offer you anything? We have pastries as well as coffee, tea, or water.”
I blink; how had he known my name? I mean, the GDF must have given them my information, but my appointment isn’t for another hour! I’d been expecting to do my normal process of sitting around for an hour or so before the appointment actually started. Had he seen Celeste and recognized her?
My confidence faltering, I hesitantly return the man’s smile. “Thank you, uh,” I glance at the nameplate on the desk, “Mr. Barlowe. I-I think I’m fine without any refreshments.”
The man — Hunter Barlowe, according to his nameplate — gives a seated bow. “Of course, Miss Solace. Please, make yourself at home while you wait; blue sentinels are always welcome at the Sanctum Collective.”
Thanking the man once more, I scramble away to go and sit in the small waiting area before his desk. Celeste hops down from my shoulder onto my lap, and I absently stroke her silky white fur as I try to calm myself.
“Is it just me, or was that kind of creepy?” I ask Celeste quietly.
[It was definitely odd, and I think he saw me somehow,] Celeste responds. [I don’t know much about the Sanctum Collective, but I got a weird feeling from that man, from this entire place, really.]
“What kind of feeling?” I question.
[Old magic,] Celeste responds. [Like talking to a centurion who is much older and more powerful than me. Like talking to my mother…]
I bite my lip, contemplating. I often forget that Celeste is actually a centurion. We hadn’t spoken much of her time before we’d met; she’d gotten embarrassed every time I’d asked about it, so I’d just stopped bringing it up. Still, I wonder what kind of things she had experienced in her life.
With a soft chime, an elevator opens, interrupting my thoughts. I glance up and gasp in surprise as I see a familiar figure approaching me with a smile. Scooping Celeste in my arms, I shoot to my feet, walking over towards her.
“Professor Rhinebeck!” I exclaim — all be it softly in the library esc space.
My Basics of Magic teacher smiles down at me happily, “I’m glad to finally see you here, Serena. Being a blue sentinel is a good fit for you; I wasn’t sure which way you’d go,” she says, glancing down at Celeste in my arms and tapping her inscribed glasses.
My eyes widen, the glasses! They’re the same as the man at the desk had been wearing, the same as Professor Rhinebeck always wore to class!
My mind flashes back to my last Basics of Magic class, where Professor Rhinebeck had seemed concerned about me. I'd assumed she'd been worried because I came in late, but had she been able to see Celeste?
“You… you knew. Didn’t you?” I ask, dumbfounded.
Professor Rhinebeck puts a gentle hand on my shoulder and starts guiding us toward the wood-paneled elevator. “This is the Sanctum Collective, dear. Knowing things is what we do.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” I ask, allowing myself to be guided into the elevator as my professor pushes the button.
Professor Rhinebeck shrugs, “The decision to become a sentinel is one that is deeply personal. I would never interfere with something like that lightly. If you accepted, I would see you here eventually, and if you declined, well, that’s your choice to make.”
For a long moment, I simply stand stunned in the elevator. I’d grown so used to the idea that no one could see Celeste that I had never considered that her presence could have given me away as a sentinel candidate. I mean, Professor Rhinebeck had always given off the impression that she knew everything, but this… this is ridiculous.
After only a few minutes, the elevator dings open once again, opening into what appears to be the entry foyer of an old Victorian mansion. The walls are once more lined with paintings and old bookshelves.
Rhinebeck leads me through a few twisting hallways until I find myself standing before a door with her name on it. Opening it, she leads me into a spacious office with an amazing view down at the city below, massive silvery structures threaded together by the skyway bridges and tramlines.
Professor Rhinebeck ignores the seat beside her large oak desk, instead settling on a couch before a small coffee table that overlooks the window. She pats the seat beside her on the couch, and I take it, absently looking out over the city far below.
“So,” Rhinebeck starts, looking out the window with a relaxed expression. “I suppose we should get started with the purpose of this meeting. However, before we do. Do you have any questions for me?”
I blink, “Uhh-” I start lamely. I have questions, I know that I do, but now that I’m on the spot like this, all of them seem to have fled my mind. Expect… no, I do have one question.
“You’ve been teaching at Silver Ridge for years now,” I start. “Why? With an office like this, you are clearly high up in the Collective. So why teach a bunch of high schoolers?”
Professor Rhinebeck laughs lightly, “My role here at the Collective is to be the point of contact for new sentinels who are curious about magic. So, I teach at Silver Ridge to make myself available at the start of a sentinel’s career. Almost all sentinels form their bonds while they are still teenagers; it's necessary to survive the bonding process, and with their new monetary income, almost all of them end up at the best school available.”
“Which is Silver Ridge,” I say, nodding.
Silver Ridge is the premier high school in Shinara, and almost everyone wants to attend. I’d seen as much with Haruto and Claire yesterday. Silver Ridge graduates almost always end up in good colleges before finding themselves in high positions within the GDF, Sanctum Collective, or some corporation. I’d been profoundly lucky to get in after my dad aced his job interview for his history teacher position.
“Indeed,” Rhinebeck agrees. “By teaching at Silver Ridge, I’m available to answer the questions that pop into your head or help you understand a new ability.”
“While also making sure we form close ties with the Sanctum Collective,” I add wryly.
Rhinebeck just laughs again, “I am not unaware of my own motivation. However, is having a connection with us really so bad? We are here to help you, after all.”
I bite my lip, “Are you here to help me or to study me. Sentinels are still a hot commodity.”
Rhinebeck shrugs, “Yes and no, the basics of what a sentinel can do are well studied. It’s only once you get into the higher reaches of power that things start changing. We are going off topic; however, let’s get back to what this meeting is for.”
I frown at the change of subject but accept it. “Alright, why am I here?”
“Firstly, to register for classes,” Rhinebeck says. “While the GDF will be handling all of your combat-related training, your magical study will be completed here. Time will be allotted for you to come to classes here at the Collective, either during your normal school days or during your time at the GDF.”
“What kind of classes?” I ask, interest spiking. Even with Silver Ridge’s fame, they only teach the most basic aspects of magic. Real magical knowledge is kept restricted to all but a few. As a sentinel, I guess I’m now worthy of joining those ranks.
Rhinebeck grins, “That depends, Serena. What impossible things would you like to learn.”
Memories flash across my vision as I consider her question. Sitting beside my mother’s bed in the old hospital, holding her hand and begging her to wake up just one more time, and finally, standing beside a cold granite gravestone with tears in my eyes and a hole in my heart.
I close my eyes for a long moment, forcing down my rising emotions. Then, I look up and meet Professor Rhinebeck’s eyes, “Teach me how to cure cancer.”
Three hours later, I leave with a new class schedule. One that I can’t wait to start.