While the deities continued to bicker, Helena snapped out of her trance and carefully took the detector out of Amara’s hand.
“How was that? Was it serious?” The mayor immediately asked.
“This is…complicated.” Helena paused for a moment before speaking again. “Amara, do you mind if I use my Talent on you?”
“Huh?” Amara took a moment to recover from hearing the argument in her head. After she realized, she became extremely excited: “YES! Can I see your Talent? Please?”
Helena snapped her fingers. Out of seemingly nowhere, a black and silver stethoscope appeared in midair, then swiftly dropping into Amara’s hands.
“Wow.” Several amazed touches later, Amara exclaimed: “This is just like what Gran uses!”
“Ain’t no way, no average tool can compete with a Talent.” The nurse said matter-of-factly.
“If you didn’t know, there are several different types of Talents.” Helena took her stethoscope back and began to use it on Amara. “Roughly speaking, there are Object Talents, where the Talent itself is some sort of object, and the person increases in Talent energy by getting to use the object. I have an Object Talent.”
“What’s your Talent score?”
Helena snapped her fingers again and her stethoscope disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared. “Fifty.”
The other adults also looked surprised.
“Anyways, I can give a rough diagnosis now. Unfortunately, it may not be as precise—”
“We trust a fifty points professional! We trust that anythin’ you say’s more accurate than anyone in town can do.” The nurse interjected.
“You flatter me, madame. Back to the right topic, I can now say that Amara’s Talent certainly isn’t limited to simply plant control.”
The mayor sat up straighter on the edge of the couch, focusing intently on what Helena has to say next.
“It ‘s highly likely to be a form of life force manipulation, and having it manifest as rapid growth in plants is just step one of many towards what she could possibly do in the future. As for her Talent score, I can confidently say she has a minimum of ten points, though it’s unclear if the extra points are caused by her improving already from her natural Talent progression, or if it’s manifesting from a second Talent that she hasn’t discovered yet. I predict she’s going to be extremely adept at plantology, zoology or anthropology if she chooses to pursue careers in those fields. She might even be excellent in healthcare, and even if it’s somewhat counterintuitive, in a combat related role in the military.”
There were way too many words outside of Amara’s vocabulary, but this didn’t stop her from understanding she’s been rated extremely highly. She felt giddy for a second, before noticing her Gramps didn’t look happy for her.
“The military?! Excuse me, but are you kiddin’ us?”
“No, Mr. Mayor, as a military school graduate, I am certain of her prospects.” Helena replied, unfazed by the mayor’s sudden change in attitude.
“Where’d ya study in?! Ain’t nowhere—”
“The Consonants Academy.”
The mayor fell into an awkward silence.
“I work as part of the relief program there as well, and I sincerely believe that Amara would benefit greatly if she considers joining…”
“Amara, Amara!” The nurse leaned over and whispered to the very confused child. “Just so ya know, even if you’re adopted, you’re still a part of this family and me n’ your Gramps wouldn’t ever not want ya, understand?”
Amara nodded, even more confused as to why her Gran would say something like that while her Gramps was being angry out of nowhere.
“The grown-ups are gonna talk ‘bout some grown-up things now, so don’t ya wanna go ‘cross the street to Pauley’s for a bit?”
Right after that, Amara found herself sent out the front door alone. She stood on the porch, hesitated for a moment, then decided to sneak to a window and eavesdrop.
‘So why’re Gran n’ Gramps actin’ all weird just now?’ As she moved carefully around to avoid being noticed, Amara thought of this question.
As far as I know, that Helena human wanted to bring you to some academy she was in, and your grandparents probably didn’t want you to leave them so fast.
‘WHAT?!’
Do you want to leave is the question.
‘No no no! I don’t wanna leave Gran n’ Gramps!’
Why not?
‘If…if me leavin’ is because of my Talent, then…’ Amara’s brain scrambled to put together a coherent thought. ‘Talents ain’t worth Gran n’ Gramps. If I gotta leave, then I don’t want Talents.’
“Why are you leaving?”
Amara jolted back from her inner world only to see Pauley sauntering towards her. His eyes immediately lit up when he noticed her pose, and he began whispering: “Where are you gonna go? Who are you listening to?”
After not getting an answer, he then hurried around to face her properly: “What were you doing with that bag of stuff? I didn’t look in—why are you crying?!”
Amara’s response was to bury her face on his shoulder and wail. Pauley froze in place, awkwardly letting her tears stain his shirt. After a few minutes, Amara managed to regain a bit of control over herself, and she began to tell her story of the day through sniffles and hiccups.
By the time she was finished, the sun was close to touching the horizon, yet nobody else was coming out of the house to check on her. Pauley was listening the whole time with wide eyes and an opened mouth, and he seemed oblivious to the passing of time.
“Hold on.” he eventually spoke after Amara paused to adjust her breath. “So you also have ten points to start off your plant control Talent but it’s not just a plant control Talent and you’ve gotten to eleven points already? I know you’re also adopted but the bag was for your MOM? And then you had someone from the Consonants Academy? THE CONSONANTS ACADEMY? Saying you’d fit in?”
“Yeah, sounds ‘bout right.” Amara sniffled. “What’s the conso-something Academy?”
“You didn’t know?” Pauley gasped. “It’s one of the best, if not THE best military academy in the world!”
“And? Why’s it called that?”
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“I heard the full name’s something like Academy For Military Training and Preparation For Combat Related Situations, but the short version is too hard to say, so they just call it the Consonants Academy. All I know is they’re really hard to get into and the people that make it out are all freakishly good at fighting, and they’re cool.”
“Really? Do you wanna go there?”
Pauley rolled his eyes. “Nah you know me, I won’t even make it past day one.”
“Then I don’t wanna go there.” Amara felt like she wanted to cry again. “Why doesn’t anyone want me here?”
“Why don’t you wanna go out and see the world then? It’ll be fun and I know I’d go explore.”
“Because…because I won’t know anyone.”
“But you’ll know more people! And if you go to the academy, you’ll be really cool too.” Pauley scratched his head while trying to think of more positive things to say. “I wanna go to a design school that makes cool weapons for cool people, so if you end up as a cool fighter, make sure you use my weapons.”
“Really? Are you sure?” Amara asked again.
“Yeah duh.”
At this moment, the front door of Amara’s house opened, and the three adults walked out. Upon seeing the two kids huddling together in the yard, Helena was the first to make a comment: “Hello there, are you Pauley?”
“Hi!” Pauley jumped up excitedly, then decided to act more mature by offering a hand for handshaking. “Are you the one from the Consonants Academy?”
“Yes I am, and I see Amara has told you about me already.” Helena noted.
“What’re you two doing’, hangin’ round here?” The mayor quickly jumped towards suspicion.
The nurse elbowed him and subtly gestured to Amara, whose eyes were still puffy and red from crying.
The mayor then awkwardly cleared his throat and stepped back.
“I had a good chat with your grandparents.” Helena turned to Amara just in time to redirect the conversation. “While we agreed that you’re still too young for the Consonants Academy, I would still like to invite you to try and apply for us when you’re old enough. Before then, I hope you can learn well in school and from your grandparents, okay?”
“Does that mean…I can stay?” Amara wanted to confirm.
“Yes, of course.”
Pauley gave Amara an envious look, before getting distracted by a paper envelope that was put just in front of his face.
“I have heard that you may have a Talent in crafting things, so I wrote a letter of recommendation for you, if you want to apply for higher studies in the future, that is.”
“This is just for me? Thank you!” Pauley took the letter with both hands.
“This probably work the best for Rivenrook, since I have a few acquaintances there—”
“Rivenrook!” Pauley practically squealed as he almost passed out from happiness. “That’s where I wanted to go!”
Helena chuckled at him, before turning her attention back to the adults. She put up the hood on her cloak, then said: “I’m glad that I came today, and I’m glad these kids will be in good hands. Now it’s time for me to say goodbye, but I hope we’ll meet again sometime.”
“Are ya sure you don’t need a ride?” the mayor asked her.
“No need, thank you.” Helena answered politely. Then, right in front of the others, she took a great leap, and flew up straight into the distant setting sun.
The two kids were flabbergasted.
‘Ya see that Pauley? That’s the stuff ya learn to make if you get accepted to that Rivenrook school.” The mayor told the kids. “And you’ll learn to do that too, if ya study hard.”
Amara and Pauley looked at each other, each seeing the determination in the other’s eyes. They both then turned to the mayor in unison, and exclaimed: “We’ll study hard!”
“Study what study? Go have dinner first! ‘Specially YOU, Pauley! Your ma’s gon’ be worried sick if ya don’t go home now!” the nurse shooed them.
Pauley dashed away with his letter held firmly in front of his chest. Amara sniffled one last time, then followed her grandparents back into the house, her mind now calm and focused on one idea.
‘I’m going to study hard, then Gran n’ Gramps won’t be disappointed in me. I’ll go to the Consonants Academy when I’m older, so Pauley won’t be disappointed either, and I’ll be cool too!’
We wish you luck, Life told her.
We’ll watch you all along the way. Destruction told her.
...
The seasons rolled around over and over, and life followed the cycle rather unpredictably.
In a certain little town, the residents have learned to cope with surprises through sheer experience. Be it finding a full class of students from the only local school collectively on the roof without a ladder, or discovering their crop fields conquered by dog-sized amphibians, most people could easily identify the source of the problems in the span of a single breath: “Amara!”
Each time such an event occurred, a certain other individual could usually be located within the vicinity, commonly declaring his innocence regarding any mishaps to anyone who noticed him. Several similar scenarios later, the town’s denizens had begun to identify him as Pauley, and his coincidental appearances eventually led to him being convicted as certified troublemakers alongside Amara.
Luckily for the town but unluckily for the pair’s partnership status, Pauley eventually graduated from the local school, and in pursuit of higher education, decided to move out of town for his new academic institution.
“You’ll still be back for vacations, right?” Amara asked this question on the day Pauley was scheduled to depart, under the united glares of adults from both families.
“Where else would I go to sleep when the dorms close?” Pauley replied to his younger companion. “And don’t worry, when I come back from Rivenrook, just imagine all the things we can do with the gadgets I’d be—”
“Son, you’re gonna miss the next ride outta town!” Pauley’s father sternly interrupted the scheming, before forcibly shoving his son towards the fate of completing homework and conducting academic research.
After the pair was forced to separate, the town has seen no lesser amounts of unconventional events, though the nature of such instances leaned more into the supernatural than before.
Two months into autumn, the town broke the world record for growing a single kernel of corn that weighed more than an average cabbage.
The following spring, during a brief visit from a few scholarly presences, the town had produced a full fruit orchard overnight. While irrigating a new water source, a wave of edible fish flocked into town from downstream, and flung themselves onto land, without any active intervention.
After the surge in near uncanny activities, the town’s mayor couple began keeping close supervision on the only minor in his home. Just as the town appeared to ease into a phase of relative peace, a student who studied afar had arrived back home.
Instead of the anticipated increase in inconveniencing events, the student had eagerly brought back many new tools, which were then distributed across town under the name of ‘newest technology advancements’. Time seemed to flow particularly fast during this period, as residents underwent a mass upgrade as a whole.
After the student departed once more for schooling, nearly everybody in town was too absorbed in the novelty to notice the level of underage supervision in the mayor's family. By the time residents could remark on the calm quality of life in town, a new batch of students had graduated from the local school.
On the day these students were released for one final time from classes, the mayor’s family trekked out of town to a nearby hill, where they settled down for a picnic in the sunset.
“...and that’s what we’ve been up to with ya kid ‘til now.” The mayor concluded his long speech as he sat facing towards a wordless headstone, with one hand holding a cold slice of bread.
“Right, right, now don’t ya dare waste my food, old man.” The nurse removed two cotton balls from her ears.
Amara half-laughed, half-snorted into her plate.
“Whatcha laughin’ at, lass? Ya done with the daily workouts?” The mayor stared at her.
“Oh c’mon Gramps, I just survived a whole ceremony!” Amara complained jokingly. “Can’t a gal get a break ever?”
The mayor wasn’t as carefree. With a completely straight face, he turned his body so that he was facing Amara directly, and said: “Ya can laugh, but that trainin’ was what got me stayin’ alive out here today.”
“What does that mean…?”
The nurse looked confused. “Did ya Gramps never say he’s a vet in all the trainin' sessions y’all’s done?”
Amara was also confused. “A vet? But I didn’t see him cure any animals?”
“Veteran, lass.” The mayor corrected her with a glare. “I’ve been tryin’ to get some basic military skills in ya, so the whole town could live easier without shenanigans.”
Amara opened her mouth, tried to think of something to say, realized she didn’t have anything, and then decided to seek help from the nurse: “Gran! That ain’t true, right?”
“‘Twas as true as sayin’ two plus two equals four.” The nurse did not spare the truth.
“And also cuz I wanted ya to make decisions.” The mayor declared before Amara could speak. “Now that the school’s done with your batch of kids, you gotta think on where you’d wanna go next in life.”
“Aren’t I s’posed to go work in the orchard now?” Amara asked. “I know a few people were talkin’ bout it too in class—”
“But you had an offer they didn’t, remember?” The nurse said.
Upon hearing that sentence, Amara’s mind immediately jumped to a memory that occurred right on the spot her family was sitting on. “Wait, Gran, ya don’t mean…the somethin’ somethin’ academy, do ya?”
“She does and so do I.” The mayor spoke. “Now, we certainly don’t want ya to feel pressured, but the academy is more prestigious than you’d imagine, and even goin’ to the entrance tests is—”
“But why!”
The nurse noticed the distress in Amara’s voice. “Are ya okay, lass?”
“No! Yes! I…I don’t know…”
“Me and your Gramps know you didn’t like the idea back then, but we never really knew why you’d hate it outta nowhere. It ain’t common that some family like ours could meet someone from there, much less get an invitation from ‘em. And before ya complain, we reckon money’s not gonna be too tight with the extra crops we had for the last few years, and you can just leave with Pauley, his school ain’t too far from yours.”
Amara found her potential protests suddenly refuted, and she had to think hard. The more thought she put into the matter, the more she realized she was being unreasonable.
First of all, she’s confident that her grandparents wouldn’t simply send her off somewhere to get rid of her. She’s also not opposed to spending some time with Pauley after not seeing him for almost a year, and going to a new place sounds…interesting?
“Is the money really gonna be alright though? Ya said it’s a prestigious school and I remember Pauley sayin’ it’s real famous and all, so wouldn’t it just end in me takin’ a trip for nothin’?”
Her grandparents could already tell from her tone that she’s not so against the idea of studying anymore. The mayor broke into a small smile, and answered her question: “Just think of the trip as a grad gift from me and your gran then. And, lass, have some confidence in yourself and your Gramps’ teachin’, ya might just end up kickin’ competition to the curb. We also told Pauley that he should go back to school early this year to bring ya along, so don’t ya fret bout that part either.”
Amara blinked in surprise. “Ya finally learned how to make a call without turnin’ on the TV?”
The nurse saw her husband’s expression change and hurriedly joined in the talking: “Aye, ain’t that just hittin’ the remote control telecom thing button and unplug the physical keyboard, and, and…”
“...ya mean making a long distance voice call with a registered contact number? Why use the keyboard for touch screen, Gran? Did…did y’all actually find and talk to the Pauley we know?”
Amara was then grounded on the night of her school graduation.