The Realm Protectors - Chapter 56: Chapter 56

The end of the school year is always surreal. It doesn't quite feel like an entire year has passed, that your brain has been packed full of knowledge about various subjects. I don't feel like I've been living in the Realm for a whole year, but it's the truth.
"I'm telling you, Ci," Avani says after we turn in our Life Skills textbooks. The bell rings and we're dismissed, free to spend the afternoon however we want until the graduation ceremony that night. "We've gotta make sure that we go to Rockin' Rosie's after the graduation ceremony. I need my chicken strips!"
"I want a milkshake," Nikolina pipes in.
"Fine," I laugh. "But you two are telling Enya that you'd rather go to Rosie's than the official banquet."
"Nobody goes to the banquet anyways," Faris says, sliding up beside us. I mean, literally sliding. He skids over the icy sidewalk and keeps walking over the dry patches like it's nothing. "I vote Rosie's."
"Fine, fine, fine," I shake my head. "We'll go to Rosie's. But again, you guys can tell Enya."
"Tell me what?" Enya asks, sidling up to us with Nile beside her. Carter and Lyra walk side-by-side behind them.
"They want to go to Rockin' Rosie's after the ceremony tonight," I tell her.
"Ooh, that's a great idea," Nile grins. "We should go to Rosie's."
"I'm down," Enya shrugs. "Nobody goes to the graduation banquet anyways. It always ends up being a bunch of first through third sects talking to alumni."
"Told you," Faris says, bumping my shoulder. I grin, butterflies bursting in my stomach at the contact.
"Well after all that talk about food, I'm hungry," Nile says. Enya rolls her eyes, laughing.
"Nile, you're always hungry,"
"So what?" Nile asks. "Let's stop someplace on the way to the Residence."
"We don't have time to stop," Carter pipes in. "We need to fill Ciana in on what she needs to do tonight."
My stomach clenches with nerves. "Oh... right,"
Enya pats me on the shoulder. "You'll be fine, Ci. The teachers simplified it for you. You just have to do all the traditional stuff. Besides, it's just this one time. It'll be back to being my job from then on."
"Who would've thought that a Right Arch would have to preside over the Asavanra graduation ceremony because the Grand Arch was graduating?" Carter chuckles.
"Nobody," Nile sighs with an eye roll. "That's why we're in this mess in the first place."
"Someone's cranky," Faris pokes Nile in the arm, earning himself a sneer.
"He's hungry," Enya laughs, covering Nile's ears as if it were a secret.
"Let's get sandwiches delivered to the Arch Residence," Avani suggests. "I'm cravin' some Sammy's Subs."
"Ooh, Sammy's cookies are the best," Faris agrees.
"Sammy's Subs it is," Enya nods. Students stream out of the gates of Asavanra Academy, heading towards the many restaurants on Academy Avenue. The sound of conversations fills the air as the eight of us walk through the crowds, heading towards Arch Hall up on the hill. Music streams out of cracked windows of record stores and the lone instrument store, and the scent of food and baked goods wafts from the bakeries and restaurants, making my stomach grumble.
Enya hears it and laughs. "Nile and I will go pop in Sammy's and order our food. Meet you back home."
Faris watches them go with a wicked smirk. "They're so sneaking off to go make out."
"As usual," Avani agrees with an eye-roll.
"At least we get food whenever they're done," I remind them, laughing.
The outer rings of Academy Avenue aren't nearly as crowded, letting us get up to Arch Hall quicker than usual. Tucker is waiting for us inside the Atrium, lounging in Enya's seat and reading a magazine. He sits straight up when we walk in, jumping out of the chair and clearing his throat.
"Oh, well hello Grand Arch Brooks," Faris laughs, bowing mockingly. Tucker huffs, tossing the magazine at him playfully.
"I was just taking a break," Tucker says, crossing his arms. The smirk drops from his face. "Don't tell Enya."
"Who's Enya?" Faris jokes, strolling past Tucker and down the hall to the hidden doorway.
"She's gonna be mad at you," Avani sing-songs. Tucker chuckles.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever."
The hidden door to the Arch Residence opens easily, and the seven of us make our way down the tunnel. Tucker shuts the door behind us as I reach for my ability, producing two balls of light that bounce down the hallway, lighting our way. A few flights of stairs later, we reach the door and I punch in the code.
Sunlight streams in through all the windows in the living room, sending motes of dust floating in the air. Avani jumps over the back of the couch, rolling down onto the cushions. Faris copies her, jumping over the other side of the couch and rolling into the opposite corner. He grins and me and pats the seat beside him. I sit next to him, putting my feet up on the ottoman. Nikolina sits on the armrest, turning on the TV while we wait. Carter and Lyra fill the last spot on the couch as Tucker takes a seat in the recliner.
We watch the end of the Center City News before a reality show about some singer from Leve comes on. Tucker groans, reaching for the remote. No one complains when he turns the channel to a basketball game – one team in gold and the other in black.
"Ooh, Leve versus Mork," Tucker says. "This should be a fun rivalry."
Someone opens the door behind us and we all spin around to see Nile and Enya walk in with bags of food.
"Food!" Avani grins, sitting up and running over to them. Enya laughs, handing her one of the bags. They pass out the sandwiches and we all dig in, seated around the living room. We scooted over on the couch to make room for Nile and Enya, leaving me pressed close to Faris's side. My skin tingles everywhere our legs and arms touch. I feel a blush on my face, and Enya notices with a smirk.
"Okay, let's talk about the ceremony," Enya says finally after she finishes her sandwich. My stomach clenches with nerves again. "Your job will be simple, Ciana. Nile and I will be seated with the rest of our class. The rest of you will be seated up on the stage with the fourth sect teachers. Ciana, you'll open the ceremony with some sort of welcome speech. The teachers will take it from there."
"Then you'll just have to stand and shake everyone's hand when they come up to get their diploma," Nile adds. Enya nods.
"That doesn't seem so bad," I shrug, nerves settling.
"Exactly," Faris says, bumping my shoulder. "You have nothing to worry about."
"So where's this speech I have to say?" I turn and ask Enya. She smirks.
"You have to write it."
I blink at her.
"What?"
"Ciana, it'll be fine, you've got the thing right there!" Avani huffs, pointing at the paper in my hand.
"I had to write a speech in an hour when I didn't even know what I was supposed to say!" I tell her, pacing back and forth in the backstage area of the auditorium. "I don't even know if it's good enough––"
"It'll be fine, Ciana," Faris assures me, holding up his hands as he approaches. I stop pacing, to listen to him. "You've read it a hundred times now. It's good."
"Are you sure?"
"We're sure," Nikolina nods.
"It is a wonderful speech, Ciana," Lyra pipes up. She and Carter are sitting next to each other in two of the chairs leaned against the wall.
"Just trust yourself," Carter agrees.
I take a deep breath and nod. "You're right, you're all right. It'll be fine." Someone knocks on the door of the room we're in before poking his head in.
"It's time to head onstage," Mr. Redmond, still acting as principal, says. I force a smile onto my face and nod, smoothing out my skirt. Jaq made us all outfits again, making slightly more casual dresses for the four of us girls.
"The boys can go to the Avenue and get any old dress shirt," Jaq had said earlier that day, stopping by in her cap and gown. "I didn't have time to make them anything, and it'll look the same from up in the stands anyway."
My skirt is shorter and thinner than all of my other gowns from Jaq, with softer fabric and long, flowing sleeves. Lyra's deep purple dress cinches at her waist before flowing down to her knees in front and to her heels in the back. Nikolina's is sleek black fabric tied tightly around her waist with a thick black ribbon, and Avani looks sleek in a deep green jumpsuit.
"Here we go," Faris grins, offering me his arm. I feel myself blush as I hook my arm around his elbow, leading us all out of the room and down the hallway.
Mr. Redmond and the other teachers are waiting in the auditorium, standing around the rows of chairs laid out for the teachers. I squint and look up into the stands, where the rest of the students are already seated. Another whole section has been set aside for the families of the graduating fourth sects, and a section on the opposite side is roped off for the graduates themselves. The rest of the teachers line the walkway above the seats, helping to guide visitors to where they need to go.
"You six will be right here," Mr. Redmond says, motioning to the six chairs laid out in front of the rows for the teachers. The podium sits right in front of us, a microphone resting on top of it. Faris pats my arm, diverting my attention to him instead. He smiles at me and leads me to the chairs, helping me sit down.
"You'll be fine," He repeats, the rest of my friends sitting down beside us. I nod, folding the corner of my paper over and over.
"Yeah," I nod, leg bouncing up and down. "I'll be fine."
Faris nods and leans back in his chair, sliding his arm out from my grip. He keeps a hold of my hand, holding it between our laps. My heart pounds in my chest, but I'm not sure if it's from nerves or from Faris.
The graduates start filling in the chairs of the section to our right, seemingly by alphabetical order. Caps and gowns in element-specific shades of orange, blue, green, white, yellow, black, navy, and purple create a rainbow of activity as everyone finds their seats. I spot Nile somewhere in the second row, and Enya a few rows behind him.
Breathe Ciana, I tell myself. You've done public speaking before. You did plays in middle school. It's fine. You're fine.
"That's a lot of people," I mutter as the lights dim, the ceremony starting.
"Deep breath," Faris says, squeezing my hand. "You're gonna be great, Ciana." Mr. Redmond taps me on the shoulder, letting me know it's time for me to go up and speak. I stand somewhat shakily but make my way to the podium without tripping.
"Ladies and gentlemen," I begin, my voice echoing throughout the auditorium. "Welcome to Asavanra's graduation ceremony. Tradition usually states that the Grand Arch presides over the ceremony, but considering the fact that our Grand Arch is one of the students graduating, you're all stuck with me." I pause for breath and realize that a few people in the audience laughed. It makes me feel better, and I continue. "I've only been in the Elemental Realm for a year, but I have learned a lot during my time here. One of those things is the fact that this class of fourth sects is full of fantastic leaders and powerful fighters. Every single one of these students has been a role model for every person on campus, and for that, I'd like to say thank you.
"Asavanra is a wonderful school, full of opportunities for students to advance their learning and prepare themselves for futures in the Elemental Realm. Our teachers work hard to make sure that these students are released from their time here with all the skills necessary to succeed in their lives. Considering the fact that this class has two High Arches in it, I'd say these teachers did a pretty good job." I pause as the audience applauds, clapping for both the students and the teachers. "So now, it is my pleasure to introduce Asavanra's newest class of graduates!"
The eight of us stumble out of the auditorium almost three hours later, laughing and talking over each other. Enya and Nile are still in their cap and gowns, newly acquired diplomas in hand.
"Rockin' Rosie's!" Nile whoops, grabbing Enya's hand. The two take off running for the gates of Asavanra, the rest of us laughing behind them.
"Last one there's a rotten egg!" Avani shouts, taking off after them. Nikolina, Carter, and Lyra all follow. I go to start running when Faris grabs my hand.
"Can you hang back a second?" He asks, glancing around. "There's... uh... something I want to tell you."
I raise my eyebrows, stopping in place beside him. "Of course. Is everything okay?"
"Yes! Yeah, everything's great," Faris says, nodding. He runs his hand through his hair, cheeks and neck tinged slightly pink. Under the moonlight he seems to have a glow, almost like the silvery gusts of wind around his eyes are crisscrossed across his whole body. Faris clears his throat and I realize I was staring at his biceps.
"Sorry," I say, blushing. "Continue."
"Well, it's something I've been meaning to say for a while. A few months now, actually," Faris laughs. "I'm not sure when I started noticing it but... wait, no, let me start over." I watch as he seems to steel himself, nodding before speaking again. "When I first met you, Ciana, you lit up my life."
"Lit up your life?" I ask.
"Yes, you did," Faris continues. "And that's why I let you have my jacket way back in January or February or whenever it was––"
"January," I blurt, surprised that I remember. Faris seems surprised to but continues with what he was saying.
"This past year getting to know you has been amazing, Ci. You're kind, smart, funny, sweet, talented, an amazing leader, and you're..." He trails off, looking at me. His eyes shine in the moonlight, an incredible gray-blue that could only be possible in this realm of magic. "You're beautiful."
I gasp without meaning to, my heart pounding. Faris reaches for my hands, cradling them in his own. "I mean it Ciana. You're absolutely beautiful, and the most incredible person I've ever met in my entire life. I was too afraid to say it before, and then you were attacked in Vesi and you almost died, and I didn't know what I would do with myself if that had happened. So I told myself I would tell you as soon as you woke up, but I was still to afraid. I told myself to let you heal first, to wait until you were ready before I told you."
"Told me what?"
Faris opens his mouth, no words coming out. He clears his throat, going to try again. "I've been meaning to tell you that I li––"
"Ciana?" Someone yells behind us. I turn around, searching for the source of the voice. There's too many people to see who really said it.
"What was that?" Faris asks.
"I... I don't know," I responds, still searching the crowd. I spot a pair of heads pushing through people towards us, and my breath catches in my throat. "Is that––?"
"Ciana!" Alexia Lexington, my best friend from back home, bursts through the crowd of people with Andrew hot on her tail. She crushes me in a hug, tearing my hands away from Faris. He looks at me surprised, probably remembering the time I told him about the huge fight Lex and I had gotten into almost a year ago.
"I... what are you doing here?" I ask her when she releases me from her grip. Andrew comes in for a hug next, his much more gentle. His eyes are full of wonder and life, just like they were back home.
"We came to surprise you!" Lex laughs.
"Surprise me? Others can't travel to the Elemental Realm," I explain, confused. Lex grins even wider.
"That's the best part," She giggles. She and Andrew both pull down the necklines of their shirts, revealing an air and light symbol between their collarbones. My jaw drops.
"You're... elementals?"