Page 6 of Lucent Academy 2: Trinity Awakens
Principal Lucius leaned forward, looking tense suddenly. "There is another reason why the mate you will be summoning during lessons for now will only be your Abyssal Dragon. I understand the desire to spend time with one's mates, but for now, I ask that you not summon the other two in the presence of other students. Because you are the Trinity, we have had to go to great lengths to prepare the other students so the Academy can function as normal."
I shook my head. I didn't understand.
"I doubt whether you're in a position to comprehend your situation fully, Miss Wood. The Trinity is legendary, something that, until your summoning, we had thought was only myth. Some would look at you and see you as the largest threat ourworld has ever seen. Then there are those who would look at you and would want to use your power for their own desires."
I felt myself grow still as stone as I considered this. "You mean, because I'm the Trinity, I'm in danger?"Is my family back in Hartwick in danger?
"Not here," he assured me quickly. "We have gone to great lengths to make sure your identity stays hidden. You should not divulge that status even to your own family, at least for the foreseeable future. For now, the larger world outside the walls of the Academy has no idea that the Trinity has even revealed itself."
"What do you mean you've made sure my identity stays hidden? At the summoning, everyone saw what happened. They all know! Students, staff, they all saw what happened."
"This past week, while the students were spending time in forced isolation, we sent Mind Mages disguised as healers to every dormitory. Their memories of the Summoning Ceremony were altered—as far as they are aware, you only summoned Vaerath, the Abyss Dragon. As for the students who share the Apex Class with you, they have been compelled to lay down a blood oath of silence regarding your summoning. Their memories will not be altered. The same goes for the instructors. Sooner or later, they will see you summon your other two mates." Now, he leaned forward more and patted my hand. "Besides, you will need someone you can confide in. It will not be easy for you to be what you are. You are to face challenges and obstacles I can't even begin to guess at. We will not have you face them alone. I hope you know that."
We sat in silence for a while longer. This explained why the girls in our dormitory had not mentioned my summoning, why theyhad been avoiding the subject. I thought of the healers attending to us those first few days. It was strange, but I could only recall one leaning over me and another one attending to Amber while we'd been in bed. Little had I known they'd actually been Mind Mages or that the other students all over the Academy had been visited by summoners with the same magical abilities.
I didn't know quite what to say to the Principal. He was right. Until now, I hadn't realized how serious this business of being the Trinity was.
Then I thought of the incident in the library, the fearful look people had given me. "The other students act funny around me already. If it's not because they know I'm the Trinity, then why do they seem frightened of me?"
The Principal shrugged, "Well, as far as they can recall, you still bonded with an Abyssal Dragon. That's reason enough for them to look at you with awe. I think only one other student can appreciate a little of what you are going through."
"Cleopatra Invicto," I answered, and the Principal nodded. The Princess had bonded with an Archangel. She was the only other student in our year who had bonded with a diamond-rank being.
"So, how am I supposed to spend time with my other two mates if I'm not supposed to summon them in front of the other students?"
I first thought the question would make me seem desperate, but I couldn't imagine not spending any time for months at a stretch with Caelan and Aldric. This past week, when I had only seen them in my dreams, had been difficult enough. Was it strange that I felt I needed them, even though we hardly knew each other? How could I already have these powerful,mind-consuming feelings for them when I had only spent a few minutes with them a week ago?
Principal Lucius nodded as if he understood, and thinking of the bond that was so obvious between him and his Ice Phoenix mate, I thought that perhaps he did. "There are places inside the Academy that you can retreat to that will offer a form of protection when you are inside its bounds. A magical barrier has been cast around them, and while you are inside, no student will be able to see you. There, and only there, you can summon your other mates and spend as much time with them as your own control would allow." He took a piece of parchment out of the drawer in his desk and handed it to me. I folded it open and saw a map of the school grounds. Certain places had been marked in red ink.
I nodded my thanks, folded the map, and tucked it away inside my pocket.
"I would urge you to take it easy and rest up for the next few days. When classes start, they will prove to be demanding."
I was excused. We walked to the door. I glanced at the perch in the corner and, for the first time, wondered where Crystalline was. Principal Lucius saw the question in my eyes and smiled as he walked with me to the door. "I'm afraid my mate hates being awake this early in the morning. The only time I can get her to set foot out of bed before midday is when we have new students to welcome to the Academy. For some reason, she really likes meeting all of the new Manaborn and being present at the Summoning Ceremony."
I nodded and was about to turn away when the Principal reached out to touch me on the arm. It had the effect of stopping me in my tracks.
"I don't know what you may or may not have heard of the conversation between me and one of your fellow students before you entered my office," Again, I cursed the fact that my face was an open book as I felt my cheeks immediately burn with guilt at having eavesdropped on all of that, "But I do hope you will have some compassion for Miss Ashworth and not tell others of her shame or her distress, as it is difficult for her to accept certain realities."
I nodded solemnly. I wouldn't have said anything even without the Principal appealing to my better nature. He didn't know me yet, so it was understandable that he felt it was necessary.
"I also hope that you will not take some of the things she said too much to heart. There is a reason why you were chosen as the Trinity. I don't pretend to understand it all, and I don't expect you to either. You have been called to greatness. Prepared for it or not, you have been called, Miss Wood. All you can do is rise now to meet the challenge."
Chapter 3: Classes Start
The next few days passed rather quickly, and before I had a chance to prepare for it mentally, the first day of lessons arrived.
Over breakfast, Amber and I pored over our schedules for the day and realized we had different classes in the morning. She was going to start the day with religious studies, and I was going to start with history. I had religious studies second period when she went off to social studies. Lucent Academy wasn't only a school for magic but an institute of higher learning, so we would be getting a well-rounded education for the next three years.
"Looks like the first class we'll be having together is magical training later this afternoon in the Great Colosseum," I said, feeling rather dejected. I had hoped Amber and I would stick together throughout the day, as she was my only real friend. Vivian, Natalie, and Kristin were nice, but I didn't have as close a relationship with any of them.
"We'll be in weapons training together the rest of the week, and there's always the horse riding classes on Saturday."
That was true, and it cheered me up a bit. Outside in the hallway, we waved goodbye as I set off for Lord Vechi's class.
A surprise awaited me when I arrived. Seraphina Ashworth, whom I hadn't really seen around since she had fled from the Principal's office, stood outside the class and was about to go in. She looked startled when I approached, as she realized we were sharing this class. She wasn't alone. Beside her stood a man with a mess of unruly black hair and eyes that sparkled amber. On his nose was a smattering of freckles. It took me a moment to realize who he was, and it only clicked when I looked more closely athis sharp features and pointed ears, and the mischief on his face. He wasn't the handsomest man I had ever seen, and something of the Imp's sharp features remained. He was quite dashing if one appreciated the bookish type. I knew that magically weaker mates could stick around for longer, depending on how powerful the summoner who had bonded with them was. Seraphina was a relatively powerful summoner who had bonded with a magically weak mate, an Imp. So she could have him with her for most of the day if she chose to.
I wanted to say something, perhaps along the lines of how I hoped she was doing okay or how I hadn't mentioned our brief encounter the other day to anyone, but it was obvious that she was feeling embarrassed about it. Her face turned an alarming shade of spruce, even more noticeable against her light complexion and platinum-blonde curls. She looked away from me and sighed as if she were picking up something heavy.
