Second Piece

Graduation is what everyone in the Academy waits for. Early on the day, the grad hopefuls must take a test. The test determines whether or not you graduate. In the afternoon, the Courtyard is turned into an obstacle course. The new Katalles, Air weavers, enter the course at random along the edges. In the course, the talles must fight each other to determine the rankings. The top twenty graduates get to go on the Kingdom Trip and the top five graduate with honors. When all but one are knocked out, the Masters announce its over. 

        The actual fighting only lasts an hour or two. Afterward is the Graduation Ceremony. The rankings, which are hidden from the grads and only the Masters know, are announced. Milis, Kie, and I sit at the edge of our seats,waiting. There are seventy-two grads and only twenty get to travel Mintalle. 

        “Milis Cebin, number twenty.” 

        “Oh, thank heavens!” Milis sighed and slumped in her seat. 

        “Kie Hyzer, number nine.” 

        “Yes, top ten, baby!” Kie punches the air. “Oh, yeah!” 

        “Rindael Katallelou, number one.” 

        A cheer filled the room. The Katallelou, the Air Weaver Royal, graduates top of her class. My face turns bright red and I sink low in my seat. Its easy for me to fade into the background, I'm so small. If I wasn't the only hire to the throne, no one would notice me. I'm the quite one. 

        Finally, the Ceremony is over. The top twenty stay to plan for the Kingdom Trip. All four Mintalle kingdoms send their top Academy graduates to study in each of the other kingdoms. The first stop on our Trip is Yamin, home of the Fire talles. Then we set off for Namin, Earth land. Water weavers live in Damin, our last stop before returning home. 

        “Attention, young talles, I have an announcement.” 

        We all turn to watch the richly clothed man and two of the Loudar. My father wants to make an announcement? Father hardly ever leaves his rooms or throne. He can't be here about me. In my whole eighteen years of life, he's never really paid attention to me. What is important enough to drag him so far from his entertainers? 

        “Congratulations,” he begins. My father is a plain man. Plain black hair, plain brown eyes, plain round face. He tries to cover up his blandness with fancy clothes. It isn't working. “You are the top of your class. The future leaders of Kamin. I am here to announce that the Kingdom Trip is canceled.”

Reviews

[Brie]

oh snap!!
CANCEL the trip???!!!
*hurries to press next chapter button*