CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

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"Fifty thousand years ago"—the chancellor's voice softens—"the Magick evolving on Earth began to resonate in perfect harmony with the magick of Atlantis, a planet from a parallel dimension. The resonance between the two worlds established an instant connection. Two worlds collided, twin planetary souls pulled across space and time to become one."

Vivian's moving her lips, reciting the story along with the chancellor, her eyes shining. The other kids around me are behaving in similar ways, like this is a beloved story they've heard many, many times before. Creepy.

"Magick flowed freely between the two worlds," the chancellor continues, "and the Atlanteans lived peacefully with humans for millennia. But as all things eventually must, those times came to an end. Magick is always evolving, and as the magick on Earth and Atlantis evolved, the two worlds began to sing dissonant songs. Though the earlier resonance had vanished, the planets remained connected. The dissonant frequencies began to trigger near-cataclysmic events. Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, fires, and great floods swept across both Earth and Atlantis. All life faced extinction."

Vivian's shaking her head sadly, and I try to pretend I'm sad too.

The chancellor's voice rises. "The Atlanteans were forced to invent a permanent solution that could save both planets: a magickal shield called the Aegis. The Atlanteans used the Elements of Earth, Air, Water, and Fire to create it. With the addition of Aether, the fifth and most sacred Element, they ensured that the Aegis would endure for millennia."

Aether. I dart a glance at the banners on stage trying to work out which banner corresponds to each Element. I know green is for Gaia, Earth Magick... I don't remember seeing Aether listed as one of the "Houses" on the invitation letter, and there's no purple banner hanging over the bleachers, soooo... I'm gonna guess that one must be for Aether.

"But sealing all the stargates between Atlantis and Earth came at great cost." The chancellor's voice softens. "The pure-blooded Atlanteans returned to their home. And all who carried both Atlantean and human blood remained on Earth in order to guard and maintain the Aegis for all eternity. Though Atlantis remains connected to Earth, even today, none of us will ever again see our ancestors' home world. We are here—you are all here today—to honor our ancestors and continue serving their cause so that we may protect the Earth, Atlantis, and all beings on both planets from future cataclysmic events."

I'm not exactly sure what she means by resonance and dissonance and twin planetary souls, but strip away the flowery language, and I think this is pretty much the same story Chloe told me.

Atlantis bumped into Earth, stargates-slash-portals-slash-magickal-doorways opened up, Atlanteans and Earthers enjoyed some sexy times, chaos ensued, and now there's a barrier we have to maintain so we don't have an apocalypse.

Bam. Got it.

I glance at Vivian, but she seems totally entranced by the chancellor, like she's some kind of celebrity.

The chancellor holds up a hand and closes her eyes. "Let us hold a moment of silence to remember our ancestors' sacrifice. Let us pray to the old Gods, thanking them for our chance to protect and maintain the Aegis."

Oooookay.

Everyone around me has their eyes closed now and is standing perfectly still, holding the moment of silence in earnest. So I take the opportunity to spy on them a bit and stare openly.

It's kinda dark in here, but I can still make out their faces.

I catch a little movement below me.

I'm not the only one with my eyes open.

Caelum's scanning the other students too.

Then he turns and looks up. His gaze lands on me.

A little shiver races up my spine as we make eye contact.

I avert my eyes quickly and shut them tight, my heart racing.

Well, I can't deny he's intriguing. What was Vivian about to tell me about him?

"You may be seated," the chancellor says.

We all sink down on our benches, and I sneak another peek in Caelum's direction, but he's looking at the stage.

The chancellor sweeps her gaze across the students on both sides of the gymnasium. "You are all here for the opportunity to be members of an elite group—The Atlantis Society. After four years of study, you will graduate as full members and will work with either our Guardian branch or our Cerberus branch. The very best and brightest of you, the top two percent, will have the opportunity to attend graduate-level classes and become Guardians. Becoming a Guardian is a lifelong commitment, and you will be responsible for personally maintaining and guarding the Aegis, among other things. After a number of years serving as a Guardian, you may even get the chance to become an ArchGuardian, the highest honor of all."

Low murmurs erupt around me, and Vivian squeezes her hands together and shoots me an excited smile. She's buzzing so hard with nervous energy that I try and scooch away slightly. I have enough nervous energy of my own, thank you very much.

The chancellor waits for the murmurs to die down. "But most of you will spend four years here and join Cerberus after graduation. You will use your magickal skills to serve the Guardians and aid them in any way asked of you. You may also work as an agent with Cerberus Supernatural Law Enforcement.

In recent decades, there has been a boom in the supernatural population. Agents are responsible for guiding them, protecting them, keeping the peace, and keeping the community hidden from Common humans. Each of our branches provides noble, honorable career paths that are worthy of your talent, skills, dedication, and lifelong service to the Atlantis Society."

All that talk about supernaturals, and I can't help but think of Amanda.

Focus.

My stomach is churning something terrible now, but I need to listen to what the chancellor is saying, because I gotta survive here. I have to succeed, or I'll end up in Cerberus jail being tried for a murder I didn't mean to commit.

I take a few deep breaths, and my heart rate slows. At least I'm getting a better handle on Atlantis Society politics. Guardians and ArchGuardians are figuratively, and maybe literally, the royalty here. The top two percent. They're the people who probably get all the perks, if that beach house and Vivian's words are anything to go by.

The other ninety-eight percent of Academy graduates work in the lower ranks as foot soldiers, pretty much. Or as maids. And who knows what else.

"...deans of the Four Houses." The chancellor is introducing the four people sitting in the chairs behind her, but I've missed their names.

My ADHD is making me zone out. I start moving my knee up and down, antsy, trying to force myself to listen.

"...the four ancient Elemental Houses of Atlantis are Gaia, the House of Earth Magick."

A cheer rises up all around me, making me even more jittery. Vivian's beaming beside me, but I can't get myself to mimic her right now. I'm too nauseous.

"Atlas, the House of Water Magick." Another cheer rises up to our left, where the turquoise banner is hanging.

"Zephyrus, the House of Air Magick."

Hoots and cheers erupt from across the gymnasium, from the kids sitting beneath the light blue banner.

"And last, but never least, Helios, the House of Fire Magick."

This House seems to be rowdiest of all, their cheers echoing through the room.

Chancellor Visconti raises a hand for silence, and the room goes so quiet you could hear a mouse burp.

The Chancellor didn't announce a House for the fifth Element, Aether, which lines up with what I vaguely recall from the invitation. But why not? I'll have to ask Chloe about that later.

"For the next four days, you will prepare for the Entrance Trials. On the fifth day, the Trials will begin. In order to prepare, you will be working in small groups with some of our brightest graduate students. You may already know a bit about the four Elements from your high school studies, and you may know a lot about the Element your family has the strongest affinity for. But you will learn quite a bit more in the next four days when you finally get the opportunity to work with magick for the first time."

I'm sweating again, and I glance at Vivian, but she doesn't look worried at all. Just happy.

Well, that's because she hasn't learned yet how crazy using magick can be. How unpredictable. How potentially life-ending!

"These Trials are the most important tests you will ever complete during your time here. The results will determine which Element you will major in and work with for the rest of your life. Of course, sometimes students do change Houses in the course of their studies. But it is very rare.

"Most of you will find you are strongest in the same Element your parents majored in... but we always have a few surprises every year."

Light, scattered laughter travels through the bleachers, and the chancellor breaks into another perfect smile. "And now, for the moment I know many of you have been waiting your whole lives for. It's time for your first tour of the Hall of Arrangement!"

A titter of anticipation races through the gymnasium. Vivian nudges me, and if she had wings, I think she'd float right away.

I have no idea what the Hall of Arrangement is, but it must be something real special.

"Good luck to all of you," the Chancellor says with a big smile. "And once again, welcome to Atlantis Academy."

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