Bells

As expected, each and every exam Mary took was visited by one or more council members. It didn’t take more than a day before the reason for this got out.

 Mary had known it was a big deal to be in control of all five elements. But it hadn’t sunk in how big of a deal it was until she saw people’s reaction to it. It wasn’t like when her friends had found out. They knew who she was and didn’t make that big of a deal.

But Mary noticed as other trainees and aari found out, they looked at her differently and they seemed to have more respect for her. Two other aari with control of the five elements introduced themselves to her. They had interesting conversations and talked about how it had been for them to manage the expectations of others.

Mary was relieved that the revelation had gone as smoothly as it had. She could focus on her exams, and as Tariana already had set up the lunch with the council, no one asked her for private meetings.

Her exams were going well. To Mary’s surprise, they weren’t as difficult as she had expected. Each evening, she and her friends would talk about how they thought they had done with the exams during the day. They all agreed that they didn’t have any issues with the exams.

They were all surprised to learn at lunch one day that the other trainees didn’t share their opinion.

“The exam in history was gruelling,” Krim groaned as he was picking at his food.

“I know,” Tarnini agreed, looking defeated.

Mary looked at Firlea and Hinat, but they looked just as surprised as she did.

“I mean, who knows what the third general in the sundering wars was called?” Alon said, upset.

“Krefinous,” Hinat mumbled. The other third years looked at her in surprise.

“What? Mary made us recite all the important names like five times a week for the last three months,” Hinat said.

“It’s the only way they would stick,” Mary objected.

“Great, we get to compete with not one, but three overachievers,” Alon sighed.

Mary and her friends smiled. They knew it wasn’t meant as criticism. Everyone was just counting down the days to when the regular exams would be over.

On the afternoon of their last exams, Furnlow had asked them all to join him in one of the classrooms.

“Good afternoon and congratulations on surviving three years as trainees,” he greeted them.

“Today, when you return to your rooms, your test results will be waiting for you. For those who passed their exams, there will also be a date given. This is the date of your final exam. Tomorrow, you will all pack your belongings. Those of you that will become an aari will get your own apartment in the sanctum,” he said.

That hit Mary like a ton of bricks. This would be the last night she lived with her friends. They had been living together for three years and she was used to always having them around.

“You will leave the sanctum tomorrow. If you have a final exam, you will return the evening before the date you are given. You will go to your room, and you will stay there until someone comes to collect you for your exam. Your meals will be brought to your room,” Furnlow continued.

“Once you are taken to the final exam, listen and follow the instructions. If you pass the exam, you will be presented with your badge and you will be taken into the fold of the aari and be given a department to report to. The bells of the sanctum will toll for you. You will spend the night at the sanctum and then go back home in the morning to celebrate your success,” he said, smiling.

“You will have two weeks leave before reporting to the department that you have been placed in. Questions?” he asked.

They all sat quietly, contemplating the possibility that they could receive the badge and become an aari in the near future.

The badge was a broach given to every new aari. In the centre of it was a gemstone that represented the main element of the aari and around it, smaller gemstones were placed that represented any additional elements.

Mary knew that her badge, if she received it, would be a diamond, surrounded by pearls to show that she controlled all five elements.

Some aari would wear a custom-made badge or be given it as a gift. Mary knew Tariana’s badge had been given to her by her husband, Tenac’s father, as a wedding gift. Tariana had shown Mary that on the backside, Tariana’s Che’hul mark had been etched into it.

As no one had questions, Furnlow dismissed them. They stood up and everyone paused. The knowledge that their test results were waiting for them made them hesitant to go.

“Go on, they won’t change because you linger around,” Furnlow told them with a smile.

The group walked together towards their rooms. They didn’t talk; they didn’t look at each other. At a steady pace, they just walked. When they arrived at their corridor, the group split up into smaller groups and headed for their rooms.

As Mary, Hinat and Firlea stepped inside, they saw three white letters. One on each of their desks with their names written in big letters on the outside. The three friends sat down and stared at their letters and then they looked at each other. They nodded and picked up their letters and opened them.

Mary read through her test results with relief. Top marks in all subjects and special commendations in botany and foreign studies. She felt like laughing out loud. She read the date at the bottom. Thursday the next week. Mary looked up at her friends and saw that both of them had big grins on their faces.

“You passed?” Mary asked. They both nodded enthusiastically.

“And you?” Hinat asked, and it was Mary’s turn to nod.

The three of them jumped up from their chairs and hugged each other as they jumped around. There was just one last hurdle left, and then Mary would have achieved the biggest goal of her life.

They started packing as they talked. Turned out that Mary had the last date for her final exam. Hinat was going first, she had hers the upcoming Friday. Firlea had her Monday next week.

It was hard work trying to pack three years into her chest and satchel, Mary discovered. She had to repack three times to make everything fit. Her father would be there to help her get home the next day.

Hinat’s and Firlea’s fathers would also come by. Firlea’s parents had arrived in the city a couple of days ago to her uncle’s house. They were ´planning her celebration party and would meet Jontak for the first time.

The next morning, there was a knock on the door, and Mary opened it. Outside, all three fathers stood. Mary smiled and stepped aside to let them in.

“Well?” Kopa asked.

“I’ll take my final exam next Thursday,” Mary smiled.

Her father laughed and scooped her into a tight hug. Mary saw that both Hinat and Firlea were hugging their fathers as well.

“I knew you could do it. May I see the results?” Kopa asked.

“I thought you already knew. Didn’t Tariana tell you?” Mary asked as she took out her letter and handed it to him.

“You should know by now, little one, that’s not how she works. That woman can keep a secret,” her father chuckled and read the letter.

When he was done, he gave her another tight hug.

“I’m so proud of you, Mary. I couldn’t have asked for a better daughter. Wait until your mother sees this,” he said.

“I couldn’t have done it without you, dad,” Mary said. She was feeling unusually emotional.

“No, my little one, this is all your achievement,” Kopa told her.

“Come on, let me get your things and let’s get back to your mother,” he then said.

Mary hugged her friends and promised she would be there for each of their celebration parties. Her father took her chest as Mary took her satchel and they headed home.

Bettina stood waiting for them on the river field. As they docked, she walked up to Mary and gave her a hug.

“Congratulations,” her mother told her.

“How did you know?” Mary asked.

“The smile on your face,” her mother laughed.

“Top of her class with two commendations,” Kopa bragged.

“My little girl really is a genius,” Bettina said, and pulled Mary into another hug.

“Our daughter,” Kopa laughed.

“Let’s not get technical,” Bettina said as she placed an arm around Mary as they walked home.

Mary didn’t know if she should unpack her belongings, or if she would let them stay as they were. She might move into her own apartment in the sanctum in a couple of weeks. On the other hand, if things didn’t go that way, would she be able to face unpacking?

She decided she could just as well unpack now. Maybe she wouldn’t want to bring the same things if she got the apartment, anyway. As she hung up her spare dresses, she realised she would only wear her black dresses for a little over a week. Regardless of the outcome of the final test, she wouldn’t be a trainee anymore. That felt unreal to her.

Friday came, and Mary was a nervous wreck for Hinat. Mary knew the exam wouldn’t be done until the evening. But she spent the entire day listening for the bells. As it was getting closer to the time the bells usually rang, Mary took her cloak.

“I’m heading out. I’ll be back soon,” she told her parents and walked to the river field where Firlea waited.

The two of them stood and looked at the sanctum. They had been standing there for almost half an hour when the bells sounded. The clear sound chimed over the water and bounced between the buildings of the city. Firlea and Mary hugged and laughed. Their friend had made it.

“How did it go with Jontak meeting your parents?” Mary asked Firlea as they calmed down.

“My mother adores him. She is baking a pie for him as we speak. I haven’t seen her spoil any of us children the way she does him. I think it’s because she knows he lost his mother as a child. She has adopted him and is making up for lost time,” Firlea laughed.

“My dad pretends not to like him, but he does. He invited Jontak to go hunting with him. My dad doesn’t take anyone that he doesn’t like hunting,” she then smiled.

“That’s nice,” Mary said.

“It is,” Firlea agreed.

They parted and said they would see each other the next day to celebrate Hinat.

Saturday afternoon, Mary met up with Firlea, Jontak, Tenac and Sinhera to go and celebrate their friend. They each had a small gift with them.

Hinat was standing and greeting the guests as they arrived. She looked stunning with her dark skin in contrast to the crisp white dress. On her chest there was a badge with a ruby in the centre, surrounded by citrine and amethyst.

“Congratulations,” both Hinat and Mary said and gave her a hug.

“Thank you. I’m so happy that is over with,” Hinat smiled.

“Where did you get placed?” Mary asked.

“In educational,” Hinat told them.

“Wow, that sounds right up your alley. What will you be teaching?” Firlea asked.

“Nothing yet. I’ll be an assistant to learn more about teaching before I get to torment trainees on my own,” Hinat said.

Mary and Firlea had to move on as other guest wanted to talk to Hinat. They spent the evening having fun, enjoying the luxurious party the ambassador had thrown for his daughter.

Mary had a chance to talk to Tenac. They hadn’t seen each other in a couple of weeks and spent some of the evening catching up. Tenac was getting ready to go on another mission in a couple of weeks. But he reassured Mary that he would have time to come to her celebration, if she had one.

“You better come by even if there are no bells for me. I might need to go a couple of sparring rounds with you,” Mary joked.

“I don’t think that will happen. But if it does, I promise I will come by,” he smiled.

“Thank you,” Mary said.