Sora Brontarion
Many eyes gazed upon me in the auditorium, their intentions clear as day.
Everyone wanted to know their future.
One after another, I denied the advances, and one after another, students left my side despite my attempts to connect and interact with them.
The idea of being used as a tool made my blood boil. I wanted to be seen as something more than that. A person who can gain the favor of people not because of the benefit I can provide, but because they saw the world the way I did.
It wasn't long before the only person who sat next to me was my sleeping brother.
Names were being called to the stage so the faculty could scan our astral reflections–some I recognized from events hosted by the Great Families.
I focused on gaining as much insight into each student as possible. I knew this academy was not a place where people could flourish by themselves, so I had to make allies.
The teachers were seasoned at hiding their expressions, giving only the slightest indication that they were pleased with what they saw. But they couldn't hide it from me. My body absorbed microscopic electric currents. They flowed into my psyche like a roaring river, transmitting the emotions of everyone in the room—an overwhelming trait of my constellation ability.
Just as I was gaining insight on the student from the Zmei clan, a gust of wind hit the back of my neck. Turing around, I saw two familiar faces—my cousins from the Kazehoshi clan, Bayu and Pavani.
Bayu, the older of the two, had a wide grin on his face, while Pavani looked down and away. Bayu had always been the mischievous grandchild who kept our grandpa on his toes. At least that's what he tells Jace and me.
"All alone? Seems no one likes you, do they, little cousins," he said, his arms crossed as he leaned back in his seat.
My chest tightened, and my stomach started to burn. But I knew these weren't the result of my feelings. They came from Bayu himself. I had hoped he would grow out of his toddler ways, but it appears not. He still held resentment in his heart.
I got up from my seat and walked toward my family. I wanted to put an end to this. I haven't had many chances since our mother's side of the family lives on the Antora continent.
"Bayu, can we please be cordial here. We are family. We need to stick together instead of doing this." I said, standing firm next to his seat, offering a hand.
"I'm gonna decline,"
"Why!"
"Why would I align myself with a dork?" he said, blowing me back with a gentle wave of his hand.
"Besides, who wants to be overshadowed by the precious Brontarion Twins?" I looked at Pavani for reinforcement, but she went along with what her older brother said.
The current of my cousin's emotions brushed against my mind. Bayu's bitterness crackled like static. Pavani's was quieter… but it was still there.
I took a deep breath, gave a short smile, and turned away from my cousins. As I headed back to my seat next to Jace, another name was called to the stage.
"Cyrus Bennu. Could you please come to the stage?" When I looked at the stage, a lean boy with a curly afro and brown skin stepped onto the stage.
The same boy I had visited three times this summer, since Jace and I traveled to Xhatal to stay with grandpa. Each time I visited his household, his eyes drifted past me, as if he were watching memories instead of people. All I could feel was pain echoing from his spirit.
Cyrus seemed to be a troubled kid, and when Jace randomly started questioning him about his family, I felt the pain from his soul once again.
I tried asking Grandpa about him, but Grandpa was very short about it and said,
"He's been through a lot. Give him some time. I'm sure he'll open up. He's gonna have to sooner or later. Xhatal is no place to survive alone."
My grandfather was correct about that. I'm sure he was trying to build rapport between us. He also knew I couldn't always depend on Jace—especially with his eccentric personality.
But the surname of Cyrus confused me. Bennu… It sounded familiar, but it wasn't a name of the Great Families.
When Cyrus stepped on the scanner, a few teachers frowned, while others rubbed their temples trying to understand what they were looking at.
Whatever Cyrus's astral reflection showed, it stumped them all except Head Master Naga. His expression was mute. But I felt sensations of delight coming from him, causing me to wonder what the Head Master knew about Cyrus.
After a while of waiting, it was Jace's turn to go up on the stage. In his normal Jace way, he floated on up with his cloud. I don't think he even opened his eyes as he went through his process. Several of the teachers scoffed at his attitude, which I know would come back to bite him. But that was my brother—he was going to do things his way.
"Sora Brontarion, please come up," the Headmaster called out. I stood without a second thought, striding toward the stage.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Brontarion," the Headmaster greeted as he gently shook my hand.
"Nice to meet you all," I said while giving a slight bow, hoping to redeem some of Jace's first impressions.
The scanner lit up beneath me, casting candescent light that shimmered with cosmic energy. The scan lasted only seconds. A projection shimmered on a mirror laid in front of the staff. I couldn't get the full view of it, but I was sure it was my Astral Reflection.
Ripples of electricity were silently absorbed from the academy staff. Every member of the staff seemed pleased and interested in the results of my Astral reflection.
"Students, now that we have recorded your Astral Reflections, it is time to test your cosmic energy output. Now, will everyone follow Professor Durn to the next testing area?" Headmaster Naga explained.
As we all entered the next testing area, another professor wheeled out a large machine.
"Students will strike this target with all the cosmic energy they can muster. You will each get a chance to achieve the highest possible score. The highest score you can get is one thousand. No one has ever reached that score as a first year, so don't worry about breaking it," the Headmaster continued.
"So, who wants to go first?"