((*quiet scream* So many pages! Backtrack in order! Dratted school. The teachers have decided double normal amoutn of homework is good training for next year. That or to make up for exams, so I'll rush this. Sorry. v_v))
.:Glass Miracle:. wrote:
Proffesor Gildom cleared his throat, and spoke in his usual commanding voice, shushing every single person in the crowd. [I hope that's not power hogging]
toiled [is there such a word?]
((It isn't PHing. And yes, toiled is a word. Discipline to whoever was asking.))
Just before Karmina thought she would scream from fear of potions, Iaran returned. "Oh thank - " she began, but with a jerk she was up on her feet and running.
My water! she thought in horror, watching her beloved bottle remain on the wooden table. "Iaran!" she cried out, but the girl didn't hear her. They were running faster than before - it was a good thing Karmina had light feet - and skidded to a halt. Attempting to make sense of what was happening, the Songstress trainee brushed down her dress as demurely as she could. "Ia-" she began, but she was hushed by a cry of "squad results!"
Oh, so that was what was happening, she realised. Her heart beat a little faster. She looked vaguely at her hands for the toast she had been using to take her mind away from the subject. Never mind, she concluded. It would be better to get this over with soon - but still, she could not help but be interested and hopeful.
Though she was perhaps the most self-disciplined and industrious girl in her class, her hope had never exceeded her expectations. Yes, Karmina did want some recognition for her abilities and achievements and this would be a way of being recognised. On the other hand, the actual aim of the testing had never appealed directly to her. To Karmina, it was what was most of her work - a job.
A job her parents wanted to do. It seemed she had never really asked herself what she wanted.
When her name was called, she was stunned as were most people and unconciously joined in the scattered applause that followed.
Me? she thought.
Wow. They'll be proud. "They" were her parents. She was barely aware of the name of anyone else who was chosen, her mind only on the letter she would write and maybe, just maybe, some praise from them...
Falling back to reality after the last name had been announced, a vague feeling of guilt entered her heart. What would she say to Iaran - Iaran who... had not been chosen, most likely. Iaran was so happy-go-lucky that Karmina began regretting to pick this day of all days to spend with her. Her fears were relieved when the said subject gave a whoop of joy and hugged everyone (presumably her friends), including Karmina, hard. Even Iaran had been picked - somehow.
"Oof!" The Songstress gasped for breath. No one ever hugged her - and if they did, not that hard!
Is it just me or am I caught up in a whirlwhind of motion when I'm next to Iaran? she wondered bemusedly. A pile of potions poured into her hands cut short her train of thought yet again. Not potions! But yes, they were potions.
"Iaran!" she cried out at last. "They're not mine! I don't have any! Oh Iaran!" Karmina was thoroughly exasparated as the girl went off yet
again. She looked miserably at the potions, unsure of what to do with them. What if she dropped them?
The Professor called for the chosen students to stay behind. As the others - many dejected, some not caring, some shouting good luck to their friends who were left behind - filtered from the hall, Karmina's gaze landed on the Alchemist of the team. Sliding up to him, she smiled briefly. "I think these are yours," she informed him, dumping them into his surprised arms. Then she ran away to as far as she possibly could.
[Apologies Swiss. I hope that's alright with you.]
***
[Now.]
New spheres? That was strange - very strange. It was something that Karmina had never thought of and never wanted - definitely never wanted. Dread filled her up slowly. She wasn't even nearly good at being a Songstress! How could she ever be something else as well? Her parents' words ran through her head. "Jack of all trades, master of none."
But I don't want one! she thought in a panic. Her parents had taught her to look down upon having another job - ever. What was happening? Her world was going topsy-turvy. This wasn't meant to happen!
She wished fervently she had never won. The reward was more like a punishment. Karmina was horrified as Iaran snatched the Songstress sphere.
Karmina's job. Never had she felt so threatened in her position as then. She clutched at her dress tightly and drew out a piece of cloth. Wrapping it swiftly round her hand, she made a frantic grab for a random sphere. As planned, she did not change costume. She wasn't sure how she would like being Karmina the - she looked at the sphere - White Mage instead of Karmina the Songstress. Songstress was her born and bred job, wasn't it?
Later upon reflecting on her choice of White Mage, she realised she had been quite lucky. Songstress and White Mage were most closely related in defending, aiding and helping companions. At least she would not need to attack anyone. But that was much later.