Cloud Shifters

Cadin skidded to a halt in front of Cloud-wheel 5.0.

“Oh, crap!” He turned to see Bart walking up behind him, gazing at the monstrosity. Bart peeled his eyes away to look at Cadin, worry shading his expression. “Instructor Russ wasn’t exaggerating about the additions.” Bart flexed his new wings, the white feathers glistening in the sun.

“Don’t worry, we got this.” Cadin wished he felt as confident as his mouth led others to believe. The cloud-wheel was no longer a simple ten foot wheel. It now towered twenty feet high, wrapped around in a vertical figure eight with obstacles packed along the interior.

Instructor Russ stepped forward and clapped his massive hands together. “Everyone who wants to attempt their Cloud-Shifting Level 2 badge today, gather around!” Several winged students that were not in their class flew over after the announcement. A few gave Cadin questioning glances. What’s their problem? Cadin wondered.

“Oh, finally got your Aura, did ya?” Instructor Russ’ announcement turned several more heads towards Cadin.

“Oh, ah, yeah—last weekend.” Cadin felt so dull that he had forgotten about his Aura.

Instructor Russ squinted his eyes, as if concentrating on a difficult math equation. “I guess it doesn’t really matter what color it is, just having it out should give your energy reserves a nice boost.”

“Really? Great. It looks like I’m gonna need it.” Cadin leaned over a bit to take another look at 5.0.

A booming laugh rolled out. “Like my little twist, do you?”

“I’ll let you know after I try it.”

Instructor Russ smiled and then looked out over the gathering crowd. He lifted his arms and gestured to the cloud-wheel. A smile split across his face the size of the Arimis Cloud Rift. “5.0 is one of three challenges that you must complete with a passing grade to earn yourself an advanced badge! We will split you up into three groups and allow you to rotate through obstacles. Instructor Russ waved over the smallest teacher in the school to stand next to him. The pair was quite comical. Cadin saw Bart turn to the side to hide a laugh. “Instructor Fallen here, will be judging your cloud-weaving, and Instructor Mia is in the back corralling more clouds for your elemental cloud-shifting challenge.”

Instructor Fallen gave a bow. “Happy to help, happy to help. I just received the word that Master Sanjen will be helping to judge the Wheel of Death.”

Instructor Russ’ face dropped. “Wheel of what? 5.0 is a beauty! You’ll see. Well, let’s get started.”

Cadin was sad but somewhat relieved when he and Bart were put in separate groups. He hoped it would help him concentrate as he was so nervous that his stomach felt like he devoured a tub of live cloud-worms. Gur head butted his chin.

“Don’t worry, buddy,” Cadin said as he pet his dragon while he followed Instructor Falen to what looked like a massive bubble with natural clouds visible within. It is just a moment in time...a challenge that could define the course of my life. Succeed or fail—Cadin knew that the rest of his years in Glade Commons would likely be shaped by whether or not he achieved this badge and established eligibility for the Calvarian Qualifiers for his second year.

“Here is your cloud,” Instructor Falen said as he brought Cadin a small portion of a cumulus cloud. There were ten others in his group, and Cadin watched as Instructor Falen pulled evenly measured clouds from the bubble and handed them around.

“You all have five minutes to weave, and then must stay afloat your nest while sitting with wings down,” he glanced at several of the older students “for ten minutes. Good luck, your time starts now!”

Cadin took a deep breath and connected to his cloud.

Fifteen minutes later Cadin ran over to the station where Bart was finishing up his first challenge.

A tall instructor that Cadin had only ever seen flying around the school before addressed Bart’s group. “Those of you who did not pass this time, keep practicing those fundamentals. Congratulations to everyone that successfully completed the elemental section of your Cloud-Shifting Level 2 badges. You may proceed to the Cloud-Wheel. Good luck.”

“Bart, over here!”

“Cadin, I crushed it! Did you pass weaving?” Bart bounced, his new wings opening as if ready to take off.

“Yeah, it went well. Troy and Wendy fell through, though.”

“Not too surprising as they only showed up to half the classes.” Bart lowered his voice. “Listen, make sure your water cube is pure. She is way pickier than Instructor Russ about that.” They both glanced at Instructor Mia, who shifted her gaze to them.

Bart ran off to catch up with his group.

“Good luck!” Cadin called after him.

“Group two, the time is now,” Instructor Mia said. Her voice was smooth and even. “To pass this challenge you must produce a high quality contained cloud-element for air, water and lightning. Please note that I will not pass mediocre work. This is for a level 2 badge, so you must earn it.”

Instructor Mia led them to some tables and chairs that were nearly swallowed by a cumulonimbus cloud.

“It should stay put,” Instructor Mia said casually as she approached the edge of the rolling storm cloud.

Cadin’s arm hair stood on end as he took his seat. Within arm’s reach, the edge of the cloud rolled and morphed. The dark grays were pummeled by purples, and blacks. This was the angriest cloud Cadin had ever been close to and he was nervous and surprisingly curious to connect to it.

He wondered how the cloud was staying in place as it looked like it wanted to dance, burst, rise and pour all at the same time.

“You have fifteen minutes. Your time starts now!”

Cadin took a deep breath and reached forward. He felt claws dig into his shoulder as Gur hissed in his ear.

“Gur, I have to do this. Why don’t you go hunt?” He gave the signal for his dragon to go eat. Gur gave Cadin a cautious glance before running down his back and through the field. A couple of girls screamed in the distance.

Cadin got a sharp glance from Instructor Mia and turned back to his task. Flecks of light illuminated the cloud from within. Flexing his fingers, he plunged his hands into the waiting darkness. Small bolts of lightning accosted his palms and he reflexively pulled back.

“Too much for you?” The second year next to him asked. Cadin ignored him as he had for most of the semester once he learned that the boy with gray eyes was never satisfied with his own work, let alone anyone else’s.

Cadin thought about what happened within the cloud. He had been shocked, but it hadn’t hurt. He reached forward again and the cloud groaned as if in anticipation. He closed his eyes and once again connected to the storm cloud. Lightning danced across his hands and sheets of water swirled past.

Contain the elements, Cadin reminded himself. He was a bit overwhelmed by the fantastic cloud but was able to concentrate enough to move the lightning aside long enough to isolate a section of water-cloud and pull it onto his desk. Once it was separated from the cumulonimbus, Cadin found the small cloud easy to work with. He took Bart’s advice and spent extra time shifting any impurities out of his water cube before he felt it suitable to harden. The elemental crackled and the remaining wisps of cloud floated away from the fist-sized water cube.

Cadin examined it and smiled.

“Only one so far?” Gray-Eyes asked from the next chair. “I guess they should expect that when they let a first year take an advanced course—even if he does have a mixed Aura.”

Cadin looked over to see that the boy was already working on his third elemental and shaping an unruly lightning rod. A small bolt escaped and shocked the boy’s face.

“Ouch!”

“Yeah, you might want to keep your focus on your own work,” Cadin said. The boy glared at him with a slightly singed eyebrow.

Cadin refocused. Air, Cadin thought as he reached back into the cloud. The cloud did not shock him this time and Cadin wondered if it was because he knew what he wanted before he connected. Air whipped around his hands and Cadin contained the wind in a sphere before pulling it out. It looked like a whirling bubble, and much to Cadin’s delight, a perfect air elemental. He placed it next to the water cube and focused on lightning before reaching for the cloud again.

A thunderous roar rattled the tables as the cloud lit up in front of him. Several of the students jumped back from their chairs, and Instructor Mia flew to the edge of the cloud, supporting a group of adults that appeared to be connecting and Cadin guessed containing the cloud. After the lightning storm abated, Instructor Mia flew back.

“Sorry about that. You will have one extra minute to finish up - which leaves you with...” she glanced at her timepiece, “four minutes left.”

Cadin panicked for a moment. He had left lightning for last because it was the most difficult to contain, but he didn’t have any time to worry about that now. Small lightning, he thought as he plunged his hands in again. Sparks illuminated his arms and Cadin felt his Aura surge as he manipulated the lightning at his fingertips. Most angels brought the elements out of the cloud before working with them, but Cadin was energized when connected to the cloud, and the electricity was illuminating his work.

He focused on containing the pulsing light into the typical cylinder, but the lightning resisted as he shaped it, bending to one side. Cadin had a flashback to an early demonstration by Instructor Russ and followed the path of the resisting lightning. His Aura flared in response to him reaching for extra energy to contain the lightning in a more difficult shape. He smiled at the result as the lightning circled into a torus and happily traveled the path repeatedly. Cadin hardened the shell and pulled it out from the cloud. He had tried to make a lightning torus after Instructor Russ’ instruction of advanced containment but had never had enough energy until before to pull it off.

“What the heck is that thing?” Gray Eyes asked, curiosity lacing his condescending tone.

“My lightning elemental of course.”

“Time!” Instructor Mia called.

“Pass with eighty percent,” Instructor Mia told Gray Eyes. Cadin thought he’d see relief from the boy, but instead his brows furrowed in question. “I took nine points off for impurities in your water elemental and eleven points for lack of complete lightning containment.”

Before Gray Eyes could question her further, she turned to Cadin’s table and her eyes flashed. “Interesting.”

She picked up his water and air elementals and placed a metallic probe within each. She took notes on her clipboard that Cadin had failed to notice before. Cadin wished that she would tell him what she wrote. He craned his neck to take a peak, but she set the clipboard face down on his table as she gently lifted his lightning elemental.

If she said anything while examining it, Cadin doubted he would be able to hear anything over the sound of his pulse pounding in his ears, but Instructor Mia kept silent and focused.

After what felt like a decade, she set down his lightning elemental and picked her clipboard up, scribbling madly.

Instructor Mia turned to Cadin and said, “Pass with ninety-eight percent. Two-point deduction for minor air leaks.”

Cadin exhaled in relief.

“Nice lightning torus, by the way,” Instructor Mia added as she walked past him to examine the last student’s elementals.

Grey-Eyes kicked the table as he picked up his own elementals and threw them back into the cloud. The storm cloud rumbled as if consuming a treat.

“Awesome,” Cadin said as he did the same. He whipped his lightning elemental in last and marveled at the sight of it expanding and releasing the bolts in a spinning circle.

“Whatever!” Gray-Eyes, spat as Instructor Mia released them to their final challenge.

Cadin helped Instructor Mia throw a few remaining elementals back into the dark cloud before he rushed off towards the Wheel of Death. Bart was nowhere in sight and Instructor Russ was mid-instruction.

“Three tries each! No belly aching if you don’t make it. Those are the rules. Any questions?”

Cadin was sure he missed something, but he didn’t know what and was at a loss as to what he might ask that would clarify it.

“I hope this is your last badge attempt for the day, cause she’ll suck your energy dry, especially if you have to take all three attempts.” Instructor Russ was obviously proud of his creation, but Cadin felt the blood drain from his face as he got a better look at all the obstacles. He hoped Bart had passed.

“Well, stop looking...” Instructor Russ waited for the students to finish, but only a few shifting wings could be heard. “Oh, you all will feel different once you’ve tried it.”

I can do this! Cadin thought as he shook his worries away. He didn’t feel drained of energy at all, which had not been the case when practicing any of the cloud-wheels at the end of classes.

Instructor Russ looked around. “So, who’ll go first? Remember, this is the last of the three challenges, so once you complete Wheel 5.0, you get your level two cloud-shifting badge!”

Cadin’s smiled at the prospect and stepped forward. “I’ll go!”

“Excellent!” Instructor Russ rubbed his plate-sized hands together and showed Cadin to the starting point. He saw Master Sanjen sitting off to the side where he would have a good view of Wheel 5.0.

“Go, Cadin!”

Cadin turned to see Sun and Lep waving from the sideline. Gur sat on Sun’s forearm and grappled with what Cadin hoped was a new badge.

“Remember, four minutes or less. And begin,” Instructor Russ boomed.

Cadin had missed the part about the time limit. He panicked as he quickly climbed to meet the first obstacle, a barrage of huge spikes. Before he reached the spikes, he slipped into an ice trap and fell to the bottom of the wheel.

“Oh!” Cadin heard from the crowd.

“One try down,” Instructor Russ said. “Your time resets now!”

Cadin took a deep breath, focused and willed his energy to his feet and hands. He touched the surface of the cloud-wheel and felt a deeper connection than ever before to a hardened cloud-object. The nearest obstacles resonated through his palms like a map. The more energy Cadin pumped into the wheel, the clearer the map became.

He climbed the first holds quickly, avoiding the slick water areas that had tripped him up the first time which now were as clear as day. He climbed over the spikes and then cloud-shifted some hand-holds and feet traps to maneuver past the first inverted section of the figure eight and dropped down to rest on several blocks.

He made the mistake of looking down at Sun and Lep and caught Master Sanjen and Master Emilio gazing up at him. He almost lost his footing as a blast of air shot out of one of the blocks. He quickly hardened some cloud around his hand and struggled to re-gain his footing. He took a deep breath and connected again to the cloud-wheel. He now felt a pulse of the air blasts and timed his descent to the center of the figure eight.

Cadin mapped out his course and poured his energy into his extremities, shooting up the second incline.

“Two minutes remaining!” Instructor Russ called.

Cadin hung upside-down and peered down the final curve. It looked clear, but he paused as he searched the pulse for the remaining obstacles. Cadin smiled as he felt electrical surges buzzing around a hidden lightning trap. He cloud-shifted a smooth buffering layer above the trap and safely slid to the finish.

“We did it!” Lep exclaimed as he pulled Cadin followed closely by Sun and Bart into the long line to officially register their team for the Warrior Path Qualifiers next year.

“Yes, we did.” Cadin smiled but was still conflicted about which Path to declare. Instructor Kade had confirmed that he was allowed to register for the Warrior Path games even if he declared the Academic Path, but he still couldn’t decide between the two. Sun and Lep had already declared Warrior Path. Xeno declared Academic Path but was still going to compete in the Warrior Path Qualifiers with Vincent, Treven and Jade because it didn’t interfere with the Academic Games.

“You rocked that crazy obstacle course! I can’t wait to try that next semester,” Lep said as they stopped at the back of the line. “Next year will be epic!” Lep continued. “We are going to crush the competition!”

A few people in line looked over their shoulders with dirty looks. “He’s just excited to have established eligibility,” Sun explained to the disgruntled students.

Cadin was a bit embarrassed and started to look around to avoid the death glares that Lep’s enthusiasm drew. “Oh look, Sun, there is Susan, the one who healed my face.”

“What happened to your fa…?” Bart began to ask before Cadin stepped out of line to say hi. He heard Sun explain Gregor’s trip as he left though she still called him Kegor.

“I see you are looking better,” Susan said with a friendly smile as Cadin approached.

“I feel much better thanks to you,” Cadin said, the warmth suddenly flushing his cheeks. “I was even able to established eligibility.”

“Oh, are you waiting with your team to sign up for the Warrior Game Qualifiers?” She glanced over Cadin’s shoulder. He turned to see Sun waving, and Lep drooling as he took in Susan.

“Well…oh…yeah. That is my team. Though I may still choose the Academic Path.”

“I am graduating from the Academic Path next year.” Susan smiled and Cadin felt slightly mesmerized. He took a deep breath.

“That’s great! Have you competed in the Games?”

“Actually, I just completed the Qualifiers to earn a spot in the Games this summer!” Her enthusiasm was nearly tangible.

“Congratulations!” Cadin smiled so big that his eye began to hurt. “Are you going to celebrate?” Perhaps she could join him and his friends in town.

“Well, I think that my boyfriend is planning on taking me out.” Cadin’s bubble popped.

“Boyfriend?” He didn’t mean to say it out loud.

“That’s right,” a deep voice rumbled from behind him. “Her boyfriend.” Cadin’s stomach clenched into a knot as he turned around.

“Oh, great,” Susan said happily, totally unaware of the animosity rolling off the new arrival. “Cadin, this is Gregor.”

An evil smile spread across Gregor’s reddening face. It looked as if he forgot to breathe.

“We were just talking about you,” she continued, now looking slightly concerned over his now purple complexion. “I…was about to tell him that you too are on the Warrior Path too and that your team just...”

Gregor’s eye’s popped. He let out his breath as he turned to Cadin. “Too?”

Cadin wasn’t sure whether to answer or run. Gregor was obviously not stable. He was still wrapping his mind around Susan being Gregor’s girlfriend.

“Uh, yes. I am entering with my team…”

“I see,” Gregor said sweetly as he put his arm around Susan’s shoulder. He kissed her neck, which seemed to take Susan by surprise. “And how is it that you two know each other?” He asked smoothly.

“We met at my Healing badge today.” She flashed a beautiful smile at Cadin. “He was my patient.”

“Oh, yes. You healers would have a boring time of it without such clumsy angels around.” He flashed an evil smile to Cadin.

Cadin felt his blood rise. “I ah, have to get going,” he said quickly and turned to walk away.

“Oh, yes. Back to your team.” Gregor said to his back.

Cadin stopped. “What do you mean by that?”

Gregor looked relaxed, and Susan appeared worried.

Susan stepped forward, out from under Gregor’s beefy arm. “He didn’t mean anything, Cadin.”

Gregor took a breath and looked at Susan with a forced smile. “You are right, babe.” He turned to Cadin. “My apologies. I’m so glad that my team will be competing against yours next year.” Even though sarcasm laced his tone, it appeared to be enough to appease Susan who took a deep breath and smiled back at Gregor.

What could she possibly see in this jerk?

As if reading Cadin’s mind, Gregor stepped forward embraced Susan, kissing her neck and whispering loud enough for Cadin to hear. “I left a present for you in your locker. Do you want to go get it while I save out spots?”

“You are so thoughtful.” Susan kissed Gregor on the cheek and waved at Cadin before hurrying off into the school.

It was like watching a horror scene play out right in front of him, and he couldn’t look away. His eye’s followed Susan before a quick shove nearly toppled him.

“Eye’s off my girlfriend, runt!” Gregor instantly snapped back to his aggressive form and Cadin felt his body respond to the threat. His heart raced and his pupils dilated. Gregor took a step forward and his voice trembled. “Susan would never be caught dead with you,” Gregor spat as his eyes grew wild. “And your underwhelming squad of random Aura first years should not be allowed to lick the dirt from the bottom of my shoe, let alone compete. It sickens me that they changed the rules. But I’m sure I will be placated with crushing you and your pathetic excuse for a team into dust next year. Hey, you will make it that much more enjoyable for my team of true Warrior Angels to qualify.” Gregor took a step closer, and Cadin’s muscles tensed in response. “I guess I should be thanking you for making it that much easier for us.”

A crowd gathered, but he was beyond seeing or caring what happened outside of his red-tinted vision of Gregor smirking at him. Someone from the crowd put his hand on Gregor’s shaking shoulder, but Gregor threw him off and took a step closer.

Cadin couldn’t contain himself any longer. He shook and felt the air around him cling to his arms and legs. Gregor’s smile faltered, as thunder rolled across the cloud beneath their feet. Ice crystals prickled Cadin’s fingertips, as he stepped forward.

Before he finished his first step, Master Sanjen stepped between Cadin and his target. “Enough!”

A small bolt of electricity jumped between Master Sanjen’s hand and Cadin’s chest, jolting him back to reality. Cadin realized what he was about to do—enough to get him kicked out of Glade Commons for good, and instantly his muscles relaxed, his vision cleared and his ragged breathing evened.

“I think it best that you both return to your separate proceedings.” Master Sanjen gave Cadin a hard, and slightly surprised look. Cadin nodded, feeling ashamed and walked back to his team.

“What happened that Gregor could be so mad at you?” Sun asked. Cadin was surprised that all his friends had completely missed the incident. At the time, it felt like the entire cloud was involved. Apparently, most of it had happened in his mind.

“Gregor and I got into an argument over whether second years should be allowed to compete next year.”

“That’s it?” Sun looked confused as she handed Gur over to Cadin.

“I think so. It all seems so stupid now, but he made me furious. Master Sanjen had to step between us.” Cadin shook his head at his own loss of temper. He was downplaying what happened to his friends, and it still sounded ridiculous. “And he was totally two-faced in front of his girlfriend.”

“Wait, is that girl who healed you Gregor’s girlfriend?” Sun asked.

“That hot girl?” Lep added. Sun punched him for his effort. “Ouch! I was just asking.”

Cadin nodded.

“Well, that might explain his overreaction to you. He probably felt threatened by you talking to her.”

“That’s stupid, I was just saying hi.”

“Guys can be stupid,” Sun said lightly. “Just don’t let that stuff get to you otherwise you may not be allowed to participate in the Qualifiers next year.”

“Yeah, that guy is not worth your time,” Bart added.

“Thanks, guys. Let’s forget about this and go register for the Calvarian Game Qualifiers!” Cadin smiled as he realized that no matter what Gregor thought, as a first-year student he was about to sign his name as having established eligibility for the Qualifiers. Now all he had to do was choose a Path.