So far, the showcases of the Channelers have been exactly as expected. Out of all the semester-ending showcases you’d think that they would try to change it up. The guys and I have been attending Sabbath for about five semesters now and even picked up a name for ourselves. Yet we have still struggled to make a connection with a Channeler. None of these Channelers seem up to par with the level of power we have as a group. Even more, the Channelers here are not serious enough. We have goals as a group, and we need someone who is just as driven to reach ours as they want theirs. Watching the parade of Channelers proves what we all thought — that this is going to be nothing but a beauty pageant.
“If I see one more twirling of magic with a mix of leg and fabric. I think my head will explode.” Eirwen grumbles. The previous Channeler is making their way back to their seat. We are coming up to the end of the shows today which couldn’t come fast enough.
Ajal gives a noise in agreement. He does not try to hide his boredom or annoyance at the displays.
“At least this is the last day, and we get a break before the next semester starts.” Felix exhales.
“A break is much needed unless Naev is going to run us ragged with drills.” Eirwen chirps.
“If I let up then you’ll gain a good thirty pounds stuffing your faces with junk. We have battle classes to keep in mind.” I fire back with no real steam. None of them would be able to sit around the three-week break doing nothing.
“I could use a few pounds of good food after sitting hours watching these time-wasting shit shows.” Ajal chimes in.
We are interrupted by the Headmistress’ voice booming over the audience that is beginning to swarm with conversation.
“Izzalene Grimsbane!” The room grows quiet with the announcement.
“How the hell is there a Grimsbane at this school and we didn’t hear about it.” I hear Felix whisper.
“By making it a point to keep it a secret.” Ajal answers him.
I begin to look around like others for this Grimsbane-born Channeler. My eyes roam to the top of the bleachers when I see Trav basically pushing his troublemaker of a Channeler to stand, almost knocking her into the aisle. I clench my jaw to the point of pain. Not because he has kept the fact that his Channeler is a Grimsbane but the fact he tends to act in ways that are disrespectful towards her. I may not have hands-on experience with a Channeler, but I know I wouldn’t push her to encourage her to make her way to the floor. Nor would I let another Beast lay hands on her without my hands being the last thing on him. There are other reasons Trav irks me that go beyond his treatment of his Channeler. Those are just the ones coming to the forefront at the time my eyes follow her descent down. She is wearing her signature baggy hoodie with the hood up. Her black jeans with rips hug her legs tightly. She wears a pair of black high-top sneakers. Definitely did not dress to impress anyone today. Her hands are firmly in her hoodie pockets when she comes side to side with the Headmistress. They seem to share a small clash given the Headmistress’ facial expression.
“Well, that was a curveball.” Eirwen exclaims, obviously enjoying the turn of events. Ever since our meeting of the Channeler, he seems to have a tiny infatuation with her.
She makes her way to the center of the floor slowly which is a sign she is not looking forward to it. Not surprising since she does not come across as someone who would find enjoyment in entertaining a group of insects let alone hundreds of peers. She turns all the while her eyes are scanning her surroundings. Although her hood is up it doesn’t hide her face enough to not see her eyes moving about. She particularly seems to watch the panel that sits merely feet from her. Anyone who isn’t paying attention would think she is just lazily eyeing everyone. To me it seems like she is categorizing every detail of the room. It’s then that her eyes snap to the figure sitting center stage among the panelists. Madame Sade has somehow caught the attention of the curious Channeler. By the look of Izzalene’s hardened face it is not a good thing in the slightest. If I didn’t think she was curious before, what she is doing now would. She pulls out her hand and moves it to the front of her face. The whole gymnasium quiets down in anticipation. Yet all she does is snap her fingers, which I hear with no problem even with the distance. Her pointer finger holds a flame that flickers across her face. It highlights her features almost hauntingly. I can admit that she looks otherworldly beautiful. Everyone seems to hold their breath for what is to come next. It is. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. She stands there staring at the flame and nothing else.
“Is she broken?” Felix comments as she continues to stare at her flame.
“Possibly. Or this is the biggest fuck you to the faculty.” Eirwen adds with a chuckle.
“Shut it.” Ajal snaps sharply. I look at him and his face is deadly serious as he watches on. I look back to the Channeler who has caught Ajal’s attention more than anyone in the past few days.
Ajal
I had assumed this was going to be like all the rest. Uninteresting and a waste of my time. I usually get to talk my way out of skipping these stupid showcases. However, this time the guys insisted that we all be a part of it since some fancy seer would be in attendance. As if that would change the already existing pool of lacking Channelers. My brothers in arms, however, feel hopeful in this new method of matching. It isn’t like I don’t want to find our Channeler. We have just been at this hell hole for over a year and six months with no awe-inspiring candidates. This circus is proving my point minute by minute that our Channeler is not here. I had been tuning out most of it but couldn’t help noticing when the crowd got antsy. When I look, I notice everyone is in an uproar for Trav’s Channeler. She is apparently a Grimsbane which she has kept a secret very well. Though I have had a feeling since first meeting her that there is probably more she keeps hidden from everyone. It fits her well since she always seems to have a grim look and mood about her. She is making her way down the steps to the floor. She is a sight when you look past the too-big hoodies and the constant mean-mugging in everyone’s direction.
It is when she turns to the center floor to look around that I spot the light smoky black arrow coming from the seer lady. It is invisible to most eyes unless you are trained in that form of magic. No one at this school is skilled enough from what I can tell being here to notice it happening. Shadow magic is ancient; ancient means powerful, and powerful is fearful. The more societies fear a certain magic, the more they aim to destroy it. If they cannot destroy them, then they minimize the amount left in the world. Some forms of Shadow magic have been lost forever, and others are on their way to be too. Generation by generation. The seer has done this arrow trick with every single Channeler and Beast that has performed so far. Sending out a form of shadow magic to each one. I can’t put out my own feelers since that might send out alarm bells, which I do not want. If I had to guess, it is her own kind of feeler for potential pairings. I hadn’t seen or felt anything during our own showcase, but if she is any good, she covered her tracks. Looks like it is Little Grim’s turn to get probed.
Right before the arrow hits, however, her eyes snap to it and it freezes inches from her. It causes me to lean forward with great interest. She slowly moves her hand from her pocket to her face that now looks sinister. At the same time as her hand movement, the arrow flips to face back toward the now unlucky seer. Little Grim snaps her fingers together with a wicked smile on her face. The snap makes a booming sound that echoes throughout the room. No one reacts to the ear-splitting sound so it must be coming from another plane of existence and barely a sound in the outer plane. Or normal plane? I never really paid much attention in that class. A small flame sits on top of her finger as she watches the arrow hit the seer dead between the eyes if the angle says anything. The moment it hits the seer, swirls of the same light black smoke encircle both of them. The swirls mingle lazily about them as they are having some type of interaction. I am so tempted to peek in, but seeing how Little Grim countered a high-powered seer’s spell, it isn’t smart to do that. I watch in total fascination when I hear the guys speaking.
“Is she broken?” Felixon says. Ignorant to the power struggle happening right before us.
“Possibly. Or this is the biggest fuck you to the faculty.” Eirwen adds with a chuckle.
“Shut it.” It comes out a bit sharper than I intended. I don’t want to miss anything in case I can gain a clue on what Shadow magic is being used. I am versed in most Shadow magic, but this one is different. It isn’t similar in the slightest, which is irking me to no end.
The flame keeps flickering against her face as she stares on. It is then that her eyes flick into an inky black. It is quick but enough to warrant as a clue. Unfortunately, I have never seen any Channeler, Beast, or any other magic user with that dark of eyes when using. It is like looking into the void where there is nothing but darkness. I definitely will need to look into this later. After a couple more minutes of flame and staring, Little Grim puckers her lips and blows it out. She then proceeds to make the most ridiculous show of a bow anyone has made since the showcases started. I watch as she makes her way back to the bleachers. Everyone around us is making comments about her display.
“What the hell was even that?” A weak Beast says to the rest of his weak-ass pack.
“She is no Grimsbane.” A skanky-dressed Channeler smugly states.
“Maybe she was disowned by them.” Another snickers.
It continues on as she passes our seats and works her way further up. My eyes never leave her.
“Want to share with the group why you shushed us. Or why you can’t take your eyes off of Izz?” Felixon questions me.
“Because that Little Grim is far from what she portrays herself to be. And I want to know why.”
“What exactly is she?” Naev joins in. Now all four pairs of eyes are on her.
“A drop-dead bombshell.” Eirwen is basically drooling.
“I don’t know. Yet. Keep your wits about her though.” I warn.
I see that my warning is taken seriously since the other three faces change from relaxed to serious. My eyes leave my clutch members and go back to the bombshell of a Channeler. It isn’t like Eirwen was wrong. She just made it to the top to a very upset Trav. Which is not uncommon for him. There have been plenty of times that we’ve seen Trav and Little Grim arguing in the distance or him bitching about their arguments in our shared Beast courses. It wasn’t like that when they first got to Sabbath, but it’s becoming more apparent. Or she is more and more on our radar. He is obviously saying something to her about her showcase. It is not surprising that he knows everything about her powers. What is surprising to me is how he does not boast about her power. From the very first time I encountered Trav he has been an arrogant male who gets off on showing off his own power. Don’t get me wrong, he is very powerful on the same caliber as us. It is just annoying listening to his ego all the time. Little Grim has taken her seat and is saying something to her Beast. I’m watching her when her gaze hits me. She looks and watches me, and I see the moment she decides something. Now I am curious about what it is.
“If any Beast didn’t deserve a Channeler, it’d be him.” Naev grumbles probably more to himself than to us. He is a noble guy who thinks very highly of the idea of a Channeler. Whoever becomes ours will be treated like a fucking Queen.
“Seems like Izzy is handling him just fine. To his disliking.” Eirwen laughs.
“What is it you noticed, Ajal?” Felixon asks.
“Not here.” I answer as I look away from Little Grim. She had looked away a bit ago. Not in a surrendering way, rather a dismissal. That didn’t hit a nerve. Not. At. All. What I do notice is the change in her expression when she looks out at nothing. She seems tired. That also does not bug me in the slightest. The rest of the showcases come and go without my notice. All that comes to mind is how it is a shame that we have already ruled Little Grim out as a potential Channeler. There is no world that we would ever connect with her and more importantly her existing Beast.