WebNovels

Chapter 29 - Chapter 29

Aren

After another night's sleep with everyone in the living area, we all return to classes. The campus is bustling as usual and it almost feels like things have gone back to normal. Just as I'm thinking this, I step into my level 4 shifting class to see that every level of shifter has joined us in the large open air athletic field usually reserved to test and train high level shifters. I walk over to join Ryland and our Professor. Professor Steele is a no nonsense woman with a mean grizzly bear shift. Out of all of the professors at the school, she is one of the strongest shifters, which is why she teaches the highest level of shifting class. 

I look around the field and see that each of the shifting classes are huddled together with their professor looking just as confused as I am. Before I can ask Professor Steele any questions, she steps forwards and raises her voice so everyone can hear her across the field.

"Today, and for now on, all shifter classes will practice together. We feel the lower leveled students could benefit from observing and learning from students of higher levels as well as learning from all four of the shifter professors. Even though we usually wait until after winter break to re-level students, one student needs to be retested early." Professor Steele looks directly at Ora. "Eudora Manon, please make your way over to the level 4 class so you can be tested."

Ora looks panicked being called out in front of everyone, so I give her a reassuring smile as she walks towards me. I want to hold her hand to give her support, but I know that would be inappropriate for class. Unfortunately, Ryland doesn't understand like I do, because he throws his arm around Ora as soon as she arrives, and pulls her close to his side.

I glare at him and he smirks back at me. "We are engaged after all."

"Silence!" Professor Steele calls out, quieting the conversations that had popped up with the announcement of Ora's level being adjusted. "Eudora is a special case because up until last weekend she hadn't had her first shift. Now that she has shifted we need to determine where she belongs. Now, I am going to sort everyone into groups for the day, and I expect you all to practice diligently while myself and Professor Clark retest Eudora. Professor Adams and Professor Johnson will be circulating to help as needed." Professor Steele reads off a list of names and pretty soon every student has been sorted into a group except for Ora, Ryland and Me. 

While Professor Clark walks across the field to join us, I look at all of the group and notice that Koda has been placed with the redhead with a large scar and a blue haired boy I often see Max talking to, along with a few other shifters I haven't paid much attention to. Before I can locate the rest of my friends, Professor Clark arrives and claps his hands together.

"Let's get started! We've been informed about the special… circumstances of Eudora." Professor Clark says carefully. "We want to help you develop your powers as much as possible. To start we need to understand your shifting abilities. Would you mind shifting for us?"

"I don't mind at all, although it might distract the other students."

"That's fine. Go ahead." Professor Steele says sweetly.

Ora takes a deep breath and then steps away from Ryland's arm and into the center of where we all stand. She carefully removes and folders her uniform. Seeing her shapely body bare to us makes me glad that she is finally more comfortable in her skin like most shifters are. In a flash of light and a burst of flame, suddenly where Ora was standing, is a phoenix. I hear a gasp go around the large field, and I know without looking that everyone is staring at the magnificent firebird before us. Ora flies into their air, does a few corkscrew maneuvers before landing and shifting back into her human form. 

"Magnificent." I hear Professor Steele whisper under her breath. The next thing she says louder for just our group to hear. "Is the phoenix your only shift or can you shift into other animals?"

Ora looks puzzled. "I've never thought about that. Is that a possibility?"

"As the Moon Goddess, anything is possible. Biologically the rest of our shifts are decided at birth by our genetics, but your shift isn't guided by DNA, it's guided by your own power, so theoretically you could shift into anything you wanted."

"Your power could also strengthen other shifters. I've been watching you work with Leon and after 2 years he's finally showing progress. I think that's all thanks to you. Now that you've come into full power, I'm sure you could strengthen a whole army of shifters dramatically." Professor Clark seems really excited by this idea.

"I'm not going to give power boots to an army. We aren't preparing for war."

"Are we not?" Professor Clark raises an eyebrow. "The way I see it, is it's better to have the strongest line you can."

"That's enough Clark." Professor Steele cuts in angrily.

"I'm just telling it like it is." 

Professor Steele huffs. "It's not our job to make decisions. It is our job to help Eudora figure out her abilities so she can decide." 

"Yes, I know. The ability to give powerboots seems handy."

Ora speaks up before they can continue arguing. "It is something I would like to know how to do. I've done it by accident before, when I kissed Leon he seemed to have more control for a little bit, but it wore off quickly." I blush at the intimate confession.

"Interesting! It probably wore off quickly because you hadn't come into your full power yet. I'm curious to know if it works better now." Professor Steele looks contemplative as she speaks.

"All of her potential mates probably already got a power boost from her just from their connection to her through their strings. Ryland and Aren are already so strong it's hard to tell how much stronger they got, but I'm really looking forward to working with the other three to see how they have progressed." Professor Clark pauses to think. "I think you should practice different ways to give someone a power boost and we can analyze them in class every few days."

Ora looks nervous but determined. "Yeah I can do that. Do you have any suggestions?"

"You should try kissing first since that worked before, but also try just touching."

"Yeah I can do that." Ora responds.

Just before the end of class Professor Steele finds Ora.

"Dean Charles wanted to set up some extra lessons with you after class later this week. Would you be interested?"

"Yes of course!"

"Good. He'll send you a note with the details later."

"Thank you."

Once Professor Steele and Professor Clark have left I notice a few students have stayed behind and are now approaching us. Max walks over with his blue haired friend who I saw working with Koda earlier, and his other DnD shifter friend who is slim with brown hair. Surprisingly, Bennett is also walking with Max.

"We know something is going on and we want to know what." Bennett demands of me.

I try to play dumb. "What do you mean?"

"You're whole friend group missed a few days of class and when you get back none of the professors say anything about it. Gia cried herself to sleep the other night and refused to talk about it, which is weird because Gia loves to talk. You all finally break out of your collective mental breakdown and now Ora is a phoenix. Oh, and Jay is gone but no one will say where he is."

"Okay I will admit that something went down, and is still going down, but we cannot talk about it."

"And why not. We Finn and Miles" Bennett waves to Max's friends, "care about Max and have been worried about him and I care… care a tiny bit about Gia. We want to help, but we can't if we have no fucking clue what is going on." Bennett steps closer to me and whispers. "Does this have to do with the prophecy we found in the lost library?"

Ora steps in and puts a reassuring hand on Bennett's shoulder. "We can't share what happened in the past week or what is going on now, but I can tell you that training is extremely important. As soon as it's safe for us to open up our circle of trust a little more, you three will be the first to know. I promise."

"Fine, but if you make Gia cry again, you'll be sorry."

"Upsetting Gia is the last thing I ever plan on doing."

Later that night, the dining hall is buzzing with the news that Ora is officially betrothed to the crown prince and that she is a powerful phoenix shifter. No one knows that Ryland is the crown prince, and we plan to keep that information undisclosed to the masses. Now that it has been officially announced, the date will soon be set and we can finalize our plans to expose and overthrow the corrupt Emperor as well as save my best friend.

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