Crystals- Chapter Two: Inner Strength by Benjamin Hampton

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There were scouts scattered around the world who searched for abnormal amounts of Strength in any given area and then went there to recruit new pupils at the Academy. Most of those recruited were young, but all ages, sexes and races were accepted and they were not released until they had control of their Strength. Juiloq hadn't seen her family since she was three days over seven years old.

Master Dyob was still twiddling her fingers at the waist, and although it was an innocent enough gesture, the motions were irate and filled with force, so much of it that they were making enough noise for him to be able to hear his fingers smacking against the fabric.

"That...raises an interesting question," he said at last. Juiloq recognized that Master Dyob was toying with her, waiting for her to say something wrong when she placed the final piece into her improvised, yet still intricate, trap. She would have to wait and think very hard before answering any question asked. "Why would he send you with a message during class hours?"

That was it? That wasn't a tough question at all, and after a quick bit of thinking and wondering how that could be used against her, and could find no way. "Master Allenips sent me down to give this paper to Master Tnek."

Master Dyob gave a quick nod and talked so quickly that it was like he hadn't heard what Juiloq said. "That is all right." An unreadable face stared down at Juiloq, who shifted her feet but did not look away. "Why don't I just take it for you?"

Juiloq wasn't sure if she should, but decided that it was definitely best not to anger the Master, and held it up after running her fingers across the paper one last time. "Thank...you..." she said, and was quickly angry at herself for how much it sounded like a question rather than a statement. Master Dyob took the paper slowly, almost kindly, which was another shock in and of itself to Juiloq, and when it was out of her grasp she turned to walk away, not believing her own luck. The Master with Dyob was smiling at her, apparently as amused by Juiloq's luck as she was.

She turned and began walking back down the hall towards her classroom. She began to turn a corner when a deep, penetrating voice called out to her, booming through the halls and echoing against the walls. "Girl!" Juiloq turned slowly, dreading the oncoming seconds of her life. What did I do wrong? Up ahead, Master Dyob was waving her over quite vigorously. "Girl," he said in a lower voice when Juiloq returned after a walk that seemed to last an eternity, "what ever are you doing in the Hall during hours?"

Juiloq was dumbfounded. She stammered around for a few seconds, searching for words that had kept walking back to class when she turned around. "I gave you—" was all she was able to get out before being cut off by Master Dyob talking and his hand slicing through air.

"You don't have a pass, note; anything! You're just roaming around the Hall like a hooligan, no doubt causing trouble. This is—as my colleague would surely agree—completely an totally unacceptable in a school that has standards as high as they are here."

"But—"

"And you talk back? To detention.