ELEMENTS: Acquiesce by Kathryn Andrews (snow like ashes series .TXT) 📕

“Wait for me,” said Lana, still chewing a mouthful of food as she followed Cordelia out of the dining hall.

Lana’s quickening footsteps echoed in Cordelia’s ears as she navigated her way through the bustling tunnel to their morning lesson with Marilla.

“Cordelia, slow down,” said Lana. “Are you going to tell me what’s wrong? Was it something I said?”

Cordelia stopped in the tunnel and turned to face Lana. “It’s not you,” she said quietly.

“I’ve told you I’ll speak to…”

“It’s not the competition,” interrupted Cordelia.

“Come on girls,” called Marilla. She was standing in the doorway to her snow dome, the rest of the class already seated at their desks. “I’m sure whatever it is can wait.”

Lana eyeballed Cordelia as they walked into class.

“Meet me in the library at lunch,” whispered Cordelia.

The girls took their seats while Marilla wrote the title of the lesson on the board.

“Deposition,” said Marilla excitedly, underlining the word.

The screech of chalk on the board sent shivers through Cordelia’s body. She rubbed her arms gently until the goosebumps disappeared.

“Today we’ll be learning how to change water into frost, ice and snow,” continued Marilla.

Shrills of excitement rippled around the chamber and Cordelia was quietly pleased that she was finally taking part in a lesson that the rest of her class hadn’t already completed.

“First we need to understand why we might want to use this power,” explained Marilla. “We’re not about turning innocent creatures into ice statues or turning the sea into a skating rink in the height of summer just for the fun of it.”

Sniggers could be heard coming from Max’s direction.

“You need to take this seriously Mr Jordan,” said Marilla. “Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes Miss,” mumbled Max.

“Good, now make yourself useful by handing out these bowls of water. One bowl for every student.”

Max reluctantly followed orders.

“Now who can tell me why we might need to turn water into ice?”

Luna volunteered first.

“Yes?”

“For defense?”

“Very good Luna,” smiled Marilla. “You may wish to create a wall of ice as a form of defense. Anyone other ideas?”

The room was deathly quiet.

“Mr Hurley, what about you? Can you think of any uses for ice?”

He shrugged his shoulders, “Maybe a path to walk on?”

“Excellent! You may want to create a path or a bridge of ice to help others who may be in danger. Don’t forget, we are protectors of sailors, you could help a sailor escape along a path of ice while you ward off any danger.”

Lana put her hand up.

“Yes dear?”

“You said we couldn’t turn innocent creatures into statues but what about less innocent creatures? Could we freeze them as a form of defense?”

“Absolutely.”

Masika and Nerissa entered the room just in time to witness something spectacular. As Max approached Cordelia’s desk he thought it would be entertaining to spill an entire bowl of water in her lap but he was not expecting such quick reflexes. As Cordelia looked at the bowl of water in Max’s hands, the water seemed to fall in slow motion. She looked at the smug grin on his face as the water continued to fall and within a split second she had controlled the water with one swift swoop of her hand, sending the water straight up into Max’s face. Half the class gasped while the others laughed as Max scowled at Cordelia and wiped his face with his sleeve.

“Well deflected Cordelia,” smiled Marilla before Max had a chance to retaliate. “Maybe next time you could send the water back to the bowl.”

Marilla and Cordelia exchanged a look of understanding. Cordelia felt an enormous sense of relief to know that someone had her back while Mazu and Triton were away. Nerissa took the bowl from Max and summoned the puddle of water back into the bowl before making her way to her seat.

“Thank you,” said Cordelia.

“You’re welcome.”

“Now, before we continue,” said Marilla, “who can tell me the advantage of creating a blizzard?”

Lana’s hand shot up. “To create a screen, so they don’t see you!”

“So who don’t see you?”

“Sirens?”

“Very good. Make it difficult for them to see you. They won’t like flying in that either. Now, watch closely.”

Marilla closed her eyes and held her hands out in front of her, palms facing downwards. She gently wiggled the tips of her fingers and delicate spikes of frost raced across the floor and up the walls until the whole chamber was covered.

“Wow!” mouthed Masika.

The students were all stunned as they looked at the frost patterns glistening in the candle light.

“It’s beautiful,” whispered Nerissa.

Marilla smiled at the students’ delight. Then she raised her hands so they were in front of her face. Still wiggling the tips of her fingers she lowered her hands. Gentle snowflakes began to fall from the ceiling and floated all around the chamber. In this moment, Cordelia forgot about everything else that was on her mind. She’d never seen anything so beautiful in all her life.

“That’s insane!” cried Rafe.

“It’s just the moisture in the air. Let your mind control it,” said Marilla. “Try it with the water in front of you. All you have to do is think of snow.”

The students immediately started practising their own skills with some picking it up quicker than others. Gradually, snow started drifting out of water bowls on the students’ desks and perfect flakes of ice danced around the room. Masika was not finding it so easy.

“It’s not doing anything,” she moaned.

“Concentrate,” said Nerissa.

“I am.”

Suddenly a flurry of snow sped out of Masika’s bowl and hurtled around the chamber. The snowflakes became larger and began to fill the air.

“Make it stop!” said Lana.

“I can’t!” said Masika.

“It’s your injury,” said Marilla. “It’s affecting your powers.”

The students watched in amazement as snow began to settle on the ground and rapidly rose to their knees.

“Nerissa, you can make it stop!” cried Cordelia who could barely see her own hands in front of her face. “Control it for her!”

“Cordelia’s right,” said Marilla. “You can do this.”

Gradually, Nerissa calmed the blizzard until