21 Power (1/2)
Mother came to wake me up early. We ate breakfast as a family, got dressed, then made our way out of the house.
It was late summer, and the sun was already strong this early in the morning. We walked down the winding path to town, shielding the sun from our eyes.
Walking up to the towering double doors at the school entrance, I felt apprehensive. There was a queue lining up at a small booth in the middle of the entrance.
I couldn't see past the long line of parents and children, but I heard a constant stream of chattering. It sounded like a mass of people lay just past this booth.
We waited our turn, inching forward. Reaching the booth, a woman with a ponytail and thick rimmed glasses sat inside. She was looking down, scribbling notes.
She extended her free hand without looking up.
”ID and registration fee.”
Father took out a black card from his sleeve and placed it in her palm. He looked down at me,
”Oscar, your license.”
I reached into the storage ring and grabbed the license, handing it over to her. She took a look at the cards in her hand and did a double take.
”Oh, oh!” her head shot up and she pushed up her glasses, ”I'm so sorry, I've been so rude um… welcome to our humble…” her nervous chatter set me a little on edge.
”Don't worry,” father interrupted, ”we're not one of them,”
”Oh… um…” she looked confused, her eyes darting between the cards and father.
”We'll pay the registration fee,” father asserted.
”Yes um… thank you very much sir.”
Father sighed, and the lady placed the cards in two slotted blocks. Light ran in circuits down the blocks, then blinked. The light that came from father's card was close to a fluorescent yellow.
The woman bowed her head, ”thank you for your patronage.”
We walked past the booth, and father shook his head.
”That's exactly why I hate all this…” he said in a low growl.
Mother stroked his back and chimed in,
”It's okay honey. That's just how the system works.”
Father grumbled along until we reached the end of the entrance hall.
Before us lay a huge uneven square, encircled by many buildings of different shapes and sizes. The hefty flagstones underfoot were warped and incredibly smooth.
It was difficult to tell just how many people were in the square. It could have been anywhere from a few hundred to over a thousand.
We were standing in a throng of families wishing their children good luck. Out of interest, I channelled qi into my eyes, but I felt father pinch my cheek.
He kneeled down in front of me and stared at me solemnly.
”Oscar, you can't do that. If people know that you can cultivate already, you'll be treated… differently.”
He grabbed my face in his huge hands.
”Promise me. You won't let any of your classmates find out about this.”
”What about the teachers?” I asked.
Father nodded.
”Your teachers need to know. When they test you, give them the pardon and license. But don't let any of your classmates find out, alright?”
”Mm,” I nodded in agreement.
”Good.”
Father ruffled my hair and stood back up.
”Go on then. Do me proud.”
I smiled at him, then felt mother tackle me in a sweeping hug.
”Good luck baby. Promise me you won't push yourself too hard?”
”I promise.”
I broke away from her hug and looked around. Kids were filing towards the front of the crowd. I followed one of them, weaving my way through groups of parents.
Finally, I broke through the crowd. Soldiers enforced a line, keeping parents from crossing it.
”Eight plus entrants on this side!” a man in green robes called out. He was standing on a large stone to the left of a staircase.
”Thirteen plus entrants on this side!” a man on the opposite side of the staircase called out.
Two groups of kids were divided by a wide cobble path which led to the staircase.
At the top of the staircase was an arched entrance way, leading up to the left. A proud bust stood at the top, and I could see names scratched into the surrounding stones from here.
I took a good look at the group of kids my age. I was almost a head taller than them, so could see them quite clearly. I immediately spotted a familiar mop of shining blonde hair.
I ran up, pushing through the crowd.
”Davide!” I yelled.
The mop of hair spun around, flopping as it turned.
”Big bro!”