Read Online Powerless Revision 1 by Jason Letts - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jason Letts
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over the blackboard. The weight of the map caused one of the wallboards to crack. It dangled at a slight angle.
“Ok, would the pearl of wisdom in the back of the room please tell me where Martyr’s Fjord is on this map?”
Mira leaned forward, struggling to see. “I don’t know,” she said.
“Perhaps that was too difficult,” Fortst smirked. “Where is the border that our warriors are defending from the heathen, bloodthirsty, marauding Sunfighters at this very moment?”
“I don’t know,” she answered, feeling defeated. Some of the students had turned around to look at her, and Fortst cast a quizzical glance.
“Just one more question: where are we?”
Mira looked one more time at the map, made up of landmasses she had never seen, and then lowered her head. No one in the classroom made a peep.
“That’s why you need to know your surroundings,” Fortst trumpeted to the class. “You never know when that information could be used against you or save your life.”
***
The morning slowly passed. Fortst was obviously grasping at straws, making up his lesson as he went along and taking plenty of generous breaks. This may not have been such a bad plan though, considering the distractions his students faced with the upcoming contest. When the time finally came for them to begin their test, they leapt out of their chairs, almost ready to do battle on the spot.
Fortst lead his troop along another path deeper into the forest. They came to a clearing that had a very distinctly and suspiciously perfect rectangular shape. Waiting along the edge in a line, the students watched the instructor stride out to the center of the short grass.
“Let’s begin the Tournament Trial to decide the class leader and all their rights and privileges. As you know, your rank is the proof of your accomplishments in this academy, and people everywhere are gonna judge you accordingly. You’d better use all means available to you, but remember that you’ll have me to deal with if you get too rough and rowdy.”
He strode around the field, inspecting the various parts of the setup while he spoke.
“These two metal posts on opposite sides of the field are goals. This ball will start exactly half the distance between them. Contestants start in their goal and try to return the ball to that goal to win. Simple enough?”
Fortst took a moment to wistfully admire the students who stood before him and mumbled something about the importance of this occasion in their lives. How precious is youth, he said, and he inquired about what the day’s results would set in motion.
“Ok, last year’s rank will work as a seeding system. That means the good students will go against the bad students. Vern, you’re up first and your opponent is Mira, since she doesn’t have a rank. Take your places and let’s get started!”
The students scattered, taking up spots in the nooks and branches of the trees. Fortst found a good vantage point along the sideline. As they walked to their starting points, Vern and Mira glanced at each other.
“No place to hide now. I hope you’ve got something good to show us,” Vern said.
Mira’s heart raced in her chest. She couldn’t have said anything if she wanted to. Placing her front foot just behind the line, she looked up to see the gangly boy across the field and the white ball sitting on the grass between them. She focused on her game plan and looked over for the signal to start. Vern too adopted a ready position.
All of the students looked on as Fortst raised one arm high into the air. Letting it fall while whistling, the match began. Both competitors immediately sprinted toward the center. A few steps in, Mira let out a shrill and harrowing scream, causing Vern to look about in a frantic and confused manner. After a moment when nothing happened, he raised his hand and a strange sensation came over Mira.
Pushing her legs as hard as she could, Mira suddenly felt like the Earth no longer pulled her
“Ok, would the pearl of wisdom in the back of the room please tell me where Martyr’s Fjord is on this map?”
Mira leaned forward, struggling to see. “I don’t know,” she said.
“Perhaps that was too difficult,” Fortst smirked. “Where is the border that our warriors are defending from the heathen, bloodthirsty, marauding Sunfighters at this very moment?”
“I don’t know,” she answered, feeling defeated. Some of the students had turned around to look at her, and Fortst cast a quizzical glance.
“Just one more question: where are we?”
Mira looked one more time at the map, made up of landmasses she had never seen, and then lowered her head. No one in the classroom made a peep.
“That’s why you need to know your surroundings,” Fortst trumpeted to the class. “You never know when that information could be used against you or save your life.”
***
The morning slowly passed. Fortst was obviously grasping at straws, making up his lesson as he went along and taking plenty of generous breaks. This may not have been such a bad plan though, considering the distractions his students faced with the upcoming contest. When the time finally came for them to begin their test, they leapt out of their chairs, almost ready to do battle on the spot.
Fortst lead his troop along another path deeper into the forest. They came to a clearing that had a very distinctly and suspiciously perfect rectangular shape. Waiting along the edge in a line, the students watched the instructor stride out to the center of the short grass.
“Let’s begin the Tournament Trial to decide the class leader and all their rights and privileges. As you know, your rank is the proof of your accomplishments in this academy, and people everywhere are gonna judge you accordingly. You’d better use all means available to you, but remember that you’ll have me to deal with if you get too rough and rowdy.”
He strode around the field, inspecting the various parts of the setup while he spoke.
“These two metal posts on opposite sides of the field are goals. This ball will start exactly half the distance between them. Contestants start in their goal and try to return the ball to that goal to win. Simple enough?”
Fortst took a moment to wistfully admire the students who stood before him and mumbled something about the importance of this occasion in their lives. How precious is youth, he said, and he inquired about what the day’s results would set in motion.
“Ok, last year’s rank will work as a seeding system. That means the good students will go against the bad students. Vern, you’re up first and your opponent is Mira, since she doesn’t have a rank. Take your places and let’s get started!”
The students scattered, taking up spots in the nooks and branches of the trees. Fortst found a good vantage point along the sideline. As they walked to their starting points, Vern and Mira glanced at each other.
“No place to hide now. I hope you’ve got something good to show us,” Vern said.
Mira’s heart raced in her chest. She couldn’t have said anything if she wanted to. Placing her front foot just behind the line, she looked up to see the gangly boy across the field and the white ball sitting on the grass between them. She focused on her game plan and looked over for the signal to start. Vern too adopted a ready position.
All of the students looked on as Fortst raised one arm high into the air. Letting it fall while whistling, the match began. Both competitors immediately sprinted toward the center. A few steps in, Mira let out a shrill and harrowing scream, causing Vern to look about in a frantic and confused manner. After a moment when nothing happened, he raised his hand and a strange sensation came over Mira.
Pushing her legs as hard as she could, Mira suddenly felt like the Earth no longer pulled her
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