Read Soul Fire for Free Online

feeling. She had a mass of dark curls which she’d struggled
to tie back, and behind her glasses, her blue eyes shone
with concern.
“What do I do?” I heard her whisper.
“Which is your dominant hand?” Netalia asked.
The girl held out her right hand in response.
“Very good. Now, can you feel a tingling in the air?”
I could indeed, as though someone had turned on a
television that I couldn’t see, only sense. Apparently the
girl could feel it too, because she nodded.
“Ok, now just try and gather that feeling all together,
just over your palm here.”
The girl flexed her fingers, and we all craned our necks
to watch.
Suddenly, blue flames erupted from her palm in a neat
little fireball. The girl jumped back in surprise, dropping
the fire, which went out immediately.
“Very good,” Netalia said, with the first hint of
excitement I’d seen her show since meeting her. Iain was
nodding, though he wasn’t smiling - I don’t think he ever
did. “What’s your name?”
“Sa- Dena,” she stammered, and I realised that she’d
forgotten her mage name for a second. I couldn’t help
smiling; it was reassuring to know someone else was in the
same boat.
“Come over here, Dena. Let’s get your tunic sorted out.”
Dena was led to the leather case, from which Netalia
picked out a tunic in the exact shade of blue that she’d
conjured. Dena pulled it on over her head, and then
fastened a leather belt around her waist. She had a shy
little smile on her face, but I could tell she was proud of
herself. I didn’t blame her; she’d done well to perform
under pressure in my opinion.
Slowly, Netalia made her way through the group. As I
watched, I realised that no two mages had the same colour
magic as everyone else. The dark haired boy I’d noticed
from yesterday had magic the exact same colour as fire;
when he first created the fireball in his hand, I managed to
confuse it with real fire. When he came back to the group
after collecting his tunic, I saw that his eyes were the
exact same shade as his magic; they were on fire.
Finally, I was called forward. I was the last mage to
receive their tunic, and, truth be told, I was feeling a little
naked.
As I stepped up towards Netalia with the rest of my
classmates watching me, I noticed Iain taking interest.
This was surprising, as he had looked bored throughout
the process so far.
I held out my right hand before Netalia could ask.
“Collect the tingling, and act as a conductor for it,” she
instructed.
I closed my eyes, calling the feeling in the air towards
me. It prickled along my skin like pins and needles.
“Sometimes visualising a spark can help,” she told me,
and I did just that.
As the match in my mind struck the matchbox and
ignited, I heard gasps from my classmates. Worried, I
opened my eyes and looked around.
Rather than igniting over my outstretched palm, the
magic had decided to turn me into a human torch. Flames
curled up and around my body, but I just felt a tickling
sensation. I looked up at Netalia, expecting to be told off.
Sure enough, I wasn’t disappointed.
“Very impressive, Sky,” she said, her mouth twisting in
one corner. “Decide to make a spectacle of yourself, did
you?”
“Leave her alone,” Jett piped up from next to Iain.
“She’s inexperienced; you know that.”
I dared not look at Jett; instead, I locked eyes with
Netalia.
“Come and get your tunic then,” she muttered, already
stalking away from me.
I followed her reluctantly. She pulled out a tunic of the
exact shade of green as my magic and my eyes. I pulled it
on and accepted the belt she was offering me, fastening it
around my waist.
“Now then,” Iain said, stepping back up to the front and
clasping his hands together. “To classes.”
Classes at the Academy were nothing like my classes
back at Ar Cena High. My first class was Magical Theory,
taught by a tiny, frail old woman named:
“Watt,” she announced, standing in front of the