It pressed in upon him.
Pain squeezed his chest, filling him.
Tolan collapsed.
When he dropped to his knees, his hold on the bondars faded and he dropped them. All he had was his furios—and the runes around the park. He reached for that power, feeling the faint stirring deep within him, and he tried to push outward.
For a moment, there was a reprieve. The power pressing in upon him waned, but briefly.
And then it pressed in upon him again.
He lost track of time. The pain was intense. And then it faded.
He crouched there for a moment, trying to gather himself, steadying his breathing.
The bondars that had slipped out of his hand lay useless on the ground.
Master Shorav was the first one there. He reached out, offering his hand, and Tolan took it, getting to his feet.
“The testing is complete.”
“That’s it?”
“You will learn of your results later today.”
Tolan looked at the others. Master Marcella had a streak of dried blood down her nose, and she watched him. He had expected there to be anger, but that didn’t seem the case. It was almost as if she had pride shining in her eyes.
He took a shaky breath and turned back toward the entrance to the park. Master Sartan waited, but Draln had already left.
Master Sartan escorted him through the archway, and once through, a powerful shaping burst from him, holding onto Tolan. He carried him to the Shapers Path, guiding him back along the Path and toward the Academy. Tolan was thankful for that. He wasn’t sure if he would have had the strength necessary to return on his own.
When they lowered once again to the courtyard outside the Academy, Master Sartan tipped his head.
“How did I do?” Tolan asked.
Master Sartan cocked his head, watching him for a moment. “I’m not at liberty to discuss until your results are known.”
With that, the master shaper took to the sky again, disappearing along the Shapers Path.
Tolan took a deep breath, which meant he hadn’t done well enough. He thought of some of the creative shapings he’d seen from Draln, and the way he had used various elements, twisting them together. He’d shaped all of them at one time, something Tolan hadn’t managed to do. He might have demonstrated each of the elements, but had it been enough?
He found his way through the Academy, trudged up the stairs, and paused in the main room. Draln sat in one corner, alone for the first time Tolan could remember.
Tolan took a deep breath before heading over to him.
The other man glanced up and nodded. “That wasn’t what I expected.”
“What did you expect?”
“I knew we had to shape each of the elements, but…” He looked back down at his hands.
“I don’t think they were trying to hurt us.”
“It felt that way.”
“You did well. I watched, and you were mixing each of the elements—”
“Do you think I need your approval, Ethar?”
Tolan took a deep breath before standing. “I just wanted you to know I thought you did well.”
Draln glanced up, glaring at him for a moment. He opened his mouth as if he was going to say something but bit it back.
Tolan turned away, heading back to his room. Once there, he found a folded slip of paper resting on his bed. The seal of the Academy held it closed.
He stared at it. The other beds in the room were empty, which meant Ferrah, Jonas and Wallace were off somewhere else—possibly even at their testing.
Grabbing the piece of paper, he held it.
What was he waiting for?
Tearing open the paper, he unfolded it. His gaze skimmed across, and five words were all that stood out:
Promotion to the second level.
Tolan looked up, holding the page in hand, and smiled to himself.
Click now for book 3 of Elemental Academy: The Water Ruptures
The Disciples of the Draasin Lord have again been defeated, yet a traitor remains within Terndahl. The Inquisitors have come, and their presence has everyone on edge.
With the help of the Keystone, Tolan has discovered the ability to shape each of the element bonds. Now that he’s passed testing to the second level at the Academy, he finally feels as if he belongs.
Still, he can’t shake the feeling that his shaping is different than others—and tied to the elementals. Discovering the reason why leads him to ask dangerous questions. Between that and knowing someone works against the Academy, Tolan finds himself in the middle of a dangerous plot on the Academy itself.
Only this time, with Inquisitors involved, he might not be able to escape.
Author’s Note
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for reading The Earth Awakens. I hope you enjoyed it. If you would be so kind as to take a moment to leave a review on Amazon or elsewhere, I would be very grateful.
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D.K. Holmberg
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Also by D.K. Holmberg
Elemental Academy
The Fire Within
The Earth Awakens
The Water Ruptures
The Cloud Warrior Saga
Chased by Fire
Bound by Fire
Changed by Fire
Fortress of Fire
Forged in Fire
Serpent of Fire
Servant of Fire
Born of Fire
Broken of Fire
Light of Fire
Cycle of Fire
Journey of Fire and Night
Darkness Rising
Endless Night
Summoner’s Bond
Seal of Light
The Elder Stones Saga
The Darkest Revenge
Shadows Within the Flame
Remnants of the Lost
The Coming Chaos
The Shadow Accords
Shadow Blessed
Shadow Cursed
Shadow Born
Shadow Lost
Shadow Cross
Shadow Found
The Collector Chronicles
Shadow Hunted
Shadow Games
Shadow Trapped
The Dark Ability
The Dark Ability
The Heartstone Blade
The Tower of Venass
Blood of the Watcher
The Shadowsteel Forge
The Guild Secret
Rise of the Elder
The Sighted Assassin
The Binders Game
The Forgotten
Assassin’s End
The Dragonwalker
Dragon Bones
Dragon Blessed
Dragon Rise
Dragon Bond
Dragon Storm
Dragon Rider
Dragon Sight
The Teralin Sword
Soldier Son
Soldier Sword
Soldier Sworn
Soldier Saved
Soldier Scarred
The Lost Prophecy
The Threat of Madness
The Warrior Mage
Tower of the Gods
Twist of the Fibers
The Lost City
The Last Conclave
The Gift of Madness
The Great Betrayal
The Book of Maladies
Wasting
Broken
Poisoned
Tormina
Comatose
Amnesia
Exsangui
nated