Editing Eldramin (section)

== Chapter 18 ==
''Fannara''

''I stare at the letter in disbelief.'' 

''“Why me?”'' 

''The Headmaster glares at me across the table. “We don’t know. You are certainly not who we would choose to send, but we would rather not risk this opportunity.” I look back down at the table, scanning over the document again.'' 

''The Eldran diplomats had dropped it off earlier that day. The letter inviting me to study on Lathra IV.''

''“What if I decline?” I ask, shifting in the uncomfortable chair.'' 

''The Headmaster stares me down, seriousness in his eyes. “You don’t have a choice. As soon as the portal is established, you will go.”'' 

''I frown and look down at my hands. I’m squeezing my wrist so hard I can barely feel my right hand. But it’s the only thing keeping me from saying something impulsive. “Yes sir.”''

''“Good girl. Now, go back to class.” I glare at my shoes and leave the office.'' 

''At least I know one thing for sure, anything will be better than this.'' 

“You’re ''what?''” Ari yelled as I started grabbing my things off the shelf. 

I turned around to look at her and sighed. “I’m not happy about it either, but I don’t have a choice.” It had been reported that the portal station would be reopened the next day. I had to go home. 

There had been a ridiculous amount of meetings I had to go to that morning, some with the heads of school, one with Ana Keleth, and then another visit to a doctor. Something had gotten messed up with my blood work and they had to redo the tests. Not what I would call a relaxing Sunday. 

Nor was the week before that relaxing at all. After a day of being stuck in the cave, Moren and I were finally able to return to campus. Anything that hadn’t been covered in three feet of snow had been damaged by the attack. More cleaning crews were brought in and sentries were posted to constantly keep watch on campus. Reportedly, some of the attackers the week before were students. 

The majority of the fight had been in Elquar itself. Government buildings had been nearly destroyed and the streets had been damaged. Hysteria after the attack led to another mass draft. Most of the Trainers were being shipped off. Only five remained, Valraea wasn’t one of them. 

“Do you have tickets yet?” 

“Nope, but it won’t take long for me to get them. Ana said I’ll probably be gone in two days.” Ari groaned and plopped down on her bed. 

She grabbed one of her pillows and started picking lint off of it. “This is so annoying.” 

“It’s literally inner-planetary law.” 

Ari huffed. “They aren’t making me leave.”

“You’re legally Eldran, Ari.” I picked up the books I’d borrowed from the campus library and started a pile on the floor. “Also, they aren’t sending any Getterians back anyway.” The other international students were being allowed to stay at the university too. If they were from the planet, they didn’t have to leave.

“Well I think that’s stupid and you shouldn’t have to go.”

I chuckled. “Thanks, I guess.”  

I went to grab my carpet bag from under my bed when Ari suddenly freaked out. “Fannara, what the ''crap'' is on your back?” I froze. 

“Is there something on my back?” Unsure of what it could be I slowly moved my hand to touch my back. “I don’t feel anything.” 

“Pull your shirt up a little.”

“''Excuse me?''” 

Ari walked over to where I was crouched. “I’m serious.” Confused, I complied and lifted the back of my shirt a little bit more. “Oh, good Source.” 

“Is there something alive?” I turned my head to try and look at Ari. She slowly shook her head. From what I could see of her face, she looked horrified. “Well then ''what is it?''” 

She tilted her head as if trying to assess what she was looking at. “It looks like scars.” 

“What in the- what would I have scars on my back from?”

“I don’t know. It’s ''your'' back.” I stood up and walked to the bathroom. I turned on the light and looked at my back in the mirror. 

What I saw was far worse than what I’d been imagining. Thick white lines riddled my back in jagged sections. “What in the world?”

“How have you never noticed this before?” 

“Do you make a habit of looking at your back?!” 

Mel opened the door of the bathroom and walked in. She stopped short when she saw we were in there. “Oh, hey guy- holy heck, what is wrong with your back.” 

Mara popped her head into the bathroom to see what was happening. “Are we having a party in the bathro- oh my gosh.” All three of them crowded around me as we examined the strange scars all over my back. 

“How long has it been like this?” Mel asked, extreme alarm in her voice.

I shrugged. “I have no clue. Ari pointed it out just a few seconds ago.” 

“You hadn’t seen it before?” I looked down at Mara in confusion.

“Is it normal for you people to look at your backs?” 

Mel brushed past the comment and looked at Ari. “How did you notice it?”

“Well, Fannara was packing, and she bent down and-”

“-Wait, why were you packing?” Mara interjected. “Oh no, you’re not leaving, are you?” 

I groaned. “Yep, within the next two days.” A distressed “noo” came out of Mara and she frowned. 

“Are we going to brush past the fact that it looks like something sliced open Fannara’s back?” Mel sounded slightly irked. “Do you have any clue what did this?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know. This is really weird, and they look like pretty old scars.” Mel nodded. 

“Old, but they must have been really bad wounds.” 

Ari sighed and took a step back. “I guess there’s no way to know where they’re from. They look so weird, though. What would have caused that?” 

“No clue.” Mel squinted at them one last time and then also took a step back. “Guess it’s just another Fannara Mystery.” 

I looked up at her in confused amusement. “Are there others I should know about?” 

“Well, there was that whole healing thing last week,” Mara said. I turned to look at her. 

“The wound-swapping? Why would that be so weird?”

She looked surprised that I didn’t know what she was referring to. “Not the wound-swapping, I mean, that shocked everyone for sure, but the more weird thing was how strong they say your magic was before you even swapped the wound.” 

I was getting increasingly confused. “Is there something I don’t know about or…?”

“They say you built up so much magic that it looked like green fire was coming out of your eyes.” I could help but laugh at Mel’s description.  

“That’s just a rumor though.” I knew there was no way that could be true. 

Ari spoke up for the first time in a while. “Why would it be a rumor?”

“Alithosi magic doesn’t show through the eyes, it only comes out of our hands.” All three of them looked at me in disbelief. 

Mara laughed a little bit. “Fannara, your eyes always glow when you use your magic.” I frowned.

“That doesn’t make any sense.” Mara shrugged. 

“I’m not sure what to tell you, they glow a lot.” This was getting weird. 

Ari decided now would be a great time to change the subject and I was immensely grateful for that. “Well, it might be Fannara’s last night, should we go get some food together?”

“Ooh, yes, we should.” Mara immediately jumped on the idea. 

I smiled. This might be one of my last times with these girls. I was going to miss them more than I ever missed anything from Alithos. I’d be eternally grateful for their friendships, and I was excited to be able to spend just a few more days with them.