"For your quarter exam, you will be using wind to send a message," Mrs. Theelnin announced at the end of class, "but this will not be a paper airplane as it was the first week. This week, you will send only your words to someone." She smiled cruelly. "Think of it as a game of telephone. Only your grade depends on it. Class dismissed."
"Great," Tilli moaned to Mat.Mat gathered his things and followed her out of the room. "Is it just me, or did she seem particularly sadistic today?"
"Mrs. Theelnin is always sadistic as the end of the quarter. She says it weeds out the lazy students." This comment came from Jo, who stood on the balcony, waiting for Antony. Tilli knew Miriam wasn't fond of her cousin, but she was good for ranting to.
"Well, I think I'm going to fail the test." Mat shook like a leaf behind her.
"You'll be find." Antony walked out of the room and kissed Jo on the cheek. "It's Mrs. Putyam's test you have to worry about."
"One hundred questions," Jo confirmed, and Mat shook more.
Tilli tried to reassure him. "We just need a place to practice. Where's a good place to practice?" She asked Antony.
"The roof?"
Jo lightly slapped him. "I think she meant a place where students are allowed to go."
Tilli turned around and looked up the side of the building. "The roof's not a bad idea, though. I mean, there is a reason the class is on the balcony."
Antony looked amused. "As student head of Victoria House, I'm obligated to tell you the roof is out of bounds."
"Fine. No rule breaking today."
"There are practice rooms you can reserve, you know."
"We're practicing windcasting," Tilli reminded him, "we need an outdoor space."
Jo tossed her arm around Antony and led the group inside. "Try the lightning ball pitch just after eight. Most students clear out when dinner starts, even though the cafeteria is open for two hours. Or Wince can help you reserve it." Tilli and Mat agreed to meet there at the start of dinner and then went their separate ways to class.
Tilli didn't see Mat for the rest of the day, since she skipped lunch to put some finished touches on a landscape she had made for art class--a crescent moon, which she incorporated into the picture, but would also serve as her signature. It was a reference to her middle name, Shining Moon, which was what her sprite family called her. Mr. Teersheek had mentioned an upcoming art show for students in Kporo. She didn't want her siblings recognizing any submissions as hers.
After her art class, Tilli stayed back and waited for the other students to leave. "Um... Mr. Teersheek?" She asked, clutching her wooden art roll with both hands. Wind wailed in her ears, and she had to look around to make sure she wasn't losing control of her abilities. Tilli couldn't remember being this nervous before."Tilli, what can I help you with?"
Tilli slid the page out of her art roll. She knew that if she didn't do it this moment, she wouldn't do it again. "You had mentioned an art show? Do you think it's good enough to submit?"
Mr. Teersheek examined it for what felt like an hour. She tried not to fiddle with her glasses as she waited, though she had little else to keep her hands busy. Finally he looked up. "This is good, Tilli, and if you're interested, you can certainly submit it."
Tilli's stomach flopped. "You don't really think it's that good, do you?"
"I don't think you've hit your stride yet. You're a good artist, but you haven't found your own style."
"But..."
"You started drawing landscapes because you like Painter's work, right?" Mr. Teersheek asked, and Tilli nodded. "I think it's time you broke out of them. You won't really know what you can do until then. But... that's not my decision to make." He gently rolled up her picture, placed it in the art roll, and returned it to her. "I'm not trying to discourage you. I'm just excited to see what you can do when you stop holding back."
Tilli was so disappointed by her conversation with Mr. Teersheek that she almost forgot to meet Mat at the lightning ball pitch afterward, and only remembered as she was opening the cafeteria door. Tilli ran back to the pitch, and as Jo had suggested, found it empty. Mat wasn't there either. She waited a couple of minutes, and when he didn't come, she assumed he had given up on her and gone to eat already. But when Tilli reached their table, he wasn't there either.
Tilli sat down trayless. "Where's Mat? He was supposed to meet me at the lightning ball pitch right before dinner."
"He was in history with us," Ayan said.
"He was in channeling objects too, though he dashed out as soon as we were dismissed. If he was supposed to meet you, I would have thought that's where he went."
"I was late and thought he came here."
"Somebody should talk to him." Miriam gave Key a hard stare.
"Okay," Key said, "I'll talk to him. Tonight. I promise."
"Because you haven't said that before."
"Are you sure you're the right person?" Tilli asked, "If Sam came to talk to me about missing an appointment..."
"I'm sure." Key glared at Miriam. "And I'll talk to him tonight.
