CHAPTER 4 - THE FIRST TIME IN THE SKY
Saloni was sitting in a vehicle for the first time in her life and it was not an ordinary vehicle it was a flying car.
When the car rose from the ground Saloni's heart stopped for a moment.
She sat in the corner with great caution as if if she moved the car would fall or something would go wrong.
Her hands gripped the seat tightly and her breathing was slow but fast.Priya was absorbed in her phone sometimes talking to someone sometimes typing something. She did not know about Saloni's fear or maybe she was deliberately ignoring it so that Saloni could adjust on her own.
Saloni looked out the window and for the first time she saw things that she had never even imagined. Flying cars hundreds of them moving in different directions some fast some slow.
Big buildings that were so high their tops were hidden in the clouds and roads that were not on the ground but floating in the air.Saloni's eyes were wide.
She was seeing everything but saying nothing because she had no words for what she was seeing. This world was completely different from the orphanage. It was completely different from that small alley where she used to sell chips.
Hours passed. Cities changed. Below she could see green fields and mountains. Then slowly slowly the car started to descend.Saloni felt that the car was slowly going down toward the earth.
Her heart started beating fast again. After a while she saw what looked like a huge field where there was nothing as far as the eye could see except greenery. But then she saw that this was not an ordinary field.
The entire field was a 50 kilometer square and it was completely covered with glass. Transparent glass so clear that you could not see it from a distance. But when the sun shone on it it gleamed. And on top of that glass there were small pots with flowers in them.
Red yellow blue white flowers that looked very beautiful.And when the car went down further Saloni saw that on that glass in big letters it was written
Low Level Academy Saloni saw this and said with amazement here there is just the name where is the academy this is just an empty field.
Priya looked up from her phone and smiled the academy is not up here Saloni. The academy is below. Below Saloni asked confused. Yes below Priya said. Under the ground.
This whole field is a ceiling.
The real academy is underground. Saloni did not believe it but the car stopped at a special place where a big entrance had opened in the glass and that entrance opened.The car started going down slowly and now Saloni could see that the academy was really underground. As the car went down Saloni saw a huge hall that was shining with blue and white lights. Hundreds of girls were here and there walking training talking and the whole place was busy.The car stopped at a designated landing area and the gates opened. Priya got out first and Saloni got out slowly.
Her legs were shaking because she was feeling all this for the first time.Saloni saw that there was a huge hall with REGISTRATION AREA written on it and outside it a lady was standing who looked very strict. Her name was Mrs Sharma. She was a teacher at the academy. Her face had no expression just cold seriousness.
Welcome to Low Level Academy Mrs Sharma said.
You are Priya and you are Saloni Priya's bodyguard. Yes Saloni said quietly. There was uncertainty and insecurity in her voice. Mrs Sharma looked at Saloni carefully as if she was scanning an unknown object with some machine. Then she picked up a clipboard that was full of papers.Come to the registration office Mrs Sharma said.As they walked through a long corridor Saloni realized that she had become part of something very big. On both sides there were classrooms labs training halls. There was activity everywhere and there were girls everywhere. But when they saw Priya and Saloni they looked at them differently as if they were inspecting something new.The registration office was a simple room where a clerk was sitting. In front of her was a computer and stacks of papers. Mrs Sharma gave her a file and said register both these girls.
The clerk looked at Priya and Saloni and pulled out a basic form and first she asked Saloni.
What is your name Saloni.
Full name
.Just Saloni the clerk hesitated but said nothing.
Age.Eighteen.
Parents' name.
Saloni went quiet.
She did not have her parents' names. She did not even know if she had parents or not. Priya came forward and said. She is from an orphanage.
She has no parents.
The clerk made a note.
Orphan.
Origin.Fifth Street Orphanage.
Then the clerk pulled out another form that was a bit more complex.
Have you learned any element.
Element. Saloni did not understand what she meant.
Can you control water or earth or any other power.Saloni shook her head no.So you have not learned any element. The clerk checked a box.
Unknown Element.When Saloni's entry appeared Mrs Sharma's face showed a slight surprise but she did not show it. She just made a note.Okay then first you will have a medical test then a Reflection Test then a Power Level Test.Saloni just nodded yes
In the medical room a doctor was sitting who looked very professional.Measure her height the nurse said.Saloni was put on a scale.5 feet 4 inches.
Then weight.40 kg.
Then blood pressure.Normal.The doctor asked. Do you have any disease.Saloni shook her head no. The truth was she was very healthy.
Maybe the strict environment of the orphanage had made her strong. Then they checked some reflexes and speed and everything came out normal to a bit more than normal.
This test was in a separate room where there was a big screen and some sensors.Whatever you see on the screen react to it immediately Mrs Sharma said.Start the test.Lights started coming on the screen. Colors started coming. And Saloni had to react immediately to everything.
Sometimes left sometimes right sometimes up sometimes down. Her reflexes were very good.After the test a score appeared on the screen.
Reflection Speed - 95%
Mrs Sharma saw this and raised her eyebrow.95% this is the very best Saloni.But Saloni did not understand what this meant or why it mattered.
This test was the most important. In a separate room there was a very advanced machine that was black and decorated with different colored lights.This is a Reflection Machine Mrs Sharma said. It will measure the strength in your body.
Saloni put your hand here.Saloni hesitantly put her hand. From one punch. The machine started scanning her with a blue light and then numbers started coming
3.2...
3.5...
4.0...
4.5...
4.8...
5.0...
5.2...
5.5...Then a final number appeared on the screen.
5.5
Mrs Sharma's eyes widened. She was looking at Saloni in shock.
This is... this is impossible Mrs Sharma whispered.What happened Saloni asked frightened.Your power level is 5.5 Mrs Sharma said. This... this is very high for body strengthening.Mrs Sharma checked the machine again.
This machine is never wrong. You must have some hidden element.No Saloni said. I do not have any element.This is impossible Mrs Sharma said. A normal person cannot have this much power without an element.But this is true Saloni said staying quiet.
Mrs Sharma made a note in her notebook and then said. Okay you will be kept in Priya's group and your dorm number is 47.But Mrs Sharma wrote one more note that seemed to be going to someone senior.
Now Priya's test started.
Priya already had a Grimoire which was a small book that came from her family. Grimoire has spells written in it. Magic formulas.Priya's element was Water Element and her power level came 6.2.
This is very good Mrs Sharma said looking at Priya.
But when Mrs Sharma learned that Saloni had a power level of 5.5 without any element she became very worried.
This is unusual she said. A girl who has no element but power level of 5.5. This is... this is something else.DORM ASSIGNMENTBoth were shown their dorm.Dorm 47 was a small room. One bed. One table. One cupboard.
And a small window that looked out at the training ground.Saloni put her bag in the corner and sat on the bed.
This is your new home Priya said.Saloni looked at the room. It was better than the orphanage. But it still felt empty and alone.But hidden inside was a question that was in Mrs Sharma's mind.
Who was this girl and why did she have such power when no element was giving it to her. And on the other side a silver-eyed man was watching everything from far away with a slight smile on his face.She has finally started. He whispered. Soon I will come to her.