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NoctisJideh Basrah
Jideh's classes flew by that particular morning, especially given that their Gym class ended abruptly in a big argument of sorts. Although he hadn't been paying too much attention, as a rather lovely hydrangea bush was sprouting underneath the bleachers, and he was shocked into scampering away when Manny Loaf started shouting at the students to take a hike. That said, he'd still plucked a cutting of from the hydrangea and planted it in his growing collection of pots that filled his end of the dorm. It was only when Jideh heard the other first years rushing out of the building that he remembered with a pit in his stomach that this particular day was the day of the test. Somehow he'd managed to forget in the interim between his little contest with his roommate and waking up that morning.
Nevertheless, Jideh plucked up some seeds he'd had laying around, pocketed them and sheathed his trowel and gloves in his belt, and then dashed to the fridge. Throwing open the door hurriedly, he proceeded to stuff leftover sushi and other assorted asian cuisine in his mouth, hardly chewing and scarfing the contents down at speed. Jideh's eyes watered as he nearly choked several times, before deciding to just take the last box of granola bars with him to wherever they were going.
And so it was that Jideh had found himself staring up at the massive cavern system the students and faculty had led him into. He was dazzled by the echoing sounds of water, the ancient buildings, and the beams of light that cut through the darkness, but most of all he fawned over the endless varieties of plants and fungi that seemed to grow on everything in these caverns.
The headmaster's booming voice seemed to fill the whole space, and his words carried such a weight of importance behind them, that Jideh felt shivers of awe travel up and down his spine. The implications of the Headmaster's announcement fell on Jideh slowly as he watched all the other students begin walking towards their respective pits. Jideh felt his feet move of their own accord, and he focused on picking an ideal pit location. Unfortunately, all of the pits appeared to be identical, and so Jideh eventually resolved to take one of the last unoccupied pits as his proving ground. If Jideh was to make a show of his Connection to his element, then it wouldn't matter where he was located.
Now I need to show them all just how powerful my abilities truly are. I've got a full stomach, and snacks for later, so I might as well give it my best shot!
Jideh stood right in the middle of the pit, stuffed his hands in his pockets, and felt each seed between his fingers. He calmed his breathing and focused on recalling how much energy each seed needed to grow, and then to flourish. As though he were flipping through a compendium of flora, Jideh scrolled through all of his memories and knew that his connection to the earth, and to the life that teemed and seethed within it was strong. He just... Just needed to demonstrate that as best he could.
Preparation and contemplation complete, Jideh felt he knew what he needed to do. He clutched two fistfuls of seeds, pulled them from his pockets, and cast them about the floor of the pit. A sort of sixth sense he normally only used when touching a given plant unfolded itself from within him. He stretched it, what seemed like a painfully far distance, but he caught up every last seed in the relatively small area. It was as though they still lay clutched between his fingers, and he knew each and every one. He knew that from outside, he wouldn't look terribly impressive at all, but he wasn't done yet.
The stores of energy burning in Jideh frothed and surged out through the branches of this sixth sense he'd extended, diverting into channels and while not with all the precision that Jideh would have liked, it seemed to be rationed roughly according to each plant's needs. And while Jideh's face was scrunched and his eyes closed in concentration, keen onlookers would be able to just make out the faint tendrils of energy as a distorting of the air like that of air over flames, following paths from Jideh out to each seed.
The plants began to grow.
Amaryllis, Carnation, Dahlia, Hyacinth, Larkspur, Orchid, Quince, Snapdragon, Sunflower, Tulip, and Vibernum blossomed beautifully in a loose ring about Jideh, flourishing and blooming regardless of the season and environment. A few stray seeds of other plants too, a couple patches of grass and moss crawling along the ground, and even the beginnings of a sapling Oak tree which seemed to tower over the flowers at only a quarter of its fully grown height.
This proved to be a strain on Jideh, that the boy was having a hard time bearing. The last of his reserves were being funnelled hungrily into the Oak tree and his mouth went dry when he found that the outpouring of energy dipped into his muscles, a burning sensation which instantly weakened him. In a frightened panic, Jideh's sixth sense seemed to lurch, and then at a much more rapid rate the sensation of weakening reversed and he felt warmth flooding his limbs. Jideh opened his eyes and saw his garden wilting. Jideh cut the sixth sense instantly and fell to his knees, head bowed. He gently caressed a despondent spathe of Calla, and he felt the despair of failure crowd in around him like a thorned vine twisting about his neck.
"Damn it."
