CHAPTER 13

I walked with Hunter and Hazel behind Mr. Maple as he took us to our next examination.

We walked for what felt like hours. This school is a pain to navigate. You could easily get lost.

As we approach the end of the school wall, confusion spreads through everyone. A huge door appears that leads to the outside of the school.

"Why are we going out here?" Slay questioned. "Our next exam has to take place outside." We followed a path alongside the academy and arrived at a leaf archway. Behind the archway was a garden. It is filled with all the many herbs needed for any potion, huge trees and every flower you could ever think of.

I take a deep breath and enjoy the sight, it looks magical. I had no clue that this place had a garden, I'm beginning to really warm up to this place.

Could we actually be doing a test on herbs? This one I'll pass for sure, I'm great with plants, I've been studying them since I was 6. Even at such a young age, I've wanted to heal people.

It was just fun anyways to learn about flowers, they were always so pretty, but some of them are scary and deadly, if you don't be careful when using them, you could get badly damaged.

Mr. Maple led us through the paths around the garden and ended up in an outdoor classroom. It had rows of seats and tables for us to sit in doubles and we are facing all the leaves and floral herbs.

"As you can tell by our placement of the classroom and what is all around us. We will be having a test on plants and herbs." Mr. Maple stated. "You will be able to walk around the garden to get ideas and help on the answers on the exam or if you already know your stuff you can just sit at your table and do the test there.

Sir passed around the papers and allowed us to get started. "Let's go, Dawn." Hazel gestured.

I didn't need to go look around so I answered Hazel saying "I think I'll just stay here, I think I'll be just fine without having to look at the flowers."

"Ok, how about we both finish our test as soon as possible then we can go explore the garden," Hazel suggested. "Ya sure, if that is ok Mr. Maple."

Mr. Maple nodded at our request so Hazel sat back down in her seat and I and she started writing our answers.

A little while after starting another group entered the garden. If this was a group for their exam they came pretty late. I look closer at the group and see some familiar people. One had a blue aesthetic and another had a bright yellow dress, it was blinding.

I looked away to focus on my test and swiftly answered all the questions. I sat up from my seat and walked up to the front of the class to hand in my test. I turned around to see if Hazel had finished and seen that she was walking down too.

She gave her test to Mr. Maple and me and she started walking down the pathways in the garden. We took our time and smelled all the pretty flowers. I watched out for the dangerous ones and made sure not to get too close or smell them.

I turned around trying to face back at Hazel but saw her about to hold a harmful leaf. I was shocked by the sight, and yelled without hesitation, "Hazel! Don't!"

I rushed to her side and pulled her arm away from the plant. While grabbing her arm with a tight pull I lost balance and pulled her down on the ground with me. We landed on our bottom and I sighed with relief, "That was a close one."

"What did you do that for Dawn?" Hazel questioned rubbing her head. Before I could answer her I looked at both sides of us and saw both groups running towards us.

"Dawn, Hazel are you guys alright?" Hunter said concerningly. "We're just fine Hunter," I answered, but just as I finished I heard footsteps getting closer behind me but soon stopped.

I look up behind my back and see the two people Autumn reminded me of standing above me.

"Dawn," Winter said, surprised. "Are you ok? What happened?" Summer asked. I stood up slowly and helped Hazel get up on her feet before I faced Winter and Summer.

"It's good to see you guys." I smiled.

"Who are these people?" Hazel wondered whispering in my ear. "These are the friends Axel was talking about when he said our other friends. These are my other best friends."

"I'm Holly." Said Winter introducing herself. "And I'm June!" Summer exclaimed.

"It's a pleasure. Anyways, Dawn, you mind explaining why you pulled my arm so suddenly." Hazel stated with a concerned look.

"Right, well I knew that the leaf you were about to touch was dangerous to your health. With one touch your arm would get paralyzed and slowly shut down more bones in your body until it'd start getting into your organs."

Hazel was surprised by my knowledge of plants just like with my combat skills. "I didn't know you were interested in herbs Dawn," Hazel replied.

"Well fun fact, I'm training to be a Healer, so I've read and studied a lot about plants and their different abilities," I informed her.

I don't think telling her about my hopefully future job would give away my identity. At least I don't think so.

"Wait, a healer? I want to be one as well! I've wanted to be one since I was a kid but never had the chance to actually train, but hopefully I can start here at the academy." Hazel said with shock.

I never knew Hazel would be one to want to go through all that work. Actually, she doesn't seem like someone who cares about her loved ones a lot and wouldn't want them to get hurt.

"That's great Hazel, I'm sure you're going to be an awesome healer," I reassured her.

"You both will make excellent Healers." Mr. Maple said, walking into the crowd. "By the way Dawn, how are your exams going?" Winter questioned.

"It's going alright. I see you guys got into each other's groups." I stated. They're very lucky to have each other, they can make sure they don't mess up.

"Ya, it was pretty lucky, but I'm glad." Summer said happily.

"You guys could catch up if you'd like, you all finished your exams correct? We still have a couple minutes until the next switch." Winters and Summers adviser mentioned.

"Ya sure, Dawn can we talk to you?" Winter asked.

I definitely wanted to catch up with my best friends, but I looked to Hazel looking for her consent.

She was about to get seriously hurt if I didn't move her hand in time, she might've been shocked in the process of me telling her about the damage it could've done to her. I didn't want to leave her after that.

"You guys talk, don't worry about me. I'll go talk to the guys." Hazel replied knowing what I was thinking.

I nodded my head towards her and walked down the garden some more with Winter and Summer. "So how's the mission going for you guys?" I questioned.

"So far so good. No mess-ups." Winter announced.

"By the way April isn't that the guy who we saw when we went dress shopping?" Summer implied.

"Oh ya, that's him. His name is Hunter." I replied. "Wow, you are so lucky."

"By the way, I saw Autumn already." I whispered, making sure no one could overhear me. The name of course is pretty popular, so they'd definitely know who we are talking about.

"Wait really! How is he?" Winter said, surprised. "He's doing alright. We fought in combat with spells actually." I answered.

Both Winter and Summer we're confused. "How? Are you two in the same group or something?" Said Winter.

"No, his group and mine just happened to have the same subject and got the rooms messed up so we all did the exam together. Overall it made things funnier." I said laughing..

"Well that's good, that you guys met at least once." Winter stated.

Me and the girls continued talking and from the sounds of it, they passed all of theirs perfectly as well. This'll be an interesting competition. It wasn't even supposed to be one anyways.

It felt so long until we finally had to finally move to our last couple exams. I'm starting to get drained so I'm glad this is almost over.

As my group called me back to go inside the school once more, I said goodbye to my friends and wished them luck. "Goodluck guys! Don't forget to give it your all, I'll see you at the end of the day!" I yelled.

"Don't worry about us, we'll definitely do the best." Winter exclaimed confidently.

I walked next to Hazel to make sure she was ok as we continued to one of our last tests.

Our last tests were, History, Etiquette, Culinary, Weapon Arts, Strategy Logic, and ObstacleEvading.

I'm glad none of the tests had to do with transforming or else I wouldn't know what to do.

After our last exam was finished the Woman greeted us for the last time. "Hello everyone! That should've been your last examination! Thank you all for coming out today! We will have the results by tomorrow morning so please come by the academy to see if you'll be allowed to attend school here."

"Goodbye Mr Maple! Thank you very much." I exclaimed. Everyone said goodbye to our adviser, probably nevering seeing him again if we don't pass.

I waved goodbye to my new friend Hazel and wished her good luck on passing. She did the best she can. I'm sure she'll make it.

It'd be nice to have a friend at the academy that doesn't know about my real life. "Goodluck to you two Dawn, hope to see you on the first day of school, since I know you'll make it!" Hazel smiled.

I chuckled at her words and realized ya she's probably right. Slowly losing sight of Hazel a hand was placed on my shoulder.

I look behind me and realize it was Hunter. "Hey Dawn, what season do you live in?" He asked me. "I live in Spring. What about you?"

"I live in Spring too. How about I walk you home?" Hunter suggested. I immediately thought about my home.

He can't take me there! It's a castle, he'll definitely be confused and ask questions. "It's ok, I'm going to walk with my friends and it might take them a while to find me. I don't want you to wait around here forever." I insisted.

That's probably a good enough excuse. "Ok I understand. I'll be going then. I'll be looking for your name at the top Dawn!" Hunter said running to the spring gate.

I waved him goodbye and saw the rest of my friends walking towards me. "You guys ready to go?" I questioned. "Let's go. Oh by the way April said she beat you Autumn." Winter said teasily.

Winter and Autumn always compete so knowing I beat him made Winter somewhat confident.

"Well that was because I didn't know April was going to use that much power. Obviously I would've won if I knew." Autumn stated.

Me and the girls laughed at his remark and continued walking out of the forest. Once we reached the border we all went our separate ways to our kingdoms.

As I was walking through my kingdom I thought about going to school. What would that be like?

I approached my castle and walked through the front garden. I was still looking like Dawn so I can tell the guards were very confused but I showed them my necklace and knew it was me.

As I went through the doors Spring was at the top of the staircase about to come down. "Hello. Is there something I can help you with?" She said with a confused look.

"It's me Spring. I just came back from the entrance exams of SDA. This is my new identity, Dawn." I exclaimed.

"Oh I see. You look very beautiful but I like seeing the little sister I grew up with." Spring smiled.

I changed back into my normal body and hugged my sister. "I'll see you later. I got a patient coming in soon." I said.

"Ok have fun April! I'm sure you passed." Spring cheered.

I'm sure I did, but i'm not worried about that. I have a patient I have to take care of.