Balance Keepers #1: The Fires of Calderon

Albert took a big gulp of his juice. “Cherry cola,” he said with a big grin.

  “Mine’s fizzy coconut!” Leroy said.

  They both looked at Birdie, who hadn’t said a word. She sighed, took a sip of her pink juice, and nodded. “Water,” she said. “Filtered. That is totally lame.”

  “I always get water, too,” Terran groaned. “Sometimes I miss getting to drink Cokes from back home.”

  “At least it’s healthy,” Aria said, gulping down more of her berry blast.

  The boys laughed. They all filled their plates with food from the baskets, and spent the next hour talking about everything that had happened to them so far.

  Albert learned that breakfast and a late lunch (or was it dinner?) were the only meals of the day. In the Core, food filled you up for longer periods of time.

  “Your body will adjust in a few days,” Grey explained. “Until then, eat more than usual. It has to last you, and you’ll need your strength for the Pit if you’re going to beat the other teams.”

  Leroy was shoveling food into his mouth at record speed.

  Albert glanced over at Hoyt. He was jabbering on about old simulations his team had defeated. Albert saw that he was sporting a new necklace with a second Tile. The second Tile was red, not white, with a silver triangle that glowed purple in the center. Albert heard him say he’d purchased it with the Medallion Argon had won.

  “It will give me more energy if I touch it,” Hoyt said, when he saw Albert looking. “Not that I need more energy to pulverize your team.”

  Albert wanted to stand up and yell in Hoyt’s face, but he knew Aria, Terran, and Grey were watching, and that that wasn’t the mature thing to do. Here he was, sitting with the First Unit, chatting like they were old friends! Albert held his chin up as he looked at Hoyt.

  “The best team will win in the end,” Albert said. Hoyt just laughed, and went back to bragging about the Pit. Albert turned back to his friends.

  “You can get more Tiles?” Birdie was asking Terran.

  “They only work once,” Terran explained. “But yeah, you can buy them at the Canteen.”

  When everyone had moved on to dessert, one of the professors took the stage in front of the giant lava window. Albert hadn’t seen this guy yet, but the second he saw the man’s eyes, he knew it was the one Jack had talked about in the dorm.

  “That’s Professor Hagglesworth,” Grey said to Albert, Leroy, and Birdie. “He’s got weird eyes like your companion Farnsworth.”

  Professor Hagglesworth was of average height and build. He had peppery-gray hair, thick glasses on his nose, and eyes that shone a dim purple. He spoke into a MegaHorn like the kind Professor Flynn had used in the Pit.

  “Is this thing on?” He tapped the tip of the horn and a high-pitched static noise exploded throughout the room.

  Everyone covered their ears. Farnsworth howled like a coyote, and some sort of monkey with blue fur launched a banana at Professor Hagglesworth’s face. He dodged the banana as if he’d done it a thousand times before.

  “Professor Asante is otherwise detained and won’t be doing the introductions. You’re stuck with me, I’m afraid. I see everyone has made themselves at home.” His eyes changed to yellow, the color of daisies. “Today is the first official day of the summer, and all of our Balance Keepers have arrived. Everyone, let’s welcome our newest recruits!”

  He pulled out a crumpled list from his pocket and started to call out the names, one Realm at a time.

  There were three new Balance Keepers training for each of the three Realms: Belltroll, Ponderay, and Calderon. Everyone clapped politely for the first two trios of recruits, while Professor Hagglesworth announced the Tiles they had received. There was a girl in Ponderay who could touch fire without being harmed. Albert wished for half a second she was in Hydra—that sure would be a useful power in Calderon. There was a boy in Belltroll who could talk to animals, a girl in Belltroll who could see through solid objects, and a boy in Ponderay who, apparently, could control the climate within a hundred feet in any direction. There were a couple of others, too, but that was all Albert could remember—he didn’t have Leroy’s Synapse Tile.

  So many awesome powers, Albert thought, and I still have no idea what mine is. I’ve got to figure this thing out, and soon.

  Finally, Professor Hagglesworth got to the Calderon Realm.

  “Team Hydra consists of Albert Flynn, Birdie Howell, and Leroy Jones,” the Professor said. “Don’t be shy. Stand up!”

  The three of them stood and everyone clapped.

  “Go Hydra!” Grey, Aria, and Terran yelled together.

  Professor Hagglesworth waited for the noise to die down. Then he spoke again.

  “Birdie has been gifted with a Water Tile!”

  Birdie did a little under the sea dance, loving the attention, as everyone cheered and her tablemates clapped her on the back.

  “Leroy has been gifted with a Synapse Tile, very rare!”

  The noise around the room erupted. Leroy took off his hat and did a quick bow. A blond girl at the workers’ table blew a kiss toward Leroy, and his face turned red all over again. He pushed his glasses farther up his nose and turned away.

  “And last but not least,” Professor Hagglesworth said, “we have Professor Flynn’s son, Albert Flynn. He has been gifted with . . . what did you say it was, Professor Flynn?”

  Albert wanted to sink down into his chair and put his head in his hands. Professor Flynn crossed the stage and whispered something into Professor Hagglesworth’s ear.

  “A Tile of unknown origin?” Professor Hagglesworth seemed to take this news with a mix of concern and curiosity. “I guess we have a mystery on our hands with you, Albert. Time will tell!”

  Instead of cheers, Albert heard whispers rise from all around, and felt everyone’s eyes on his back. They were craning to get a good look at his Tile. All he wanted to do was rip it off and toss it into the water for the turtles to snack on. He quickly slipped it inside his shirt, then sat down in his chair and forced himself to look brave. Why did he have to get the dud? Why couldn’t it have been someone else?

  Across the table, Hoyt was laughing his pig-faced head off.

  “No worries, Albert.” Leroy lowered his voice. “They’re just jealous, all of them.”

  “Leroy’s right,” Birdie whispered. She gave Albert a big grin. “I’m sure of it.”

  “Keep your head up, Flynn.” Grey nodded to Albert. “A good Balance Keeper always stays positive.”

  The way they were smiling at him, nodding their heads in encouragement, made Albert feel a little better. He took a deep breath and turned back to listen to the announcements.

  “As you all know, tomorrow begins the first official day of Competition.”

  The dining hall erupted into cheers. Albert, Leroy, and Birdie joined in. Across the pool, the companion creatures began to howl and hiss and chirp and blow fire. Farnsworth’s eyes lit up like they’d just been plugged into a light socket.

  “Now, now, calm down, calm down,” Professor Hagglesworth said, his eyes changing to a calming blue. “I must remind you all. This year we have a new Apprentice: Mr. Trey Link, who will be assisting Professor Flynn. He went through several grueling rounds of competition to earn this coveted spot.”

  Trey stood up from his table across the water, and the cheering started all over again. He looked as proud as ever. Almost all of the girls in the room watched Trey with googly eyes. Albert couldn’t help but be a little jealous at the way his dad looked up at Trey, like he was the son Albert could only dream of being. Albert wondered how many years his dad and Trey had spent together in the Core, training and bonding inside of the real Realms.

  Terran put a hand on Albert’s shoulder. “He’s proud of you, Albert. He talks about you all the time, you know. He’s been waiting for you to come here for years.”

  “Thanks.” Albert sighed. “I just want to figure out my Tile.”

  “We’ll do some research and figure it out,
” Leroy joined in. “Someone here is bound to know something! You’ll see.” They turned back to Professor Hagglesworth.

  “You’re a lively bunch this year,” the Professor continued. “Don’t let the news I’m about to tell you dampen your spirits.”

  Professor Flynn rose to his feet, his towering presence hard to ignore. “Let me tell them, if you please.”

  Hagglesworth’s eyes turned red as fire for an instant, then dialed back to a more calm shade of orange.

  “As you wish. It is your Realm, after all.”

  Clearly, Professor Hagglesworth didn’t like Albert’s dad.

  “Professor Hagglesworth wanted to have the Calderon Realm, but your dad beat him to it,” Grey explained to Albert. “They’re not exactly best friends.”

  Albert didn’t know a person in the world that didn’t like Bob Flynn. Apparently there were power struggles at play inside the Core that Albert knew nothing about.

  He watched as his dad shared the news:

  “It has come to our attention that Calderon is in more trouble than we’d expected.”

  The room buzzed with whispers.

  Professor Flynn smiled comfortingly, the way he used to do when Albert was little and skinned his knee. “Remember, this is what we train for. It’s what we prepare for. And it still may not be as bad as we think.”

  Albert remembered the ash clouds in New York City. He found Trey in the crowd, but his expression was a mask of calm. Grey and Aria sat still as statues, not giving away a hint of concern.

  “We will continue to keep a close eye on Calderon, and Belltroll and Ponderay, too. But Balance Keepers, remember as you train: you may be called on to serve at any time. Work hard; be ready.”

  “We’ve got to get our act together,” Leroy muttered beside Albert.

  “Now, dinner is done!” Professor Flynn shouted. “Tomorrow marks the start of classroom hours for all students, not just Balance Keepers.”

  Everyone groaned together.

  Professor Flynn smiled. “Oh, come on, now. After dinner is free time. Now the real fun begins!”

  The room erupted into hoots and hollers, and everyone started doing some strange clap in unison. Albert tried to keep up.

  Leroy, remembering this was the last meal of the day, stuffed his pockets with rolls.

  As they rode their turtles across the water and started the long walk back to the dorms, Albert couldn’t keep his mind from wondering: With a Tile like his, would he ever be of any use?

  CHAPTER 12

  Hissengores and Hexabons

  “I don’t know about you guys,” Birdie said, “but I’m ready to kick some butt in the simulation today.”

  “Aren’t we all?” Leroy sighed. It was the next morning, and the three of them met up at the same bridge again. They had regular class before Pit training.

  “So, where is our first class?” Birdie asked. She was holding up a circular map of the Core that Ellery, Birdie’s Second Term roommate in Treefare, had loaned her. Albert looked over Birdie’s shoulder. No matter which way she turned the map, Albert only got more confused.

  “I wish we didn’t have to go sit in a boring class,” Albert groaned. “This is summer. Not summer school.”

  “I’m looking forward to a little reading and stuff. Less dangerous for a change,” Leroy said.

  “How can you think about reading when we could be training in the Pit? The Pit is awesome!” Birdie said, giggling. The two of them went at it again, arguing like siblings.

  Farnsworth howled, as if his dog ears couldn’t take it anymore. Albert got in between his friends. “Come on, guys, cut it out! We should get to class right now anyway. Do either of you know what our first class is?” He’d been so exhausted last night that he hadn’t bothered to look at the schedule.

  “It’s Core History, with that little dwarf guy,” Birdie said. “I was hoping to get my hands on some sort of sword or shield or something, but Ellery said this class is totally lame.”

  “Hey, I like lame. Lame is safe,” Leroy said. He motioned for Albert and Birdie to follow him down a dimly lit tunnel. “Come on. We passed Bigglesby’s room yesterday. I remember where it is.”

  The three of them set off, Leroy and Farnsworth in the lead.

  At the end of a winding tunnel, Professor Bigglesby’s door stood ajar. Students were filing in slowly, taking their places in chairs before a large stage. There was a teetering pile of books that reminded Albert of the post office back in Herman. He grabbed one and scanned the room for an open place to sit.

  “Hey! Flynn, over here!” someone yelled from the back. It was a small boy with black hair and bright, tiger-orange eyes.

  “Who in Calderon is that?” Leroy asked. Farnsworth scurried away and greeted the strange boy, licking him all over his face.

  Albert shrugged, but he and his friends went to see the boy anyway. They sat down beside him, Albert the closest. “Um . . . hi?”

  “Hey. I’m Petra. I know all about you, Albert Flynn. I know all about everyone in the Core.” The boy looked at Birdie and Leroy. “And you must be his friends. I’ve heard all about you, too. Sorry your first day didn’t go so well.”

  “Who are you again?” Leroy asked, leaning past Albert to get a good look at Petra. “What Realm did you say you’re training for?”

  Petra’s face fell for a second, but his smile came right back. “I’m not a Balance Keeper or anything. Just a regular Core kid, born and raised.”

  “So you’re, like, a Pure?” Birdie asked. “Cool!”

  Petra nodded. “Not all of the Pures get to be Balance Keepers. Some of us are destined for different things. I’m on cleanup duty with my mom, at night. Sometimes Professor Bigglesby lets me clean the weapons!”

  “Hey, that’s pretty cool, too,” Albert said. He imagined Petra brandishing a massive spear ten times his body size, and held back a laugh. The kid seemed pretty interested in everything around him. Petra probably knew loads of secrets about the Core.

  “So, do you have any dirt on Hoyt?” Albert asked. “He’s a Pure, too, right?”

  “Yeah,” Petra said. “That’s something else you should know—just because I’m a Pure doesn’t mean I’m a fan of Hoyt. I’ll be rooting for Hydra in the Competitions; you can count on it.”

  “Hey, thanks, dude,” Albert said. It looked like he had yet another friend in the Core already.

  “I think class is starting.” Birdie clapped her hands.

  The room hushed down as Professor Bigglesby waddled into the room. He was as short as a yardstick, but the sword he carried at his side was the same one Albert noticed the other day. It was at least twice his size, and had to weigh far more. The blade dragged behind Professor Bigglesby on the floor.

  “Good morning, students. As you might have guessed from my sword, this term we will master a variety of weapons.”

  “Yes!” Albert gave Birdie a fist bump. Leroy let out a little whimper.

  “But today,” Professor Bigglesby continued, “we brush up on the exciting topic of Core History! Please turn to page three-fifty-six in your textbooks.”

  Everyone groaned, except Leroy, who pulled out his book with a fat grin. “Now that’s more like it,” he whispered.

  At the front of the class, Hoyt shouted out a complaint. But Professor Bigglesby carried on as if he hadn’t heard anyone at all. He turned on some sort of ancient, windup projector, and began to show old photographs of the Core. It turned out that the Core had been there for thousands of years.

  Albert didn’t really like school that much. He couldn’t stand studying, his grades weren’t that impressive, and most of the time he got in trouble for not paying attention to his teacher. He couldn’t even count on his fingers the number of disciplinary letters that had been sent home to his mom.

  Compared to school back home, though, this class wasn’t so bad. At least he got to see historical pictures of everything. In the back of a picture that showed the building of the triangle bridges, Alber
t thought he saw two familiar, glowing eyes.

  “Hey! That’s our dog!” Albert whispered to his friends. Farnsworth’s eyes lit up at the sight of his photograph. His tail thumped against Albert’s boots.

  Leroy flipped through to a new page in his textbook. “The Canis Luminatis can live up to one thousand years. Farnsworth is probably still a puppy!”

  They followed along as Professor Bigglesby talked all about Core History. Albert sat dumbfounded as he learned that the ancient Greeks had discovered the entrance to the Core centuries ago.

  Professor Bigglesby went on. There was some pretty cool stuff going on here, but soon Albert felt his eyelids drooping. He wished he were back in his bed in Cedarfell, listening to the birds chirp as he fell asleep.

  That’s when the alarm bell went off.

  It was loud and awful sounding, like a cat screeching after being sprayed by water.

  “Something’s wrong in one of the Realms!” Petra squeaked.

  He stood up and ran across the room to Professor Bigglesby’s side.

  Everyone looked like they were about to panic. Students stood up, ready to rush from the room. Hoyt turned around and gave Albert an awful look. Scared? he mouthed.

  No, Albert mouthed back, but he felt like his heart was going to leap right out of his chest.

  Farnsworth howled and ran from the room. Leroy was mumbling something about feeling sick, Birdie was running her fingers nervously through her ponytail, and one girl at the front of the room was actually crying.

  After a few moments of chaos, the bell shut off, and the room fell into complete and total silence. Professor Bigglesby raised his tiny arms into the air. “Only a drill, students, only a drill. But I daresay the real one is coming. Better be ready when it does.”

  His eyes seemed to stare at each student in the room until they landed right on Albert’s black Tile. His brow furrowed. For a second, he looked almost . . . afraid.

  “The Balance Keepers must be especially prepared for such a time. That’s enough for today. Class is dismissed.”

  As the room cleared, Albert and his friends hung back. Petra came to see them off, a worried look on his face.