Balance Keepers #1: The Fires of Calderon (16 page)

D
ays passed and Albert still hadn’t been able to talk to his dad.

News had come out that Core Researchers had identified three liquid-filled things in the Calderon Realm that could be the Means to Restore Balance: the pod of the Leafless Willow, the seeds of the Fireflowers, and the silver eggs of the Hissengores, though rumor had it that while the silver eggs lasted for centuries, an actual Hissengore nest hadn’t been found in generations of Balance Keepers.

Professor Flynn and the Calderon First Unit had been spending their nights in Calderon, searching for these possible Means. Albert, Leroy, and Birdie waited by the door to Calderon every morning before breakfast, and Albert held his breath each time, only letting it out when he saw that his dad was back safely, though
safely
was a relative term.

When his dad, Grey, Aria, and Terran got back each morning, stumbling through the door at the end of the Calderon river, they were covered in ash, dripping sweat, and so tired they were ready to drop. Professor Flynn looked worse and worse each day. His hair had developed a deeper sheen of gray, and his eyes were purple underneath, as if he hadn’t slept. Albert hated to see his dad that way. He knew the Realms took a toll on professors. But to see it in person gave Albert a lump in his throat that he could never quite swallow. Albert didn’t have the heart to bother his dad with questions when he knew all he wanted to do was rest.

After a few weeks of failure in Calderon, an announcement was made: Terran was leaving the Core for good. Everyone was shocked. A First Unit member giving up on the Core, especially in such a time of Imbalance? Albert took it as a sign that things were worse than he thought. If Terran, as talented as she was, wanted to give up . . . what was stopping everyone else from doing the same thing?

After the announcement about Terran, the Pit practices intensified. From now on, the training units had to train twice as hard to prepare, in case they were needed. With only Grey and Aria left in the First Unit, it became even more important for the backup units to be ready. Trey took over the training, pushing them through head-on duels. They did underwater drills and climbed moss-covered trees that were as slick as Slip ‘N Slides. They swung from cables like Tarzan, side by side, while Hissengores tugged at their ankles. The intensity of the Competitions increased with each passing day.

At night, Albert, Leroy, and Birdie spent time poring over books in the Library, trying to learn as much as they could about Calderon. They studied the creatures, the plants, the weather patterns—anything they could think of. They had to be ready.

The Main Leaderboard remained in Argon’s favor at first, but Hydra and all the other teams were close behind. Ecco sustained a series of injuries that slowed them way down, and they were eliminated from the Competitions, which only made the seriousness of the situation increase. Now it was always Argon against Hydra. Hoyt’s team kept taunting, but their quips were getting less creative and more antagonistic by the day. Albert could tell: Argon was starting to see Hydra as a real threat.

Albert, Leroy, and Birdie went to the Tiles room every afternoon to distract themselves. Leroy won games left and right. Even Slink tried to beat him once. Leroy won, of course, which only made the Pit Competitions rougher, more heated. Leroy eventually ran out of Tiles opponents—no one wanted to play someone they could never beat.

One night, while the three of them sat watching an intense match between Jack and Ellery, the game was interrupted by an announcement over the Core loudspeaker.

“Attention, please,” Trey’s voice rang out. “I have an update on the Calderon Realm. Today, Professor Flynn and the Calderon First Unit attempted to cure the Sea Inspire using the pod of the Leafless Willow, but unfortunately found that the pods were all dried up—there was no liquid inside. We can only assume this is further evidence of the Imbalance.”

There was a murmur in the Library as everyone whispered about what this could mean.

“But have faith,” Trey continued. “The Realm always provides the Means. Tomorrow they begin their search for the seeds of the Fireflower. I will keep you updated. Until then, train hard, Balance Keepers. You may be called on to serve. Thank you.”

“That’s not good at all,” Birdie said, sighing as she ran her fingers through her ponytail. “What happens if the Fireflower seeds don’t work? What are the odds of that happening?”

Leroy pushed his glasses farther up on the bridge of his nose. “It’s fifty-fifty. And that’s not looking good, because if we’re on the wrong side of that fifty percent, then we’re stuck with the mythical Hissengore eggs as our final option.”

“That must be why Terran left.” Birdie sighed. “She probably got scared that nothing would ever fix this.”

Albert thought about his family back home in the city. He had tried to call his mom yesterday, but the lines were busy. The TV in the Infirmary showed that the ash was getting even worse, making the city streets look like ski slopes.

“What if the Hissengore eggs don’t even exist? No one’s found a nest in centuries,” Albert groaned. For the first time, he felt totally helpless. His dad was exhausted from entering the Realm, his mom was out of reach, and the fate of the world above relied on finding some sort of cure that might not even work.

Just then, Petra walked into the Tiles room. He waved halfheartedly at Hydra. “You guys feeling as down about this Imbalance as I am?”

“Yes,” Birdie, Leroy, and Albert said together.

“I can’t believe Terran left. She always seemed so . . . focused.” Petra slumped down on the floor next to them. “I’ve spent all day in the Library, reading books on Calderon, in case I found something to help out Grey and Aria. They’re probably hurting right now. But I’ve found nothing. Nothing at all!”

“I haven’t either,” Leroy said.

“Poor Grey and Aria.” Birdie sighed.

“They must be exhausted.” Albert nodded in agreement.

As if the day couldn’t get any grimmer, Hoyt and his cronies sauntered into the room. The second Hoyt’s beady eyes found Hydra, he marched over. “Word is Leroy here thinks he’s the best Tiles player around.”

Albert sighed.
I’m not in the mood for this today.
“Yeah. He’s pretty good, I guess.”

Hoyt grimaced. He crossed his arms and pointed at Leroy. “Not good enough to beat me. Let’s play.”

Leroy stood up and smoothed out his pants. “Actually, Hoyt, we were just leaving.”

Albert, Birdie, and Petra stood up to follow, but before they could go anywhere, Hoyt grabbed Leroy’s shoulder and whirled him around. “What’s wrong? Are you scared, Four Eyes?”

Leroy’s jaw tightened. His face flushed a deep shade of red.

“What’s your problem? Just beat it, Hoyt, before I sink my fist into your face!” Birdie snapped, stepping in front of Leroy.

“I’m not afraid of a little
girl
.” Hoyt laughed, and Slink and Mo stepped up beside him.

Albert joined Birdie. “Hey, guys, come on. Let’s just forget about this,” he said, trying to stop a fight that didn’t need to happen. He pulled Leroy and Birdie away, but Hoyt wasn’t done yet.

“You guys think you’re better than us, Flynn, but you’re all just a bunch of pansies.” Hoyt motioned for his cronies to follow him. “We’re competing in the Pit tomorrow. And you’ll see just how pathetic you are.”

Hoyt spun on his heel and marched out of the room, his shoulder slamming Leroy so hard that Leroy tripped. His glasses fell off of his face, and Hoyt’s boot crunched over them, shattering the lenses.

“Oops. Didn’t see those there.” Hoyt laughed.

“Oh man,” Leroy whined, as he knelt to pick up the broken glasses. “My mom’s gonna be so mad. I can’t see. Birdie, where are my glasses?”

At the sight of Leroy and Birdie on the ground, looking totally defeated as they tried to fix the broken glasses, Albert felt his heart race, and heat spread to his cheeks. “That’s enough,” he said. “I’m tired of this.”

He imagined himself being strong, the way he was in the Pit when he lifted Mo off of his body like the guy was weightless. In two strides, Albert was at Hoyt’s back. Hoyt turned around and started to laugh at Albert. Albert shoved Hoyt lightly, so he wouldn’t really hurt him. But Albert’s hands felt all tingly, and suddenly Hoyt went flying across the room.

Hoyt’s arm knocked into one of the Tiles boards. The pedestal rocked back and forth for a second, then crashed to the ground and broke in two pieces. Everyone in the room gasped.

“Now you’ve really done it, Flynn!” Hoyt whined like a baby, clutching his arm. Surprisingly, there was nothing but a tiny scratch there. Slink and Mo tried to help him up, but Hoyt shoved them off and left the room, yelling over his shoulder. “You’re going to pay for this!”

Albert’s pulse slowed back down. Everyone was staring at him. Some people were smiling, happy someone finally stood up to Hoyt’s bullying. But others were looking at Albert like he’d just turned into a werewolf.

“I didn’t mean to push him so hard,” Albert said. “I hardly touched him, I promise!”

“Albert . . . that was . . . ,” Birdie started, but she stopped midsentence. Her eyes went wide, just as Albert felt a hand tighten over his shoulder.

“Young Mr. Flynn,” Professor Asante said. She turned Albert around so that he was staring up at her face. She had a new tattoo on her cheek, an eyeball symbol that really gave Albert the creeps. “As impressive as that was, I’m afraid we do not tolerate fighting in the Core. You have earned yourself two hours of detention.”

“But Albert was just standing up for Leroy!” Petra squeaked. “Hoyt broke his glasses!”

Professor Asante held up a large, tattooed hand. “I will deal with Mr. Jackson later. And I believe you are late for cleaning duty in the Tower, Petra, are you not? I suggest you head there now. Take Mr. Flynn with you—he’ll be on cleaning duty with you there as punishment for his actions.”

Petra sighed, but nodded anyway. “Yes, Professor.”

Albert and Petra left the room, leaving Birdie and Leroy behind.

D
etention with Petra, it turned out, was Albert’s favorite part of the day.

“You did the right thing, standing up for Leroy,” Petra said. “I mean, throwing Hoyt across the room was a little extreme, but he kind of deserved it.”

“I guess so,” Albert agreed. “He wasn’t hurt that badly, was he?”

“It was practically a paper cut! Imagine if Birdie had gotten ahold of him first. Now
that
would have ended in a serious injury.”

Albert followed Petra out of the Library and up a spiral hallway that twisted and turned so much it made Albert dizzy. They stopped before an old wooden door.

“This is the Tower,” Petra said. “It’s basically the professors’ lounge.”

The Tower was a well-sized, rounded-out cave, complete with a natural spring running right through the middle. There was even an old pinball machine in the corner.

There were shelves lining one wall, full of ancient-looking leather books. Another wall held a rack of gleaming swords and other strange weapons. There was a cabinet full of snacks, a glowing pink parrot chirping happily in a wire cage, and several hammocks that hung from one wall to another. Professor Bigglesby was curled up in one of the hammocks, snoring nearly as loud as Leroy.

“Looks like being a professor isn’t so bad,” Albert said, whistling. “My dad didn’t tell me about this place.”

“You should see the kitchens. Now
those
are cool!” Petra opened up a cabinet in the corner of the room. He pulled out two mops, a metal bucket, and a bottle of soap.

They set to work, filling the bucket with water from the stream, and started mopping the floors. Albert hated doing chores, but this was different. It was nice to have some peace and quiet, unless you counted Professor Bigglesby’s snores, which seemed to get louder the longer he slept.

“It’s awesome spending time with a Balance Keeper,” Petra said. He was mopping like a champ. Albert wondered if Petra had been cleaning the Core since he could walk. “I wish I was like you.”

“I’m not so great,” Albert said. “I don’t even know how to work my own Tile.”

Petra tossed Albert a rag. “We’re supposed to shine the weapons twice. And what do you mean you can’t work your Tile? I’ve watched every Competition. You’re amazing.”

“That’s just it,” Albert said. “I don’t know
how
I’m doing that stuff.”

Petra thought on it for a second. “That’s the rumor about the Master Tile.”

“The
what
?”

Petra stopped mopping. “The Master Tile.” He pointed at Albert’s black Tile. “You mean no one’s told you? I’m sorry, Albert. I guess I figured you knew. I mean, it is
your
Tile.”

“My dad never told me my Tile had a name. Or any rumors!”

“Probably because the professors don’t believe them. I only know because I’ve spent loads of time in here, reading these books. Also I’m a Pure, and we sometimes see things differently than people from the outside.” He set down his mop and crossed to the bookshelf. He went through the books, finally pulling out a huge, black leather volume. “This is called the Black Book.”

“You don’t say,” Albert quipped with a smirk. Petra just rolled his eyes.

They sat down on the floor together and opened the Black Book. It was full of Tile symbols, thousands of them, each one with its own unique meaning.

“This one is the symbol for Invisibility.” Petra pointed at a symbol that looked an awful lot like those puffy storm clouds that always brought on rain.

“People can be invisible?” Albert gasped.

Petra nodded. He was so excited his hands were shaking as he flipped through the book.
Leroy would love to get his hands on this thing,
Albert thought. There were symbols that gave people superhearing, the ability to go for days without needing to eat, even singing at perfect pitch, which Albert wasn’t sure would be all that helpful in the Realms, but what did he know? He’d never been in one.

“So where’s this Master Tile thing?” Albert asked.

Petra flipped to the very back of the book and landed on a page denoting a new section. The page was blank but for a few words:

Albert sat back with a sigh.

“I can see why my dad wouldn’t think much of this Tile,” Albert said. “It’s a dud, just like Hoyt said.”

“I’ve been in the Core my entire life,” Petra said, more serious than ever. “And I’m telling you: I have a feeling about this Tile only Pures can have. I think your Tile might be the greatest of them all.”

Albert wanted to laugh. There was no way his Tile was the most powerful one. But he saw the hope in Petra’s eyes and nodded for Petra to turn the page.

“It’s right here: the Master Balance Keeper symbol.” Petra flipped to the next page.

There it was, a matching image of Albert’s Tile symbol, with that strange scale-looking shape. Scribbled next to it, in rushed handwriting that Albert could hardly read, were a few scant words:

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Albert asked. “Knowledge?”

Petra thought on it for a second. “Maybe it means you’ve got to study?”

“Study?”
Albert made a face. “Study what?”

“Beats me,” Petra replied.

“Well, if I do have to study, that would totally blow, dude,” Albert said. “Everyone else gets to have these Tiles that just give them free powers and I have to study to make mine work?”

Petra frowned at Albert. “I’ve wished for my entire life that someday I’d wake up and become a Balance Keeper. If I had the opportunity that you have, I’d study until my eyes fell out. Or, you know, something less intense.”

Albert sighed. “You’re right. I didn’t mean it that way. It just hardly seems fair.”

“Nothing’s fair!” Petra smiled. “That’s what makes life interesting!” He flipped through the book again, until he opened up a page that had the water-droplet symbol. “You breathed underwater like Birdie once, didn’t you?”

“Well, yeah,” Albert said, “but I don’t know how. I mean, I knew what her power was, and I just sort of . . . wished I could have a Tile like hers and do what she did, I guess.”

Professor Bigglesby snorted, and mumbled something about eating cheese. Petra lowered his voice. “And you also ran fast like Hoyt, balanced like Slink, got superstrong . . .”

“And one time, when Leroy was playing Tiles,” Albert remembered, “I felt mega whiz-kid smart. Just for a few seconds, but then it stopped.”

“Well, there has to be something connecting all those things,” Petra said. “What were you doing before you felt the power of the Synapse Tile?”

“I don’t know,” Albert replied. “I remember looking at Leroy’s Tile and thinking the symbol reminded me of this tree in Herman, and how cool it would be to play Tiles like Leroy so I could beat my Pap.”

“And what about when you could balance like Slink?”

“Slink had waved his stupid yellow Tile in my face.”

“And before you swam like Birdie?”

“I wanted so badly to help my team it was like I could see Birdie’s water droplet in my mind.”

“Exactly!” Petra exclaimed. “What if your Tile only works if you know the power well? Like, if you know the symbol for the power and can picture it in your head?”

Albert stood up and started shining the swords again. “But I don’t know all the symbols. I guess I knew Leroy’s and Birdie’s and maybe Hoyt’s, but most of the time I just pictured what I wanted to do, like jumping on a trampoline or something, and it happened.”

“Hmm . . . ,” Petra mused. “Maybe that somehow unlocked only part of the power of the Tile.” He began flipping through the book. “How did you do that crazy leap over Slink on the Copper Peak?”

Albert was getting a little tired of all the questioning, but Petra was so excited he decided to humor him. “I think I sort of . . . asked my Tile to help me jump like the Jackalopes in Cedarfell. Totally lame, I know, but it seemed to work.”

“And that’s when you could
really
leap, right?” Petra said, stopping on the page he had been looking for. “Here’s why.”

Albert leaned in. The page showed the Jumping Jackalope Tile, complete with a stick figure of the part-rabbit, part-antelope creature.

“So I accidentally pictured this symbol and got the power?” It seemed too easy to Albert. “What about all the other times?”

“You said it yourself, Albert—you were imagining Birdie’s symbol and then you could swim like her. With Leroy and Slink, you had just looked at their Tiles, so their symbols were fresh in your mind, even if you didn’t
know
the Balance Tile symbol. It says
knowledge
, right there in the book. Albert! Just imagine . . . if you knew
all
the symbols and could picture them at will—”

“I’d be the best Balance Keeper there ever was.”

Petra nodded enthusiastically.

“
If
it’s true,” Albert added.

“There’s only one way to find out!” Petra motioned for Albert to join him on the floor in front of the book.

They spent the next few minutes flipping through the book, getting familiar with several symbols. When they’d looked at ten or so, Petra quizzed Albert by covering up the powers with his hand.

“What’s this one?” Petra asked, as Albert looked at a symbol of a bird with outstretched wings.

“Easy,” Albert replied. “Flying.”

“This one?” Petra held up the book on a page with a crescent-moon symbol.

Albert didn’t know this one right away. Was it the power to sprout claws like a werewolf or the ability to see in the dark? All this was getting a little boring, even when it was about something as cool as Core powers. But Petra was right. Albert was lucky to be a Balance Keeper. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to focus.

“Night Vision?” Albert guessed.

“Nope,” Petra said. “It’s Sleeplessness. Going for days without even needing a nap.” Petra turned the book now so only he could see it. “Describe the symbol for the Vanishing Tile to me.”

Albert knew that one—it was a cloud shape, like the puff of smoke when a magician goes
poof
and disappears. He closed his eyes and could see the symbol clearly. He opened his mouth to describe it to Petra, but before he could say anything, Petra jumped up. Albert opened his eyes at the sound and found Petra pointing at him with wide eyes. His hands were shaking.

“You’re . . . gone! Albert, you’re
gone
!”

“What are you talking about?” Albert asked. But when he looked down at his toes . . .

There was nothing there.

“I’m invisible!” Albert said, trying not to scream and wake up the professor. It only lasted for a second. As soon as he got distracted and forgot about the Tile symbol, his body reappeared.

“I knew it!” Petra squeaked. “I knew you could do it! Let’s try another one!” He flipped to the page for the Diminishing Tile.

All the symbols were swirling around in Albert’s head now, but he focused and imagined a big triangle with a tiny triangle next to it. All of a sudden he was eye to eye with Petra’s shoelaces, as tiny as a mouse.

“Awesome!” Albert squeaked. Petra’s foot moved then, though, and Albert lost his concentration. He grew back to his normal size in one second flat. Petra was grinning from ear to ear.

“Let’s try one more! Picture the symbol for the Creature Speak Tile.”

Albert already knew that one—it’s was his dad’s Tile. He brought the weird megaphone symbol to the front of his mind, then opened his mouth. A strange—and very loud—roar came out. Professor Bigglesby stirred in the hammock. Albert clasped his hands over his mouth.

“I think that’s enough for today!” Petra said. He was still bursting with so much energy that he tripped over his own feet as he rushed forward, picked up the book, and shoved it into Albert’s arms. “Time for you to study up, Albert Flynn. You’d better learn every symbol in this book if you’re going to unlock the power of the Master Tile. You’re about to become the best Balance Keeper ever. I can feel it!”

Albert grabbed the book silently. He couldn’t believe he really had the Master Tile. As if to convince himself again, he turned to the end of the Black Book and found the page with the warning on it. He flipped the page and looked at his Tile symbol, then realized they hadn’t thought to look at the rest of the section. Were there other Tiles as powerful and controversial as his? He flipped the page again.

That was it. He’d reached the back cover of the book. “My Tile is the only one here.”

“Like I said.” Petra smiled. “Best Balance Keeper ever!”

Albert took a closer look, running his finger along the binding between the back cover and the page his Tile was on. It was there that he found the tiniest evidence of a tattered edge of paper.

The last page of the Black Book had been torn out.