From Graphite To Diamond

"Alright kids, here are your results from the physical exam. Please stay seated and wait until you get called." Said the teacher in the classroom full of children. They all appeared to be around ten years old.
Little Finn was sitting at the desk, drawing something on the paper.
Other kids were whispering among themselves, all looking nervous but excited at the same time, eagerly waiting to hear the results.
"Do you think I'll be able to use six gems?"
"Ha, I bet I can use seven."
"No way that's the level for the eighth grade."
"I can already use five and control two gems at the same time; I'm a natural talent." One of the kids was gloating.
"Pssst, how many gems do you think Finn can use?" Another kid asked.
"He barely passed the first grade and is still stuck on only four gems." The girl with pigtails was mocking the boy with her group of friends behind Finn's back.
The boy was sitting too far away from them to hear the gossip.
"I don't even know how he managed to stay in this class, ughh." The girl continued to talk badly about him.
"His mom probably bought some expensive gifts for the teacher or something."
"Yeah."
They all laughed.
"But how will he go to high school then? Everyone knows you need to be able to use seven gems in order to enter."
One of the kids said.
"His mom will bribe the high school."
"Ugh, so unfair."
"I know. I guess one must be rich to cover for the lack of talent."
They all continued to gossip.
"Please be quiet." Teacher said.
She gave the test results to everyone except Finn.
The boy politely raised his hand.
"Yes, Finn?" The teacher turned towards the boy.
"Teacher, you forgot about my results." The boy said.
"Don't worry, I didn't forget about you. I was going to tell you to stay after class."
"Why?" Finn looked confused.
"Because you obviously failed."
One of the kids said out loud.
"No speaking without permission!" The teacher raised her voice.
"No, you didn't fail the test, but you will have to retake it because the examiners were left with few uncertainties regarding your test. It's nothing serious; you just focus on doing your best, and we'll know your results by the end of the week, okay?" The teacher tried to reassure the boy.
"It's obvious the teacher just doesn't want to embarrass him in front of the class."
The kids laughed quietly.
Later that week, Finn was sitting on a bench in front of the headmistress's office.
His mother was inside, talking with both the headmistress and the teacher.
Finn was bored from waiting, so he got up and walked to the door to eavesdrop.
"At first we thought it was a mistake, but after repeating the test twice, there is no doubt. Miss Cherry, your son Finn is already way above the average, at such a young age too. Most kids his age can use from five to seven, and at the end of high school, they are expected to be able to use ten gemstones. Finn can already use fifteen, and he is only ten years old. Fifteen is a requirement for entering the University of Minerals and their magical properties. This is a huge jump considering he was the last one in his class who managed to control the four gems, which are the fundamentals for continuing further education."
"True, but we both know—I've said it before in front of the headmistress too—what I think about the current school curriculum. Finn was just a child playing around; he didn't take school seriously. That's why my son didn't focus on GEMS three years ago. Kids are kids; I think we put too much pressure and expectations on them too early. Not all kids develop their abilities at the same time, and this fast food knowledge system, as I call it, isn't working for my son. Want to know why he made such progress? It's because I let him show interest in the gems by himself." Miss Cherry replied.
"No system is perfect, but we try our best to ensure equal chances for all. There are over twenty children in every classroom; it's impossible for the teacher to focus that much on each child individually. "Teacher," said Miss Cherry.
"Um, but that's not why we're here today." The headmistress had a paper in her hand.
"This is the university we earlier mentioned." She showed the paper to Finn's mother.
"The University of Minerals and their magical abilities?" Miss Cherry observed the paper with information about the university.
"We think it would be for the best if, starting next year, you sign up Finn there." Headmistress said.
"Yes, he is exactly what they're looking for. Plus there are fewer students there, so it would be easier for professors to focus on your son." Teacher added.
"You want my son to skip school and go to university at ten years old?" Miss Cherry looked at them with a serious expression on her face.
"That's for the best." The teacher replied.
"For the best, huh? Finn is just a child. Abilities or not, he should be among the kids his age."
"But please, at least think about it. Finn has a talent that shouldn't be wasted." "Headmistress," said the mother.
"I think I've said enough." Miss Cherry said before leaving.
Six years later, Miss Cherry was in the headmistress's office again. This time it was in high school, though.
"Miss Cherry, your son can use forty gems, forty! Considering how fifty is the record, your son is amazing. You shouldn't wait for high school to finish; sign him up for university right away."
"Ahhh, I already had this conversation back in his elementary school, and my answer is the same as before: no."
"But Miss Cherry..."
"No, and please don't announce those results anywhere or speak of them in front of his class. Finn was isolated from the friend groups just because of this. You know how obsessed kids are already with how many gems they can use; they don't want to hang out with you if you are too weak in their eyes, but they also don't want to be friends with someone who is way above them. It creates envy. Finn started as a child who barely passed first grade due to his playful, childlike nature, but as he grew, so did his abilities. Finn's talent wasn't welcomed by his classmates. It made him not want to use his abilities in front of them or barely anyone. He was afraid of being judged and not accepted. So please, don't make it harder for my son. Let him finish high school in peace."
"I understand. Don't worry, Miss Cherry, we will put twenty in official records, but we can't write below that." The headmistress from high school said.
A few months later in the classroom.
Finn, at the age of sixteen, raised his hand.
"Teacher, what about the other gems' abilities, besides the main four?" He asked.
"There are no other abilities. Phh, he thinks he is special." The girl commented out loud with annoyance in her voice.
"I don't remember giving you permission to talk, Vesper." The teacher glanced at the girl before replying to Finn.
She looked angry and crossed her hands.
"I didn't really understand your question, Finn. What do you mean by "main four"? There are only four gem abilities." "Teacher," said Finn.
"You know, the levitation, crystallization, magnet, and who knows what else—the sky is the limit. There are so many minerals with undiscovered properties, endless possibilities." Finn spoke with curiosity in his eyes.
"Ohhh, the theory studies, yes, we have those, but you'll have to wait for university for that." Teacher said.
"No, not the theories; I've already read those. I mean, it's real." Finn replied.
"Ughh, so arrogant, he pretends he knows more than a teacher." Vesper muttered.
"No, that's not it... I... I wasn't trying to..."
I was just curious... I only wanted to learn more.
Those thoughts were going through the boy's head while he was still fighting the angry thief.
I let myself be held back because I worry too much about what others will think or say about me. I see knowing more as something bad... No... I'm forced to see it as something bad every day, but the truth is... I actually think it's fun.
Maybe it's finally time I free myself from these thoughts and just do it.
Finn had a determined look in his eyes.

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