* Theo
I was still feeling rather irritated by the way Lauren treated me. Why would she get mad at me for stating facts? Sera is trash, the way she walks around thinking she can get away with anything. The teacher even lets her sleep, when we train all day?
Grrr... Oh here they come, Sera walked in front of Lauren, making her way to her seat. Lauren caught my eye, well... she always caught my eye when she was around. She bowed in front of the class saying sorry for her attitude over the past few days. She then explained how. she wasn't mentally in the right place.
I could tell there was something wrong with her, it all started a few days ago... my expression grew cold as I looked at Sera in the corner of my eye. The way she sat there, her eyes emotionless, legs crossed like none of this had nothing to do with her. Lauren walked up to me and bowed at a ninety-degree angle, making me nervous. Lauren was scary, but now she looked pitiful. This is my goddess I can't have her tainted by Sera, I'll try to get her to join my group.
I gave Lauren a hug which she returned. Sera's face twitched, a reaction was finally garnered from her face. She was pretty and I wouldn't mind being friends with her, but she stepped over the line, twice: one having Lauren, and her terrible attitude, like can you try to play nice.
Sera slept the rest of the class in a weird position while Lauren left a trail of after images, and shards of metal on the ground.
" Why don't you just ask Lauren out already? This is getting ridiculous." My best friend, tom said.
" She's girlfriends with Sera," I said giving him a 'are you stupid look'.
" My mom and dad told me that two girls can't have a relationship; and that girls are much closer with each other than boys are. They must be best friends, go for it. I think you have a shot," he said while stretching his legs.
I tried to talk to Lauren, but she ran off walking beside Sera.
...
Dawn called me into her office today, she said it was about the second ability. I was supposed to be in class now, but I did not need to be in the room. Layla knew that she wasn't qualified to teach me, no one beside Shora who was of a higher realm than me. I figured when she said realm, it was like a different world or dimension; I had a good idea since I've read a few cultivation novels.
" I looked over all the files and documentation of abilities throughout the generations. I have narrowed it down to two possibilities," Dawn said, yawning with a groggy face," these are just guesses, but its either a transformation ability, or that's just the design your ability took shape in. Looking at your appearance, it looks like the ability is unlocking and the former is most likely the answer."
" I think you may be right," I said to her.
I felt bad for not telling Dawn the truth. I talked with Shora, and she said that it would be foolish to trust these people. They kept some big secrets from me, albeit for a few days until she found out. Knowing that Dawn and her people kept that information a secret, what else was she hiding? Dawn does seem trustworthy, however, look at what I've been through I can't trust people easily.
" What you told me about my ability is the wrong way it's supposed to be used," I said
" What do you mean, we compiled this after hundreds of years?"
" I noticed that when I use my ability, the weakness comes from me having to use my inner energy as a source to rekindle the flame. When the flame comes back the ability is slowly weakened each use; my life is shortened as well."
Dawn was intrigued by what I told her: " Then how does your ability work?"
" Sunrise is used to strengthen my body and magic by compressing it, when I compress the flame it grows more condensed allowing me to perform powerful spells," I said trying the best I could to put what Shora told me in easier terms so Dawn could understand.
Dawn asked a few questions, saddened over the fact that I could not use my ability to strengthen her troops. I gave vague answers, glossing over facts that would cause more suspicion than she already might have toward me.
We had some chit chat, asking about how my living situation was and similar topics. Dawn walked me to the door where she waved me goodbye. I learned that Shora was a seer, someone who could see future events. That must be why I saw those visions in my dreams, there was a catch though. All of the events I foresaw were predictions, possibilities. Only if I made certain actions would that future come true.
The dream I had with Lauren was a prediction, that made me worried; what if something else occurred? The feelings of happiness I experienced for a brief moment were too good to be true.
...
* Dawn
When Sera left my office, I let out a deep breath. Looking down at my shaking hands I felt a chill go up to my spine. When had my hands become like this? I noticed that Sea was different the moment she walked through the door. Her appearance wasn't what made me agitated, but something inside of her, I could feel my ability shaking. It was as if my body wanted to hide out of view, trying to hide from a force so domineering that I would stand no chance. I doubt the strength coming from her is from her ability Sunrise, she hasn't been training long.
I deduced that Sera had awoken the ability within her had been unlocked but was keeping the knowledge a secret. She wasn't very good due to how her appearance changed, making her look as if she were cut from a famous piece of art. If I were not as experienced and powerful as I am now, I would have never even known my life could end at a moment's notice.
I shouldn't be surprised that she's hiding things from us, we did the same. The way she grew up till now is tragic, we're lucky that she's sane.
...
* Sera
' That woman had amazing senses, she could almost see my existence,' Shora said, genuinely complimenting Dawn,' but, I doubt she could sense much. Probably only a fraction of my aura.'
I was alarmed at the thought of Dawn knowing that Shora could be inside me. Shora reassured me that if Dawn sensed her aura, that she would never try anything.
Making my way through the town my pace slowed, the sunshine warm on my skin. Relaxing when you can is nice. The streets where traffic would usually be bad when I walked through, but now, when people are at work or home I could enjoy life.
On my way back to the school I picked up some snacks Raelith would love. She sure did like sweet things. If I go back to class now that would be such a waste. Why don't I enjoy the time I can be alone.
' I'm here though.'
Shhh! This is alone time, not interrupting.
' Whatever.'
I wanted to see the barrier that surrounded the city while I was on my stroll. I never saw any maps, in the weeks I've been here. They must not make them, or they could be baned. I wouldn't be surprised if they were.
Walking along the cobbled road I walked in a direction and was going straight. If I go in one direction long enough, I'm bound to reach an end. The farther I walked the fewer people there were, now maybe there might be one or two, going about their business.
' The barrier they have set up is very old, they don't seem to have made any adjustments to it with the changing of times.'
Is that a big deal, the reason the barrier is active is to repel monsters. The thing doesn't need any other features.
' Monsters evolve rapidly than what you're used to. A barrier or any spell should be revised every hundred years. The beast can adapt very easily, so it's a surprise that this town isn't overrun or discovered.'
Shora gave her explanation, how monstrous could they be. The buildings grew to be the same, symmetrical to each other even. Currently, I've walked two hours east of where headquarters is.
' Try to push your purified life force out of your body. Keep a firm grasp over the energy'
I tried what Shora said pushing the energy out was easy. But, keeping control, now that was another story. When purified energy left the body, it would instinctively want to merge with the surroundings. I had to have a firm grasp leaving none of it out; if there was a hole in the control I held over it, the energy would dissipate.
I spent around a third of my energy which to a normal magic-user in this town, would be an amount that would turn them to dust. I was shaky with my control, sweat dripped down my brow. I went over to a bench that stood to the side, so I could sit down. I looked as if I were taking an afternoon nap.
' Now expand the energy, to allow it to encompass a hundred yards in diameter of yourself.'
This process was a bit easier than the first, I didn't have to grasp an entirely new concept. I was surprised, inside the energy I could see everything. The people in their houses, stones on the road, and even the barrier...could this be called a barrier. For one the thing did not stop one from passing through, and the resisting effect was terrible. Maybe I've been around Shora too long, but even I could make a barrier better than this one; mine would be much smaller scale, however.
' Your right, with a bit more practice you could conjure a barrier way more effective than this one.'
My thought was stalled when a man came walking over," Girl, you can't be sleeping here."
I opened my eyes acting like I was tired. The man wore a type of dark green armor, a small blade strapped to his hips.
" I was looking around," I said making my voice sound more childish than what I sound like normally, " I got tired so I took a nap. Why, am I not allowed?"
The green armored man said his features softening, reminding him of his child: " This is a restricted area, you must know that people can be executed for wandering around."
The punishment was excessive, to say the least, but being stern or having your entire population massacred. If someone caused an issue which could endanger the lives of everyone in this town, I wouldn't want anyone coming near either.
" Goodbye," I said as I was about to walk away. I saw Lucy wearing a thick sweat much too hot for a day where the seasons weren't cold.
" Oh, is that you Sera. What are you doing here?' She said walking over to where we were.
The armored man looked very respectful toward Lucy. Lucy didn't mind as she put her hand on her side, accentuating her curves. This caused the man to stiffen his back.
" Chris, what are you doing with Sera," she asked the man known as Chris.
" She's the girl who you and my superiors went to save?. She looks so different."
Lucy responded to Chris," Yes, although she does look different."
" I don't know how I got here? I went for a walk and I ended up taking a nap after I got tired." I smoothly said.
Now, I think this tidbit of information that I gained from this trip is pretty useful. Dawn is still keeping the thing in the dark from me. She's not hiding it per se but she's not leaving it in the open.
" Silly you. I'll walk you back to your house. Where do you live, by the way, I heard you moved. Chris, can you deliver this file to the barracks? "
" Yes, Commander!" Chris saluted Lucy before jogging off.
I told Lucy about how we all moved in with Stella, my master. She gave me a knowing smile while we walked.
" Would you like to visit sometime, you can bring James and Nick with you?"
" Sure, I'd love to, don't know if those jerks will want to though."
She dropped me off before warning me not to get lost again.