The school remained our home for some time afterward. I could never look at the teachers the same, and I felt really disgusted with what I had saw, the image still burnt into my head. I continued training myself, wanting to manifest my dreams quickly. Furthermore, I needed to protect myself in case of an emergency with the school. I wasn't planning on… dying so soon.
Mae was beside me, her hand on my shoulder as she whispered hints and helped me with my training. The music blasted in one ear, and she spoke into the other. I knew what I was doing for once. It felt natural. It felt normal. I felt as though I could do it, so I tried really hard, but all I got for a result was a nose bleed.
"That's enough for today. We can't have you bleeding too much… otherwise they'll know." She said, removing her hand from my shoulder and grabbing some tissues off of the shelf.
"Why did we have to come to your place?" I asked, holding a soft tissue against my nose.
"Well for one… my parents aren't around unlike yours, and I can speed up the process. On one condition." Mae said, becoming serious. "I gave you this training free… but if you want more training to manifest your dreams… you must join me and Axel." She continued, my face returning to its sad look.
"What about the students inside? The plan involves-"
"They'll be evacuated. I know they will. If the school was to just let them die… this would all fall apart for them. They'd have no excuse for that." She interrupted. Answering my question quickly and carefully as to make sure I'd understand it.
For once… the plan made sense. No one would get hurt… and so it seemed like a win-win situation.
"I agree." I said, ready for more training.
***
Days passed with harsh training. All I ever got out was a small shadow, which hovered above a small fruit bowl on Mae's counter. Mae inspected the bowl and lifted an orange, which now had a small slit in its outer skin.
"That's some starting damage." She announced, even smiling a little. Her smile warmed me in her cold home.
"Not like you can do damage with the type of dreams you have… the shadow creature in my dreams will be able to do massive damage… and why is it so cold in here?" I asked.
"You're more likely to have a nightmare in a cold house or room. The more nightmares I have... I've learned it makes my manifesting stronger." She answered my second question, while also proving me wrong with my first statement. "I can do damage." She said, closing her eyes and summoning a large sword out of nowhere. She swung it down next to me, leaving a large cut in her wooden floor. My eyes were wide and I began shivering.
"Alright then, maybe summoning items… is a nice manifestation." I said, turning around and walking to sit on her couch.
"Training can be over for now. Here." She said, summoning a small brown bar. I grabbed it and held it to my nose. It smelled sweet, and I took a small bite of it, only to realize it tasted much better than it smelled. I took multiple bites before I realized it was becoming a liquid in my hand.
"It's chocolate. I dreamt of it just last night." She said, beginning to wobble and almost fall. I reached out, but wouldn't be able to catch her. My hand just didn't reach. Instead, a shadow shot from under my arm and caught her, bringing her to the couch next to me.
"Are you alright? You really shouldn't… show off that much." I said, grinning.
"Ha… don't make me too mad… I'll still kill you." She said, attempting to stand again. Her nose began to drip blood, and so she gripped a tissue and laid back down. She turned her body, so she could look outside the window.
"Your abilities seem to be… getting stronger." She said, quickly changing the subject. "You'll have to stay here overnight. Curfew is already here and if you go out there… they'll just take you away." She said, turning to look at me. For a moment we locked eyes. I felt more comfortable around her... as if we'd become friends.
I slept on the couch that night while she went up to her room. The room was cold, but after hearing what Mae had said, it felt right to sleep in the cold without a blanket. If it were for the sake of my abilities and protecting Mae... I'd do it.
I would gladly suffer for her sake.