CHAPTER 9
What was this power she felt flowing through her? Everything was all new to her. The realm, this new power, the people, they were all new to her. Yes she wasn't a novice when it came to power. I mean, a sheet that had been raised as a battle angel, who would have thought? But you believed. then you pulled it off.
She never would have thought she of all people would find power new to her. Ayra thought to herself as the flames on her arm continued to grow.
"Ayra. Ayra! Snap out of it!" Ashley called her out of her deep state of thinking.
"A-Ashley," She stammered as she tried to catch her breath. "What are you doing here?" Ayra asked puzzled.
"Trying to stop you from engulfing the whole place with flames," Ashley retorted. "What is going on with you Ayra?" Ashley asked worried.
"I'm fine I just got kind of lost in my thought." Ayra replied absent mindedly, catching her breath.
"You know, the size of the flames I saw growing on your hands suggest otherwise." Ashley remarked, her eyes fixed on Ayra.
"It looked like you had a lot on your mind Ayra." she continued, taking a step closer to Ayra and placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"I'm good really. No need to act like my older sister." Ayra rebuffed..
"Well technically, I am your big sis." Ashley ribbed, playfully poking Ayra's arm. "But, since you say that you are fine, I'll take your word for it." Ashley sighed and shook her head before walking away from Ayra.
Ayra questioned herself silently, "Am I really okay?" She then spoke aloud to herself. "I really miss Mira… I wonder how she's been doing since the incident."
Lukas let out a small chuckle as he approached Ayra. "Hmmm, I see someone's been practicing." He joked, observing her as she conjured up another set of flames."
Ayra turned around to face him, small smile creeping onto her lips. "Yeah, I guess I have been." she replied, her voice filled with a hint of pride.
Lukas walked over to her, his eyes scanning her up and down. "Your form is getting better," he said, nodding his head in approval. "But you still have a long way to go."
Ayra let out a small sigh. She couldn't help but wonder if she could have more to her abilities than just controlling fire.
As if sensing his daughter's inner turmoil, Lukas placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Ayra. You'll figure it out in time."
Ayra looked up from her thoughts, her eyes scanning the room until they fell on Kevin, who had been silently observing from the corner. She felt frustration mounting at the lack of privacy and the constant interruptions.
"Can't I have some privacy?" she exclaimed, her voice laced with irritation. "Everyone keeps walking in whenever they feel like it." Ayra's gaze fixed on Kevin, her tone stern and unwavering.
"And Kevin," she continued, "I know you have been standing at the corner for sometime now. You'd better turn off your camouflage yourself or else you won't like what might come flying at you soon to help you turn it off." She could feel the heat in her cheeks as she spoke, her words laced with threat.
As she glared at Kevin, she couldn't help but wonder how long he had been standing there, watching her. She clenched her teeth, took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to calm herself down. The last thing she needed was to lose control of her powers and cause damage to the fragile surroundings.
"Caught me red-handed," Kevin said, materializing from the corner and looking sheepish. "B-but to be fair, I'm only here on orders."
"I apologize on behalf of Ayra, Kevin. She seems to be caught up in her thoughts and unaware of the urgency of our situation." He turned to face Ayra,
"We don't have much time before the agency strikes again, and we need to act fast to gain an advantage over them."
Ayra felt her temper begin to simmer. How could he say that? He was supposed to be on her side.
Lukas observed Ayra. He wondered if his plan was working. Ayra didn't need pampering anymore, she needed her spirit challenged. He was hoping to elicit a strong emotional response from her, one that could potentially unlock new powers within her or allow her to manifest existing ones in a different way. He knew that time was running out and they needed all the advantage they could get against the agency.
"My dear queen," Lukas conceded a bit, his gaze fixed on Ayra, "It is time for you to practice once again. Remember, the key to unlocking your full potential is to give it your all and not hold anything back. Let your anger and frustration fuel you, channel that energy into your abilities. Sometimes, emotion is all you need."
He could see the doubt and hesitation in Ayra's eyes, and he knew that she was still holding back. Lukas knew that Ayra had the potential to become the most powerful among them, but she needed to fully tap into her abilities first.
"Trust me, Ayra," he continued, "I know you can do this. Let go of your fears and inhibitions, embrace the power within you. Only then can we defeat the agency and protect our people."
She took a shaky breath.
"Fine, I am only doing this because I want to not because you begged me to." Ayra teased Lukas and they both burst into laughter.
"Begging?" Lukas retorted, playfully nudging Ayra's arm. "I'm just trying to help you reach your full potential here kid."
Ayra rolled her eyes, still chuckling. "I know, I know. I appreciate it really."
Lukas grinned. "Good. Now let's get started. I want to see what you can do."
Ayra took a deep breath, closing her eyes and focusing on the energy within her. She could feel it swirling and pulsing, waiting to be unleashed. With a sudden burst of effort, she opened her eyes and thrust her hand forward, releasing a wave of crackling energy.
Lukas watched in awe as the energy rippled through the air, sending sparks flying.
"Wow! That was amazing!" he thought to himself..
Ayra grinned, noticing her father's face and feeling a rush of pride. "I'm just getting started." she muttered under her breath.
She then took a deep breath, closing her eyes as she focused on the flame in her palm. She felt the heat emanating from it, the power within it, and the potential danger it held. She knew that if she couldn't control it, it could cause destruction beyond imagination. She blew a breath from her lips. Trying with all her heart to concentrate.
"Be one with the flame, control it, do not let it control you," Lukas repeated, reminding her of her task.
"If that happens, it could be disastrous for not just you, but me and everyone here and the whole world…" Lukas whispered, emphasizing the stakes involved.
Ayra opened her eyes slowly, feeling the weight of the responsibility on her shoulders. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, focusing her mind on the flame. Then she began to feel a connection, a bond and a sense of harmony.
"We are counting on you! You're the future!" Ayra heard in her head. It was one of the famous battle angel trainee slangs by their trainers.
Ayra smiled, feeling confident and empowered. She raised her hand, and the flame rose with it. She moved it around, shaped it into different forms, and played with it like a child with a toy. She felt exhilarated, free, and alive.
Then Ayra closed her eyes and focused on the task at hand. She began to mutter the incantation softly under her breath. "Les flames brillen mes brillants a les mans que coneix."
The words rolled off her tongue in a melodic rhythm, each syllable enunciated with precision and purpose. The air around her began to warm up, as if the heat of the flames was radiating from her very cells."
As she continued to chant, the glow from her fingers grew brighter and brighter, until it seemed like the entire room was filled with the intense light. Lukas watched on in amazement, knowing that Ayra was well on her way to mastering her powers.
Suddenly, Ayra's eyes snapped open, and the flames from her fingers shot up into the air, swirling and dancing around like a fiery tornado. Lukas stepped back, marveling at the display of power in front of him.
For a moment, Ayra was lost in the flames, completely consumed by their heat and energy. But then with a deep breath, she centered herself and brought the flames back under control. She lowered her hands, the glow slowly fading away.
With a smile of satisfaction, Ayra looked over at Lukas. "How was that?" she asked, a little breathless but feeling newfound confidence in her abilities.
"Excellent. Now its time to demonstrate the true power of those flames." Lukas said, a tiny plan having formed in his mind. In a second he chanted, "Un amb aire, un a l'espai." And he was behind her in a flash, electrifying her with his rod.
"Never lose focus on your target, as it's one of the easiest ways to get killed in a battle," he cautioned.
"El podwe residexi en els ulls pero es creat pel cor. Dona'm la forca per saber reconeixer el poder quan el vegi." Ayra intoned, her eyes abruptly darkened.
"Ayra," he spoke, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Unleash your full power upon me. Strike me with your most powerful blow, so we may witness the true form of your abilities." He stood before her, bracing himself for the impact, eager to see what she was truly capable of.
Ashley spoke into her father's mind, "Do you not think you are taking it a bit too far?" Her brow furrowed with concern, as she observed Ayra preparing to unleash her full power from the shadows. She knew that with great power came great responsibility, and she worried about the consequences of Ayra's actions.
Ashley stepped closer, her voice low and urgent. "You're taking it too far, Lukas. You have to tell her to stop before it is too late."
Lukas hesitated, his mind racing with the possibilities. He knew that Ayra was capable of great things, but he also understood the danger of pushing her too hard. "I hear what you're saying, Ashley," he replied, his voice tense with emotion. "But we can't give up now. We have to see this through to the end."
Ashley's eyes narrowed, a frown creasing her brow. "I don't like this, Lukas. It's too risky. Ayra could hurt herself or someone else."
Lukas took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. He could feel the tension building in the air, a palpable sense of danger lurking beneath the surface. "I understand your concern, Ashley," he said, his voice low and steady. "But we can't turn back now. Ayra's power is our best hope for turning the tide in our fa–"
Suddenly, Ayra let out a fierce cry, her eyes blazing with an otherworldly light, her hands raised, ready to avenge herself. Lukas felt a surge of excitement ripple through him as he watched her power grow stronger and more intense with each passing moment.
Ashley stepped forward, and turned back to the others who were also watching, a look of determination on her face. "We have to do something, her voice was urgent. "Before it's too late!"
Because she knew what Ayra could do. They seemed to have all forgotten that underneath Ashley, she was Ayra.