It was Azamy who spoke first, her voice warm and welcoming.
"Heyy! How's it going, Alice?"
"Uh... I'm good. And you?"
"No need to be so formal. Just call me Azamy."
"Okay... Azamy."
"That's more like it! So, Armie filled me in on your situation. Sounds like you've awakened your spiritual powers, huh?"
"I think so. I might have aerokinesis or telekinesis, but I don't really know how it works..."
"If I had more time, I'd give you a live lesson, but duty calls here in Los Angeles."
That explained why it was still daylight on her end.
She continued, "But I've got a disciple in your city. You two can work together for a while, and we'll do regular video calls so I can guide you. Sound good?"
"Perfect. I can't wait to start!"
Her enthusiasm was contagious.
"That's the mindset I like to see! I'll let her know. You'll start tomorrow morning at 5 a.m. near the abandoned school."
Alice's excitement wavered slightly.
5 a.m.? Why so early?!
"Alright, I've gotta run. See you tomorrow!"
The call ended, and Alice knew she'd have to get to bed early to make it on time. Thankfully, she fell asleep quickly.
The night felt like it lasted only half an hour. When her alarm went off, Alice didn't feel like she'd slept at all. Her eyes were heavy, but a mix of excitement and apprehension kept her moving. She took a quick shower, threw on some comfortable clothes, and headed out.
The crisp morning air hit her face, waking her up a little more. She checked her phone: it was almost 5 a.m. The sky was just beginning to lighten, painted in soft pinks and oranges.
As she walked toward the abandoned school, her mind raced. What awaited her there? How would Azamy's disciple help her? The questions swirled, but she tried to focus on the present.
After a few minutes, the school came into view—silent and crumbling. It stood in a neighborhood that seemed to have forgotten it existed. The walls were faded, the windows broken, and the whole place had an eerie, abandoned feel.
As Alice got closer, she noticed a figure sitting on the front steps, lost in thought.
No way... it can't be!
She recognized the sleek, dark violet hair and the determined gaze.
The disciple she was supposed to train with was none other than Jade, her rival who'd been missing for days!
Alice couldn't believe her eyes, but there was no mistaking it.
"Jade? Is that you?!" she exclaimed, walking closer.
Jade's lemon-green eyes widened in surprise for a split second.
She was wearing a sleeveless white top made of a material Alice couldn't quite place—a mix of silk, leather, and nylon. The shirt, paired with a red tie, struck a balance between practicality and style. The rest of her outfit was black, with subtle purple accents on her pleated skirt, gloves, and tights. A cropped jacket draped over her shoulders completed the chic yet functional look.
The most striking detail was the leather bracelet on her wrist, adorned with a finely cut gemstone.
"I should've guessed it was you," Jade said calmly, standing up.
Alice couldn't read her expression—it was a mix of joy, bitterness, and a hint of apprehension.
"So this is what you've been doing all this time? You have spiritual powers too... I can't believe it!"
Jade sighed softly.
"Looks like my secret's out. You deserve to know the truth now," she said, brushing herself off. "I grew up in a nearby town—Saint-Hilaire de Provaire. You've probably heard of it, right?"
Saint-Hilaire de Provaire? But that's a ghost town over a hundred kilometers from here! No one's lived there for decades.
How could a teenager survive in a place with no water or electricity? How did she eat, dress, or even go to school? It seemed impossible... but then again, after everything Alice had experienced, the word "impossible" didn't mean much anymore.
Still, she was shocked by this revelation about her friend.
"I can't believe it. Saint-Hilaire's been abandoned for at least sixty years. You couldn't have survived there."
Alice frowned, nervous but determined to hear the truth. That's when she noticed the shadow of sadness in Jade's eyes.
"It's uninhabitable now, but it wasn't always like that. Just a few months ago, it was a thriving, lively place. But one day... an entity possessed my brother and did the unthinkable."
Jade struggled to contain her pain but pressed on.
"The demon inside him transformed and stole the town's matrix core, making it the master of the territory."
She clenched her fists, trying to control her frustration. Alice listened silently, her heart aching for her friend.
"I don't remember everything that happened, but some images are burned into my mind. The moment the monster took the core, Saint-Hilaire literally became the hell described in sacred texts. Flames were everywhere, and people died in agony... I saw things I can't even describe. I lost everyone I loved that night."
A tear glistened on her pale skin.
"When I woke up, everyone was gone. I don't know why I was spared... but not long after, I met a group of Spirit Hunter who helped me get back up. And now I'm here."
She wiped her face and quickly regained her composure. Alice wanted to hug her, to tell her how brave she was, but she knew Jade hated physical contact and pity. So she stayed quiet.
"That's the whole story. I've sworn to fight so that the horrors of the past never happen again. No matter the cost... Anyway, you're not here to listen to my life story. Let's get to work!"
Alice recognized the challenging look in Jade's eyes. She followed her into the decrepit building. They ended up in a classroom on the ground floor.
Alice was still processing everything. If she were in Jade's place, she was sure she wouldn't have been able to handle losing everyone she loved. She would've broken down—that is for sure.
"Hey, Alice, stay with me, okay?" Jade said, snapping her out of her thoughts.
Jade pulled out a laptop, a projector, cables, and a speaker. Alice watched, intrigued. What was she planning to do with all this equipment?
"We'll start with a basic exercise," Jade explained, setting up the projector. "Azamy left me some instructions to help you understand your powers. It might seem a little... weird at first, but you'll manage."
She connected the laptop to the projector, and a complex diagram appeared on the cracked classroom wall. The lines and symbols looked strange, almost alive, as if they were ready to leap off the screen.
"This is a representation of spiritual energy,"
Jade said, pointing to different parts of the diagram. "Everything in this universe is connected by invisible forces, and you can interact with them. We think you have a unique sensitivity to these flows, but you need to learn how to feel them consciously."
She paused, her gaze intense.
"Close your eyes, Alice. Imagine the air around you is an extension of your own body. Breathe deeply... feel every particle of air, its density, how it flows around you."
Alice followed her instructions, closing her eyes and focusing on the air. At first, nothing happened. But gradually, she began to sense a subtle vibration, like a faint shimmer all around her. Her heartbeat slowed, and she started to feel a kind of flow, a gentle movement she could almost guide with her thoughts.
"Good," Jade murmured, her voice firm but kind. "Now, try to visualize a light breeze. Just a whisper... nothing more."
Alice concentrated on the image. To her amazement, she felt something shift in the air. A cool breeze swept through the room, brushing gently against her face.
She opened her eyes, stunned.
"You did it," Jade said with a small smile. "For a beginner, that's pretty impressive."
Alice felt a surge of pride, but it was quickly tempered.
"That's just the first step. Manipulating air is one thing, but cultivating the energy around you is another. And..." Jade's tone darkened, "there are forces that will constantly try to harm you. You'll need to do more than create a breeze to fight them off."
Alice swallowed hard. The memory of Jade's story about her brother and the entity that possessed him came rushing back.
"Do you really think... I won't be able to handle it with what you just taught me?" Alice asked, her voice trembling more than she'd like.
"Yes," Jade admitted bluntly. "But that's why I'm here. As long as we stick together, nothing will happen to you. I promise."
She paused, then placed a hand on Alice's shoulder in an unexpected but comforting gesture.
"Come on, no time for fear. Today, you successfully manipulated energy for the first time, Alice. Not everyone can do that."
A faint smile lit up Jade's usually stern face, and Alice realized that, for her, this training was more than just teaching. It was a way to reclaim control over a past that had tried to destroy her.
"Okay," Alice said with the same determination. "Tell me what's next. I'm ready."
They were no longer rivals but allies, ready to face a world of mystery and danger together.
As they began discussing school, a phone rang. It wasn't Alice's.
Jade adjusted her dark violet hair into a bun before answering. It was Azamy. Her face filled the projected screen.