Electric Blue Rose - Book One. [COMPLETED] Undergoing Edits

Chapter Twenty-Three - Auras and Energy

Amelia and Jade stood close to each other, focusing on their breathing as instructed. Jade's aura was so bright that it made it hard for Amelia to focus, but she continued. Her eyes remained closed. Amelia's kinetic aura started to speed up, rushing around her, the wind of the motion flowing in Amelia's hair.

"Excellent, Amelia," Professor Q. applauded. "Now, let that flow through your fingers, arm, and body." Amelia's aura flowed through her body, the warmth traveling as instructed until it landed in her opposite hand. She opened her eyes, the white aura flowing around her hand. She waved her hand, showing her understanding of the movements. "Someone's been studying," Professor Q. praised. "Jade, see Amelia's movements, try and mimic that with your fingers." Amelia showed Jade again by example, Jade nodding as she paid close attention to Amelia's movements. "Good," Professor Q. said before proceeding to the other students.

"Thanks, Amelia. Sorry if I'm slowing you down," Jade frowned.

"No, don't be. I need to learn to work as a team. I mean, we'll be paired off into teams soon enough."

"Paired up?"

"Oh, I guess you wouldn't know. So, we spend the first half of the year building our strength and learning to wield, but we return to our assigned teams after our mid-year break. We then battle other groups.

"Wait, we battle with our abilities? Here at Omega 5? How am I supposed to battle with a healing ability?"

"Whoa, focus," Amelia said, noticing Jade's aura becoming shaky. "Each team is paired up with an appropriate balance between support and attack. You will learn how to use your healing in the event of a battle. Remember, many Omega 5 students are a part of the Enlightened's Dark Eclipse Army or the Ivory Phase like I want to be." Jade's face fell at the mention of Ivory Phase, and Amelia scrunched her face annoyed. "Don't tell me you also don't think I can be a part of the Ivory Phase. You know it's not just for pyro wielders!"

"No, no, of course not." Her tone changed, "you'd be great," Amelia noticed Jade's struggle with the words. Jade returned to the exercises. It was such a strange change in emotion.

"What was that about?" Amelia asked, unable to leave it.

"Nothing. It's just the Ivory Phase in Inanis were." Jade didn't continue for a reason. Amelia's eyes narrowed, realizing something had happened between Jade and them back home.

"Not every city is like Inanis," Amelia reminded her. Jade smiled and nodded, but there was a particular fear in her eyes. Amelia turned to Jade's aura, noticing the flicker in it. "Jade?" Jade twitched, grabbing her stomach as she fell to the floor. "Jade! Professor Q.!" Amelia cried out. Joe rushed over to Jade, lifting her head off the floor.

Professor Q. closed his eyes, placing his hand on Jade's head. She drifted to sleep, her aura vanishing as she slipped into slumber. "Remember it's important not to overextend yourselves. If you feel tired, you need to stop and take a break." He lifted Jade over to one of the beds to the side, where a few other students lay.

Amelia watched as she lay there. The flicker of aura didn't match what she experienced from exhaustion. Did Amelia trigger something with her conversation? Did the memory cause some instability with her power? Joe crossed over to practice beside her. He glanced at Amelia, concern also across his face. Did he notice the flicker too? Something about it seemed off; something seemed wrong. Amelia sighed, lowering her hands, letting her aura rest. Amelia remembered Jade grabbing her stomach before falling. None of that matched a falter because of exhaustion. Jade came to consciousness soon after. Joe looked her over. She glanced away, almost like she knew exactly why it happened, but Amelia was confident that couldn't be possible. Amelia crossed over to Jade. "Are you okay?" Amelia asked.

"Yeah, yeah, sorry. Guess I overdid it. Sorry to worry you. Can we not tell Edge or Alex, please." Jade glanced between Joe and Amelia.

"Alright," Joe replied reluctantly.

"Was your stomach bothering you?" Amelia pressed.

"My stomach?" Jade questioned.

"You grabbed your stomach and then lost control as if something hurt you." Jade's expression seemed as confused as Amelia's.

"I-I don't think so?" Jade asked, her hand going to her stomach. "I think I must've gotten tired or something. Right?" Fear in her expression, Amelia nodded, knowing Jade didn't want anything more to happen, nothing to bring any further negative attention to her.

"Did it have something to do with what I was saying?" Amelia questioned, her guilt looking for some signal that it wasn't her doing that caused it.

"No, of course not. Just coincidence, I think," Jade said, smiling. Despite the words being what Amelia wanted to hear, she still didn't trust them. Amelia noticed the tremble in Jade's arms but didn't point it out. It probably was the whole scenario that made her a bit afraid. It was Jade's first time succumbing to exhaustion over her ability, and Amelia remembered how debilitating it was her first time.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Joe asked, likely noticing Jade's expressions too. Jade looked at them both, nodding, giving them a reassuring smile.

Professor Q. walked over, redirecting Joe and Amelia back to their studies as he talked with Jade. He looked her over, having her bring forth some of her energy. Her aura wasn't as bright as it had been just earlier. Amelia figured it was Jade's exhaustion that caused it, but at the same time, she was almost sure it wasn't. Jade crossed her legs on the bed and closed her eyes. Professor Q. told her to meditate on her energy. Amelia nodded, thinking that might be the best thing. Jade needed to rebalance herself.

"Alright, class!" Professor Q. exclaimed. "Excellent, excellent work today! Remember, tomorrow is all about fieldwork. We will be meeting in the fields. Dress for a workout. You're dismissed!" Jade stood up. Her balance was seemingly better after meditating. She grabbed her bag and glanced up at Amelia before returning her attention to putting her books away. Amelia approached her.

"Did you want to grab a bite?" Joe asked, trying to move the subject off of Jade for a moment. Jade nodded, seemingly grateful.

"I wanted to check out a book from the library, so raincheck?" Amelia asked, smiling. When Joe and Jade left, she grabbed her bag and proceeded to the library. Wandering the aisles, Amelia searched until finding a book regarding trauma and its effect on abilities. Holding the book, she took it to a table and began to read, hoping to find some answer to what happened to Jade.