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

Chapter Fifty-One - The Meet-and-Greet

Jade crossed into the hallway. Her bodyguards followed as she made her way to the Ceremony Hall. Jade smiled and bowed at everyone who showed their respect toward her. Her outfit glistened in the hallway lights from the gems she bore. Entering the room, whispered conversations changed to awed faces towards her. Jade glanced around, taking a formidable breath before making her way towards her table. Team number 47. After several minutes of searching, Jade saw Alex. He stood with a tall, ridiculously muscular man. His body was nothing but muscles that bulged from every part of him. He was bald, had brown eyes, and dressed in athletic clothing. Jade swallowed her nerves and crossed to them. Alex smiled at her as she came over.

"Ray, this is Jade. Jade, Ray." Alex introduced.

"Oh, Asai," Ray said still. "Um, your Light," he bowed his head. She bowed in return and smiled.

"No need for such formalities. We're teammates," Jade enthused.

"So, it's true you have the absorption ability like the Enlightened?" Jade nodded, "that is so amazing," Ray enthused, his voice loud. "I can't believe this. I'm teammates with the great superstar Alex and Findere's newest princess. I don't know what I did to get this lucky, but I'm so stoked." Jade and Alex glanced at each other, smiling at his fast-paced conversation. I watched your speech, Jade." His eyes lit up at her, "remarkable. My father, Professor Q." Jade's eyes widened at the revelation, "well, he hasn't stopped talking about you. He said the potential in you is unmeasurable."

"Thanks, Ray," Jade interjected, trying to calm his excitement down. "I'm excited to meet you too. I'm glad we have someone so full of energy on our team!" Ray's smile beamed. "Oh, so what's your ability?"

"Electric!" Ray proclaimed. "Oh, you know how we have to have a team name? Well, I've been crunching all night. I took all aspects of things you all like, mostly from articles from when you two were." Ray's head bounced back and forth, "well, you know, together," he gritted his teeth, worried he said something wrong. "Well, I was thinking. What do you think of Electric Blue Rose?"

Jade pinched her lips together and nodded. Alex shrugged, looking at her. "I like it," she said.

"Yes!" Ray exclaimed, his arm lowering in an excited gesture. "Okay, now the hard part is the team captain. I mean, wow! We have a water wielder superstar from a family of great water wielders. Then we got the first multi-wielder since the great Enlightened himself. I mean, the plays for that have to be so involved. I ran a few in my head. Oh, I wrote some notes about them."

"Well, Ray." He met Jade's gaze. "I think you should be captain. You're much more ahead of this than either Alex or I." Alex nodded in agreement.

"What? Me?" Ray shook his head. "Are you sure?" They both nodded. "Oh man, wow, okay." Ray shook his head and the rest of him as if trying to rid some of his excess energy. "Okay, don't worry, I won't let you down." He froze, staring behind them. They turned, seeing Amelia approach. Jade smiled at Ray's expression as Amelia got closer.

"Hey, guys!" Amelia enthused. "Oh, hi, I'm Amelia," she said, reaching her hand out to Ray. He took it, his eyes still wide.

"I uh. I'm." He cleared his throat. "I'm Ray. Wow, you are. I."

"Okay then," Amelia said, shifting her gaze. "So you two got paired up. Guess Joe, and I don't have to feel as bad about being paired together."

"Where is Joe?" Alex asked, looking around.

"Still talking with our other teammate." Amelia frowned, "James." Jade nodded. Suddenly things started to make more sense. "I know that makes things awkward."

"It's okay. James came by today to apologize. I wouldn't say we're close, but I forgave him. No need to worry about me," Jade said.

"Such a gracious Princess," Ray said in awe. Jade smiled and shook her head. "So, Amelia. I. Well, I'm electric. I mean an electric wielder."

"Nice," Amelia said with a nod. "I wield kinetics."

"Oh wow," he sighed longingly at her. Jade and Alex exchanged another glance. "That's so impressive."

"Thanks," Amelia frowned, turning her head. Jade enjoyed Amelia's response to the attention. "Well, I'm going to go catch back up with Joe. Nice to meet you."

"So I guess she's already got a boyfriend, huh?" Ray asked, disappointed.

"Well, no, Joe's my boyfriend," Alex clarified.

"Oh. Oh!" Ray enthused. "Great, so that means there is a chance. Maybe I should get flowers. Does she like flowers? Flowers are still nice, right?"

"Flowers are nice," Jade laughed.

"Okay, great. I am going to get some flowers. I'll see you two around." He wrapped his hands around them and embraced them before rushing off. Jade and Alex laughed.

"Well, at least one of us has pep!" Alex stated, and Jade nodded. "So, how are you doing? I mean, after all the hustle and bustle being back here?"

"It was weird going to my room and having nothing to do," Jade admitted, "but it seems like we'll be plenty busy." Jade looked around, "not to mention. No one has taken their eyes off us since we got here."

"Yeah, I've noticed. My agent said my sales have gone through the roof today, so I guess knowing the princess has its perks." Jade smiled. "So, Jade. Speaking of apologies." Her eyes lightened as he turned to her. "It's my turn to say how sorry I am for all the hurt I put on you—all those years of leaving you unanswered, then returning only to break your heart as I did. I am so ashamed of the pain I put you through. I'm working every day to be a better man."

"You are a better man, Alex," Jade smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I shouldn't even need to say that I forgive you, but I do. I'm going to head back to my room. Despite doing practically nothing, I am exhausted."

"Okay," Alex smiled, "well, have a good rest, Jade."