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

Chapter Sixty-One - The Weapon Chooses You

Jade panted as her grandfather met every attack with the end of a staff. His staff swept her feet, sending her to the ground. She threw her head back in defeat. Standing, she crossed to her grandfather and bowed.

"Impressive for such a short amount of training," her grandfather beamed. "However, I had a feeling the staff wasn't the right choice for you." Jade followed as he crossed to his wall of weapons. He turned to her and nodded as he approached a long stick with a curved blade atop it. "This is it. A glaive, try it out." He tossed it to her. Jade dropped the staff, stepped back onto the mats, and followed the moves he showed her. "Yes," he beamed. "This is it."

Jade smiled, nodding. He was right; the weight of it worked perfectly for Jade. The way it effortlessly followed her commands gave her a sense of belonging. "I love it."

"That is the same weapon that chose your father."

"What?" Jade's eyes widened. "You're telling me Amorio fought with one of these?"

"Never really needed it to fight, but he was trained. Amorio's moves were flawless, more of a performance than fighting maneuvers. Your father has led a rough life. Growing up a Serf is difficult, but when the Omega Ceremony placed him as a farmer, he became stuck in Inanis. I tried for so long to get him out of there. The travel was impossible to afford without the sale of the farm. Then, you came, and his only priority became turning such a place into a home."

"Amorio was the only reason I made it through."

"He confided in me after all that happened on Inanis." Jade bowed her head, "don't feel shame. It is something that becomes embedded in us after passing a certain breaking point. I find it the greatest comfort that you all made it out, and Amorio managed to find love again. Both in you and Craig. Now look at you doing the most incredible things imaginable, and he's finally settling down with well-deserved happiness."

"There is a man back at Omega 5. A man I once loved who is trying to bring out that sad Serf girl in me."

"Listen to me carefully. You will never be the same girl you were on Inanis. No matter how it feels or if the scars of the past rise. You will never be that girl again. You are powerful, passionate, kind, and most importantly, the daughter of the most amazing man." Jade nodded and smiled. "Your father spoke a bit of this guy, Edge, right?" Jade nodded. "You're competing against him in the finals?"

"I am, but honestly, I don't know how I will defeat him."

"With that," he gestured towards the glaive. "From what I understand, his ability is manipulation, correct?" Jade nodded. "Manipulation is strong, especially if the mind is weakened even in the slightest. Edge knows what he's doing by trying to tear you down, but weapons are permitted in battle. I know because I've trained many Arcs with them, and when you hold your destined weapon, your mind focuses on what's important. Forget Edge. Forget everyone else around you. That weapon will be what you need to keep your focus and show him just what a Flora can do, hm?"

"Yeah," Jade nodded, standing up straight. "You're right."

"Of course I'm right!" They both laughed, "now come. We have much more to train on."

***

Jade panted, crossing back into the house. Her grandfather knew how to push someone past their comfort zone. A wide grin crossed her face when seeing Emanuel's name on the letter on the dining table.

To the Princess of my Heart,

Your letter left me in a daze the entire day. The number of inquiries about why I was smiling must be a new record. My heart beats faster as thoughts of you come to me, my eyes desire to see yours looking back at them, and more overwhelmingly, thoughts of you bring me comfort in the night. As much as this kills me to say, I'm afraid I won't be able to write you back for a couple of days. I will be away finishing the final hikes and lessons for my classes. But, once I'm done, you should be too, and nothing will stand in our way any longer.

By the way, I have the same magazine at my bedside. Falling asleep every night with your photo beside me becomes the highlight of my day. Apart from reading beautiful words from you.

I await you in my dreams tonight and long for you back in my arms,

Emanuel.

Jade clutched the letter to her chest unable to hold back her smile. "Now that's a look," Craig said, raising an eyebrow at her. "Good reading material?"

Jade blushed, still unable to contain her smile. "It's from Prince Emanuel. We've been writing to each other since we met." Craig's interest lit up. "I'm falling for him hard, Craig, and he's falling for me too. I don't question it as I did with Alex. I don't worry about it as I had with Edge. I've embraced it, and I know it's too soon to speak like this. I know."

"There it is. The great love Amorio and I always knew you'd find. What a beautiful thing sprouting, hm?" Jade sighed in happiness as she nodded. "Alex never brought this look on you. Amorio always struggled to watch you pour so much love into him. He always said if you could see how you watched Alex and watch as he didn't return it, she'd let go. Amorio has a thing for the ways eyes can focus on something. Edge was a mistake. He mistook Edge's eyes for something much purer, but if he could see this look right now. Even as Emanuel is far away. The way your eyes lit up from just a letter would bring him such happiness."

"I don't know how I'm going to pretend during my presentation." Craig chuckled. "But, I guess in the end, it's my decision. Maybe the easiest decision I'll ever make." Craig grabbed her hand and rubbed his fingers over them. They both sat in a quiet moment of bliss. Love infected them both, this rare moment where all concern left Jade. A moment where self-doubt no longer weighed her down. A perfect moment where being wanted became reality.