The Light of Roria

Chapter Twelve

Everything happened so quickly I could hardly keep up. The stranger pressed the emergency button, Staci and I losing our balance with the sudden halt. A dagger formed rapidly in his hand that he slammed toward Elijah's chest, who managed to catch the blow with his own blade just in time.

Elijah pressed his foot against the wall, using it for leverage, shoving the man off with all his might. He crashed into the elevator doors, producing a second blade from his smoke, swinging them at Elijah with wild precision.

Staci and I had barely enough room to avoid their fight. She screamed violently, her eyes filled with trepidation while she sunk to the floor. The fact that she could see the battle at all was astonishing. Confirming the need for me to speak the truth.

The stranger's moves were twice as quick as the creatures from before, and the tight quarters made for a difficult battle, but Elijah never waivered, even managing to strike the man in the face with his elbow. Still, it wasn't enough to hold him off; the sword of mist managing to slice Elijah's shoulder.

'Elijah!" I cried out, the fight continuing while his arm spilled blood across the floor. I wanted so desperately to help. Needed to. After everything he had done to protect me it was time he received it. But what could I do? How did I discover magic in me I didn't even understan.

Trust divinity.

The words echoed in my heart, louder than the chaos around me. It was an epiphany, and one so strong it stirred my blood and set fire to my soul. If I could start with trust— though it was admittedly small at first— divinity would lead me along the way. Developing and strengthening me to become who I was meant to.

My attention was then drawn to the motion of color coming from my hand. A trail of golden dust emitted from my skin, forming into the a striking dagger. When the object quickly became completely solid and heavy in my hand, I gripped it tight, turning toward the fight; my mind reminding me of the pain already caused by this evil. The death of my mother. The condition of my father. The threats against my own life. The attempts to take Elijah's. It had to end. My time to fight was now.

I raised the blade, screaming as I jammed it into the man's side. His howl was short lived, fading away just like the others, while the blade I'd formed dissipated as well.

My breathing was heavy and the adrenaline flowing through my body caused my hands to shake.

Staci, who had finally stopped screaming, wasn't moving. Her eyes were glued on the wall in front of her. Staci's legs were pressed against her chest, her mouth slightly ajar.

"Addisyn," Elijah checked his arm, his eyes then turning to me. "You used divinity."

Elijah pulled me to my feet. ""I just knew I couldn't sit back any longer. And then. Well, something clicked."

"You trusted divinity." He beamed.

"I tried to." I admitted, my heart racing, but not from joining the fight. At least not entirely. Having Elijah exude so much pride on my behalf was exhilarating.

"Divinity never requires perfection. Only our effort."

Remember Staci, I knelt in front of her and reached for her hand.

"Staci, are you OK?"

For a moment, she said nothing, not even her eyes moved to acknowledge me, but with a deep inhale she suddenly gripped my hand.

"Adi, what is going on? Who was that guy? Was that even possible? No, no, it can't be, right? Did I imagine it? Adi, tell me I'm not going crazy," she panicked.

"Staci, you are not going crazy. It—it was real. I wish it wasn't, but it was." I explained calmly.

"No. No. This isn't real. No. I'm dreaming."