The Academy: Detective Stories - Part I

Chapter 6. The Journey

Elisa stepped into the glade, her hands laden with a bundle of dry branches. She knelt in front of the firepit and carefully placed the brushwood on the ground nearby. Recently, the evenings had grown colder and shorter, signaling the need for a strong fire. Removing her gloves, she began her preparations – arranging the thick branches vertically and interspersing the smaller ones with chips in the middle.

"Need a hand?" Jackie inquired from her spot beneath the bright-red maple tree. She sat there with her diary in hand, diligently making her weekly records. Her emerald eyes fixed on Elisa with a hint of uncertainty.

"It's fine," Elisa replied, completing her preparations before placing her right palm over the wood. "Get ready to document the second night of our incredible journey."

Jackie sighed. "Fine. But please, be careful this time."

Now came the most crucial part – ensuring her magic functioned correctly. Elisa took a deep breath and concentrated on her right hand. Purple sparkles crackled on her fingertips, growing stronger until they coalesced into a ball of electricity. With a determined exhale, she released it.

The energy struck the branches with a deafening noise, causing the wood to explode. A cloud of sawdust billowed and twisted in the air, slowly descending to coat the ground, the grass, and Elisa's head.

"Shit!" Elisa said.

Jackie approached and sat beside her. Gently, she ran her hands through Elisa's hair, removing the sawdust from her bright locks. "I'm so sorry. Maybe it will work next time."

"I hate my power..." Elisa muttered, staring at her trembling palms. "I can't touch anyone. I can't even start a fire! I'm useless."

"I understand it's challenging." Jackie offered a sympathetic smile. "Sometimes, I wish I never knew the secrets hidden in people's minds."

"But you have the choice to delve into them or not," Elisa pointed out.

Jackie retrieved a navy-blue handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to Elisa. "Now I can. But before I learned to control it, I read everyone I touched. And it was overwhelming. You know, most people are selfish, and some can be cruel. But it's all just a facade. Deep down, they're like wounded children, burdened with fears and doubts. Many adults feel trapped in their lives, suffocating under the weight of their unprocessed grief. I felt all of that when I touched them. And the worst part – I couldn't do anything to ease their pain. When I was fifteen, my Gift turned my whole world upside down."

Elisa wiped her face and clenched the handkerchief in her hand. "How did you learn to cope with it?"

"I didn't," Jackie replied, her gaze fixed on the ruined fire pit. "One day, I simply became one of them. Now I carry my own scars, a sign that I've grown into adulthood."

"Now I feel ashamed for complaining about a ruined fire."

"Don't be," Jackie reassured her, patting her shoulder. "You'll learn to tame your magic in time. Not just how to start a fire but also how to protect others. Just be patient."

"Time is merciless," Elisa observed, glancing at her wrist. The time crystal on her bracelet emitted a blue glow, indicating it was already seven in the evening. "The sun will set in less than twenty minutes, and we're far from prepared for the night. What if we freeze or get attacked by wild animals?"

"I highly doubt that will happen."

"Why are you so unnervingly calm?" Elisa eyed her suspiciously. "You've mentioned you hate long journeys because of the potential dangers."