The Academy: Detective Stories - Part I

Chapter 16. Bounded by The Oath

"It wasn't your fault," the guardian's voice sounded in her ears, but his words couldn't comfort her. Elisa stared at him. In his late thirties, he was a man with blond hair and calm blue eyes.

"What's wrong with Jackie?" Elisa repeated. He didn't provide any details, and the lack of information was worse than anything. But she wouldn't give up trying.

The guardian sighed. They were sitting in chairs in the hall of the dorms, and the fire was crackling in the fireplace, illuminating the space. But it didn't make the room warm. Jackie was on the sofa, covered with Elisa's white plush blanket from their room. The Doctor had recently checked her and allowed her to come in.

"Listen, girl –"

"Elisa," she introduced herself. "And what's your name, by the way?"

"Walter," he paused. "Walter Mills."

Elisa nodded. "So, Mr. Mills, thank you for helping pull my friend from the lake. It was the most impressive use of a telekinesis Gift that I've ever seen."

He relaxed in his chair. "No worries. It's my job."

Perfect. As Don had trained her, the most important part was establishing a connection with the person, and then she could try to learn what he wasn't telling her. "So, what the heck is going on with Jackie?"

He gave her a sad look. "The doctor said that there's still hope. Now everything depends on her."

Elisa glanced at Jackie. Her head rested on a white pillow, her face pale and lifeless. Elisa was ready to do anything to wake her up. But sadly, she couldn't even hold her hand without wearing her leather gloves.

Walter's face took on a compassionate expression. "Were you good friends?"

"She is my best friend." Elisa hugged herself, shivering. "I don't even know what to do if she... I can't lose her."

"Then you need to help her."

"But how?"

"She just needs rest and care, so her body will recover," Walter said calmly. "She'll wake up eventually, but the actual healing from her condition might take years."

Tears welled in her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"She was too deep in the water. It only means that she didn't try to fight for her life." His hand rested on the chair arm. "Did you know that she was depressed?"

Elisa wiped her face. "I don't... actually, we both have an uneasy past. But we prefer not to talk about it. Not here."

"At this point, you must talk about it." Walter looked at her without blinking. "It's the easiest way she can let it go. Then, she will heal."

"But what if she doesn't want to talk about it?"

"Alright, I'll explain," he said patiently. "Emotional trauma is a part of being a guardian. And as you probably noticed, this path doesn't start in the Academy. It starts much earlier, in your real life. When you face unfairness, injustice, or tragedies caused by someone's neglect. This darkness is too hard to bear because we often think that we are alone in it. But when you have the support of someone who went through the same, it hurts less. To leave her pain behind, Jackie needs a friend. The one that she can trust."

Her fingers squeezed the chair arm. "I just don't want to make it worse. To hurt her."

"Just take it slow. You need to open up first, and then she will feel more secure. But don't push her. You need to guide her and support her when she needs it."