Whispers of Magic

Chapter 4: Into the Woods

I'm overwhelmed by the weight of uncertainty and the whispers of doubt. I need to escape the ceremonial grounds. The tension in the air is stifling, and I need a moment alone to collect my thoughts.

I glance at Seraphine and Amarna, briefly nodding to convey my intention. Without uttering a word, I turn away and weave through the crowd, making my way to the outskirts of the ceremonial grounds. My hands are clammy as I navigate the narrow pathways leading out of the city. The whispers of doubt and uncertainty are still in my mind. The golden glow of the sunset bathes the city, casting long shadows across the intricate structures I use to hide in for my quick escape from what I just experienced.

An echoing of footsteps reverberates behind me. I'm being followed. I whirl around and see Seraphine and Amarna rushing to catch up to me.

"Elessida," Seraphine calls out softly, her footsteps matching mine. She catches up, her cerulean-blue hair catching the fading sunlight. "Are you okay?" she asks, her concern evident in her gaze.

I pause, my gaze meeting hers, and exhale a sigh heavy with the weight of unanswered questions. "I don't know, Seraphine," I admit, my voice carrying a mix of frustration and vulnerability. "I know I said I'm opposed to change, how I didn't want to go through the Plunge or see you leave." I trail off, trying to find a way to articulate the complexity of my emotions.

"But I did it. I survived the Plunge, and it was hell. It was the next step to being a Sentinel. To be a protector of our people and to protect you. But now everything is going wrong." I slumped against the stone wall, the day's weight pushing me down.

"I have no alignment. My hair is still white. If anything, instead of giving me color, the nexus drained away some of the white color I had. As if I'm defective."

Seraphine places a comforting hand on my shoulder, her touch offering a sense of grounding amidst the tumult of emotions. "Elessida, you are not defective. The nexus is ancient and unpredictable. The result may not have been what we expected, but it doesn't diminish your strength."

Amarna joins us, her presence a calm reassurance. "Seraphine is right. The path you've walked or the challenges you've overcome speaks more to your character than the magic you wield."

A tinge of frustration creeps into my emotions. I cast my gaze downward, unable to fully meet theirs, my brows furrowing with a hint of jealousy. Seraphine's cerulean-blue hair, now a symbol of her alignment with Water, seems to shimmer with newfound strength, while Amarna's forest-green locks mirror the earth.

"Why did it work for you both?" I blurt out, my tone carrying a hint of bitterness surprising even me. "You have your alignments, your colors. The nexus recognized you. Why not me?"

As the words of frustration and jealousy escape my lips, Seraphine's expression shifts from understanding to justified hurt. Amarna, too, seems taken aback by the change in atmosphere.

"What?" Seraphine retorts, her head draws back as if she's been slapped. Her voice edged with disbelief permeating the air. "Elessida, I've stood by you through everything. And instead of being happy for me, being supportive, you're resentful because I'm stronger than you now?"

Caught off guard by her abrupt shift, I falter in my response. "Seraphine, I didn't mean to—"

"You didn't mean to what?" Seraphine interrupts, her pain lashing out. "Take out your self-pity on me? Try to make me feel unhappy because you didn't get an alignment? No, Elessida, you didn't want change. You didn't even want to go through the Plunge. So you got exactly what you wanted."

Sensing the tension, Amarna places a gentle hand on Seraphine's arm, attempting to diffuse the escalating emotions. "Seraphine, let's give Elessida a moment to gather her thoughts. We're all under a lot of pressure."