Phenomenon

i

She didn't know how long it had been. A week? Two? Maybe even four weeks at this point. The bruise like bags under her eyes had become more prominent. Cassidy and her friends were stuck in the waiting room. There was nothing to do. Marline was sleeping, taking up a couple chairs. Her auburn hair fell down her back and from what Cassidy could see, she wasn't very comfortable. Everyone else was sitting, staring blankly at the wall facing them. Cassidy was stuck facing the door. 

Every time she blinked, she could tell that her eyelids were drooping lower and lower each time. Desperate to do something, she let a chunk of her short light brown hair fall in front of her face, blowing it away.

It had been weeks since Nai had first been teleported into the Care Centre, and yet still, Lexia wouldn't let them in. 

Cassidy's brother, Maxin often dropped by to bring some food and whatnot. But the five of them refused to leave. They even forced Jax, an illusionist and telepath to make their clones again so they could miss school. 

The door to Lexia's office, or where Nai was being taken care of, creaked open and Lexia stuck her head out. Her messy brown hair messier than usual, and she too had bruises under her topaz eyes. 

"Her vitals are steady. Want to come in?" Lexia whispered, exhausted.

Enver launched himself out of his chair, nodding. Cassidy stood up slowly, stretching, hearing her bones crack, she cringed. Marline, who was apparently a really light sleeper, pealed her eyes open and looked around.

"What's happening?" She murmured.

"Lexia's letting us in!" Enver replied.

As soon as all five of them were all in the office, they crowded around Nai's cot. Cassidy gasped, Nai's floating black hair was trapped in a glass dome around her head with some tubes attached to it. One tube connected to a blank screen. Nai's arms were loosely wrapped in bandages, though through the gaps, Cassidy could see a thin tube running up her arms. The end was tapped to the backs of her hands and there was red liquid in it that Cassidy could only assume was blood. And right next to her head, in the dome was a glowing black-purple substance. Noxia.

"What's the screen for?" Marline asked curiously.

"It's supposed to show what's going on in her head right now, although it's not working..." Lexia pointed out.

"Hmm," Marline whispered, walking over to Nai and placing both her hands on the sides of the dome so only her fingertips were lightly touching it. She closed her eyes. Immediately the screen flickered on. 

There was Nai on the screen, she was wearing nothing but the Care Centre uniform, a plain white t-shirt and light grey shorts. She was floating with her legs crossed in the sky with yellow clouds surrounding her. Everything about this scene was peaceful.

"When's she going to wake up?" Enver asked sombrely.

"I'm not sure. Hopefully soon," Lexia replied.

Marline backed away from Nai and the screen flickered back to black.

"Oh Cassidy, Jax wanted me to tell you that once you're ready, Aid needs us to come with him for some underwater thingy," Blade shrugged.

"Why tell me this now?" Cassidy sighed, running her hand of her face.

•••

Nobody had told her very much about this mission except that it would be underwater. She only had a small bag with a couple changes of clothes and nothing else. 

While Aid was readying the boat, he told Blade and Cassidy to wait on the docks. Awkwardly.

"So are you finally going to tell me anything about this thing?" Cassidy asked, staring out at the glimmering sea.

"I would if I knew," Blade sighed. 

"And I swear if anyone comms me and says Nai is awake I'm going to freaking kill someone," Cassidy grumbled.

Aid tilted his head towards the boat, beckoning Cassidy and Blade to get on. 

Once they were in, the boat automatically started moving, pushing the water aside in waves beside it. 

"You're probably wondering why we're here," Aid assumed, leaning over the edge of the wooden boat, staring into the water.

"Yeah," Cassidy muttered.

"I'm also assuming you know the legend of Alerith?" Aid asked.

Cassidy shook her head while Blade nodded.

"Alerith, one of the four ancient cities, used to be a floating island in the middle of the ocean. One day, there was a flood, bringing the island down to the bottom of the ocean. Nearly everyone died except a couple of Chorus, who went to Lunaris. They asked that all maps of Alerith to be destroyed. Except, one of the Alerithians kept a map. So while Chorus are still looking for Alerith, there is one map in existence. And luckily, my great great great grandparents kept the map, so that's how we'll find it," Aid explained, pulling out a map.

Aid and Jax were descendants of Chorus who lived in the ancient cities.