Radiant Rebirth

Chapter Three

Eryn sat through her classes, staring blankly at the front of the room while the teacher droned on. Equations, dates, and facts filled the air, but none of it stuck. It all felt so far away from the world she lived in now. School was a formality, especially for someone like her. The "untouched" might see value in it, but for the gifted, it was just a hurdle to jump before they moved on to their chosen discipline.

Now that she'd made her choice, biological manipulation, it was hard to focus on anything else. Eryn was unsure why she was even in class today. Her thoughts matched the storm that's been raging outside all week, swirling between excitement and doubt. The idea of becoming a healer and using her abilities to help others filled her with a sense of purpose for the first time in her life. But it also brought with it a looming sense of danger. Would the government notice her? Would they come to take her as they had for so many others before her?

And then there was Kali.

All day, her best friend had avoided her. She hadn't said a word or even so much as a glance in her direction. Eryn had tried to catch her eye more than once, but Kali refused to acknowledge her. The cold shoulder wasn't something Eryn had ever experienced from her, and it left a constant ache in her chest. Is this what a heart attack feels like? Their argument from that morning replayed in her mind, and every time it did, it felt worse.

Was Kali right? Was she losing her best friend over a bad decision?

As the end of the day approached, Eryn was relieved to escape the suffocating whispers and glances of her classmates. The tension in the air had become impossible to ignore. Everywhere she went, people were talking about her, staring at her as if she were a ticking time bomb. On a few occasions, Eryn noticed teachers and mentors talking quietly while eyeing her from across the room. The attention was the last thing she wanted, especially now.

Pulling her hood up, she braced herself for the rain as she stepped outside. The sky had progressively grown darker throughout the day, heavy with the promise of another storm. As she stepped out into the rain, she was surprised to see Kali waiting for her at the gate, her arms crossed, her stance tense.

Eryn slowed her pace as she approached. She didn't know what to expect after the heated anger she saw in Kali that morning, followed by the icy treatment all day.

"You didn't have to wait for me," Eryn said, her voice timid and soft.

Kali's jaw was tight, her gaze fixed ahead. "Yeah, well... I didn't want to leave things like this. Besides, since you'll be gone soon, I figured I should get time with you now."

Eryn opened her mouth to once again tell her she wasn't leaving, but just nodded instead. She was relieved that Kali had broken the silence but she was still nervous about where this conversation was going to go. They started walking, side by side like they've done a thousand times, the familiar sound of rain falling around them. For a while, neither of them spoke, and the tension between them felt as thick as the storm clouds overhead.

Eventually, Kali's voice cut through the silence, sharp and bitter. "So, biological manipulation. You're really going through with it?"

Eryn nodded. "Yeah, I am... I've thought about it a lot, and I really think it's the right choice for me."

Kali stopped abruptly, turning to face her. Her eyes that just this morning had that burning intensity were now filled with hurt and pain. "Eryn, do you even realize what you're getting into? People who choose that path... they disappear. No one says no for long, the money they offer is insane. After a while, no one can contact them. The government doesn't acknowledge having ever employed them. Is that what you want? To vanish?"