In the grip of Elements

Chapter 8

The tension had been building inside me for days, a relentless storm pushing against the fragile dam I'd built to hold it all back. Everywhere I turned, I was reminded of the truths Orion had dropped on me like stones in the night: the rebellion, my powers, the Outcasts—each one heavier than the last. By now, every corner of the academy felt too tight, as if its walls were closing in, trapping me with the expectations I could never meet and the secrets I could no longer unsee.

So, late one night, I did the only thing that felt right. I slipped out, moving silently through the academy grounds. I didn't know where I was headed; I just knew I needed to be somewhere that The System couldn't reach me, somewhere I could let the storm inside finally break free.

The mountains loomed in the distance, dark and jagged under the faint light of the moon. I stumbled my way up the rocky slopes, the rough terrain scraping my hands and catching at my clothes, but I didn't care. The cool night air stung my lungs, each breath sharper than the last. I climbed higher until I reached a plateau surrounded by sheer cliffs, a place I'd never been before but where no one could follow me.

At first, I stood there in silence, feeling the darkness press in around me. But then something snapped, and a raw scream tore from my throat, echoing across the empty expanse. All the bottled frustration, the fear, and betrayal spilled out, until I felt a surge of energy crackling through me. The elements responded to my rage, each one surfacing in turn—fire flickering at my fingertips, air whipping around me, earth rumbling beneath my feet. I couldn't control it anymore; it was like the energy inside me had taken on a life of its own, wild and untamed.

The wind picked up, howling louder, until it nearly knocked me over. I was trying to breathe, to steady myself, but everything spun, my vision blurring. The last thing I saw before the darkness closed in was a figure running toward me through the chaos.

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When I opened my eyes, I was lying on the ground, the sky just beginning to lighten with the first traces of dawn. I blinked, trying to focus, and realized Orion was crouched beside me, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. He looked exhausted, worry etched deep into his features, but there was also relief in his gaze as I slowly sat up.

"What... what are you doing here?" My voice came out weak, barely a whisper.

He hesitated, then sighed, his hand dropping away. "I've been following you ever since you left the academy," he said quietly. "I knew something was wrong."

I tried to push myself up, but my limbs felt heavy, drained from the night's outburst. "Following me? Orion, why can't you just—"

He shook his head, his expression unreadable. "Aella, I had to. You were losing control back there. Do you know what could've happened?"

Shame washed over me as the reality of my actions began to sink in. I'd lost control of the elements completely, let them consume me, and Orion had been forced to step in to keep me from... from what? I didn't know. I didn't want to know.

"It was too much," I whispered, a shiver running through me. "Everything—everything you told me... I don't know who I am anymore."

Orion's face softened, and he placed a hand on my shoulder again, his voice steady. "I know it feels like you're alone in this. But I'm here, Aella. And I understand more than you realize."

He helped me sit up fully, then leaned back, studying me carefully. "You should know," he said, his tone shifting, "the night you overheard those officials... That wasn't a coincidence, me being there."

"What do you mean?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

His lips pressed into a tight line. "I wasn't just there by accident. I was there to meet with the rebellion. I've been working with them for years, gathering information, keeping tabs on The System from the inside."