Saving the Nexus

Faultlines

The next few days at Varda Academy felt like the calm before a storm. Sonia couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to happen. Phionex's cryptic words still echoed in her mind, but the more Sonia tried to make sense of them, the more questions they raised.

Jermaih had been keeping his distance since their conversation about the Core of Concordia. Sonia suspected he was deep in his research, trying to unravel whatever secrets Phionex and Neptune might be hiding. That left Sonia to navigate the growing tension on her own, which became harder with every passing moment.

Phionex, meanwhile, seemed to have made herself at home. She'd quickly gained a following among the students, her charisma and confidence drawing people to her like moths to a flame. Even Sonia's friend Mariel had mentioned Phionex in passing, impressed by her skill and charm.

"She's amazing, isn't she?" Mariel had said over lunch one day. "It's like she's been here forever."

Sonia had nodded but stayed silent. What could she say? That Phionex wasn't what she seemed? That she might be working with Neptune to overthrow the Nexus? Without proof, it would sound like jealousy—or worse, paranoia.

That evening, Sonia found herself in one of the academy's training chambers, practicing alone. The room was dimly lit, the only sound the steady rush of water as Sonia manipulated it into different forms. Streams of liquid spiraled around her, shifting from tendrils to solid spears and back again.

She was so focused that she didn't notice the door opening until it clicked shut.

"Impressive."

Sonia turned to see Phionex leaning against the wall, her arms crossed and a faint smile playing on her lips.

"What are you doing here?" Sonia asked, letting the water drop to the floor.

Phionex pushed off the wall and strolled toward her, her movements unhurried. "I wanted to see what you're capable of when no one's watching."

Sonia frowned, stepping back. "Why?"

Phionex tilted her head, her gaze piercing. "Because I know what it's like to have power you don't understand. To feel like you're standing on the edge of something bigger than yourself."

Sonia's hands clenched into fists. "What do you want from me?"

"I want you to see the truth," Phionex said, her voice soft but firm. "The Nexus—the council, the academy, all of it—is a lie. They tell us to control our power, to suppress it, because they're afraid of what we can do. But power isn't meant to be caged. It's meant to be unleashed."

Sonia shook her head, taking another step back. "You sound just like Neptune."

Phionex's smile widened. "Maybe that's because she understands what you refuse to. You think you're protecting people by holding back, but all you're doing is denying what you are. Sooner or later, that power inside you will demand to be set free."

Sonia's chest tightened. "You don't know anything about me."

Phionex raised an eyebrow. "Don't I? I saw the way you fought Neptune. The way you let your instincts take over. You didn't hesitate to use your power then. What's stopping you now?"

"That's not the same," Sonia snapped. "I was protecting myself."

"And what will you do when the Nexus comes for you?" Phionex countered, her voice sharp. "Do you really think they'll let you keep that power once they realize what you're capable of? They'll strip it away, lock you up, or worse. Unless you take control first."

Sonia stared at her, the weight of her words sinking in. Was that true? Could the Nexus really see her as a threat?

Before she could respond, the room grew warmer, the air shimmering with heat. Phionex's amber eyes glowed faintly, and flames flickered to life around her, dancing at her fingertips.

"Let me show you what's possible," Phionex said, her voice almost a whisper.

In an instant, the flames surged toward Sonia. She reacted instinctively, pulling water from the nearby reservoirs to form a shield. The fire collided with the water, creating a burst of steam that filled the room.

Sonia staggered back, her heart pounding. "What are you doing?"

"Helping you," Phionex said, her tone calm despite the fire swirling around her. "You need to stop thinking and start feeling. Show me what you're really capable of."

Sonia gritted her teeth, the pulse of power beneath her skin growing stronger. She didn't want to fight, but Phionex wasn't giving her a choice.

The room erupted into chaos as water and fire clashed, steam hissing and swirling around them. Phionex moved with terrifying precision, her flames cutting through Sonia's defenses like they were paper.

But Sonia wasn't helpless. The water within her responded to her emotions, surging and twisting as she fought back. With every attack, she felt the power inside her grow, wild and unrelenting.

"You're holding back," Phionex taunted, flames spiraling around her like a living shield. "Stop trying to control it. Let it out!"

Sonia's vision blurred, her frustration and fear building until they broke free in a surge of water that crashed into Phionex, extinguishing her flames and sending her flying across the room.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Phionex pushed herself to her feet, her smile unshaken. "There it is," she said, her voice filled with satisfaction. "That's what I was waiting for."

Sonia's breath came in ragged gasps, her hands trembling. She didn't know what she'd just done, but it felt like a line had been crossed.

Phionex walked toward her, her expression unreadable. "You're stronger than you think, Sonia. But strength without purpose is wasted. When you're ready to stop hiding from yourself, you know where to find me."

Without another word, Phionex turned and left, leaving Sonia alone in the steam-filled room.

In the shadows of the academy, Neptune watched Phionex's return with a cold smile.

"Well?" Neptune asked.

Phionex smirked. "She's close. A few more pushes, and she'll be exactly where we want her."

"Good," Neptune said, her voice low and dangerous. "The Core of Concordia won't wait forever. And neither will I."