A Z R I E L (A Freenbecky Fanfiction)

CHAPTER27

Aelia sat quietly in her chair, surrounded by the steady hum of concentration. She's in her last calss for the day, Advanced elemental theory and control, a core subject for elementals in Ravenwood—a subject Aelia really find fascinating.

Aelia sat beside Neven, an air elemental, both of them tuned in to Professor Caelus's lecture on elemental control and containment. The only sounds in the room were the rhythmic scribbling of pens and Caelus's steady voice.

Until, Aelia felt it.

The air around her suddenly turns warm, Then, a flutter—like something deep in her chest had flickered awake. A strange pull, building like a slow boil. Her fingers tapped restlessly against her desk, and her heart thudded unevenly.

"Now," Professor Caelus said, voice even, "when channeling external energy, a stable elemental must always keep the mind focused. Distraction is the enemy of control."

Aelia's eyes snapped toward him at the word "control," her heartbeat stuttering. She tried to inhale slowly, trying to calm herself down, but the air around her desk wavered, just slightly, like heat rising off pavement.

Neven, who was scribbling on his notes suddenly stopped, He felt the warmth, the sudden shift in the atmosphere. Turning towards her, he notices beads of sweat from the woman forehead as she deeply breaths and tightly closed her eyes.

"Aelia?" he whispered, concern edging his tone. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Aelia answered without looking at the guy.

Her palms were heating up.

A soft crackle sounded.

Aelia looked down to see her plastic pen slowly melting in her hand. A faint shimmer of orange glow streak across her fingers—there for a second, then gone. Her throat tightened.

Neven reached out to her, hand carefully touching Aelia's arm.

"Your temperature is rising." The guy notices, "Are you sick?"

"No." Aelia whispered.

He noticed her breathing—shallow, fast. Panic creeping in.

"Hey," he said softly, scooting closer. "Breathe with me. Inhale. Exhale."

Aelia did as told. Slowly. In. Out. The thrum in her veins dulled, like fire reluctantly retreating from the edges of her skin.

No one else seemed to have noticed—yet.

Except...

Professor Caelus had paused mid-sentence. His eyes scanned the room, then landed on her. His expression didn't shift, but Aelia could tell—he knew.

"Miss Fireheart," he said smoothly, "care to explain what might occur if an elemental loses control in a closed space?"

Aelia swallowed. She sat up straighter.

"They could... affect the oxygen levels. Overheat the room. Cause a chain reaction," she answered carefully.

"Correct," he nodded once. "And how does one avoid that?"

"Stay grounded," she replied. "And regulate emotional triggers."

"Excellent," he said with a small smile that didn't reach his eyes. "See me after class."

Neven sent her a concerned look as he softly pat her in the back.

Aelia sighed under her breath.

The class ended in a blur. Aelia now, calm and grounded, stood up and slowly made her way to the front of the classroom where Professor Caelus waited, arms crossed. Neven carefully walks beside her.