Colliding Elements (Original Draft)

12. Stories Told

Ash and Jim followed behind Mayrah into the wooden building, rays of light caught in the dusty air and were cut off as the three walked through them. The floorboards creaked with every step they took, almost sounding like they would give way. The three of them shortly stopped by a bed surrounded by a white drape. A blue ribbon was tied to one of the rings above, a small metal piece of jewelry hanging off the end of the material

"Um..." Jim tried to speak, trying to select his words carefully. "Why exactly are we here? I thought we came to help the water Elementals."

Mayrah glanced at him. "We arrived too late." She walked to a flimsy-looking chair and sat in it, resting her elbows on her knees and then placing her chin on top of her laced fingers. "Thankfully some of the earth Elementals came to help them from what I overheard when we arrived. But sadly they didn't arrive fast enough to stop her from being hurt." Mayrah nodded towards the canopied bed.

The two of them looked over at it, Ash glancing at the ribbon hanging above.

"So who is it to be exact? A high ranking water Elemental?" Ash asked while still studying the detailed piece of metal on the ribbon.

Mayrah chuckled at Ash's quick observation. "It seems you can read things well. Were you in a high educational setting growing up?"

Ash nodded with a smile. "I was one of the best in my class! I really enjoyed my studies, it was hard, but worth it."

Mayrah nodded as she listened. A smile coming to her face. "It's nice to know young people like you are striving for education." She then turned to Jim. "Are you also passionate about learning?"

Jim looked at Mayrah, a bit startled from the conversation moving to him. "I..." He stopped for a moment, trying to think of what to say. He stole a glance at Ash, his eyes holding a pleading look in them.

"Go on, Jim. Tell her what you did back in school." Ash smiled as she encouraged him. "You're skilled at what you do, so don't be ashamed."

Mayrah raised her blonde eyebrows at Ash before looking from her to Jim. "Young man, you will not be judged for what you say. Everyone deserves their right to do what they please in life."

"Well," Jim started, "I don't focus on education much, but I'm very good at athle–"

"Mayrah?" A quiet voice came from the other side of the drape.

Mayrah stood up and moved the curtain to reveal Shasa, her eyes widening at the sight of the wound. "Shasa... What happened?" Jim could be heard sighing in relief in the background. "This isn't the work of an earth Destroyer. What caused this horrendous injury?" She placed her thin fingers lightly on the wound, quickly pulling them back when Shasa flinched.

Shasa closed her eyes, her long eyelashes seeming even darker when all together. She took a deep breath and tucked some of her hair behind her ear with her still usable arm before speaking louder than she did before. "You remember Sage, correct?"

"The little boy from my childhood?" Mayrah furrowed her eyebrows as she thought about him. "What has he done? Did he cause this?"

"Yes, he did." Shasa groaned. "The water Aiders were acting strange around many of the Cancer students as well, not just around him."

"So something has affected the Cancers? Why was he the only one that lashed out?" Ash asked out curiously, gaining both of the women's attention.

"Well..." Mayrah began, "he was my neighbor growing up. We were three years apart and the only Elementals on our little road. If he had ever lashed out it was because someone had harmed those he loved and cherished. And he did it more frequently when our village was overrun by Blaxton's men. Most people acted darker when that event happened."