Element Academy: The Light of the Avatar

Luck or Skill...Page

"That all happened this summer?" Jacob sits back and looks at Crystal like she is some kind of wonder of the earth. "And I thought being a chef was stressful. How do you do it?"

"My friends help a lot," Crystal confesses. "I couldn't have done anything without them."

Jacob runs a hand through his hair. "Wow, your story is so different than the one I keep hearing."

"It's because it's the truth," Page insists.

Jacob lifts his hands before him. "No, I believe you guys. It makes so much more sense."

Page crosses her arms and sits back in the plush leather chair. She looks over at Crystal with a slight frown. Hearing Jacob tell his side of the story and then Crystal retelling all that they've been through this Summer, it really does seem insane. It has to be luck that they've made it this far.

There's a knock at the door and Jake enters the room. He's been on the phone with his and Crystal's parents since they got here. Page sinks deeper in her chair. She wishes that there is a way for her to check in with her dad or get any information really.

"How are they doing?" she hears Crystal asks.

"Better now that they know you're safe. They're taking everyone out to the lake house till things calm down." Jake explains. Page tugs at a fold in her shirt, both he and Crystal just look so worried and sad. Is that how they all look?

The room quiets down to a heavy silence.

"Ugh! This silence is killing me! Someone say something!" Talula exclaims.

"Uh- you just did," Mahoney replies back with a smirk.

Demetri rolls his eyes bringing a small smile to Page's features. Determination ignites in her and she finds herself suddenly on her feet. "We need to find out what's going on."

The group readily agrees. There hasn't been any word since they got here. The guards have been keeping them cooped up in the room and only let Jake go another way when he agreed to take three bodyguards with him to make the phone call. Has the Underground been found out? Did any of the videos get leaked out about what happened in front of the train station? Is the fighting still going on?

"Talula, tell your buff guys we want answers or a tv. Something!" Page insists.

Talula simply flips her hair and shrugs to return to filing to her nails. "Father said to wait for him to finish his meeting. That's what we're doing."

"Since when do you listen to what to people say?" Crystal challenges.

Talula sets down the nail file. "I listen to my father."

Dense silence lightens and electrifies to hostility in a pace Page has only seen in her school cafeteria.

A welcome knock at the door serves as the perfect distraction. Page was afraid she might of had to jump between them to stop a fight. Fighting among themselves is the last thing any of them need.

All of the bodyguards around them tense, their hands instinctively setting on their holsters. One of the body guards opens the door just a bit to see who stands on the other side. He quickly says something in what Page can only assume is Chinese and immediately all of the men straighten like perfect soldiers.

"Mr. Kirito-Nagoya," One of the men introduced.

"I thought your last name is Jankins," Page whispers over to Talula.

"I use Jankins while here is America so no one knows he's my dad," Talula explains in a hushed tone.

Page nods in response, but doesn't really understand Talula's explanation. Is it because Talula isn't supposed to be related to this Kay guy or the Kay guy isn't supposed to be related to Talula. It doesn't really matter, because either way it confuses Page.

A middle-aged man with black hair and intense dark eyes comes striding into the room. His stare is intense, and his posture is so straight Page doubts he's even human. No one can look that- well, like that. Can they?

"Hello Mr. Kirito-Nagoya," Crystal greets with a slight bow when he approaches. The others follow her lead and bow in turn as well. "Thank you for sending your daughter to come and help. My friends and I were hoping you could let us-"

"I sent Camp to rescue Avatar. Any other information will come when given." The man shoots back causing Crystal to shrink back against the sharpness of the man's tone.

Page instinctively puts a hand on Crystal's shoulder to comfort her and shoots a glare at the man. Why does he have to be so cold?

"You have been sloppy," he continues, his eyes not wavering from Crystal's. "Put many lives at risk. Now you let grownups handle this." 

"But I-"

One look from the man silences Crystal immediately. Page wants to say something, to defend Crystal. After all, they really are doing the best they can. They weren't taught how to win battles like this, just to do something that they all really like to do.

"You will stay in house floor till safe," he declares. His tone leaves no room for argument and yet still everyone looks to Crystal for the go ahead.

The brunette straightens and stands as tall as she can. "We will do what you want for now, but I want to know what's going on. I know I'm new at being the Avatar, but you need me kid or not."

The man stays silent for a moment, analyzing Crystal. It's the kind of look Page has seen on people's faces when they try to tell if a teacher is worth listening to or not.

He turns and commands something to his men who nod in response before he leaves the room as strong as he entered.

"Uhh what did he say?" Jake asks.

"He told his guys to take us to the floor where we can stay for now," Crystal explains.

"Don't worry guys, it's gorgeous." Talula starts heading to the door. "Come on, I can introduce you to my mother."