The Breeze Trials

Chapter 16

My body jolted awake. I was warm and had been lying on something comfortable and sturdy, on someone's lap. A dream lingered on my mind, fuzzy but leaving a feeling of uneasiness. The air around me was orange, but when I looked up I could see the stars fading with the night. I placed my hands on the ground, pushing myself up to see Jace, a brown wave tickling his cheekbone. My own blonde locks framing the side of his face. He was, luckily, still asleep. His mouth was parted slightly, so that I almost would've believed he was relaxed if it weren't for his uneven breathing rhythm. Was he having a similar dream to what I had?

Sitting up on my knees, I noticed dark colored symbol with intricate lines on his right hand. He must've cast a spell to keep us from getting cold in the forest while we slept. I held my aching head. 

How could I have passed out so easily?  I closed my eyes, willing away the pain. With some effort, I felt the pounding lessen. I sighed, feeling better and decided we needed to get moving soon. I lightly shook the sleeping boy's shoulder, hoping the tree bark wouldn't rub him too painfully.

"Jace." I whispered. No answer. I moved closer and repeated the action. This time, he muttered, but at the same time, his body shifted and he grabbed onto my unoccupied hand, his grip tight. Ignoring the blush creeping into my face, I tried one last time. 

"Breeze? Is that you?" It was clear that he wasn't fully awake yet. 

"Yes." I responded quietly. What was going through his mind?

"You are the most beautiful thing I've ever woken up to." Jace spoke in a low voice, one I know I'd heard before. It disarmed for just a moment, taking me back to the day he'd kissed me. I shifted back, enough to be free from his scent. 

"Thank you." The remark was hollow. Now wasn't the time for idle flirting, and the memory he'd brought up only reminded me of Aaron. I couldn't help but feel the shadow of his sadness from that day. A gentle focus settled in Jace's eyes. 

"Can you tell me what happened while I was out? What is this bubble thing?" I asked, eager to change the subject. My hand reached out to touch it. It was just hot enough to not burn. It felt nice, as if it were warming me all the way to my bones. I felt any negativity being chased away.

 "Huh?" Jace adjusted and rubbed his eyes. 

"Minor fire magic that I wove with light magic for protection. You have leaves in your hair again, you know." I glared at him, though only half-heartedly. His magic was making me feel too relaxed to be irrate. 

"You have ants in yours." I teased. His eyes widened and he began ruffling his hand through his hair, making me chuckle. This stopped him in his tracks. 

"You were joking, got it. I'm glad to hear you laugh like that. Lately, it's sounded a little off. Maybe I was just hearing things, though." I didn't hear any difference, though I looked away all the same. I knew that I hadn't wanted him to get bit by anything, especially knowing how the bugs mark burned.

"So what, now I can't laugh around you? I'm sorry it was weird." I said, clearly defensive. At that moment, the stone grew warm against my skin. I turned to look at it the same time Jace was placing a hand on my cheek. "I'm just worried, okay?" I stayed still, eyes downward. He sighed. "Let me tell you a story. You don't have to say anything, just listen."

"It was the night after the theft that I received my own stone. The moment the Mage dropped it into my palm, I felt the emptiness in my soul grow. I knew what power it had. Something told me I could learn to do so much. I could punish the people who hurt me, punish my mother. I could resurrect my father. I could be seen.

"The mage saw this. He placed his hand over mine and told me that what I was hearing was an entirely human part of me, but not one I should heed. I could do things, be someone else and essentially solve my problems, but it'd be wrong and I would never truly be happy. He told me to look at the stone for what it could do, not what it could do for me.