Helix

Chapter 14 - Toph

"I'm sorry," I heard her say, her voice faint and breaking. I'm sorry too, I whispered in my mind. But I couldn't reveal myself. Crouched in the trees, I watched Elaena as she slowly struggled up and walked away – wasn't that how it was supposed to be? People like me were supposed to blend in with the shadows until no one remembered who we were and what we did.

Sighing, I left as well.

When I got back to my dorm, the lights were still on and the scholars lounged around the common area. "Hey guys," I said, slapping Landon on the back. "What's up?"

"White Phantom Tournament. Wanna join?" Landon said, looking back over his shoulders. "We're discussing our ultimate winning plan right now."

I chuckled, undoing my cloak and hooking it at the entrance. "Of course!" Because Elaena entered.

The rest of the night was spent in amicable chatter. But there was a twinge of sadness in the connection we shared; however close we were together now, I missed that I would never find a best friend like Eugene again.

I tailed Elaena the next day again. We had Skills together in the last class, so it was easy to follow her. In Skills, Professor Obier set up a group project where we dissected a Sklil. I partnered up with Elaena and chose the Light Skill. I hoped that by dissecting it, she would be able to realize how to use Light, but I guess she wasn't paying attention. Preoccupied by something, her mind wandered all through class, and I turned in a detailed parchment written by myself.

"Elaena," I called, full of concern. "Are you okay? You've been drifting this entire class."

"I'm fine," she muttered brusquely and quickened her pace. "Don't follow me."

Of course not, I thought. But I still held back my pace and quietly jumped on a tree to hide myself. I watched her vigilantly and was pleased when I saw her make a beeline for the arena.

Elaena dropped her satchel on the ground and emerged from the locker room minutes later dressed in basic tunics. Her hair was tied in a high ponytail, just a few purple strands framing her face. I was watching her from an unassuming corner now. Even though it was autumn and borderline winter, the sun provided a little warmth. Chilly winds blew by, but Elaena didn't seem affected – at least she didn't show any signs. By her blue-tinted fingers, I knew that she was cold too, just tough.

"Hi-ya!" she yelled, thrusting her rapier. Her toned calves were perpendicular to the ground and her elbows were strong and steady with the rapier. I smiled at how much she had improved in a mere two months. To be honest, even I took three months before being able to connect my choppy sword movements. But I still worried for Elaena because she still hadn't learned any Skills yet. Up against other First Years who had been dealing with Combat since a very young age, Elaena would be at a huge disadvantage without Skills. She needed to get through at least the first stage before I could help her.

I lost track of time as I watched her lunge, thrust, and repeat. She was trying to do Light, but the light particles always dissipated too quickly for her to use. I didn't notice my fists were clenching until I looked down and saw my ghostly white palms. Come on, you can do this! I cheered in my mind. I hated that I couldn't help her again.

The only thing I could do was watch from the background, with a pair of eyes no one knew existed.

Suddenly, a blinding light flashed across the arena.

"Light!"

Elaena looked at her hands incredulously. A grin spread across her face, like a red flower blooming midsummer. "I did it!" she hollered. Her rapier dropped on the ground, and she excitedly bounced around like a goofy child. She must've realized that she looked stupid, because she stopped almost immediately, but I was sure I caught a piece of Elanea that still lived as a carefree child. Her state just then reminded me of the time we met as nobodies at the Summer Prelude Ball and the market in the summer. Her pristine innocence was so rarely seen at first I dismissed it as an act. But seeing her here, spreading her arms behind her like a giant pair of wings, her exuberance was contagious, lifting a smile on my face. And then, though there was no way she was looking at me, but by chance, her gaze suddenly rested on the dark corner I was hiding in. You did it, I grinned at her, imagining that I was talking to her.