Avia Academy

🌊Chapter Twelve: Breakdowns and Betrayal

"I hope you realize you look like an absolute moron," Hadyn grinned from her seat at the edge of the fountain.

Claire—who had indeed realized this—didn't stop moving. She wiggled her hips, hopped from foot to foot, and threw in a twirl or two when the mood struck her. All the while, she manipulated orbs of water around the fountain's upper rim. "It's working isn't it? And there's no one here so who cares."

"No one here," Hadyn echoed, shaking her head. "So what will your method be for finals in a month, when you're in a room full of people?"

A month. Claire made a face. "I'll deal with that when I get to it."

"Mhm." Hadyn examined her nails, then a slow smile curled her lips and she waggled her eyebrows at Claire. "Have you told dear Orpheus you're two-timing him with me yet?"

"Don't say it like that!" Claire cried, shooting a stream of water Hadyn's way. She bit her cheek to fight a smirk as Hadyn squawked and rolled onto the grass. "And I'm not planning on telling him."

"Aw, poor baby probably thinks he's a good teacher." Hadyn sprawled out in the grass with a giggle, raising one hand to shield her eyes from the bright midday sun. Only a handful of students wandered the campus, the rest were all inside for lunch.

"He is a good teacher," Claire muttered. Her hand wandered to the pendant around her neck, and her movements slowed to a halt. The orbs of water dropped back into the fountain with a splash.

"Sure thing, Princess." Hadyn leaned up on her elbow and patted the thick grass at her side. "Why don't we take a break and do some more affinity talk. I'm sure we'll figure out what works for you soon."

Claire sat on folded legs, not quite next to Hadyn. "I told you to stop calling me that."

"So you're not a princess?"

"No."

"Hm. Well then, I guess you're not in a position to give orders." Hadyn winked and returned to her earlier sprawled position. "Princess."

Claire huffed and stared up at the bright blue sky, squinting. Nine months into her time at Avia and she wasn't used to seeing this much... nothing. Her home skyland Bassa floated further down, so her view of the sky was usually blocked by the underside of other skylands. Gods above, demons below, all this sky but nowhere to go.

"So." Hadyn jolted Claire from her reverie. "While you were manipulating the water, what were you feeling? Where was your mind?"

"I told you, I know what I want my affinity to be. I was thinking about dance, and feeling the rhythm."

Hadyn sighed. "You can't just force your affinity to fit a mold, it has to come from you, and I'm sorry to say you're not a dancer."

"I've been doing just fine in class! Miss Renata said I'm the most improved of the year." Claire pulled up chunks of grass absentmindedly, her face red. "Maybe you're just mad because you want to be the special one who dances to make her powers work."

Hadyn pulled her lighter out of her pocket, flicked it, and pulled the flame into her other hand. "I don't need to dance. That's just the feeling. And you'll find yours if you spends some time thinking about yourself."

"I do think about myself." Claire scooted the tiniest bit further from Hadyn as she watched the other girl twist flames between her fingers as if it was nothing. It may have been months ago and they may not be quite as hostile towards each other at the moment, but Hadyn had set her on fire once.

Hadyn shook her head and closed her fist around the fire to snuff it out. "You only think about yourself through the frame of how others see you."

Claire stood. "If this is turning into a therapy session, then I'm going back to my room."