Academy of Elements: Earth

Chapter 39: A Fractured Flower Shatters

The meeting in front of Versailles goes as any other meeting does. The people ask questions, we give answers, we show support, they show favour. But once the rain picks up more so, it is cancelled and we are rushed inside. Maryeus takes us to the Beacon and we live with smiles on our faces. We return to the hotel late that night and head straight to bed, not bothering with dinner. In the morning, after packing up and convincing Room Service to make us three pizza's for breakfast, we head to the airport to go back to Herta Macer. It had been a brief visit, but the attack on Versailles was huge, nobody attacked such a powerful and prosperous Realm without having a plan, and a plan meant strength.The plane bumps again. It seemed we were stuck in an infinite sunset, the sky stained with blood as we fly, the light reflecting on my face red. Clouds are dotted beneath us though as we get closer to New Zealand they elongate, their size bigger than any plane. I look upon New Zealand as the blood sky stains the world like wine, another month and we would be home... No, because of me our return might be subdued... because of me...Because of me, Ella had lost her powers...Because of me John and Ella had broken up...Because of me, a war waged...Because of me, Nora was broken...Because of me, Nora was in danger.Soon it would be over... soon. We land as the world fades into eventide, the sky slowly leeching of crimson and turning violet. We stay the night in a small hotel, the bed's not as comfortable as in Paris, but average, almost refreshing... And then the next day we take a helicopter to the island. Herta Macer is as we left it. The weather had apparently been in a constant downcast while we were gone, moisture filling the air like it was a sponge. As the stone door slides open for us I wish for a sweater. Rain still falls from the sky lightly, the water collecting in smalls puddles along the ground. A staff member slowly raises the water into the air and sends it flowing into a basin. The world is damp, the gray weather dulling the world like a filter. I climb the stairs to my bedroom and enter into my room. My phone slips from my hand as I read the message. You can lie all you want to yourself but you know deep down that you deserve all the hell you go through...Sitting down on my bed I look at the black words painted onto my wall. How were they getting into my room without my hand print... It was true, the message was, they didn't need to tell me but I also knew the game they were playing. They were trying to make me feel insecure, they were trying to make me feel scared. And it worked.

I wake a tiny bit later than usual and get my clothes on in a rush. Heading for the washroom I pass John on the way in, his eyes dark as night. Pushing the thought of him away, his phantom lips tracing mine... Is this what Ella thought whenever she kissed someone... She had been sexually assaulted a year ago and still hadn't gone to therapy, because nobody supplied us with it. I shower quickly and head down to the cafeteria. Sitting down at the circular table I notice the vase filled with lilies and send a questioning glance towards Haley who shrugs."Meet in the common area tonight at 11:00," I whisper so only the table can here.Because of my late start to the day, I barely have time to finish my protein smoothie before the bell rings.I head to Elemental History with a groggy Aira sitting down in my seat as the bell rings."Pull out some paper and a pen." Mr. Evermore. "Today we will be going over your last set of notes, after that, we will be studying for your exams." The Collapse of the Affilatorian. He writes and starts his speech."The Affilatorian Empire collapsed 122 Ad. Leading up to this Darathiuz, the original inhabitance of Darkness had supposedly died in a duel with Luenea but was actually building an army in the Human Realm. He made an Empire of banished magic users and slaves and attacked the Affilatorian Empire. All of Luenea's children were there and as he attacked and destroyed the Palace of Luenea and the Kingdom of Light the Six rose to face their father. And so they did. With the amount of power drawn in and used the realm collapsed as the seven of them died. The souls of the Six went to Luenea who had taken her mothers place in the Soul World. Those souls were later tethered to six Elementals who made the Gifted Six. "The duel lasted for days according to legend and as the Six used all of their power and being to destroy Darathiuz. With the amount of power they summoned the Realm itself shredded itself apart and 92% of the magic population died, the remaining folk in other realms or not in a realm at all." I finish writing down what he has said and find myself letting it sink in.The largest amount of magic deaths ever... Probably the largest amount of deaths in a single second ever...A shiver rakes itself down my spine as I turn the page over."That completes all 136 pages of notes you should have. I advise you to review them before your exam in two weeks." Evermore says passing a stack of papers to a girl with vibrant hair in the front row who chews gum loudly. "Your gum," Evermore growls sticking out his hand. The girl's eyes widen and she slowly drops the chewed piece of gum into the teacher's hand. Instead of putting the white hunk of saliva in the garbage he presses it down onto her notes. "Remember Mrs. Falken, no gum in class. Hand these out."The ashamed girl drops off stacks of paper around the desk and as one thud onto my desk I marvel at the fifty pages of the review that was due in a week.

The day goes by quickly, everything fairly interesting for once. Though as the day progresses so does the rainfall until thunder shakes the world every minute or so. The thunderstorm continues through the night, bursts of lightning illuminating the world as Brennen, Denen, and I retreat to my room to wait until 11:00. We work on homework, Denen and I talking about the effects of different flowers and dusts that effect potions and poisons. Brennen remains silent until:"Why did you suggest to go on a world tour?"I stop what I'm doing and meet his dark blue eyes. "I want to see part of the world before war destroys it," I reply. Not an entire lie, if, if, we had to go on the tour some good would come. We would get to go around the world, and I would make sure that I consulted the picture of the map containing all possible locations for the other Affilatorian Gems when we decided where to go. If the gems were even real... Which they had to be...Once my phone reads 10:58 we go to leave. As Brennen and Denen are creeping out into the dark world, I tear off the tape under my bed and let the Aszor fall into my hand and pocket it. I step out into the Ice Common Room and find Nora walking from the tapestry.She glares at me as she struts by as I motion for Brennen and Denen to head downstairs."Nora.""Fuck you." She sheaths turning to me as a tear falls from her eyes.Because of me, she was crying."You know why I did it," I whisper. "If you weren't okay in the end then I wouldn't have been either.""Well, I'm not okay now Jaxon." She whispers. "And you seem fine meandering off to Versailles and embracing your celebrity status."How did she know... the news hadn't reported it..."There is not a day gone by that I don't think about you.""Yeah right." She snorts as a dull glow escapes her hands. Nora walks away as pain blossoms in my heart."Nora...""I love you Jaxon." She growls, the words like venom on her tongue. "I do, and it is obvious you don't love me.""I did this because I love you!" I try. She had to know I loved her... She had too... In her head, she had to know that I had done this because I loved her. Because I loved her..."No, you did this because you love the feeling of freedom because you love to be free of responsibility and weight."Her words sink into me, their meaning peeling at my flesh."Goodbye Jaxon." She walks int her room.You love the feeling of freedom...They slowly peel back my skin, melting away the layers of ice around my core. And once they reach my fragmented heart it proceeds to shatter it. I stand there for a second before Denen emerges from the stairwell and calls my name, though I don't hear it. I join him and spiral down the stairs until we reach the common room. I brush the tears that threaten to fall from my eyes and shove everything inside. I let it build and flourish inside of me, the hurt, the pain.In the end, I would be okay... In the end...My hand stretches for the doorknob, stretching like it was on a fault line. Opening the door I close my walls and head into the common room. In the end, I would be okay. I would be okay... No...In the end, Nora would be okay... without her, I would never be okay. No matter what happened.