Elemental Academy

September 22nd

Quinn woke up with a throbbing pain in head that pulsated down into her neck and shoulders, making them tense. She choked on the overly humid air and woke up to find Raquel and Phoenix choking on it too. Aria was on the floor, sweating and trembling with tangible fear. The celestial glow around her was brighter than it was last night and it radiated further away from her than the normal glow would. Quinn raised a hand and sloppily gathered the water in the air into a levitating pool, stopping her and her fellow elementals' choking. However, Aria was a better elemental than Quinn: stronger; more advanced; more experienced.

The air in their common room dried and heated up, creating a heatwave strong enough to turn the harnessed water into a puff of steam before vanishing. Phoenix stretched a hand towards Aria and created a small flame, intended to frighten the air user into waking up. "Don't," Quinn demanded softly. "You'll make it worse."

Raquel, slowly but elegantly, grazed Aria's cheek, feeling how frigid it was; if it weren't for the her glowing skin, one might've mistaken her for dead. "Aria, it's just a dream," she started chanting. "It's not real. We're right here. I promise. Wake up."

Quinn took Phoenix's hand then Raquel's. "I have an idea," she stated. "Raquel, you need to use runic magic. Phoenix-"

"Pyrogenic transfer?"

"Yes."

"Why do I get the feeling you're going to use blood bending," Raquel asked as she took Phoenix's other hand.

"I'm not but it's something that requires just as much specialist knowledge. It's called the 'nine symbols of water'." Raquel closed her eyes and focused on connecting to the earth. Phoenix held her gaze on Aria but it was if she was looking past the trembling teen.

"No, no, no. No!" Aria bellowed at them. "I'm okay. I'm awake." The dry air in the room moister enough to be breathable. "I'm sorry," she apologized as she started crying. "I could feel it. I tried to stop it but I... I'm so sorry."

Phoenix pulled her into her arms while Quinn leaned on Aria's back and Raquel held them all. "What's the 'nine symbols of water'," Phoenix asked out of nowhere.

Raquel let go of them when Quinn squirmed out of the hug. "It's more of an old wife's tale then a magic," she clarified. "Aquamarines, coral, sea ferns, harbor water, kelp, lichen, moonstones, ocean water, and pearls," Quinn whispered almost inaudibly. "They symbolize: cleansing; purification; transformation; contentment; and new beginnings. Water elemental mothers would sometimes use them to save their babies from night terrors. Eventually it became too complicated to use because the mind is a complex place. Specialists took over the practice to study."

Aria caved into Phoenix's embrace, tiredly as she rubbed her eye with a yawn and a soft moan. "Thank you for the daily lesson," Raquel voiced somewhat sarcastically. "Did y'all twig bitches forget that today's the twenty-second? Equinox Ball? Day of Reckoning?"

Aria took a long while to reopen her eyes. "It's still early," she moaned weakly. "We only have to be upstairs by 18:30."

Raquel held her phone up to Aria's face, "what time is, Herb?"

Quinn scoffed a laugh as she asked, "did you just call her, 'herb'?"

"14:36? Really?"

"Yip," Raquel stated as she lowered her phone back on the table. "That gives us, exactly, three hours and six minutes to get done. Bare in mind that there's four of us, one shower, Phoenix enjoys using all the hot water and Quinn spends an hour preparing herself to get into the shower. With the water running!"

"What about you," Quinn started off very humored. "You tend to wash your hair with two different shampoos and Aria, you, have no idea how to operate the shower head!"

"I like my water to flow a little slowly, it's comforting."

Raquel turned to them, muffling her laughter. "I hope guys realized that Phoenix went to shower." Aria sighed then chuckled while Quinn growled her frustration. "Whose makeup am I doing? Speak now or forever hold your peace."

Aria raised her hand blankly while Quinn shook her head, "I don't wear makeup." Aria huffed as she turned to Quinn. "What?!" The air user merely raised an eyebrow at her, daring not to turn her bulging gaze from her. Quinn sighed defeatedly, "fine. Raquel Haynes, will you do my make up for the Equinox Ball?"

Raquel curtsied, "it would be my honor." Aria chuckled as she let out another yawn. "It's scary," she pointed out grimly. "This could be the last time all four of us together." Instinctively, Raquel and Quinn turned to Aria. "Emphasis on 'could be'. We've got a..."

"Clockwise Industry lawyer on our side. I know," Aria nodded. "There're worse things in the Cosmic than the Terra but tonight it the only night we will be this young. If tonight's the last night were going to share, let's go out there, make memories and whip some Cosmic ass!"

"Hear, hear," Phoenix stated from the bathroom door with a towel clutched around her neckline and an unnaturally large smile on her lips. "To our one and only airhead, Aria Sage, the glue that keeps us glued to the wall so we don't destroy each other."

The four roommates huddled into one of their notorious hugs, holding each other as if their lives depended on it. The four stayed embraced in each other long enough for their beasts to snuggle at their feet. Charity's the exception as she hovered by Quinn's shoulder, sniffing Aria's hair.

Phoenix cackled into Aria's shoulder. "Okay. Enough with the squishy stuff," she stated. "Let go of me!" They parted then were briefly still, then regathered into another hug, laughing. "I love you guys. Even if I did only know you for, like what, three weeks."

Quinn snob bed softly in Raquel's shoulder. "My only social goal was to form a proper two-way relationship with at least one person by the end of the semester. I'm glad I met the three of you. You're literally the only friends I have."

Raquel shook her head, forcing herself not to cry. "I'm here because of a stupid scholarship. I wouldn't have gotten in if it weren't for my element but, thank the stars for it. You twigs are indestructible!"

"None of my Earth classmates bothered to say goodbye when I told them I'm going to a boarding school in Croatia. The barista at the cafe next to the bookstore where I used to 'work'," she stated with air quotes, "gave me a free coffee and called me 'Amy'. Here..."

"You have the head boy weak in the knees for you; you're the best air elemental; and you're a badass now." Aria blushed with a broad grin she tried to hide. "Yeah," Phoenix comment. "You're a punk boss bitch!" The others laughed as they let go of each other then turned to Phoenix - who shrugged. "I only got into the school because Alister spoke to headmaster Grimm."

"Guys," Raquel stated enthusiastically then took in the appearance of her roommates. "Dibs on the shower."

"I'm after Raquel," Aria bellowed and Quinn groaned defeatedly while the two laughed at her dismay. "We should go get ready."