Arcadia: Amorphous

Chapter 18: Aura-matic Defence Systems

"Juny we need to talk about it."

"No, we don't."

"We can't just leave it undefined. We need to talk about us. After the party, with, the kiss."

"Your kiss. You kissed me. You're the confused one, Jain."

"Juniper!"

"No, I know who I am. You are the one who decided to change our relationship. You can figure it out."

"I was trying to help you."

"Ya, now it's time to help yourself. Stop obsessing over me, and decide what you want. When you can do that, I'll listen, till the, well it's probably better if we keep it casual."

"Juny!

"Juny!

"Juniper Ann Lee!" Jain yelled as I walk to second period.

Don't get me wrong Jain is amazing, I love her. Platonically at the least, and I know she likes me. These last few weeks of hidden intimacy, annoying glasses, and inside jokes have been amazing. But I know who I am and how I feel, Jain, I just don't think she does. She's so caring and compassionate that sometimes I have to wonder if she feels the same way I do, or if she is just reflecting the way I feel.

Two days ago she kissed me at a party, and since then well... I'm trying to give her space to make up her mind, to decide if she wants to be with me. Does she like me, or just likes that I like her. I'm not interested in any of that teenage angsty bullshit. I'm not going to waste my time on something that doesn't mean anything. I've been in one of those before and it fucking sucked. Who pretends they're gay in middle school? That is what college is for. When your already so emotionally numb and chemically high you can't feel shit like excitement or disappointment.

Is it so bad to what something to be real?

"Okay, Fledgie line um up!" Ms. Dragonhide bellowed over the field. "Today I have the unfortunate task of making sure each and everyone one of you knows how to put up a proper defense. So you don't all get killed the first time your up against an ounce of real power."

I see Dragonbreath is as mothering as ever.

"Do I have any volunteers? Lee! Get up here!"

The fact that I did not volunteer was not missed by the class as I walked towards the beast of a woman.

"Now, the key to protecting yourself from harm, be it physical or magical in nature, is all about your aura. Shielding spells and charms can be added later, but for now and till you die at its failure, your aura is what will save your life. Raise it."

My mistake was not hearing my name she didn't say.

"Raise your aura Lee!" She barked again.

This time I listened, letting the feeling of my aura flow over me.

"Good, everyone, see Lee's aura. Raise it a bit more, let them see it."

I tried, it was like relaxing and straining, every part of your body. Everyone has a natural aura. Normally it's weak, thin, and hard to see. It needs to be trained like a muscle. I've built mine up damn well over the years, a weak aura where I grew up was bad news.

"That's better, almost looks like an adults aura."

Bitch.

"Now see the thin part, well probably not, it's right about here in this area." She said moving her hand a few inches from my head. "This thin colorless distortion on the edge of the aura is called the corona. It's bad. The corona is where your aura is leaking off and mixing into the air. Wasted energy, wasted potential, wasted life... this is part of your soul people. Can't just let if float off to who the hell knows where. Lee!" she yelled.