AFIRE: fight for the Earth begins✓

19.2 AIJA

The story so far:

---- Aija is a Volunteer at the Pristine School at Innermost. She works along with Zuri and Ze, who are her friends. Aija witnesses a strange event one night – light emanating from Rez's body. The kidnapper is after her soul, next, but he leaves her alive and goes away. Another man finds her, he wants to take her somewhere else - Aija though wary of him agrees. Aija learns of the existence of the aliens – the Ytai. Also, about the R'ies and H'eon, Harvesting and Àvo from Etrie. Etrie tells her that the man, who Harvested Rez (Thieron), will now go after her. He tells her that the spy/kidnapper's name is Luka. Etrie asks her to work along with him. Aija agrees to work along with Etrie on Harvest Stopping Missions.

---- Ze is restless as he takes care of a class. He finds out that a student of his is in the hospital for an unknown sickness. The boy Xan's friend Vaughn asks him to visit Xan at the hospital as Xan would really appreciate it. Ze fights with his mother, again, about his powers. He leaves home and goes to the hospital to visit his student Xan. Ze finds something strange as he reaches the hospital and decides to check it out.

---- Xan is still in the hospital. He is still weak. Vaughn confesses to Xan that he loves him. They share their first kiss. Xan is approached by two strange men dressed in the white-coats of doctors. They tell him he is dying, but he can give up his soul to save the Earth. Xan chooses to give his soul for the Earth.

---- Luka loses his satchel while leaving the hospital. Thieron calls him and lets him know that he knows about it. 

---- Luka goes to the car to find that Thieron has Aija with him. Zuri finds Nala with him and Thieron. They leave. 

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****19.2 - Aija****

Zuri hadn't climbed a level in Spaceship Hop. They had played for over three hours, and Ze was getting quite fidgety.

"We need to go," she told Zuri.

"No. Just one more try." Zuri pleaded.

"Last time," Aija warned.

Zuri lost the round again. To be fair, it was one of the last three levels, and it was meant to be tough. Aija dragged her out. Ze looked relieved.

"Today was just terrible!" Zuri groaned. "I'll have better luck next time."

"Sure," Ze muttered under his breath, making Aija smile.

"You're going home now?" she asked him.

"I need to," he said. "But, my hovercycle's at the School Housing. I'll walk back with you two."

The three of them walked home from the Market. The flashy lights faded into the distance as they walked away to a more residential area.

"I'm hungry." Zuri declared, putting her arm around Aija.

"We just ate."

"I burned it all playing the game."

"Let's have something at home."

"Did you apply for the Teacher Training program?" Ze asked them.

"Yes," Zuri said.

"I haven't yet," Aija mumbled.

"It's alright." Ze's voice was soothing. "There's still time, Aija."

She smiled. "You know you can call me, Ai, don't you? You adamantly call me Aija."

Ze looked at her, but she couldn't understand his expression.