Secrets and Memories

Chapter 10

Sitting with all the other people in Akarnae was squishy. Most people came to the cafeteria at different times and didn't spend the whole hour and a half there so it was more staggered. But when everyone was in the room at once, it was hectic.

I can barely hear myself talk or even think.

"How do you think Lora's doing in this crowd?" I'm only able to pick up on what Himari is saying thanks to my enhanced hearing. But that also means I can hear so many other conversations. Most of them talk about nothing while others talk about what this meeting is.

"She certainly wouldn't be having a party. This room is packed with people and who knows how everyone's feeling." I look around for the girl before spotting her in the table next to ours.

"Lora! Do you wanna sit with us?" Himari calls. Lora looks over and I'm suddenly very interested in the table in front of me. I can sense Lora making a decision.

"No thank you. I'm okay," she replies.

"I promise Eraeya doesn't bite. Anyway, I wanted to ask you some stuff about chem. I didn't understand some of it." Lora looks around before standing to get to our table. I send Himari a curious look but return it to a small scowl as Lora sits down. She looks nervous and I can't blame her.

I try to soften my expression and look more pleasant but people keep shoving into me. I scowl at the table again and I hear Himari sigh. As they talk about chem, I get lost in my thoughts. I block everything out and just focus on not losing control of my fire. My darkness was fine and I wouldn't be showing it in here any time soon so I was safe.

But my fiery spirit wanted to escape. And I didn't know anyone with an ice or water power to smother my flames.

"Breathe. Just breathe and the flames will stay away. They need oxygen and when there's not enough in your body they let loose trying to find more. So just breathe. Imagine them not needing to go out to find oxygen. Breathe." I stare at the girl, my doppleganger. Around us, I can feel the fire burning trees and lighting up the night sky. But her hands keep me grounded and I know she has my flames under control, not letting them hurt others. Just like I did for her darkness.

"There we go. You're okay now. I'm here for you, just as I always will be."

"Eraeya? Are you okay?" I look up from the table to see Lora and Himari staring at me. The people around us are also looking and I look at my hands. I quickly extinguish the small flames that are licking the palms of my hands and smile sheepishly.

"Sorry, I didn't realise. I guess there's too many people staring at me." The people around us look away and I can hear the chatter start again.

But I ignore it knowing full well everyone only knows about my fire. It's didn't seem to be a common ability at Akarnae so word spread fast after I showed it during the first combat lesson.

"Excuse me! Can everyone quieten down? Thank you!" The room falls into silence and everyone's eyes turn to the speaker. It's Marselle.

"Thank you for all joining me at this hour. Especially as it's cutting into your free time. But I just assumed you would all love to hear this exciting news. Akarnae will be holding the Strong Student Competition again this year!" A chorus of excited murmurs start to spread themselves across the room but I just stare at Marselle, confused.

"Eraeya! This is the special announcement I told you about!" I look at Himari with a confused face.

"Those words are a little useless to me when I don't even know what it is." Himari shrugs and gestures with her head toward Marselle. She smiles.

"Surely you've heard of it before! It's only the best and greatest competition between Akarnae students ever! It started a few years after Alex and her friends left Akarnae and now runs every four years! My dad was one of the organisers for it, suggesting to Marselle that they should hold it. I don't remember the reason behind it but now it's very popular and everyone all over Medora and Tia Auras watch it." I feel a small bit of recognition spark in my brain but I shake my head. I still had never heard of it properly.

"Have you been living under a rock all this time? How could you have not heard of it?!"

"Because..." I'm cut off by Marselle telling everyone to be quiet. I'm kind of thankful for the reason to not answer Himari.

"This year, just like all the other years, will focus on the three stages. Mental, Physical and Gift. Who you'll be competing with will be dependant on your combat classes. Alpha and Beta, you'll be on day one. Gamma, Delta and Epsilon will be on day two. At the end of that second day, we'll have the final competition between day one's top student and day two's top student to find the overall best. Everything else you should know. If you're only just hearing about this comp, just ask a friend. I'm sure they'll know what it is." Marselle smiles at us all warmly.

"Now, just a quick few rules. If you try to join the other competition you'll be immediately disqualified. Normal injury rules, so that means no injuries past inability to be healed by Fletcher. For any of you who don't wish to compete please see a member of teaching staff so they can mark your name off the competing list. If you do not wish to compete, you still will have jobs to do. A teacher on the day will tell you what to do.

"Right. I've talked enough. The competition is in just over a week's time. Alpha and Beta, your part is on Thursday. Gamma, Delta and Epsilon will be on Friday. Now go have your free time." The room is a huge crash of chairs moving and people standing up, all trying to get somewhere and out of this stuffy room.

"Eraeya! We'll wait til everyone goes. It'll be less crowded." I nod at Himari and wait. The room empties quickly enough, but I'm not really paying attention. I'm too concerned about the competition.

I sure as hell was going to compete. I was going to compete and try my best since it was on while I was here. But I knew I wouldn't get top. Everyone else had been training their gifts longer than I'd been and therefore more control. I had barely any control over my flames and no one knew about my darkness. I knew most people at Akarnae only had one gift and that would mean I had 2, maybe more if you counted my other enhanced abilities.

I had to keep the showing of my other gifts to an almost zero otherwise people would start to wonder which would lead to questions. Questions, I myself, was asking. And if they found answers before I did, they could use it to bribe or gain control over me. No, I couldn't let that happen.

I hardened my resolve and made a pact to myself. I wouldn't show my darkness that someone would notice it and I wouldn't show my other abilities. I would keep myself to a minimum and try my best with just a little bit of my gift. I would try.

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Yay! A comp coz everyone seems to like them! Or maybe it's just me... anyway yay!

FF: Like I said, this fic was originally gonna be a crossover so I was tryna mimic the Sports Festival in MHA except in Akarnae style XD