Sleep used to be so simple. It was never something they had to fight for or fear, but things weren’t the same as they use to be.
Although Kaelin and Roselyn had eventually succumbed to exhaustion, sleep had eluded Azura entirely. She lay awake in an unfamiliar bed, haunted by the thoughts of slaughter and the deafening sound of her own heartbeat. Out of all the girls, she was perhaps the worst off, and this became more apparent when the voices in her head began to haunt her as well.
‘This isn’t supposed to be happening,’ the voices said. ‘Things are supposed to be normal and carefree. I should be wasting my time playing video games or reading or something while Kaelin and Roselyn bug me about it. They’re supposed to be telling me how hard they are working to get into the same college as each other next year and how I should be working hard so that I can join them in two years. We had so many plans. Is this what is to come of them? Is this all we’re supposed to become? Killing machines with only a small chance of saving the world? “
She was grateful when her thoughts were disrupted by the sound of Broderick’s heavy boots on the marble floor. Although Azura didn’t move, she could hear Broderick walk over to the balcony, where she knew Jay had been all night.
“I’m going to talk to the council today to see if I can get an audience with the king. The only way we would get any help from the Elzians is if we talk to Lorand himself,” she heard Broderick say. “Do you have plans for the girls?”
“Yes. We’re going to pay a certain someone a little visit.”
Broderick scoffed. “If we’re thinking the same person then I hope he’s surprised to see you. I only wish I could be there to see his face.”
“I see that he’s not your favorite person, either.”
“No more than he is yours.”
“You haven’t met him in person before.”
“No, but after I’ve seen how he has treated you and my brother, I don’t like him. I hope you aren’t going to be asking for his help. The girls are already very skilled. The only training they need is to get in touch with their elements again.”
“If I thought the girls needed training then I’d do it myself. They’ll just be using the library and training grounds. Hadwin won’t have to lift a finger.”
“He wouldn’t anyways. You want to wake the girls up?”
Jay sighed. Her reluctance was obvious in her voice. “We don’t have much of a choice.”
Tired of hiding the fact that she was already awake and had heard the entire conversation, Azura decided to speak up. “I’m already up,” she said loud enough for the two to hear.
“Me, too,” Roselyn chimed in.
Kaelin was also already up. “Same here.”
Broderick walked back into the room. “I hope we didn’t wake you guys up.”
“You can’t wake up someone who was already awake.”
“I see,” Broderick responded quietly. “Well, I have to go talk to the Elzian council right now. Jay has some plans for you guys, so go talk to her after you guys wash up.”
Within a few minutes, the girls were out of bed and ready to go. Jay stamped out her cigarette and met them in the corridor outside the room. They also noticed that Jay had kept her forearm bracers rather than leaving it with the rest of her weaponry. It was strange, but they said nothing of it.
“Alright. You three already know how to fight, and if you had to wipe out a dozen Cardin, I bet you’d all be fine.”
The three girls shuttered at the thought of having to fight once again. They found it strange that Jay could talk about it so casually. However, they let her continue uninterrupted; missing a step could mean the difference between life and death.
“But there’s more to this war than just a few dozen Cardin scattered about. I know you all still have questions about what’s going on, and they will all be answered soon enough. Right now, you guys have one more skill to discover. Your prowess in battle was gained from training you received in a life long past, and those weren’t the only skills you possessed.” She looked at each of the girls seriously. “Let me ask you something. Do you believe in magic?”
Their eyes widened in surprise, but they were unsure what to say. Jay didn’t wait for an answer before continuing.
“Well you guys better believe in it because you will be using it heavily from now on. Average humans and even Elzians have to train for years before they have a firm grasp on the arcane arts. However, you three are not average. The power is already in you; you just have to find it again. Mastery for you guys will be very easy once you learn to accept your powers, and I’m sorry but you don’t have long to do that. We will be in Elzia for only a few more days and it’d be best if you could get in touch with your elements before we leave. The magic surrounding this world makes it a perfect environment for you guys to train. Any questions?”
Silence.
“Alright. Just as before, summoning the magic is as easy as trusting yourself to do so. This is a gift granted to no one else, so use it well. Magic works differently for you guys than it does anyone else. No one has such access to this kind of power. Roselyn, you’re element is fire. Kaelin is water. Azura is air. Although you can probably get a grasp on other elements, you would be best working on your own. This is also a trait unique to you three.”
“Boy, do we feel special,” Kaelin joked bitterly.
The jest relieved Jay, however. “It’s nice to know I’m not talking to myself. This is hard, I know but as we’ve said so many times already, we need you three. Now let’s go. I’ll get you access to the training grounds and library. Feel free to read up on the history of this world. You’ll learn everything eventually, but this is just to satisfy your curiosity for now.”
She led them down the hallway back to the entranceway. The same guard stood in the same armor with the same arrogance as before. He saw the group approach and expected the same formalities as the day before. However, Jay had other things in mind.
“We request access to Elzia’s library and training grounds,” she said.
The guard’s eyes widened at Jay’s forward request. The look in her eyes struck fear in his heart and his voice shook slightly. “I’m sorry but you are not authorized to-“
He was silenced by Jay’s sudden movement. Before he could even blink, a six-inch long blade had slid from Jay’s bracer and pointed itself at the guard’s throat. “We have no time for this,” she hissed. “Grant us passage or I will grant it myself.”
It was apparent that it was far more than just a simple threat. Knowing that he could easily lose his head at any moment, the guard finally relented. “You may pass.”
The blade slid soundlessly back into its hidden sheath over Jay’s forearm. Before the girls could say a word, Jay explained. “Like I said, sometimes you have to stretch the rules in order to do what’s right. Now let’s go.”
They followed Jay through the double doors behind the guard and it wasn’t until he was sure they were gone that he allowed himself to breathe again.
