Abalynth

“I don’t understand why I have to go to this academy? I don’t need it, I'm fine” I say to my dad, the all high and mighty second in command to the one and only king of Everas, the kingdom of all that is and ever will be as my dad says to anyone who cares to listen. Which is anyone other than me it seems. Even mom is a powerful healer. Dad is a wielder of the skies. The most powerful one to have lived in centuries, according to him we are descendants to a god long gone. Their power apparently still runs through our blood. Well it did until me, which is partly why I’m being forced to go to Abalynth, the academy for the gifted, since I just can’t figure it out. “Because Analyse, you need help. You haven’t been able to Wield anything other than a spark barely enough to light a candle. I know you are still hurting and grieving for your friend, that was tragic, yes. But we are Oranths The powerful li” he starts to say until I cut him off “line of a god. We are strong and mighty. We do not falter yadayada, I get it dad really” i mock him rolling my eyes and start to walk away. He yells after me his voice echoing along the grand staircase “ you leave tomorrow Analyse whether you like it or not.” I sigh and slip into my bedroom tossing myself onto my large bed face first. It was only a year five months ago I witnessed my only friend Ava murdered right in front of my eyes. The memory still haunts me to this day, while I’m wide awake or in my dreams.

Every time I tried to use my powers, they seemed to just crawl back to their hiding place deep down locked away. I don't know, I don’t want to go to this academy but, maybe it will be good to get out of this house, this city. Away from all the reminders of what happened. So I pack my bag without a fuss and set it by the door waiting for the morning to come.

I was up before the sun ever rose above the trees, per usual. Not ever getting more than a couple hours of rest since after the incident. “Analyse” I hear my dad yell up the stairs, his voice carrying all the way to my room. Gods above, here we go I guess. Mom fuses at me all the way to the car asking if I brought everything I needed. “Mom, I got everything, thank you. I’m not little anymore, I can handle my own.” I sigh, throwing my bags in the back of the wagon. “The ride should only be a few hours at most okay?” She says to me hugging me goodbye, dad just gives me a pat on the shoulder “We love you hun, be safe.” Giving me a kiss on the head. I nod once before hopping in the wagon. “See y’all later” later as in a few years or so. That’s apparently how long I’ll have to stay at this academy.

The ride was in fact only a couple hours away, pulling up to what looked like a castle in its own right. The front entrance was a breathtakingly beautiful fountain made of white stone, a dragon sitting in the middle. So detailed it looked as if it was frozen and turned to stone. I took in everything, rose bushes lined the academy so red it looked like spilled blood. The walls, a dark stone ancient but strong, looked weathered over the many many years it has been here. Arched black double doors stood at the end of the path. Opening the door to the carriage and grabbing my bags from Mr.Bently, my parents' personal wagoner. I thank him and head up the path with my bags or try to at least but trying to carry three bags is not as graceful or easy as you could imagine. “Here let me help you with those” a deep familiar voice says and before I look up from picking up my bag on the ground I so graciously drop I respond “thank you, it’s not as easy as it looks .” I looked up and saw Everest. The prince. Our families have been close since before we were born. It was only natural that this dirty blonde wavy haired, tall, tattooed and sun-kissed man was here as well. He smiles his canines prominent and perfect as always. He’s always been handsome and besides Everst was the only one to know me like the back of his hand, other than Ava. He was there when the attack happened, saw her drop from the sky after I lost control of my magic causing the beast to drop her. I shake off the memory and Everest notices the change in my face. He always did. “You alright?” He set down the bag he’s carrying to free his arms and wrapped me in a hug. Suffocating me like he always did whether he meant to or not, and every time he did it I felt like I could breathe a little easier. He lets go holding me at arms length and just stares at me “what?” I say scrunching my eyebrows. “Nothing, you just look more beautiful every time I see you.” I rolled my eyes and continued grabbing my bags and headed for the entrance. He opens the massive doors and beckons me inside, following me with his eyes and then catching up to me opening the entrance doors.

“Your rooms are this way. Follow me” he heads to the spiral staircase inside and I drag my feet not wanting to carry my bag all the way up there. He looks down at me on the stairs still climbing only having a little more to go. “Are you still having trouble with your magic?” I’m not surprised he asked, just annoyed. “How’d you guess?” I say finally reaching the last step and dropping my bag on the ground. He says blatantly “Because you're here, your dad would have trained you himself” he was right. “Yea, they are worried I’m too messed up after everything..you know. They tried. Mom even tried to heal my mind and nothing.” We walk up to my door, Everest taking the key out of his pocket, unlocking it and handing me the key. He looks at me not with pity but understanding. I didn’t have to say much with him, he just got it. “Weeell, it’s a good thing that I will be your guide here! Seems I just can’t get enough of you” He says with a big smile plastered on his face. I can't help but to slightly smile at that.

Waking up was difficult to say the least. I definitely slept more than I normally did, light streaming through the curtains blinding me as I tried to get up.. I don’t know when Everest will be here to show me to class or when that starts so I go ahead and take a shower. Letting the nightmares of last night wash away. I head into the room quickly changing, slipping my tennis shoes on when I hear a knock at the door. “Come in” I say, still trying to get my stuff together not really knowing what I need exactly. Everest walks in with a smile already on his lips. “Good morning, are you ready we’re running a little behind?” I nod and head out the door walking behind him and locking my door. “It looks like we have a few lessons together, the first being wielding class with me, aren’t you lucky?” I look at him with a straight face and put on my best fan girl voice “I must be the luckiest girl in the word to have the prince as my guide” I look up at him and his smile drops causing me to chuckle.

When we arrived at the lesson it seemed we were the last people to arrive..great. “ Welcome, welcome, so glad you could finally join us today. I’m Mr. Ave please find a seat” I give a curt nod and find a seat in the back of the class, all the girls not being able to take their eyes off Everest and their giggles not far behind. He follows me to the back of the class and sits with me on the large padded cushion. “Alright, well I guess we should start then yea? I assume by now we have all had our gifts emerge, yes?” Mr. Ave says to the whole class a collective “yes” goes around the room. “Great, well in this class I will be showing you how to control that power. Knowing when to stop before you're completely drained or lose control. Let’s start with something small, form your power on your palm and hold it no bigger than an apple.” I see everyone including Everest form a small version of their power in the palm of their hands. Some fire here, some water, some air, some electricity. A little bit off everything. Then there was me, I had my palm out trying to summon that fire I knew I had. Every time I want it to come forth I just can’t. That fear of letting go afraid that it would get out of control again like last time. Last time someone died because I couldn’t contain it. I can’t let that happen again. All I’m getting is little flickers here and there. Like a flame in a candle sputtering out. Everest looks over concerned. I don't focus on him, just my hand like that’s going to do anything. The rest of the lesson goes by and I’m still sitting there staring at my hand. Frustrated, I set my hand down when Mr. Ave walks up to me. “Are you alright?” He asks “I guess, I don’t know. It won't get much bigger than a flicker” he nods, turning to Everest “I’m going to have you tutor her after classes if that’s alright with the both of you. Catch her up with the rest of the class?” He says not out of pity but, just matter of fact. “I can do that” he looks at me and winks. “I guess you’re stuck with me,” he smirks. “Joy” I say walking with him out of the classroom. The day goes by agonizingly slow. In every lesson other than sparring on the Matt which I enjoyed thoroughly after today it was much needed. The week goes by similarly, everyday I meet up with Everest after lessons before dinner. Not much has improved. Instead of a flicker it's a very very tiny flame that sputters after a few minutes of holding it. Mr. Ave says it's an improvement but I see the stares and my fathers voice in the background asking why I haven’t improved at all. Everest stops at the door grabbing my arm and pulling me to him saying “follow me” and starts walking to the field where we always practice after lessons. “What about the next class?” I say more out of curiosity of what he is trying to do and not caring if I really go or not today. “We’re skipping those today, just me and you and this field for the rest of the day, how does that sound?” He says looking behind his shoulders. This week has been hell for my self control, he is a big flirt but there is something in the way he looks at me like I’m not some fragile thing that could break any moment, or the ways he will find any excuse to touch me. Grounding me when my thoughts become too much. It’s like he can sense it grabbing my hand or pulling my face to him during class when I get frustrated and he wants me to focus on him instead. I can’t help but feel at peace with him, something that I haven't felt in ages. He stops in the middle of the field by the giant solitude oak tree creating shade from the hot sun today. “ We're just going to focus on this today, no other eyes but mine on you for right now okay?” I nod okay with that. “Look, Analyse I know what plagues your mind or why fear overwhelms you when you try to use your powers. I know you can use them, you just don’t want to. I see it. So today I’m going to help get you out of your head, okay?” He can certainly try, I think, I doubt even he can do that. “If you say so” a small smile playing on my lips, not fully reaching my eyes. “ Start like normal palms out and just clear your head. There’s no past, present, or future. Empty slate. You are a newborn child "I peer at him, opening one eye with a questioning look. “Don’t question it, just do it” he chuckles. So I try, emptying my mind. “Take a long breath”. I breath in deep and try to clear my mind as I breathe out. “Now start with an ember in the palms of your hand. He says as I feel him close to me his hands underneath my hands barely touch the bottom of them. I feel my powers slowly climbing to the surface as if they are weary to be exposed. “ There you go, keep breathing and add a little bit more.” So I do, or try to until a flashback hits the forefront of my mind and my magic halts. As it always does. “ Do it again, remember to clear your head and breathe. I’m right here” he says to me, hands still touching mine. I start again. “Keep your eyes closed okay, I’m going to try something and no matter what happens you keep those powers flowing and your eyes closed.” What in the world “Okay” I breathe trying to concentrate on controlling my powers. Just keep it down. Analyse don’t let it go. I feel his hands slip from the bottom of mine and slowly move up my arms feeling him step closer to me. He’s close enough now that I can feel his breath on my face as he whispers. “You’re doing amazing Analyse” I shiver, goosebumps going down my neck and on my arms and suddenly it's hard to focus on anything else. “What are you doing?” I say a bit more breathy than I intended. “Dont worry about me, just relax your mind. I part my lips breathing heavy, heart pounding. It’s hard to focus with him standing so close to me. His one hand still resting on my arm the other now softly moving up my neck and I feel it cup the bottom of my chin lifting my head up and cup my face. I can’t help but lean into his touch. Involuntarily like it was just an instinct to feel his touch “remember to keep your flames going okay?” I nod slightly not able to get any words out right now. That's when I feel his lips slowly hovering over mine. Just a breath away from touching. My lips part voluntarily. Not thinking of anything else, Not able to. Still trying to hold my flame like he said. Then his lips touch mine and all thoughts leave me my mind. I lean into his kiss telling him I’m okay with this, he kisses me deeper and I lose all sense of mind. His hand that was resting on my arm now wrapped around my waist pulling me in. We stay like this for I don’t even know or care how long. It was only until he pulled back and stepped slightly away did I open my eyes and see my flames were fully formed and controlled, not that little ember anymore. “As much as I loved doing that, I love to see this too. You just needed to get out of your head and let go of wherever your mind was taking you. Stopping you from doing this.” I look up at him smiling “I’ve been told that once or twice, I guess I just needed someone to show me how” i say and mean it. It was the best I have felt in so long. Not having thoughts swarm my mind was such a huge relief. “You can’t let whatever haunts your mind stop you from growing. It can still hurt but it hurts worse when you let it control you. Trust me I’ve been there.” For the first time since that day, I felt what he said, I miss her and what happened I’ll never forget but, he’s right I can’t feel this way anymore. I breathe out accepting that. Not fully letting go of everything but, this is definitely a start. My magic seems to seep out of me and instead of it taking over and shrinking I have control. I make the flame large and turn it back to a candle flame. He makes me do this over and over until I can't keep my eyes open anymore. “Let’s go back now, you need rest” and I agree, wanting to close my eyes and take a nap right here in the lawn. “What if we just lay here and look up at the stars for a moment? I don’t want to walk back just yet?” I say with a tired pleading look. He looks at me and smiles that perfect smile reaching his eyes. “That sounds like a wonderful plan to me, beautiful.” So we lay there, his arm under my head and my arms falling over his chest as we stare up at the sky until my eyes force themselves shut. No nightmares, just blissful sleep for the first time in a long time.