The sky was still grey when Elise opened her eyes. Not the soft, comforting kind of grey that promised a gentle morning, but the dull, heavy kind that made everything feel slower.She stared at the ceiling for a long time, letting her mind drift in and out of focus. Her body ached in places that weren’t physical. She could still feel the silence in her bones — the kind that lingered after too many goodbyes and not enough answers.The power was still gone.She tested it again. Just in case.She placed her palm over her chest and closed her eyes. Imagined the light. The warmth. The fire.Nothing.No glow. No flicker. Not even a heartbeat of energy.It was like trying to scream in a dream — like something inside her had been locked away and swallowed whole.She sighed quietly and pulled herself out of bed.Today wasn’t going to wait for her grief.By mid-morning, Elise found herself outside, her cloak wrapped tightly around her as she walked past the garden and through the outer field
Elise sat by the window of the infirmary, her legs were folded together, swinging back and forth while she rested her forehead on the sliding glass of the window.Outside, the training grounds were full of movement, they were filed with the sounds of laughter, shouting, and the rhythmic clash of weapons. Life was continuing, like nothing had happened. Everyone even seemed happier. The thought of this gave Elise mixed feelings and emotions. Not like she wanted them to be sad, she just felt bad for not fully enjoying or the happiness which loomed over them.It all felt surreal.Like she hadn’t just lost the one thing that made her feel like she belonged. Like she wasn’t sitting here, broken and forgotten.Kai had stepped out for a few minutes. He’d been hovering around her nonstop, barely leaving her side, and while Elise appreciated it, a part of her needed space. She didn’t want to be a burden to him.And it wasn’t because of him in anyway.Not because of him, but because of ho
Elise opened her eyes slowly.The light in the room was soft. Not too bright, but enough to make her squint a little. Her head was heavy. Like it wasn’t really part of her body.She lay there for a second, still and quiet, just staring at the ceiling.Where was she?She turned her head to the side.That’s when she saw him—Kai. Sitting in a wooden chair right next to the bed. His head was tilted down like he’d been dozing off, arms crossed, one leg tapping softly like he was waiting on something.No.Not something.Her.The second her movement made a sound, Kai looked up fast.“Elise?” His voice was low, but full of relief. “You’re awake.”She blinked at him. Her lips moved, but nothing came out. Her throat felt dry. She tried again.“…What happened?”Kai sat up straighter, leaning in a little. “You passed out. Back at the training grounds. After the light… the blast.”Right. The light.Her eyes widened as the memory came back. That feeling in her chest. Like fire. Like her whole
There was a long, stretched silence after Elder Kion said, “That is enough.”Like everyone was still expecting something to happen. Maybe they were still panicking, Elise wasn’t sure.She stood frozen in the circle, her chest rising and falling as if she’d just ran a mile. Her palms were still glowing faintly, like the light was still contemplating on wether to stay or leave. She looked at her palms, wondering how to quench the light.She almost didn’t know how to put it on, not to talk of putting it off.The warrior she’d just faced had taken another step back. His expression was unreadable, but it wasn’t mocking. If anything, he looked… fascinated by the lights flickering on her plans.He looked at Elise with respect.Elder Kion walked slowly to a pavement close to the circle where Elise and the warrior were standing.The other council members stood with him, whispering amongst themselves.Their eyes stayed fixed on Elise.“She’s able to control the light,” one of them said.“I
The sun shined through the small spaces between Elise’s curtains, landing softly on her blankets.It was warm, but the room still felt a bit cold.She lowered her blanket below her face and opened her eyes in slow motion, while blinking because of the light.Her body ached in places she hadn’t felt before, although it was not a bad ache, it just the kind that came after something… different.Something like what happened in her room last night. She smiled as she remembered the events.She turned on her side, pressing her face into the pillow, and that was when she noticed.Kai wasn’t there.His side of the bed was still warm though.She could still smell him, he always had the scent of fresh trees.He smelt like home.For a second, her chest tightened and she started overthinking.What if he left because he felt that they shouldn’t have done that?Or that he made a mistake and that they did too much?What if…..The door creaked open gently.“I didn’t want to wake you,” Kai said softl
“Yes!” Kai said, too loudly, after which he covered his mouth with both hands as he realized it.“I’d love to come in” he said in a lower tone this time, while giggling slightly.Elise watched his body movements like she was watching a toddler who’d been asked on an ice cream date. “Awww….you’re adorable” she teased while laughing in between her teeth.“Let’s go in!” Kai said, impatient as he felt shy already. Elise opened the door wider and went in, after which Kai followed, shutting the door behind him.The room was dark and filled with scent of burnt out candles.“I’ll get a lighter, don’t worry, I know my way around my room.” Elise said when Kai started walking like he was looking for a lighter. She opened the drawer where she kept the lighters the last time she got some from the kitchen, she then started to use her hands to search for it since she couldn’t see.“Ouch!” She cried out, while yanking her right hand out of the drawer.“What’s happened!” Kai asked hurriedly walking