The Elixir

~Hidden Pages

"I should've known Liira was behind that. It unnerves her, you being a Storm."

"Mother!" Dad had said, affronted. "I'm sure that isn't Liira's intention."

Alisud stares straight at Xara. "Chances are, child, you'll have to be the one to figure it out. No one will truly be able to get you the training you need."

Alisud had hinted many times over that weekend at finding a new teacher, but Xara had turned her down every time. Where would she go? People at school are only just starting to warm up to her, and Xara finally feels as though the incident at the Summoning is behind her. But what will everyone think when she starts asking around for people to help her with her magic?

Xara tilts her head to the sky. It's a brilliant strong blue, and the pulsing ball of light that is the sun's rays occupy the peripheral of her eyes. There's not a cloud in the sky.

Xara reaches to where her magic throbs, warm and alive. It's not exactly a being, but more like a part of her that has just been awakened. Xara doesn't hesitate to explore every corner, every niche. It welcomes her as she plunges into the mass, drawing power from her blood and bones.

There are many varying origin stories of how mages came to be. The Founders are the first ones recorded to ever have mage magic, but none of them explicitly state how they came about the magic, or what the world had been like before they acquired their magic. They teach a simplified, neutral version in school: that the Founders developed this magic and taught it to all in Ruxnorth. Xara can obviously spot the errors in the tale, but she had never really questioned how magic came into existence.

Xara strains, pulling her power to the surface. She has no idea what she's doing, but she won't know until she tries.

She thrusts her magic at the sky, willing dark gray clouds to form. She pushes, gritting her teeth, forcing her power to manifest in the skies.

Moments later, Xara drops it, exhausted.

The sky is still an endless, cheery blue. The sun smiles down on her, almost taunting her. Grumbling, Xara snatches the bag off the floor and flings it over her shoulder, wincing when her textbooks hit between her shoulder blades.

Not my day.

She trudges across the field to the dorms, dragging her feet. It's only now that the tiredness settles in her bones, a heavy weight.

When Xara finally makes it to her room, she forces the urge to just collapse, right there and then. But she feels salty and sticky with sweat; she can't imagine the pimply horror that will be waiting for her tomorrow morning if she skimps out. Xara pushes the door open lightly. If anyone's listening up there, please, please, please don't let Vieva be-

"You look disgusting."

"There," finishes Xara with a sigh.

Lysabel and Vieva are both in the room, looking blissfully cool in tank tops and shorts. Three fans buzz in the room, creating a steady drone. Lysabel has a plant at the corner of her bed holding up a small spritzer full of water. The little green fingers spray her every so often as she reads through a small book. She smiles a greeting, while Vieva looks her up and down contemptuously. While she and Vieva are on better terms, she's still Vieva Bestel.

"Founders, you look like melted ice cream," chortles Vieva. Xara glares.

"You're not funny, you know."

Vieva just flips her hair with a grin.

"Where've you been?" Lysabel puts her book down, escaped strands of flaxen hair falling forward. Just last week, she had it cut above her shoulders. It looks better in Xara's opinion.