New Beginnings

Six

Phos stared into the pond.

I stared into the pond.

It's been a few days since we talked to Cinnabar that morning, and things have changed since then. I've been formally introduced to all the other gems by Sensei, officially became Phos' helper for the encyclopedia and given a room of my own, just next to Phos' since Phos was the youngest before I showed up. Anyway, I've slowly adjusted to my new life, mostly tagging along with Phos since I feel the most comfortable around with them. I've also learnt to keep my mouth shut, so that I'll not spill my beans everywhere unnecessarily and cause a major commotion.

Oh, speaking of which, God visited me another time, this time in a dream the night of the day Phos and I made the promise to help Cinnabar find a better job. He suggested that I write a diary starting from the next day, so now I have a large and thick 800-page book serving as my diary in my room, complete with a lock for me to keep any prying eyes away if any gems happen to stumble upon it. Furthermore I was also gifted a fountain pen that utilizes ink cartridges to work, along with twenty of those said cartridges, all in black. A "starter pack", he says, and that if I were to need anything more, all I had to do was to ask him. I love using fountain pens, having bought one back in my past life and using it long-term.

Also, he schooled me on the type of gem I now am, which I find potentially useful as prior knowledge.

"Danburite, first discovered in Danbury, Connecticut, USA by Charles Upham Shephard. Comes in colors such as white, gray, brownish white and straw yellow, you in particular happened to be white. Orthorhombic structure, vitreous-greasy lustre, white streak, Mohs hardness of between 7 to 7.5, poor cleavage of 001, brittle."

"Damn, that doesn't make me a great fighter, does it?"

"Well, although you're hard, you can shatter like glass. Just like you before I whisked you all the way here, right?"

"Tsk, guess that's somewhat true. Wait, if I'm brittle, how did I hold Phos up on that cliff?"

"You barely held on, child. Had you had a strong grip on the ground instead of slipping on the mercury your arms would have fallen right off. Rutile didn't tell you this, but there were decent cracks in both your arms."

"Oh."

Anyway, back to the present. Phos and I are still staring into the pond. What are we doing anyway?

"Observing the jellyfish, are you? All for the encyclopedia I take it," I heard Jade say as she stopped to the right of Phos. Turning right, I noticed Euclase was with her.

"No, I just thought my reflection here looked so adorable."

"What?" I stared at Phos incredulously as the other two gems resumed walking behind us.

I saw Phos smirk in reply, and they almost immediately turned around.

"I'm kidding!" They shouted as the green-haired gem lunged forward, grabbing Jade's legs to the surprise of both them and Euclase.

"Isn't it obvious? We're at a loss here!"

"Be careful, you idiot!" Jade shouted.

"Seriously, I can't think of anything, Speaker Jade!" Phos whined as Jade fell down. "Even Dan hasn't had anything in mind either! We need some ideas..."

Sitting up, Jade looked at me for confirmation, and I nodded my head in agreement. "Mind blank," I said, putting my clenched hand beside my head and opening it out as a random gesture. "Poof."

"Huh?"

"Oh," I said as I put down my hand, "it's nothing, it's nothing!"

"Hmm." Jade stared at me for a moment. "Anyway, what kind of idea?"