The Realm Protectors - Chapter 52: Chapter 52

I grit my teeth in frustration, finishing my last exercise. I collapse into the chair behind me afterward, tired, hungry, and ready to be done.
"Good, Ciana." My physical therapist, Calleah, says with a smile. She makes a mark on her clipboard. "You've made amazing progress these past nine weeks."
"This is my last session, right?" I ask.
"Yup! You're all done. Woo-hoo!" Calleah shakes her fists in the air. "Now you get to go party tonight." She winks. I perk up at the thought.
The last nine weeks have been absolute torture. Between catching up with all my classes, physical therapy for my leg, and normal Right Arch stuff, my days have been jam-packed. I think I've earned myself a night of fancy dresses and loud music.
"Have a good night, your Highness!" Calleah calls after me when I leave. I wave behind me, hurrying back to the Arch Residence. The sun warms my face deliciously, lighting up my veins with delectable power. It's a relief to feel the sun on my face and in my blood, after so many weeks of darkness in my head. Flashes of my comatose dreams rise from my memory, sending chills down my spine. Crows, shadows, oily black. I shove them down with a shudder and keep walking toward Asavanra. I stop by one of the sandwich stands on my way back, since I skip lunch at school to go to physical therapy. I didn't like the idea at first, but then I also realized it meant I got to skip blended physical education, so I was more okay with the timing.
Students crisscross across the main campus of Asavanra Academy, making their way to their physical kinesis classes. I turn the corner and head towards light campus, the pain in my leg limited o minor discomfort. As tedious as physical therapy was, I'm back to normal finally.
Students of all four grades stream through the doors of the Light Facility, making their way to one of the four gyms for class. Fourth sect light elementals make shapes out of light elementals, chasing each other around with light swords and light... balloons?
Not a balloon, I realize with a wince as the fourth sect guy finishes forming his shape. The girls all roll their eyes at him, but the guys all laugh as the one who made the vulgar shape sends it rocketing around the room. Such a child.
I finally reach the first sect gym, hurrying into the locker room to change. It's mostly clear already, all the other first sects changing quickly to prepare for class. I take extra care not to pull anything in my chest as I change my shirt, only wincing a little bit. I can hear Professor Hanlon start to talk out in the gym, so I tie my shoes quickly and hurry out of the locker room.
Hanlon nods when he sees me enter, an encouraging smile on his face. "Today, we're going to really stretch your abilities. Most of you have probably worked a little bit with illusions, but today we're going to see just how good your illusions are." Professor Hanlon waggles his eyebrows in excitement. "Bending light is a powerful tool, and when you do it right..." Hanlon trails off, waving his hands. Light bends around him, reshaping itself until an exact duplicate of Professor Hanlon stands next to the original.
"You can make incredible things happen," Hanlon finishes. Both professors move their mouths, but the sound only comes from the real Hanlon. If I had had my eyes closed when the illusion was created, I don't think I'd be able to tell the difference between them. "If you partner with an air elemental, you can make the illusions even more real with sound amplification."
My classmates make sounds of excitement around me. I try to eavesdrop and see how difficult illusions typically are. Most people seem excited with a hint of nerves, so I'm guessing it's a little bit tricky.
"To help you all find the motivation to do your best, I have prepared a challenge," Professor Hanlon says with a grin. "The person who can create the most realistic illusion will win a special prize."
"What's the prize?" Someone asks from the back of our little crowd.
"That's for me to know, and one of you to find out." Hanlon laughs. "Ready, set, begin!"
Everyone scatters around the gym, finding their own space to work. Light streams in through the giant windows on the one wall, filling the room with light to bend. Some people set to work making illusions of various inanimate objects: lamps, books, couches, swords. A few people try to make animals: I see a few furry kittens and feathered birds taking shape. Some people attempt to make themselves like Professor Hanlon did.
I pace back and forth for a little while as I try to think of what to make. I warm up my abilities as I move, bending light around my fingertips in various ways. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. I look down to see a braided string of light wrapped around my ring finger. Curious, I bend the light a little more, pulling it to a point, and an illusion of a ring rests on my finger, nearly opaque. An idea pops into my head, an excited smile already crossing my face. I turn to the mirror on the wall next to me and get to work.
Light swirls around my fingers as I work, bending and weaving itself together over and over until it becomes what I want it to. I layer the light over my clothes, covering myself with the illusion. Sparks tingle on my skin as the illusion becomes more and more opaque. I check the mirror as I work, making sure that I stay on track with where I need to be. By the time Professor Hanlon calls for us to stop, I'm satisfied with my work.
"Line up for inspection!" Professor Hanlon calls. I hold my illusion together with surprisingly little effort as I make my way back to the center of the gym. I find a place at the end of the line, wanting to show off a little bit. Some of my classmates stare at me with confusion. It makes me want to giggle.
Professor Hanlon works his way down the line, giving encouragement or critiques over the various illusions. "Good, good... a little bit too translucent for my liking... don't forget that cats only have four toes on the front of their paw..." On and on down the line, until he stops in front of me. His jaw drops a little bit. I grin, the illusioned mustache tickling my face.
"You seem shocked," I say. Professor Hanlon smiles.
"Ciana," He realizes. "I couldn't tell who was under this masterpiece."
I look in the mirror over Professor Hanlon's shoulder and see exactly what I hoped: I had turned myself into an exact copy of my professor, down to the dimple on his cheek.
"It's incredible craftsmanship," Hanlon says, circling me. "And you've done a full three-dimensional illusion, all the way around yourself. I can't even see you – it's like I'm looking at myself!"
I smile proudly and twist the illusion's lips up too.
"This is absolutely remarkable! Fully opaque, too!" Professor Hanlon laughs. "Now this, this is why you were chosen to be a Realm Protector." Something blossoms in my heart at his words, as if finally realizing that I am powerful.
All that time training with Tucker these last few weeks has paid off, I think to myself, remembering the harsh training Tucker made me go through following my release from the hospital.
"The winner of this challenge is Ciana!" Professor Hanlon announces to the class. I smile proudly as I drop the illusion, appearing as myself again in the mirror. My classmates applaud me lightly, some looking awestruck while some look downright jealous. "And as our winner, Ciana has won a free drink from the vending machine outside!" Professor Hanlon laughs. Everyone groans, rolling their eyes.
"What a prize," someone says sarcastically behind me.
"You're all dismissed for today!" Professor Hanlon says, waving us towards the door. "Go enjoy the rest of the afternoon!"
I grin, my pulse kicking up with excitement. Enya has been planning a huge "Welcome Back" party for me ever since I woke up, and tonight is the night it finally happens. The dresses and outfits are all made, the DJ is booked, and the caterers are already preparing the food. I hurry back to the locker room and change as fast as my injuries will allow me before hurrying out of the Light Facility. A cool September breeze blows my hair back from my face as I exit Light Campus.
Most of the other Physical Kinesis classes are still in session, so the main campus is basically empty. I walk quickly over to the teachers' offices, walking through the lobby with a wave to the secretary. I push the button for the elevator, tapping my foot while I wait. The elevator dings before the doors open, completely empty. Inside, I press the down button and punch in the password for the Realm Protector tunnel entrance. A scanner pops out from the wall to scan my eye, followed by a green light and a ding of confirmation. The elevator begins its descent with light music playing in the background.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out to see a text from Enya:
Jaq brought the dresses over a few minutes ago – they'll be at the AR whenever we all get back
I grin even wider, excitement lighting up my nerves.
I can't believe what I'm seeing.
There must be something wrong with the mirror. Maybe it's another illusion, cast by my subconscious in the hopes of what I could look like. Because this... this cannot possibly be me.
"Wow," Jaq grins, stepping back to admire her handiwork. "I knew I was good.... but damn."
"Damn," I whisper in agreement.
The girl staring back at me in the mirror is stunning. Lemon yellow fabric hugs my torso in a tightly laced corset, flaunting every minute curve I have. Tulle embroidered with lace patterns of sun rays drapes around my shoulders and the sweetheart neckline, leaving my shoulders exposed. Rippling yellow fabric cascades in waves from my hips, trailing down to the floor and behind me for a couple of feet. My hair is curled and swept back into a low bun, a few curls escaping and framing my face.
"It's... gorgeous," I breathe. I laugh in shock, one laugh turning into a laughing fit of excitement. "Oh, it's stunning, Jaq! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I spin around and hug the tiny woman tight. She giggles and grins, waving me off after a few seconds.
"Yeah, yeah, you're gonna wrinkle it!" She laughs. "You're gonna be the star of the show tonight!"
I grin, somehow even more excited for my gala than I was before. "Alright then, let's not keep them waiting!"
I hurry out of my room, practically skipping down the hallway. Jaq helps me through the secret tunnel that leads up to Arch Hall. The rest of my friends left earlier, going to help finish setting up before opening the doors to the public. I was told not to come out of my room until everyone was already there so that I could be the guest of honor.
It is a gala for me, after all.
Sparks dance on my fingertips from my excitement, lighting up the hallway in spots of golden lights. Jaq laughs at my excitement. We finally reach the door leading into the Arch Hall, creeping in quietly and sneaking around to the main doors. I peer through the crack in the door to see my friends waiting on the raised dais in their seats. Enya's dress makes her look like a flame come to life: fading from red-gold at her bust to a fiery yellow train, hugging her body at every dip and curve. Even from back here I can tell Nile's staring at her, his perfectly tailored and pressed suit a light powder blue. Carter's looking sharp in a navy blue suit. His eyes keep flicking to Lyra, dressed to the nines in a purple gown that hugs her chest before flowing loose to the floor, covered in silver moons and stars. Nikolina looks beautiful too: deep, shadowy black that seems to suck the light from the space around her, giving Nikolina a shadowy glow from within. The sweetheart's neckline wraps around her shoulders and hugs her torso before spilling down to the floor in waves of oily fabric. Avani is semi-pouting in her dress, which seems to be without the special built-in leggings this time. The dark emerald fabric hugs her similarly to Enya's but not quite as tight, and some type of embroidery on it catches the light. It's Faris that truly catches my eye though – dressed in a perfect, pristine white tuxedo, he seems radiant. Even from back here behind the doors, I can make out the shimmering cloud patterns on his jacket when they catch the light.
The lights in the Hall dim as Enya steps up to the glass podium. I suck in a breath and back away from the doors, allowing Jaq to fuss once more over my dress. She fixes the train like I'm about to walk into my wedding, only mumbling a few words of excitement before scurrying away. I take a deep breath as Enya begins to speak.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the Elemental Realm," Enya starts. "As many of you know, a few months ago, our Right Arch Ciana Leonide was viciously attacked by the Nox in Saari, Vesi. She was in a coma for over two months, fighting for her life. Now, after another two months of recovery, our Right Arch is ready to take her post again!" Cheers go up from the crowd, and I feel my heart fill with warmth and happiness. "Tonight is all about her – to celebrate her recovery, and to celebrate a hopeful future for our Realm! Now, I am proud to present, Right Arch Ciana Leonide!"
I take a breath as the guards open the doors. The crowd turns back to look at where I stand in the entryway. Gasps of delight and smiles shine on faces as I feel myself grin, taking the first step into the Hall. Someone deep in the audience starts clapping, and soon the entire audience is applauding, clapping, and cheering for me. My cheeks hurt from the massive smile on my face, and a giddy laugh erupts from my chest.
I walk down the aisle of people, making my way toward the dais where my friends are waiting. They're all smiling, looking so happy to see me back in my place. As I get closer, my eyes stray from Avani and Nikolina to Carter and Lyra, to Enya and Nile, before finally falling on Faris.
Faris.
He's staring at me with the most wondrous expression on his face. Locked in his gaze, everyone else around us disappears. It's just Faris and me, staring at each other across the room. He looks at me like a prince might look at his lost princess, and it sends shivers of delight down my spine. I finally reach the dais, and he reaches his hand down to help me up the steps. I take it gently, still locked in his eyes. Those gorgeous, gray-sky eyes, holding onto my own like a man starving. He pulls me close to him when I reach the top of the dais, leaning down to whisper in my ear.
"You look like a goddess," His voice is soft and his breath is slightly minty, tickling my ear and making me shiver slightly. He smiles, and I find my eyes straying to his mouth.
Enya grabs my other hand, pulling me around to face the audience. Something in me tells me to turn back to Faris, but I let Enya lead. She raises my hand and the crowd cheers again, whistling and clapping louder than ever.
"Our Right Arch has returned!" Enya hollers. The crowd somehow gets even louder, causing another laugh to bubble up my throat.
"I'm back and better than ever!" I tell the adoring crowd. "And now, let the party begin!" I throw both of my hands up into the air, sending a giant ball of light toward the ceiling before letting it burst into a thousand tiny sparks. They rain down on the audience as the music starts to play, officially starting the gala.
I turn back to Faris just as he grabs my hand, pulling me off the dais and onto the dance floor. We dance the night away, and my heart feels like it rests on a bed of clouds. One thought rebounds throughout my head all the way until I'm laying in my bed later, curled under the covers:
You look like a goddess.