Radiant, page 6
“Ava.”
“Nikki? What’s wrong?”
“It looks like someone broke the light spheres.”
“What?” I bolt upright. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’ve checked.”
Another attack. I haven’t even recovered from the news about the buggerflies. And here we are in pitch darkness with the attacker living among us. I fumble for the small book light I keep by my bed for late-night reading, relieved when it flickers to life.
“Is there any other damage? Is everyone is okay?” I can barely make out Nikki’s face in the shadows.
“It’s hard to tell when it’s so dark out there.” She answers my unspoken question, “Elm is aware.”
This, at least, brings me some relief.
We stumble through the cave in the dim glow of my book light, taking care to avoid rough terrain and crevices. The sound of anxious voices grows louder as we approach the main room. I’m relieved to see light as we approach—it’s amazing how comforting even a small light is when you’re surrounded by shadow. The glow comes from Elm, who is in the center of the room by a pile of broken light spheres, already working on repairing them. Kaito assists, following Elm’s directions with precision. Students huddle around them.
“I’m going to try and round up anyone else who’s missing,” Nikki says. “Can I borrow your book light?”
“Of course.” I hand her the light. “You should take someone else with you, though, just to be safe.”
She peers around. “Blake, want to come with me?”
Blake turns and spots us. He gives me a quick appraisal before heading off with Nikki as she explains. Blake is always looking out.
I kneel beside Elm, and he glances at me with a wry smile, though anger and concern line his countenance. “Forgive me for not coming for you myself, Miss Ava. The darkness created quite a panic. Nikki convinced me it was better if I set to work on this and let her see to your well-being.”
“It’s fine,” I assure him. “I’m just sorry I wasn’t here sooner.”
I detect a change in the atmosphere and look up. Samantha just entered the room, and voices hush into hisses, eyes narrow to suspicious glares.
“It’s gotta be that Yellow,” I hear someone whisper. “None of this happened until she showed up.”
I wish I could disagree. But it’s true: nothing like this happened until Samantha’s arrival. She holds her head up high and places herself in front of Elm.
“They think I did this. I didn’t. I would never do anything that would hurt you. Never.”
“I know, Sammy.”
That’s the fact I can’t ignore. While all of the attacks have impacted everyone in the cave, they seem to target Elm most directly. Elm’s garden. Elm’s invisibility devices. Elm’s light spheres. While it would be easiest to blame Samantha, her obsession with Elm seems genuine. It’s hard to imagine her doing anything that would harm him.
One of the students nearby gives a pointed look at Elm. “Can’t you just get into her mind or something and find out if she’s telling the truth?”
Elm looks disgusted, and I cut in before he can reply.
“Nobody is getting into anybody’s mind,” I say rapidly. “We’re going to figure this out, but we need to keep calm until then.”
The accusing looks don’t die, but most of the murmurs stop. I know some kind of action will have to be taken soon in order to keep everyone satisfied. And safe.
8
Now that the light spheres have been repaired, Elm and I brainstorm together as we attach them back to their proper places. How can we track down our attacker? If nothing else, we need ways to protect the innocent.
“We have to keep everyone focused and working together. And not afraid.” I wobble atop Elm’s shoulders, securing a light sphere on a higher alcove in the cave.
“There is still a great suspicion surrounding Mentalists.”
“Not just that. But even among Augmentors and Shapers. Everyone is getting suspicious of everyone else.” I test the security of the light sphere with a shake. “Okay, this one’s good. I’m coming down.”
“Do mind your elbows this time,” he teases as I slide back down. “My nose can’t take another hit.”
I give a sly grin. “Sure it can. My Augmentor abilities will have you fixed up in no time.”
He laughs. “My, how fortunate I am.”
We travel to the next section of the cave, my thoughts never straying far from everything that has been happening. The one solution that comes to mind is White magic, protective magic that requires all three magic types. The problem with this, however, is that Elm and I—and Samantha—are the only Yellow magic users, and I barely count with my limited abilities.
“I’ve been thinking . . .” I pause as Elm prods a hook on the cave wall with his cane to test it for stability before securing a light sphere to it. Shadows dance in the space around us, like the weaving thoughts in my mind. “If we can combine all three magic types to create White magic, do you think it’s possible to create other types of magic too? Like what you can do as a dual magic-user. If a Mentalist and a Shaper worked together, could they do what you do?”
Elm considers this. “Well, as we already know magic types can be combined, I don’t see why not.”
I haven’t yet explored what I might be able to do by trying to combine my Augmentor and Mentalist capabilities. But if Elm can combine his two magic types, I should be able to do the same. Why shouldn’t two individuals be able to combine their magic types too?
“Do you think we could get them to try?”
“It harms nothing to ask. I suspect most are growing tired of being at the mercy of our enemies without taking some kind of action.” Elm secures the last sphere in place, his face illuminated with both light and pride in his work. “Let’s give it a shot.”
“Careful.” Kaito extends a hand toward Blanca as she navigates from a rocky ledge to the cave floor. “There’s a lot of loose sediment here.”
She ignores his hand and jumps down, her boots crunching into the earth. “Jazz will fix any bones that break.” She grins.
Jazz’s face grows pallid. “Please tell me we’re not doing anything that will break bones.”
“No,” I say with a laugh. “At least, I hope not.”
The small group of Shapers and Augmentors meeting up with us are those we feel are trustworthy and whose skill level is strong: Kaito, Blake, and Nikki for Shapers and Jazz and Blanca for Augmentors. They each have strengths in different areas of their magic types: Blake is particularly skilled at changing the physical properties of objects while Nikki is particularly agile at maneuvering them. Jazz has a good handle on the healing components of Red magic while Blanca has perfected sheer brute force. Kaito is here because his analytical eye might help us identify any roadblocks to our success (and because Blanca insisted on it). The room we’re tucked away in is further back in the cave, quiet and secluded—though I’m not quite sure why I feel the need to keep this a secret. Maybe just to avoid humiliation since I really have no idea what we’re doing.
“Thanks for coming,” I say. “We want to test something that can help us if we get it right.”
Blanca raises her eyebrows. “Are we guinea pigs?”
I shake my head quickly and Elm speaks up. “You were asked because you can handle the responsibility.” He gives me a slight nod.
“We recently learned about something called White magic,” I begin. “It was practiced at Prism before Yellow magic was banned, and it’s how the Benefactors formed the barrier around Magus.”
Now I have their interest.
“We know little about it,” Elm informs them. “However, Miss Ava and I used it accidentally on the day we escaped from the school. The one thing we can say for certain is it requires the use of all three magic types.”
I watch their faces as they process this information. By now, our closest friends know Elm and I are dual magic-users. But we have never really talked about how we managed to survive that traumatic day.
“But that means there must be many more Mentalists working with the Benefactors.” Kaito’s brow furrows. “If it requires all three magic types, they couldn’t keep the barrier up otherwise.”
“You’re right,” I reply. “The Benefactors obviously know more about it than they’ve let on.”
Nikki turns to Blake. “Your parents are Benefactors, right? Did you ever hear them talk about anything like that?”
“Never. But obviously there was a lot they didn’t tell me.” Blake floats a few pebbles into the air and idly twirls them around one another. He glances at Elm and me. “So, you want us to try and use this White magic?”
I have to explain in a way that doesn’t sound crazy. “Not exactly. I mean, we should figure that out, too, for the extra protection. But we have something else in mind. Some of you have seen that Elm can create things out of thin air.”
“A most extraordinary trait, I must say,” Elm remarks to nobody in particular. Blake rolls his eyes.
I continue, ignoring them both. “Because of the way Elm combines his two color uses and the fact that magic types can combine to create White magic, we think it might be possible for two individuals to combine their magic types for even higher purposes.”
“Isn’t that something you and Elm could practice?” Jazz asks, looking slightly nervous. All of us had it drilled into our heads repeatedly at Prism that we shouldn’t experiment. Many have been gravely injured by using magic irresponsibly. His anxiety isn’t surprising.
“We could, but since we’re both dual magic-users, it might be different. We want to know if it can work for single magic-users. If it does, it increases defense for everyone.”
Blanca cracks her knuckles. “Just tell us what to do.”
I pair them off: Blanca and Blake, Nikki and Jazz. Kaito hangs back, watching everything unfold. I feel somewhat foolish, because I’m really not sure what to do. When Elm and I formed the shield around ourselves, it seemed to happen spontaneously. How did we combine our magic? Everyone looks at me expectantly.
“Well . . . to start with . . . everyone hold hands?” Is physical contact necessary?
Elm grabs my hand at once and gives it a squeeze, his eyes lighting with a hint of the playful Elm I have come to know so well. I shoot him a small smile in return.
I turn back to the group, noting Blake’s stiff expression as I do so. Each Shaper/Augmentor pair has linked hands. What do I suggest next? So much of Augmentor magic—and Mentalist magic for that matter—is about concentration and specific focal points. Perhaps that’s the key here too.
“Focus on a spell and bring that energy to where your hands are joined.” That seems reasonable enough.
A pause, a bzzzzzzt sound, and then a yelp of pain.
“Watch it, Shaper!” Blanca pulls sharply away from Blake and shakes her hand.
Nikki glares at her. “Watch it yourself, Red.”
“He just sent some crazy magic jolt through my hand!”
“I’m sorry.” Blake holds his hands out, looking defensive. “I wasn’t trying to hurt you. I just did what Ava asked.”
Jazz takes a step back, as though he might get pulled into the fray.
“Perhaps this isn’t the best idea right now,” Elm cautions, eyeing our now-heated companions.
He’s right. What was I thinking?
Blake gives Blanca a challenging look. “Ava is just trying to figure out ways we can fight back stronger. We can’t just hide forever.”
Blanca crosses her arms. “Yeah, but I thought she had some vague idea of what she was doing before using us as lab rats.”
“We have to start somewhere,” Nikki defends.
“No, she’s right.” I drop my head. “I shouldn’t have dragged you into this without having a better grasp on it. I’m sorry.”
Blanca approaches Jazz and holds out her hand. “This still hurts. Can you heal it?”
Jazz nods and sets to work on her as we all watch.
“Thanks.” Blanca breathes more calmly when Jazz has finished. She turns to me. “Next time, don’t gamble on your friends.” She promptly leaves the room.
“I should go too.” Jazz is clearly uncomfortable with the tension in the air. “Sorry, Ava. Maybe another time.”
I try to push away my embarrassment and shame.
Blake comes to me. “Don’t worry about her. You’re just trying to be proactive.”
“I was an idiot,” I say miserably. “I know it’s dangerous to mess around with magic, and I have no idea if this will even work.”
“It was kind of dumb,” Nikki admits. “But we’re not going to get anywhere without taking risks here and there.”
Elm slides his arm around my waist. “We’ll find another way. For the moment, we’ll make do and stay extremely cautious.”
As Blake’s eyes go to Elm’s arm securely around me, Nikki suddenly pipes up, “Hey, Blake! There’s a weird-looking stalactite near my room of the cave. Someone could get impaled. Come help me round it off, will you?”
She grabs him before he can protest and steers him away.
With everyone gone but Elm and me, the room feels more cavernous.
“Go ahead and say it.” I don’t dare look Elm in the eye.
“Say what?”
“That I was stupid.” My voice rises in volume and pitch. “That I could have gotten someone seriously hurt or killed.”
“Miss Ava . . .”
“You don’t have to pretend you think it was a good idea.”
“Well, I said I felt it was worth exploring, did I not?” He tilts my chin up to look at him. “You have the right intent. We require strength now—not division. We’ll find a way.”
“I hope so.” If we work together, does it mean putting everyone else at risk? Maybe I should just find a way myself.
9
For now, I put the idea of my classmates joining two magic types out of my mind. But I haven’t given up on finding other means to protect and unite ourselves. White magic is combined magic, and there has to be accessible knowledge on it somewhere. If I can unlock that, it will be easier to revisit the dual-magic idea.
One thing I know for certain is the Benefactors, or at least some of them, know how to use White magic. They use it to sustain the barrier around Magus. They used it to put that spell on Elm so that he couldn’t approach students at the school. I may not be able to find that specific information about it in books, but there might be another approach. A way to tap into the knowledge from another person’s mind without putting anyone else at risk.
Except maybe me.
It feels silly to be sneaking around in Elm’s room like this. But he knows me too well. If he saw the book I was looking for, he would catch on.
My eyes run over titles as quickly as possible until I find the one I’m looking for: Into Dreams: Mentalists and Dream Invasion.
No sooner have I grabbed the volume off the shelf than I hear a noise behind me. I whirl around and hide the book behind my back as Elm enters.
He raises his eyebrows. “Well, what a lovely surprise! I came to grab spare parts, but instead I find Miss Ava.”
I smile at him in what I hope is a distracting way. “I just wanted to see you.”
He approaches, and I back against the bookshelf, debating whether or not I can slip the book back without him noticing.
“I always want to see you.” He stands just in front of me, his smile warm. “It seems we don’t have enough time for each other lately.”
My cheeks heat as he leans down, nose to nose with me.
“I have a question for you,” he says.
I swallow. “What’s that?”
His mouth quirks. “Do you want me to pretend I don’t know you’re hiding a book?”
Drat.
“Why the secrecy?” He tugs the book from behind me and dangles it roguishly in front of my face. “Miss Ava, this isn’t Prism. If you want to borrow one of my books, you need only ask.” He glances down at the cover, and his smile fades. “Ah . . . I see.”
My face is hot with guilt.
“May I ask whose dreams you were planning to invade?” His voice is stiff.
“Nobody in particular,” I lie. “I just feel like it’s something I should know.”
“You will eventually, I promise you. I would love nothing more than to show you everything I know. But, Miss Ava, believe me when I say it’s not something you should attempt until you have mastered your other Mentalist abilities.”
“Why do you get to decide what I do and don’t know?” My voice is sharp and sounds petty, even to my own ears. “If you’re withholding knowledge from me, how are you any better than the Benefactors?”
I’ve gone too far and I regret it in an instant. The sting of my words reflects in his eyes.
He takes a deep breath. “I assure you I’m not trying to be difficult, and I’m not needlessly sheltering you. All Mentalist mentors save this aspect for last—for good reason. Many Mentalists don’t even touch dream jumping because of the risks it poses.”
But I still need to try. I stare him down and he stares back. Finally he sighs. “If I give you the book, do you promise not to test it out? Read and study it as much as you wish, but don’t attempt anything until we can train together.”
I already feel unsettled by my dishonesty. I have no intention of keeping my promise. But in this case, it’s for the greater good. I’m certain he’ll forgive me once we overthrow the Benefactors once and for all.
“Very well, then.” He tentatively hands the book back to me. “I trust you, Miss Ava.”
I’m such a rat.
10
“There you are, Samantha! Jazz has been looking for you.”
Samantha glances up at me from where she’s huddled with Elm. They looked like they were in deep discussion before I interrupted. I do my best to shove away the creature of jealousy that crawls through me and focus instead on the way Elm’s face brightened when he saw me.
