Chapter 26 - A light trial of fire

Five in the morning. A peaceful time, a moment when the nocturnal have gone to sleep and the diurnal haven’t awakened yet. I always loved this time. And it only became better when I was with my siblings, and Crisnée.

In a way, I had started to see Crisnée as one of my siblings, as she slept with us, ate with us, took her bath with us, trained with us, day after day.

In the soft and warm cradle made from the body of my siblings, my eyes were unmoored, drifting over the sleeping face of the trio. I moved a bit to find a better position.

I couldn’t sleep, haunted by the faces they had made yesterday, after their loss. I wanted to help them, yet I was still too young. I couldn’t just start floating around, teaching them magic. Not now.

I only hoped Ophelia would have something for them to help restore their confidence.

A deep determination was something good, I think, but not when it started eating at you because the goals you had set were too far away, out of reach.

Maybe their teacher should let them fight something less monstrous than a Shi fighter, as to let them understand their actual strength on a more mundane scale?

And she should also change Vi and Cris’ weapons. They’re just not adapted to them right now.

Agree.

I fought a bit more with my thoughts before sleep once again took me in its embrace. After all, I couldn’t keep worrying when I was between all my lovely siblings.

***

Wow. What’s happening?

The trio, with me in tow, had come to the barrack for their daily training. Ophelia surprised us when we saw her waiting at the door of the barrack, from which she took us to one of the big training rooms, where nine other people were waiting for us.

From the nine, we could recognise Nicklass, a frown on his face, Marc, peaceful as always, and Elody, her white hair framing a face devoid of any emotions.

Or was it? No, there was something in her eyes. Curiosity. Apprehension.

Besides those we knew were six others.

An old woman with grey hair and a face full of energy.

A young man, no older than twenty, his eyes calm but his fingers fidgeting something I couldn’t see.

An older gentleman, refined, like a strict yet warm father.

An older and younger man who looked a lot like each other, brothers maybe?

And a man in his mid-twenties, yawning as if he had been torn apart from his bed, a cup of brown liquid in hand.

“What’s happening, teacher?” Finally asked Vivianne, once she had conquered the fear that had grown in her head, fear born from too many gazes laid on her and the two others.

“Yesterday you three asked me if there was something else you could do, more training. I, and the other Shi fighters of the city, are here to decide if we can take your training one step further, as per your wish. Now we will take turns asking you questions, and vote if for or against it. Nicklass will start.” She pointed at the old man, taking her place in the group of Shi users.

The children were a bit intimidated, but once Noa took the hand of Vi and Cris, the three stood together, facing the imposing adults.

“I vote No.” Said Nicklass to the go, attracting on him the stares of literally all the other Shi fighters.

“Don’t look at me like that. They…” He pointed at us. “...shouldn’t even be training like they do right now, even less get their hands on something way before their age and level.”

Silence stretched for a bit after he ended his argument, before the yawning man took his turn.

“You’re still…. uuuuhaaa… kids. Aren’t you tired of all this training?” He asked them with another yawn.

“No!” It was Noa.

“Not at all.” Followed by his sister, both of them supported by Crisnée’s nods.

“You’re sure?” He looked at them but, seeing what was in their eyes he shrugged. “As long as they can correctly rest, it’s a Yes for me.”

Next were the two brothers.

“You’re friends and family, right?” The kids nodded. “And you all want that? To train more? It’s not the wish of only one of you, but of all three?” New nods. The brothers took a step back and whispered at each other.

“It’s one Yes and one No.” The older said before giving the hand to the next.

Which was the young fidgeting. “They’re too young. I’m barely old enough to be here, and even I did not start training at their age. It’s not healthy, it’s a No.”

Three No two Yes.

Indeed, but I think that it’s not exactly a democracy. Higher members’ vote could be more valuable, in particular the white one, Elody.

True.

“I fought them. I trained them. They can take it. It’s a yes.” Marc announced, looking at the next in line, the old gentleman.

He took his time looking at the trio, walking around them.

“Why do you want to train more?” He finally asked, a simple question.

“Because we’re weak.” Answered Crisnée.

“And being weak is bad. We can’t kill those that should be killed.” Added Vivianne.

“I… we don’t want to be weak. Being weak means we can’t save those that should be saved.”

The older man nodded softly. “Yes. I can understand that. Those are noble goals, somewhat…” He looked a Vi saying that, a smirk forming on his face. “...yet it is not your time nor your place to do it. They should stick to the advanced training they’re following. I vote No.” He looked at the old woman who shrugged. “I vote No for the same reason Asral did. It’s not their time yet.”

“I vote Yes, because I believe in them, in their will and their…” She looked at Elody. “...their purity of intent.” This time, it was Ophelia who got all the bewildered gazes from her fellow Shi fighters. Even Elody’s serene face flashed a look of surprise at the word of her second-in-command.

“Their purity of intent, you say?” She asked softly, her eyes, her face, all of herself starting to exude overwhelming aura, like bloodlust, but as if the blood was replaced by trial. Questionlust, maybe?

“Y-yes.” Answered Ophelia, voice strangled by the presence of her leader.

“Then let’s see if it’s true. You…” Elody pointed at Crisnée. “Give that baby to Ophelia.” Which the young lady did promptly, totally flattened by Elody’s aura.

“Good. Now you three, come her-”

“Wait! What are you going to do?!” Exclaimed the old woman.

“Why, Ophelia claim of purity, I’ll put it to trial. I’ll wash them in my Shi, and if they can still stand after, I’ll acknowledge it.”

“That’s insane! You’ll burn them!”

“Indeed, but not too much if they’re truly pure, as Ophelia proclaimed, right?” She looked at Ophelia, as to see if her second-in-command was going to back down from her claim, which she did not.

“I trust her judgment.”

“No! It’s ins-”

“Enough.” Elody had talked softly, nearly whispered, but the old woman stopped talking.

“I trust Ophelia. Now children, come here and be bathed. Let’s see how pure you are.”

The trio was very much nervous, remembering what Ophelia said about White Shi, but looking at her, they relaxed a bit. Their teacher was smiling at them after all.

They presented themselves in front of the intimidating Master, close to each other and holding hands. Elody seemed on the verge of saying something, but shrugged.

“Close your eyes.” They did it and, suddenly, Shi like fire engulfed them.

One second.

What the!

Two seconds.

Why?!

Three seconds.

Why does it burn so much!

Then Elody retracted her Shi. Vi was trembling on her legs, standing only because of Cris and Noa, and even they did not fare well. All three of them were burned to various degrees, Vi the most, Cris the least, and it looked really painful.

Vi wasn’t crying because, I think, she remembered the pain she had been in when the venom, the virus coursed through her veins, but she was on the verge of tears nonetheless. Crisnée had tears on her cheeks, and Noa was clenching both his fists and his mouth to not let anything go and to keep standing.

She looked at them a bit more, then nodded. “Yes. With five Yes and five No, two of the yes from me and Ophelia, the final decision is a Ye-”

“Waaaaaah!” I couldn’t keep my composure. The pain, it was too much.

They all looked at me and, seeing that I had been burned, looked back at Elody.

“What? Why?! Why did you burn Elayna?!” Screamed Noa, his legs now straight, the shaking gone even if the pain and the burns were still there. Vi, too, even as she was the most burned, nearly launched herself against the Shi master.

“Ah? W-what?” It was the first time I saw Elody flustered. “But I didn’t bath her in flames? Ophelia, did you see something?”

“You did not touch her with your Shi, if that’s your question.” She looked at the trio. “Calm down. Elody’s not in fault, I was there and did not see anything.”

“But she’s crying!” Yelled Vivianne. “Elayna NEVER cries!” The intensity of her sentence made one or two of the shi fighters take a step back. She was madly enraged, fire burning in her eyes as if she was ready to burn every last one of them to ash.

“What did you do!” And this was also the first time ever I heard Crisnée scream.

Yet, exhausted and in pain, Vi fell to the ground, quickly followed by Crisnée and, finally, Noa, the most stubborn of them.

“Quick, heal them!”

I did not see what happened after. It burned too much.

I really should have turned the nociceptor of this body off.

***

“...-ord to their parents, understood? I don’t want to have Elanna launching a vengeful crusade against us because of Elody.” It was the voice of the old woman.

I was in a warm embrace. Vivianne. I could feel it, instinctively. An interesting thing, instinct.

“And this is particularly true for you, Nicklass.”

“Yes ma’am.” The old man answered with a sarcastic tone.

I opened my eyes. Vivianne was lying in a bed, back against the headboard, looking at me anxiously. Our eyes crossed, and a radiant smile bloomed on her face.

“She’s awake, and she doesn’t cry. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome girl, healing infusions are my speciality after all.” Answered the old gentleman, startling me as I hadn’t seen him till now.

What happened?

You fainted of pain, because you got burned by Elody’s Shi.

B-but she did not even touch me?!

Indeed, which is concerning at the least. Maybe you’re particularly sensitive to White Shi?

But why?

I got my idea but it may be a good idea to not talk about it, okay? Just trust me.

….Okay. I trust you Psaï.

Thanks.

I thought I could somewhat guess why I was sensitive to White but, as Psaï said, some things were better left untouched.

Some memories are just too painful.

“She’s awake?” Crisnée nearly jumped on my and Vi, shortly followed by Noa. They all looked at me and, seeing I was in my normal state, let go a sigh of relief.

“Hey! Seems like you’re all back in business!” Exclaimed Ophelia, entering the room under the dark gaze of the old woman and gentleman.

“Already gonna take them?” Asked the old woman with venom in the voice. “Asral barely finished healing them.”

“We’re good.” Said Vivianne to the old woman.

“...Yes. Maybe. You know what?” She turned her eyes toward Ophelia. “It’s not my problem.” And she left.

“She is very much not okay with how you and Elody handle the matter.” Asral tried to defend the old woman.

“I know. I’m not sure either I should have said what I said, but what’s done is done and, surprisingly, it didn’t turn so bad.”

“If you say so. I’ve got a patrol starting soon, clean the room before you go.” The gentleman, Asral, then exited the room, taking one last look at the children before closing the door.

“Come with me. Elody’s waiting for us to give you what you deserve, having stood and endured her Shi.” She stopped talking for a bit, then. ” I… I am sorry?”

She was bad at this but, oh well, you couldn’t be good at everything, right?

“It’s… it’s nothing, teacher. I think we just got carried a bit when we saw Elayna’s burns.” The two others nodded at Vi’s words.

“And all is good, right? Look, Ayna is fine, just like us. It was a bit painful but…”

“We wouldn’t be here if we were afraid of pain.” Ended Noa.

So the thing about twins ending each other's sentences is real, or is it just those two? Meh, irrelevant.

The trio, with me in Noa’s arms, followed Ophelia’s lead through the corridors of the barrack.