After dinner, everyone went their separate ways, agreeing to meet again for breakfast the next day.
Aura walked home alone, her eyes fixed on her feet.
Once inside, she sat with her back against the door and groaned.
When she saw Fenix, her heart ached.
She wanted to kiss him—to cling to him, to feel that familiar rush whenever he touched her.
If she had stayed a second longer, she would have folded completely and thrown herself at him, but her pride gave her just enough strength to leave.
Now, sitting alone in her house, she regretted not giving in.
She closed her eyes and sighed.
Then there was a knock at her door.
Without checking who it was, she got on her feet and flung the door open, a smile spreading across her face.
It disappeared instantly when she saw it was Janx at her door.
"Hey... I wanted to see you earlier, but I heard you weren't accepting visitors," he said, extending a bouquet of wildflowers toward her. She eyed them but didn't accept, so he withdrew the gift. "How have you been?" he asked, his eyes turned away from her
"... Better lately," Aura replied. Her voice sounded dispassionate, and she tapped her foot impatiently.
"That's good… I came by a few times, but you never answered the door." He explained. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
"Were you worried about me?"
His cheeks darkened, and he scratched his head.
"Well, yeah... I had never seen you break down. Ever. So of course, I was worried," he explained.
"Alright, but it's late, so maybe visit another day, at a better time," Aura suggested in a testy tone.
"Ah... but... did you and Fenix break up?"
The words break up hit her so hard that Aura stiffened and couldn't think of a reply.
"I figured, since you were crying like that... and I heard he got back earlier today. I just... I didn't want to risk you two getting back together without me telling you how I feel."
Aura gasped.
So this is what Mirror meant...
"I don't know when it started, but for years now, you've been the only woman I've been interested in," he continued, reaching out his hand to brush her hair behind her ear, as if he had every right to touch her. Aura shuddered, remembering all the instances where he did this and she let it slide, thinking it was just a friendly interaction.
"I would never hurt you, or make you cry like that," he mumbled, with his eyes locked on her lips.
Aura's stomach turned, and she took a step back,
"You're my teacher."
Janx laughed dismissively.
"Not anymore. We're never going back to that school... and I'm only five years older than you," he moved towards her. "Feeling shy? Don't tell me you never considered it," Janx added in a playfully mocking tone.
Aura's face twisted in disgust, and she shoved him so hard he nearly stumbled down the porch steps, dropping the bouquet.
He froze, and his eyes widened in shock and hurt.
Then Aura slammed the door in his face.
The silence after that was deafening. She dragged herself back to her room and lay in bed, hoping that she would get another visitor, but she drifted to sleep without seeing anyone else that night.
Aura enjoyed a lively breakfast the next day. She contributed more to the conversation, but every once in a while, she'd stop mid-sentence as the words break up resurfaced in her mind.
"Are you okay? You seem like you have a lot on your mind." Sera commented. Aura gave a small smile and shook her head.
"I'm fine."
Everyone accepted her answer and moved on, this time separating after eating.
"We're going to a cute bar down the road," Sera said while pouncing on her husband and hugging him tightly.
"Let's meet up again soon," Caster replied with a smile, while holding Mirror's hand. Mirror glanced down at their clasped hands shyly.
"Yeah," Aura said while waving goodbye as the couples walked away from her in opposite directions. She sighed, staying seated and looking up at the restaurant's ceiling.
"Veil! We're in public," Flow warned as they walked into the area with Veil hugging her from behind and kissing her neck.
"Why should I care?" he whispered into her ear, then nibbled her earlobe. She gasped, squeezed her eyes shut tight, trembling slightly. That's when Veil looked over and noticed Aura.
He released Flow immediately. Her eyes shot open, and she looked at him, a disappointed pout on her face.
"Wow... you two got together," Aura noted. That's when Flow saw her too and blushed brightly.
"Yeah," Veil answered, putting his arms around Flow's waist and guiding her to Aura's table.
"That's so unexpected. How did it happen?" Aura asked, grateful for the distraction.
"It turned out that she's exactly my type, so I made it happen," Veil answered, and Flow nodded softly.
"How sweet," Aura replied.
"I'm glad you're finally getting out of the house. My brother and I were worried about you." He said,
"I was worried too!" Flow chimed in.
"Fenix is like a brother to me, so I see you like a sister-in-law," she added confidently.
Aura coughed from the shock, and Veil snickered.
"Thank you for the concern," Aura replied after recomposing herself.
"I'm surprised you two aren't together. I heard he's back on the island." Veil commented.
"Ah..." Aura started to reply, but her voice trailed off.
"Are you still mad at him?" he asked.
"No, it's not that!" Aura answered, then she muttered, "It's just awkward, right now."
"Well..." Veil began, "Don't torture him too much. That guy can't function without you."
Veil's comment struck her, so she stiffened, sitting upright in her chair and gripping the edge of her seat.
"I thought you didn't like him," she replied.
"I'm with Flow now, I have no reason to dislike him," he explained, while meeting Aura's eyes.
It took her a moment to grasp the meaning behind his words.
"Oh..." Flow looked between both of them and said,
"What's going on?" Veil didn't answer. Instead, he lifted her chin and kissed her, passionately—like no one else was there.
Aura's face heated up from just witnessing it.
When he pulled away, she slumped down, staring at him in a daze.
"We should go... Hope everything goes well with you two," he said, while grabbing Flow's wrist and tugging her outside the restaurant. Aura sat flustered and dumbfounded.
"Didn't they come here to eat?" she muttered.
It took her a few more minutes to decide to leave as well.
Instead of going home, she walked around the city.
It felt magical. All the residents used their powers without restraint; everyone seemed to serve a purpose, helping each other effortlessly.
After walking for quite some time, she entered a shop.
"Welcome!" The cashier greeted. The cashier greeted, stocking shelves with toys while weapons lined the wall behind her.
Glowing swords, spears, staffs, sickles, and guns.
"How may I help you?" The worker asked while dusting off her hands on her apron.
"I'm just looking around... I'm new here." Aura replied. The girl tilted her head, then glanced down at the bracelet on her wrist.
"Oh, you must be from the school! Did you get to meet Fenix?" she asked.
Aura froze. No matter where she went, she couldn't escape thoughts of him.
"I wish I could have gone to school with him," she said with flushed cheeks and a starry-eyed gaze.
Aura scowled.
"I met him," she answered through gritted teeth.
"Were you friends?! What's he like in real life?" She asked excitedly. Aura's frown deepened, then the girl gasped and bowed her head, "I'm sorry, I got distracted... you're a customer," she said quietly. A second later, she popped her head back up and said, "Oh, wait! I know the perfect thing to offer you!" Before Aura could reply, the girl rushed off.
So she waited, and when the worker returned, she said,
"My name is Tinka. I make all the weapons and electronics on the island," she began. She had a velvet box in her hand and opened it as she stepped closer to Aura. Inside were multiple rings and sets of earrings.
"This is what everyone uses to get around on the island, take a couple and share them with your friends," Tinka explained. Aura picked up a ring and slid it onto her index finger,
"You... made this? It's beautiful, but how does it help me travel?" Aura asked. Tinka smiled and touched Aura's bracelet, removing it.
Power coursed through her body. Aura felt renewed, complete again.
"I made this too, so I can remove them," Tinka said while tossing the bracelet to the floor. "You can't use my ring with that thing on. Once you're ready, channel your energy into the ring, closing your eyes and visualizing it helps," she continued.
Aura closed her eyes and did as told. Moments later, her body felt warm and weightless, so she opened her eyes and noticed she was hovering off the ground. Aura silently panicked while Tinka smiled up at her and said,
"I call them Wind Rings. Basically, when you have that on, you can use a small amount of your power to create wings."
Aura looked over and saw she now had shimmering, translucent, light-blue wings on her back.
"I've never seen such beautiful wings, though! Your power must be really special." Tinka noted, tapping her chin.
"H-how do I get down?" Aura asked shakily.
"Hmm... it should be intuitive. Just imagine landing," she replied. Aura inhaled deeply and slowly landed back on her feet. The wings dissipated in the same instant.
For several moments, neither said anything, but then Aura gave Tinka a thumbs-up and said,
"I'll take five." Tinka laughed in response.
After bagging up her items, Aura waved goodbye, and Tinka yelled,
"Come back anytime!"
As Aura walked home, she realized this must have been how Fenix took her flying that time, in the forest.
She held up her hand, gazing at both rings on her fingers.
Then she felt eyes on her and looked over to see Fenix, staring at her from across the street. When she noticed him, his eyes widened, and he turned away.
He stood completely still, so Aura made her way towards him, crossing the street.
Once she was at his side, she slowly reached out and tugged his sleeve. Fenix tensed immediately.
"We can... talk now," she whispered.