The Tension & The Attention
The stunned silence that had enveloped the students was shattered by the murmurings of the crowd, as they tried to make sense of what had just happened.
Crystal's heart raced as she grappled with the realization that she possessed a power that was both beautiful and dangerous.
“She struck the cursed one. She is condemned for sure. He might issue an order for her execution?” The words of the crowd were like poison to her, causing her eyes to widen in fear. Even if Ambrose wasn't the cursed one, there was still a chance of her being executed for harming the crown prince of the fae kingdom.
"Pray tell, how did she manage to accomplish this feat?"
"Indeed, it is true that she had been devoid of her powers until a recent time."
"It is possible that her powers are linked to the element of water, and that she has only now become capable of manifesting them."
Different questions and words surrounded Crystal, and she did not know what to do. She was supposed to keep herself hidden, to hide her powers that she had yet to discover. Yet, there she was, in the middle of the crowd, exposing herself to things she did not know she was capable of.
As the murmurs grew louder about her, Crystal's composure began to falter. She felt a sharp pain in her chest as her breathing became erratic, and the sound of her heart pounding in her ears drowned out the noise of the crowd.
Her vision blurred and the ground beneath her feet began to shift. She stumbled backwards, clutching at her chest in agony as the world spun around her. In a moment of sheer terror, her legs gave out and she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
...
Crystal winced as she slowly opened her eyes, trying to adjust them to the bright light shining overhead. She could feel a throbbing pain in her head, as if a hammer was pounding against her skull. As she looked around, she saw two familiar faces hovering over her - Marina and Aurelius.
“Are you awake yet?” asked Marina with concern etched on her face.
“Are you perhaps feeling fine?” inquired Aurelius, his voice laced with worry.
Crystal tried to sit up on the soft bed, but her head spun and she quickly lay back down. The last thing she remembered was her chest squeezing tightly as she fell to the ground. She realized she must have been in the infirmary for a while as she saw the sun setting through the window to her left.
“Guys, I’m fine. I just have a minor headache,” she assured them, though her wincing expression said otherwise. She grabbed her hair and rubbed her temples, trying to alleviate the pain. But the throbbing only intensified. She still managed to sit straight on the bed.
"I am sorry to say, but you do not appear to be well from any aspect. I am concerned about your appearance. It would be best for you to take some rest and recover." Aurelius spoke up, his tone firm and authoritative.
Marina looked at him dumbfounded. She did not know that Crystal was close to someone other than her, and that someone being a handsome fae from the second year that every other female fae swooned over.
"Whilst I have several inquiries regarding this arrangement and the events that transpired by the river, I do agree with Sir Flores' suggestion that it would be best for you to recline and obtain further rest." Marina chimed in, a tinge of disappointment in her voice along with her worry.
She had told Crystal that she had already found her soulmate, but Crystal did not mention anything about Aurelius to her, while the way he behaved told her that they were really close. She knew she should not be but she was hurt.
"I would prefer to be addressed by my given name, Aurelius, if that is acceptable to you," he said suddenly, sensing her unease. Marina shot him a quizzical look, as if questioning his sudden familiarity with Crystal and Aurelius saw a motherly concern in his eyes for Crystal.
“Both of you are just being dramatic. I am perfectly fine. Look, I can even stand up,” Crystal declared as she tried to get up from the bed, attempting to prove her point.
But before she could even take a step, Marina pushed her back onto the bed. "I implore you to cease your childish behavior and recline," she scolded her gently, but firmly.
"I would appreciate it if you could be gentle with her," Aurelius interjected, and Marina scoffed, looking at him with her burning gaze.
"Crystal is my friend, and I am more than capable of providing for her needs. I kindly ask that you do not intervene." She showed her contempt without a shadow of a doubt, leaving Aurelius a bit surprised, and in truth, so was Crystal.
Crystal was taken aback by the sudden tension between the two of them. She had always thought of Marina as a gentle soul, but seeing her defend her like a tigress made her feel both humbled and amused.
"Rest assured that I share your concern for Crystal's well-being, and I am committed to being a trustworthy and responsible friend. I would never do anything that would jeopardize her safety or security," Aurelius explained, trying to diffuse the situation. But Marina's expression remained cold, not entirely convinced by his words, and still looked at him as an outsider in her friendship with Crystal.
“Am I suddenly this popular? Why am I enjoying this attention?” Crystal wondered aloud. The attention was indeed flattering, she could not help it. “Guys, please do not fight, and I am completely alright. I don’t need anyone’s help at all.”
And Crystal somehow managed to convince the two of them that she was fine and had no complications whatsoever.
...
Marina's voice quivered as she gazed at Crystal from the comfort of her own bed. "Crystal," she said, her eyes full of emotion, "I am gravely upset." Crystal's heart sank as she tried to read Marina's expression, wondering what had caused this sudden outburst. Was it something she had said or done?
