Too much power

Aurelius pondered for a moment, a glimmer of inspiration dancing in his eyes. "I may have a solution," he said, his voice filled with a newfound enthusiasm. "Annually, a grand banquet is held in honor of the king's birthday. This prestigious event extends an invitation to every fae within the Fae Kingdom."

Ambrose appeared hesitant, his brow furrowed in thought. Marina and Aurelius exchanged a knowing glance, aware that the crown prince had never been present at the King's birthday banquet, causing controversies among the faeries. However, they remained silent, allowing him to decide what he wanted to say about it.

Crystal also sensed the awkwardness emanating from both of them and she could read Ambrose like an open book as his dread kept flowing in his aura. She had also noticed, she could now perceive emotions more precisely since she got her Aether stone back. Even those who were strong-willed and not easy to read were now vulnerable to her power. She had yet to tell this to her friends as she did not want them to feel vary of her.

After a brief pause, Ambrose let out a sigh. "We shall attend the banquet, considering that only a week remains until its commencement." He agreed, his voice tinged with reluctance.

Crystal looked at Ambrose gratefully. "Thank you, Ambrose," she said sincerely, sensing it was difficult for him to agree.

"I propose that, given our attendance at the grand banquet, it would be prudent for you all to reside in the guest quarters of the Fae Palace. As my esteemed guests, this arrangement would facilitate our navigation of the palace grounds and enable us to conduct our research in the Fae Library with greater convenience."

Aurelius's eyes widened with realization. "That is a brilliant suggestion," he exclaimed, a hint of excitement in him voice. "Staying within the palace will provide us with a strategic advantage, allowing us to explore the library and delve into the depths of fae knowledge."

Marina had felt the rage in Aurelius's eyes diminished since Crystal had declared she had her first love on earth whom she was still hung up on. He had let his guard down and she thought maybe it was for the better if they had the purpose to help Crystal. She nodded in agreement. "It is entirely logical, for it will save us precious time and effort to have convenient access to the library and familiarity with the layout of the Fae Palace."

Crystal smiled approvingly. "I couldn't agree more," she said. "Although I don't know about the Fae Palace much, but the closer you are to your enemy, the better."

The other three looked at Crystal in confusion, not being able to understand her words and she felt it too so she chuckled, scratching her head. "I mean not literally the enemy, it's like a metaphor that-- I just came up with."

Marina rolled her eyes and Ambrose could help a chuckle escaping his lips, the more he got to know Crystal, the better he felt about her. Crystal too smiled seeing that Ambrose was no longer tormented by the mention of his father's birthday banquet.

Aurelius leaned forward, his eyes glinting with determination. "While we await the grand banquet, we should make the most of our time by helping you explore and test her newfound powers," he suggested to Crystal. "Although you will learn about other abilities through the fae classes, it would undoubtedly be a gradual process. We can accelerate your understanding by actively practicing and experimenting, we never know if you might accidentally happen to summon one of your rare Aether powers just like you had attacked His Highness." Aurelius pursed his lips to conceal his smile while Ambrose gave him a boring look.

"Although the method of your elaboration is quite unpleasant for my ears but I rather agree with the main remaining statement." Ambrose sarcastically replied and Marina and Crystal shared an awkward glance at their bickering.

Crystal nodded, appreciating Aurelius's suggestion. "You're right," she agreed. "Learning from the fae classes is essential, but nothing compares to hands-on experience."

Marina chimed in with a supportive smile. "Count me in," she said.

Crystal felt a wave of gratitude wash over her as she looked at her friends. Their unwavering support meant the world to her. "Thank you, all of you," she said, her voice filled with sincerity. "Having you by my side on this journey gives me the strength and confidence to face any challenge that comes my way."

...

Crystal had decided to keep her powers a secret from anyone other than her three friends: Marina, Aurelius, and Ambrose. Even in her classes, she would only do the bare minimum to follow instructions, so as not to accidentally expose herself as the Aether faerie, as she had yet to understand the full extent of her powers.

Ambrose didn't deny the special treatment he received from the fae teachers as the crown prince of the Fae Kingdom. During that time, he was allowed to paint alone in the botanical garden. He suggested they practice there, as no one dared to disturb his peace. Well, except for Crystal once, but he didn't really mind that.

Under the gentle sunlight filtering through the foliage of the botanical garden, Crystal and others gathered in a circle, ready to explore and refine her newfound powers. Aurelius, being a spring fae, stepped forward to guide Crystal in connecting with the flora around her.

"Direct your energy towards the flowers," Aurelius instructed, his voice resonating with a tranquil melody. "Attune yourself to their essence, their vitality, and exert your influence to command them in accordance with your will." Aurelius demonstrated how the flowers responded to his finger movements, dancing to his rhythm. It reminded Crystal of the dream where she controlled water as if it were a part of herself.

She told herself, maybe that was what she was supposed to do now as well and just like her dream, she could play with flowers as well.

Crystal closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and let her power intertwine with the vibrant energy of the flowers. As she concentrated, a surge of energy pulsed through her, causing the flowers to sway and bloom in response to her touch. She marveled at the sight, a mixture of awe and trepidation dancing in her eyes.

Feeling a surge of confidence, Crystal extended her hands, intending to guide the flowers gracefully to dance along her fingers. However, her newfound power proved more potent than she expected. In her enthusiasm, she accidentally uprooted a large chunk of the ground as big as her along with a cluster of flowers, sending it flying through the air.

Silence fell over the group as they exchanged bewildered glances. Crystal's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she realized the unintended consequence of her actions. But before panic could set in, Ambrose stepped forward, his calm demeanor reassuring Crystal.

"Levitare!" he commanded in a roar and with a wave of his hand, he gently levitated the displaced chunk of ground, delicately maneuvering it back into place. The soil appeared slightly disheveled, revealing the impact of the mishap.

However, Aurelius, ever resourceful and attuned to the harmony of nature, called upon the flowers and the surrounding moss to weave their magic. They swiftly embraced the disturbed ground, concealing the imperfections with a tapestry of fresh blooms and lush greenery. The once-muddled patch of ground was transformed naturally, hiding any traces of the mishap.

As Crystal watched the flowers and moss work their enchantment, a sense of relief washed over her. She realized that even when mistakes were made, there was always a way to restore balance and beauty in the natural world. It was also a lesson to her to not be so greedy to learn everything so hastily

With a grateful smile, Crystal turned to her friends, her voice filled with sincerity. "Thank you, both of you."