HEARTSTRINGS

Council member Cedric shifted in his chair, "Alivia," he began, and the room fell silent, all eyes on me. His voice stern yet inquisitive, "Can you tell us how you healed Mia when she was ill?"

My brow furrowed as I listened to Council member Cedric's question. Why was he asking me this now? Taking a deep breath, I recalled the memory of Mia's attack vividly. "Mia was attacked by her father, who was infected with the virus," I said softly. "When I brought her in, she was badly injured. I just cleaned and stitched her wounds and used willow bark to reduce the pain and swelling."

Council member Cedric nodded in response. "And after, did she show any symptoms of the virus?" he asked.

I shook my head. "No, only after Dr. Volkov did blood tests did we discover that she was infected and had developed an immunity to it."

The council member then brought his hand to his chin as if in deep thought. "After you treated her," he began hesitantly. "Was there any intimate moment with her?"

I felt stunned by his line of questioning and my heart raced as I tried to make sense of what he was suggesting. As I took a few moments to process everything, I remembered hugging Mia after her father passed away due to the virus – a gesture that brought a measure of comfort amidst such tragedy.

I nodded. "Yes, I hugged her after her father died," I said softly. Looking up, I met Council member Cedric's gaze and felt a chill run down my spine. His expression was one of awe and fear, as if he were standing on the edge of an abyss.

"What were you feeling in that moment?" Council member Cedric asked.

I hesitated, not sure if I wanted to reveal my emotions in front of everyone. But something in Council member Cedric's intense gaze urged me to speak the truth. "I was feeling sadness, empathy, and a deep desire to comfort her," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. " I just wanted to be there for her."

"Hmm" he says "And when Jess was attacked trying to save you what were you feeling then?"

I felt a lump form in my throat at the mention of Jess's attack. The memory was still fresh in my mind, and the guilt of putting her in harm's way weighed heavily on me. "I was scared," I admitted, my voice barely audible. "Scared for Jess, scared for myself. Seeing her on the brink of death I wanted to… to do anything that I could to save her.”

Council member Cedric leaned forward; his eyes fixed on me. "Interesting," he said in a deep voice. "It seems that your emotional responses to these events are quite strong."

I shifted in my seat, feeling exposed under his scrutiny. "I suppose so," I said, unsure where he was going with this line of questioning.

He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers in front of him. "You see, emotions can be a powerful thing, Alivia. They can motivate us to do things we never thought possible, to push beyond our limits, to sacrifice ourselves for the greater good."

I frowned, not understanding what he was getting at. "I'm not sure I follow," I said, feeling a sense of unease creeping up on me.

Council member Cedric leaned forward in his chair, "What I am saying Alivia" he began slowly, "is that your empathy, your desire to comfort those in pain, and your fierce protectiveness of your friends and loved ones - these are what fuel your power. I believe that when you saw Jess injured and on the brink of death you wanted to do anything in your power to save your friend and also when you hugged Mia perhaps you unknowingly healed her as well."

I sat there in shock, my mind racing with questions. My powers were connected to my emotions. I healed Mia when I hugged her? it all seemed too far-fetched to be true.
Council member Reginald speaks up, his voice laced with concern. "But if your powers are tied to your emotions, it could also be dangerous. We need to be careful how we approach this."

Council member Reginald's words only added to my growing sense of unease. He was right; if my powers were tied to my emotions, then I needed to be cautious. I couldn't risk hurting someone if I let my emotions get out of control.

But then again, if I didn't put enough emotion into my powers, would they even be effective? I was caught between a rock and a hard place. My powers were a double-edged sword, and I needed to find a way to wield them safely.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing thoughts. I wanted to use my powers for good, to help others in need. But I couldn't do that if I was constantly worried about the potential dangers.

Dr. Volkov clears his throat, and all eyes turn to him. "If Alivia really healed Mia from the virus," he said, his voice measured and calm, "and given the potential of Alivia's powers and their connection to her emotions, I believe it would be beneficial for her to receive training from someone experienced in magic in order to learn better control over them."

As Dr. Volkov spoke, a sense of hope ignited within me. Could this be the solution I needed to help others without the fear of hurting them? The thought of honing my powers under the guidance of an experienced mentor and gaining control over them was a tantalizing prospect. I could picture myself confidently wielding my abilities to heal others and making a real difference in the world. The virus could finally be eradicated, and I could be a part of that solution. The idea filled me with a sense of purpose and determination.

Council member Cedric nods his head in agreement. “Yes, it’s very important that we ensure Alivia’s powers are handled in an orderly fashion. We can't afford any accidental or impulsive use that could bring about dangerous outcomes.”

But then Dr. Volkov speaks up again, his gaze fixed on me as if I’m the only person here. "And I think that Seraphine could help give her this training."
Council member Cedric raises an eyebrow sceptically and looks at him "Seraphine? The witch who was flirting with you at the bonfire?"

When I realize who Seraphine is, my excitement dissipates. Jealousy and insecurity consume my thoughts as vivid memories of Seraphine flirting with him at the bonfire flood my mind. The churning sensation in my stomach intensifies, and I can feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment. My hands automatically clench into fists, and my nails dig into my palms. I force my gaze down to the floor, hoping to conceal the turmoil within me from the other occupants of the room.

Dr. Volkov chuckles, "Yes, that's her," he admits, trying to hide his embarrassment. "But despite her flirtatious nature, Seraphine is also a skilled and experienced witch. She has a deep understanding of magic and can provide valuable training to Alivia."

Council member Landon grins mischievously at Dr. Volkov, “Ahh, looks like you’re quite taken with this one," he says playfully while glancing around at the rest of the council with an amused smile.

Dr. Volkov rolls his eyes, before his expression turns serious again. "There is nothing going on between Seraphine and I," he says firmly, "and regardless of her flirtatious nature, I believe she is the best candidate for Alivia's training."

As I force myself to agree with Dr. Volkov's suggestion, my inner turmoil continues to rage on. Jealousy still gnaws at my insides, and I can feel my heart racing as I try to push the feelings aside. I remind myself that my primary objective is to control my powers and use them to help others, despite my own insecurities.

Council member Magnus nodded his head, his authoritative tone transcending the room. “We need to prioritize Alivia’s training,” he said firmly. “If Seraphine is the best option, then we should proceed with her.”

Council Reginald turned his attention towards me. “What do you think Alivia?”

Memories of Seraphine's effortless use of magic at the bonfire resurface, and I can't help but consider that she might be the ideal mentor to teach me how to effectively wield my own powers. I take a deep breath, hoping to appear composed, despite the roiling emotions within me.

"I'm willing to train with Seraphine," I say, trying to keep my tone steady. "I’ve seen her powers at the bonfire and how she was able to use them effortlessly I believe if anyone can help me gain control over my powers, it would be her."

Dr. Volkov nods, seemingly satisfied with my response. "Good," he says with a reassuring smile. "I believe she'll be a valuable mentor for you."

Dr. Volkov turns to Council member Cedric with an inquisitive look on his face who also nodded in agreement; his voice full of respect when he spoke. “Then it is settled, Seraphine will train you, but I expect regular updates on the progress." The room was still as he paused for emphasis, before continuing in a stern tone. "If the training isn't going as planned then you will be held accountable Dr. Volkov."

"I'll do my best to learn from her," I say finally, pushing down my resentment and mustering up some confidence.

Dr. Volkov nods in appreciation. "Thank you, Council members," he says. "I will make the necessary arrangements for Alivia's training with Seraphine."

And with that the meeting ended. We all stood up and I exit the room with a heavy heart and make my way back to my room. My steps felt heavy as I dragged myself back to my room, replaying the council's decision and my upcoming training with Seraphine in my mind. The weight of doubt and uncertainty bore down on me, causing my thoughts to swirl uncontrollably. Am I really going to let my personal feelings get in the way of my success? I know I need to cooperate with Seraphine to master my powers, but the thought of it filled me with inner turmoil. Inhaling deeply, I attempted to quiet my racing mind, desperate to prevent any outbursts that could arise from my lack of control over my emotions.

As I turned the doorknob to my room, I was taken aback by the sight of Jess standing inside, a wide grin on her face. My eyebrows shot up in surprise as I noticed the canvas she held in her hand. She slowly turned it towards me with an almost exaggerated slowness, and my heart began to race. The painting on the canvas came into view, and my heart leaped into my throat.

"So, this is what you've been hiding from me?" she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. and I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment.