The Lady Of Shadows

1.9: SEER.

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"Ut avertam oculos meos ad intendum."- I close my eyes in order to see.
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"Is Imani going to be alright?" Elia, the hypocrite asked. The Order of Healers paid little attention to her restless fidgeting, with eyes only for the patient. Ilonka sighed, plopping down on the bedside chair. "She will be fine."

It was the exact thing Ilonka had repeated the past week, over and over again. Imani had been comatose for seven days. Elia made sure of it. Guilt ridden, she hurried out of the infirmary, only to bump into a Wind-walker.

"I am so sorry -

"Are you alright -

He stopped, blue gray irises fixed on her. "Forgive my manners, Elia."

"I'll be more careful, Ruach." It was easy to walk alongside him, making way to the lecture room. Elia was comfortable knowing he wasn't much like his lieutenant character wise. "How do you feel about Imani?"

"Why do you ask?" Her tone was a bit harsher than intended. Ruach said nothing else, slipping into muted silence.

"I'm sorry." Ruach had only been nice to her from the first day of class. Besides, it didn't hurt to make an ally, or something of a friend. "I've been on edge from today's training, that's all."

It wasn't a lie. Elia could feel the ligaments of her knee with acute awareness ever since Griz dismantled her leg in the morning sparring match. "I suppose it's no easy feat juggling two Orders. Plus I asked, noting you were the one who found her."

"I just want her to be well." Elia murmured. "Her illness, did it return?"

"I suppose it has. Or rather, it never left to begin with." Ruach said nothing more, opening the door to the classroom like a true gentleman.

Elia stepped in, at once sticking out like a sore thumb in her all black training gear.

††††

"Your stance is poor, straighten your spine."

Elia groaned under her breath, stretching her cramped wrists. The Instructor was patient as ever with overly honest remarks. It was humiliating enough not being able to wield light like all the other members of Illumina, now it was exceptionally humiliating being placed at the front of the class.

"I can't do it." She wheezed dropping her arm. "You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Again." He raised her arms, the brief contact allowing power rise to the surface of her skin. She could feel it, a little kernel of light from within. The sensation ended in a matter of seconds as he stepped back, awaiting her progress.

Elia couldn't focus. It was difficult to stay put in total darkness while the shadows begged for attention, her dormant power begging to be awakened. It was even more distracting when wielders like Caleb did it so effortlessly.

At least Tara was finding it difficult too. Her brows furrowed in deep concentration as she stared ahead, trying to summon white light. "Sir, can't I work with my affinity?"

"Where is the challenge in relying on what you were born to excel at?" Joshua asked. They all knew Tara wielded starlight- drawn from the stars and celestial bodies. White light was a rarity she had no familiarity with.

"So says the man good at everything." Elia muttered bitterly under her breath. "Thus complains the child terrible at everything." He fired back good-naturedly. Her face flushed deeply as everyone else roared in laughter.