Chapter 10 Part 2: Elain's Ice

An icicle froze around his hand, preventing him from moving. Jun’s reactions were slow, sluggishly so. He tried to wrap his head around the situation.

Icy ruby eyes bored into him, daring him to speak again.

He’d only called out to Zain after trying to approach for the seventh time. Elain seemed to be by his side at every turn and kept him moving, choosing him to be her sparing partner, and keeping everyone away from them. It wasn’t subtle in the slightest. Mei’s thoughts ran along the last confrontation. Zain had been injured by the Jinshari that day and Elain had stopped the attack from killing him. She was very attached to him, just as Christopher had pointed out. It was very odd, considering anyone else she associated with was from Nauthire, her homeland. Even Christopher couldn’t get too close, though he hadn’t given up.

Jun stared her down, refusing to back down but also not drawing closer. She turned the wheel with effort, showing the high back as she directed Zain to come with her. Zain looked helplessly at him before his hands grabbed the chair and he pushed it along.

“Zeke!” Jun felt the cold intensify. Elain’s hair whipped as she leaned over the arm of her chair, glaring at him. Zain shivered as she threw her hand back. Jun had moments—reacting fast as he jerked his hand free and tumbled to the side. He tried to enter her blind spot, mind working fast. This wasn’t combat class, but the open public. This was against the rules, yet she openly engaged. Sensing a chill rush at him, he moved, stumbling and trying to counter the fall with his left arm swinging wide. He pulled it close, barely avoiding some ice.

“Stop it!” Zain shouted, shifting the throne-like chair so she was off balance. Jun took the moment to get away, panting hard. Now if only Zain would leave her side. A wall of ice cut off Jun’s escape. His eye darted to see her outstretched hand and coiling smirk. She was too powerful. He shifted away again, stumbling as a loud slap reached hsi ears. Jun turned to catch the sight of Zain as he was sent sprawling.

“Zain!” he shouted. Elain turned her attention on him again and he ducked.

“That’s enough from you!” Elain shouted, her ice coming for him. Jun drew his sword as he dashed. He circulated his prayer, drawing a healing shape as he collided with the ice. Its chill rushed into his body and he dissipated it, continuing on his way. Another wall of ice appeared, sharp spikes growing towards him. Was she trying to drive him away? As he turned, trying to reach Zain or escape her line of sight, ice spikes began to grow from the ground. Jun leapt back allowing her to force him to retreat.

As he disappeared behind some buildings, he heard some of the instructors moving to restrain her. One approached him and he sheathed his sword, not wanting to draw more attention. As he did so, an icicle rammed at his hand and he shouted in pain as he pulled back. The instructor moved to help him. Jun felt more ice coming and he jerked away, both barely escaping the attack. He worked his prayer into his left wrist, forcing it to heal. The pain made his movements clumsy. Shouts arose as more came his way.

‘Look out!’ Jun’s ear tickled. He dashed off, avoiding another attack. The wall vanished and he saw those ice ruby eyes hunting him.

“Murderer.” The words were soft, yet pierced his ears. Jun’s heart stilled. Murder? Him? The only human he had killed was back at the port. Had that been someone she knew? Was this why she was so hostile? It didn’t add up.

However, time seemed to stand still as she weaved another ice attack in his direction. Before she could cast it, Zain stepped in between. Jun didn’t catch the words, but he felt the next wall before it appeared. Now she was forcing him to her side.

“You can’t run,” Elain's voice seemed to ring in his ears. Jun gritted his teeth. What was he to do in this situation and when had it all gone wrong? He couldn’t see why she was so protective and controlling of Zain. If she had a crush or any romantic inclination for Zain, she was doing a horrible job at conveying her feelings. Jun felt his blood begin to boil. If Zain was Zeke, she was a horrible person for his son to be around. What if she had manipulated him? The idea alone set adrenaline through his veins.

His prayer circulated faster with his growing emotions. His steps became soft as he focused on his surroundings. All those years under the his master’s training came to the forefront. Time slowed, his senses sharp as his master’s training surged.

Jun moved intentionally—avoiding several ice attacks, forcing his prayer to circulate to new areas as his muscles screamed in protest. He redrew his sword and chopped at one icy area instinctually. The chill shattered in a spray of glitter, just like their practice session. Jun jumped back behind the wall and she drove an icicle at his last location. She had learned from that exchange. An ice wall appeared before him, but in this state, he noticed its hasty construction. As he analyzed the construction, the layers of ice and heat, it reminded him of ‘prince Rupert’s drop’. His eyes quickly spotted the ‘tail’—its critical weakness.

‘Don’t.’ The silver flame ordered and Jun hesitated. Mei appeared, attacking the very spot he had noted. The wall shattered and he shielded his eyes. He heard Elain’s shout and peered through the crystal haze. Mei was thrown back from the blast. He dashed to her—sword discarded as he pulled his limp hand around. As he made contact with Mei, he felt the rippling energy inside. He forced his prayer into her and circulated it, forcing a type of healing discharge.

All this happened in short succession, hardly allowing either side to comprehend things. Jun barely kept up in his heightened state, but he felt it begin to wear off as he worried about Mei. A small portion was relieved the Silver Flame had warned, and another was growing angry with her. Why was she being so stingy with her warnings lately.

As he worked to heal Mei, another ice attack was coming towards them, but Jun noted a spark of white fire intercept. It engulfed the ice, distilling it to a simple drizzle that splashed pathetically next to them.

“That’s enough!” Amalie’s voice cut through the chaos and things quieted.

“Stay out of this!” Elain’s voice snapped back. Amalie paused, stopping between them. Elain’s figure appeared in the mist, eyes hounding Jun and Mei. “How far the Flames have fallen. You’d harbor a murderer?” Elain calmly said, her teeth grinding after.

“Murderer?” Amalie huffed. “A sheltered lad and his girl?” Her arms crossed and Jun felt a strange presence descend on Amalie. Arnold appeared by her, looking back at the two of them with a quick wink. “I don’t care if you are the next saint of Nauthire, but this is the School of the Chosen and even you must abide by the laws.”

“Ha!” Elain’s frame shook. Zain tried to approach, but she shot him a withering look. “I looked past it once, but not anymore. These Jinshari scum! Have they snuffed out the white flames perception? That monster killed a man named Jasper, taking his artifact.”

Jun froze. What had she said?

“A bold accusation,” Amalie mocked. Jun rose.

“You know Jasper?”

“You don’t even hide your misdeeds,” Elain growled. She raised her left hand to attack but a white flame fizzled and she jerked back. “You think we’d be fooled by the likes of you? Stop this farce.” She raised her hand and Jun felt his breath freeze. On her hand, a similar ring to his own. Ellen’s wedding band. His heart thudded, eye caught on the ring glinting against the icy air.

His wide eyes narrowed. Feet fell faster than he thought possible. In that instance he was at her side—right hand snatching her wrist. Elain smirked, yanking free as his eyes followed, glued to the wedding band.

“Ellen?” he managed to croak. Her icy eyes glowed, lips pulling back against snarling teeth. Being so close, he could do little to avoid her strike. Knocked back, Amalie was at his side. The blow made his sight turn red before fading to black. Only one question managed to remain. ‘Is this really her?’ The question was unspoken and unanswered.