(Go check out EyesOfAmethyst for her side of the story!)

Two weeks later. . .

Clay stumbled back, rubbing his arm. "My love, it seems as if your punching is getting better." "Don't call me that!" I growl unwrapping the bandages from my fists. It's been a month since we came too this world now. I've temporarily postponed my mission on trying to find a why home to learn how to fight. Over the past month, Elias has been training me too fight better and with a bunch of different weapons. Clay's been creepy as usual, but I'm still trying to figure out what's with him and his weird behavior whenever someone mentions the name Cyane. So far I've had no luck in that department. I've also been trying to get Elias too tell me why he's so empty towards things, but he never responded. Trying to get him too show any emotion at all has failed as well. But switching from the guys, I've made friends with Avery. Not to mention the other girls as well. Thankfully Avery had sent me some new clothes so no more dresses for me. I still want to go to a tailors or something, but Avery's clothes are fine so far. Amethyst is upset that she can't wear the new clothes because of size difference and has too keep wearing dresses.

Right now I was finishing a training lesson with Elias. Sadly he left to go on patrol a few minutes ago, leaving me alone with Clay. I was trying to unwrap the bandages from my knuckles as fast as I could so I didn't have to be in the same room with him for too long.

"So are you doing anything after this my love?"

"Yes."'

"Really?"

"Yes, now shut up."

"Aw so mean. What are you doing after this then?"

"I'm looking after the bakery for Sally." This wasn't a lie. After I had first looked after it, she'd been having to do a lot more delivers, so she's been paying me to look after it.

"Again? You're there a lot my love. Perhaps I should visit you there."

"Clay, I will hurt you." I threaten and throw away the last of the bandages.

"Now now my love. Don't be so mean. Won't you even give me a chance?" He asked, leaning against the wall. "Depends. Will you tell me the truth?" "The truth about what?" I put my hand on my hip and look Clay straight in the eye. "Who's Cyane?" Clay's demeanor suddenly changed. His expression got guarded and closed off and his body tensed. "Don't talk about her." He said eerily calm.

"I can't talk about someone I don't know." I grumble. "Who's Cyane?" "Aira. Don't." "Clay, come on! I just want to know who she is!" "Aira," he stared at me, eyes cold. "If you don't stop talking, I'll make you stop." I immediately backed away from him, shocked. He's never threatened me before. Been creepy, sure, but threaten me, never. I felt anger build up inside me. "Don't you DARE THREATEN ME! I just want to know who the heck this Cyane person is, because you won't tell me! So fine, whatever! If you want to sulk then fine! I yell at him and then storm out.

I was still fuming over my argument with Clay an hour later in the bakery. So far no one came in and the hacking sound seems too be even worse then usual. Just then a group of girls came in. Two of them looked about twelve and the other one looked my age.
(I'm not gonna describe what they looked like that's what the pictures are for 😜)

Judging from their outfits I'm assuming that they were from Ms. Hattie's School for Witches. I'll have to visit there soon. I want to learn how to make potions and fly on a broom. Mira had given me a bit more detailed description of the way Magic- Level works. Even if you had Low- Level magic you could still make potions. The girl with the wavy silver- white hair came over and immediately pointed to the Cherry Cheesecake. I want two slices of that please. What about you guys, what do you want? She asked turning to look at the other girls. The one with the striped socks put her broomstick against the wall and came over too look. "Hhhmmm. . . I'll have a chocolate croissant. What about you Iris?" She said turning to the last girl. The last girl- the one with the staff and owl- remained quiet and regarded me with interest. "Aira Heart, right?" She questioned with a slight tilt of her head. "Yeah, that's me." I respond as I pick up the cherry cheesecake. She walked over too me and held out her hand. "I'm Iris Gilsh, nice too meet you." I put the slice of cherry cheesecake on a napkin and then shake her hand. "Nice to meet you." I say, trying not to stare at the owl. Iris gazed at me silently until she finally released my hand. "I'll have a cinnamon roll." She said lightly. I nod and give them their food.

They take it then wave goodbye and leave. I was alone once again. I begin thinking about what Amethyst was doing. Lately she's been spending a lot of time with Meli. She says Meli is teaching her about medicine which is good. Because of my training with Elias, I usually get a lot of scrapes and bruises. Especially my knuckles. Whenever I punch something or something, the skin on my knuckles become raw and hurt a lot. Amethyst is worried about me. She keeps telling me too stop training before I injured myself. But I can't stop just yet. I wasn't only training to become stronger. I actually like Elias, in my own way. And Liam and Lael too. But Elias fascinates me. He never shows emotion. He's like a huge ice berg, cold and intimidating. I wonder why.

A particularly bad coughing noise came from upstairs. What the heck is that?! I think for the hundredth time. It is definitely not a cat. I couldn't take it anymore. I go upstairs, get the key from Sally's room and go to the locked door. By now the thing making noise behind it seriously sounded like it was dying. Shoving the key in the lock, I turn it and open the door. What was inside I hadn't excepted. A boy, maybe a few years younger then me was sitting up in a bed, gaping at me. He was sickly pale and thin. It looked like he was half dead already. Even his pink hair looked thin, and was lying limply against his head. His pale blue eyes were wide with interest and fear as he stared at me. I stared back at him, not knowing what to do. "Uuh hi?" I say feebly. He said nothing for awhile and just stared at me. "Hi. . ." He finally whispered back. A thick silence filled the room. I was beginning to get extremely uncomfortable and considered backing out of the room when he suddenly spoke. "Who are you?" He asked.

"Uh my name's Aira, I uh look after the bakery sometimes. Who are you?"

"Cross."

"What?"

"My name is Cross. . . I'm Sally's brother. . . . She didn't tell you about me did she?"

"Uh no." I say frowning. Why hadn't Sally told me about him before? Why didn't she tell me she had a brother? "Wait, are you the one making the noise?"

"Yes. . . I'm sorry if I'm bothering y-" He was cut off when he doubled over, coughing violently. Alarmed, I moved toward him only to stop when he held up his hand. He had stopped coughing, but was now breathing hard. "Are you ok?" "Yeah. . . I'm. . . Fine." "Are you sure?" I say uncertain. He really didn't look ok. He looked like he wanted to go curl up and hide in a hole somewhere. He looked at me and then gave a short nod.

"Do. . . You want me to leave?" I ask, backing away a bit.

"You can if you want."

"Oh. . . . What do you want?"

"Me?" He seemed confused at my question. "I don't understand."

"Do you want me to leave or. . . Stay or get you some water or something. . ."

"You're asking. . . What I want?"

"Uh yeah."

"Oh. . ." He looked down at the covers, thinking. "I would. . . Like you to stay please."

"Ok." I say and begin looking around. His room was small with just a bed (which he occupied), a nightstand with a lamp on it, a small bookcase full of books, and a chair pressed against the opposite wall. That was it. I drag the chair over next to the bed and sit down. The room was filled with silence once again as neither of us spoke. I folded and unfolded my hands and suck the inside of my cheek. The boy- Cross I guess his name is- was quietly watching me with mild interest. His lower half was covered by his blankets, but he wore a white dress shirt that was partially unbuttoned. "So, uh, what do you wanna do?" I say, desperate to do anything but sit in silence.

"Will you. . . Talk to me?

"What?

"Can you talk to me?" He repeated.

"Uh ok about what?"

"Anything. Just please. . . Talk. No one really talks to me."

"Doesn't Sally talk to you?"

"She doesn't talk to me much anymore. . ."

"Uh. . . Are you sure you want me to talk? Once I start, I won't shut up." I warn.

He nodded slowly. So I talked to him. I told him about how Amethyst and I got here. I told him about what we've been doing. I even told him about how much I hated Clay. He was mostly quiet and just listened, but I occasionally had to stop because he bursts into a fit of coughing, or he asks questions about a person or something I did. Cross struck me as a quiet person in general, but when he asked me to describe something, he seemed so interested and full of hunger for life. When I couldn't talk anymore (which took quite a while) I decided to ask him questions.

"Are you sick?"

"Yes."

"What do you have?"

"Something bad."

"Can't you just get medicine from Meli?"

"Not like that. Not for what I have."

"What do you have?" I ask again.

He didn't answer and remained quiet. "Tell me a story." He requested. I noticed he dodged the question, but complied anyway. Amethyst tells me I'm better with sick people and children then people my age. I guess she was right. I love the movie The Princess Bride, and considering the situation, I thought it was fitting. So I told him the story, The Princess Bride. Of course it was hard since it was a movie, but I tried my best anyway. Cross seemed to like it, which was good. In the middle of the story, I stopped to get some water. My throat was sore from talking so much. When I got up Cross asked, "Where are you going?" "I'm getting some water," My stomach growled. "And some food. You want some?" Cross shook his head. "I don't really have an appetite. Don't really eat. Besides I'm tired of eating food Sally makes." He said. "That's not healthy. You need food. You're too skinny." Cross simply shrugged. I made a mental to do something about Cross's eating problem.

After I got some water (and a muffin) I went back to telling him the story. When it was finished, I decided it was about time for me to go back downstairs. "I better go. You probably need to sleep." I say getting up and putting the chair back. Cross yet again said nothing but nodded slightly. Well he's talkative. I think to myself. As I was opening the door, Cross called out. "Wait." I turn around. "Yes?" "Could you come talk to me again tomorrow?" I hold back a laugh. "As you wish." That made him smile a bit. I smile back and leave, closing the door behind me.

"Aira, you have to stop fighting!" Amethyst ordered, examining my hands. "Really, your going to get yourself hurt." "Amethyst, I'll be fine." I tell her, pulling my hands back. Amethyst and I were dressed in our nightgowns and on top of our bed. Amethyst grumbled angrily and slumped onto a pillow. Me being me, I decided to lay across her back. She squawked and began squirming, trying to get out from under me. "Aira! Your heavy!" "Too bad." "Aira, you're squishing me!" "Then be squished." "I can't breathe!" She squealed and wiggled some more. I begrudgingly rolled off of her only to be smacked in the face with a pillow. "Hey!" I yelp and try to bat the pillow away. Amethyst continued attacking me with the pillows until we both settled down. I snuggle down under the covers on my side of the bed while Amethyst settled on her side.

"How's Meli?" I ask looking over at her.

"She's good. She's teaching me how to identify medical herbs."

"Ooh. Sounds cool. You gonna teach me how to do that?"

"Sure. Oh yeah, I made a kind of paste thing for your cuts. I'll try it out tomorrow ok?"

"Mhm."

"Aira. . . You're gonna get really hurt." Amethyst said worriedly. "Can you stop with the training? I already know your strong."

"It's ok Amethyst. I'll stop eventually."

Amethyst gave a frustrated sigh but said nothing. I poke her head and she looked over at me. "Tell you what. Sally told me that theirs a kinda hot spring out in the woods. How about we go check it out tomorrow after I'm done with looking after the bakery for Sally?" I offer. Amethyst gave a smile. "Ok sounds like fun." "Good." "Night Aira." "Good night Amethyst."