unedited and written at 4am so i'm sorry

In all the excitement of worrying over Blythe, I found it kind of funny that I somehow forgot about having to see Councilor Terik. I was a bit anxious about the meeting, knowing that he truly did not use his ability anymore. Only certain children that he knew personally, such as Eamon, were invited. Although when Eamon told me about it, he said that it was more curiosity on if the children would take after their mother. 

In the end though, it wasn't all that exciting. My dad lightleaped with me, and we both stood outside his office for around two minutes before being allowed inside. We made light conversation before he sat us down and explained how what he was going to do wouldn't hurt me, and that it was no bad reflection on my character whatever outcome the reading would have. 

I sat there in silence as he hummed in confusion to himself. "Is there something wrong?" I questioned, worriedly. "I mean, I know you said not to worry but. . . I'm kind of worrying."

"No, there's nothing wrong." He glanced at my father, and sighed. "Due to past inconveniences, I prefer when the parents are not in the room for the verdict. It should be up to the prodigy, not the parent, how they use their potential." 

My father nodded and placed his hand on my shoulder soothingly. "I'll be out there waiting, bud." 

I nodded to my father and after he left the room and I knew he was fully out of listening viscinity, I turned back to the Councilor Terik. "If nothing's wrong, why do you look like something's wrong?"

 "You seem to be giving off waves of potential," he explained while shaking his head. "I don't like to torture myself with theories such as the ones screaming in my head as we speak, but I needed to make sure your father wasn't in the room as I told you this." 

"Am I going to hate what you're about to say, because I am fully okay with not being told whatever it is." I shut my eyes in fear. He hadn't defined whether the waves of potential were evil or good. What if I was giving off waves of evil potential? 

"I think it's good that I was convinced to do this reading today. I really don't like doing them, it led to parents being angry and children growing up with resentment. My ability has ruined a few people's outlooks on life. I sometimes forget the good that can come from my ability, the warnings and the advice I can give."

"Warnings?" 

"You need to use your potential, Novena." He narrowed his eyes. "I know you are determined to keep shut on your ability, to lock your mind and your ability. With all the potential consuming your body, you might quite literally explode. I'm sensing a new era." He sat back in his chair. "I'm aware that simply your manifestation has already been different from others?" 

"My ability has been triggered by emotions," I offered, frowning. 

"While emotions trigger how a person uses their ability, yours genuinely trigger whether your ability will flare up or not. It's unusual, and could be destructive. But it's powerful and it's there for a reason. You're different from all the others. It's strange, because it's questionable. How does a young girl born from two talentless elves gain so much potential?" 

"I can't answer that question." I looked down at my hands, where I was fiddling with my fingers nervously. I didn't know what else to say. I was still shocked at the verdict he was giving me. 

"I'm going to speak with Miss. Redek about your potential and how she can incorporate it with your lessons." He stood up and I followed him to the door, where he opened it to reveal my father sitting in a chair waiting. "Do not take what I said to you today lightly, please. I will be waiting to see what you do." 

I nodded and thanked him as my father shook his hand. "Are you ready for your night-oh-fun with Blythe tonight?" my father asked, grinning as he took my hand. 

"Yeah, it's something we've been looking forward to forever." I smiled softly, but on the inside my stomach was churning as I remembered that I was planning to tell her everything. 

We leaped back to our home where I finished packing all my things for the night so I could be at Blythe's at a reasonable hour. "Are you sure you're going to be okay for the night without us?" my mother asked for probably the hundredth time after I completed packing. "I'm perfectly fine if you're backing out, your father and I didn't make any plans or anything that you're going to ruin."

"Mom, I'm fine," I told her, rolling my eyes. 

"Okay, but-"

"Okay but, it doesn't matter what you're going to say because I'm leaving. Good bye." 

"We love you, Nova. It's just hard to see you go." My mother looked genuinely heartbroken, and I shook away the guilty feeling. I had to remind myself that an unhealthy attachment would lead to resentment and a toxic relationship with my parents when I'm older. 

I pulled her into a hug as I responded, "I love you guys too. It's only one night, I'll see you tomorrow." 

"Do you have everything you need?" she asked, pointing towards my bag. "Toothbrush, pajamas, clothes for tomorrow, hairbrush-"

"Mom, if you don't stop talking I will go crazy right here and right now." 

She rolled her eyes but pulled me into another hug. "I love you, be safe." She then released me and walked with me to our Leapmaster. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do, and if you do make sure to make it into a great story." She gave me a warm smile before I was officially allowed to go. 

When I first arrived at the Song household, I wasn't quite sure what to do first. Blythe usually waited for me at the Leapmaster when I would come over and lead me around but because I didn't know how long my meeting with Councilor Terik would go, I told her not to wait out for me. I was suddenly regretting that decision. 

I knocked on the door to their house and Blythe answered not even a second later. "I saw you through the window!" she cheered excitedly. "Come on, I have to show you something!"

I followed after her to her room, say hi to her parents on the way up. Her room looked the same, decorated in bright colors, bookshelves filled with information surrounding her ability as a guster, and her walls covered in pictures of her family and a few scattered pictures including me. "What's up?" I asked after my brief glance to see if anything changed. 

She walked over to the daybed near her window and explained, "Okay, so you know how this thing is like a wooden board, right?" I nodded in response. The first time I ever came over her house I laid down on the daybed and my entire body ached afterwards. "Well, lay on it." 

"I'd rather not," I replied hesitantly. I still had practical PTSD from the soreness the last time I tried to take a nap on it. 

"Don't you trust me?" I sighed, knowing I wouldn't win. I gently moved to lay on top of the bed and was immediately met with the feeling of a cloud. Or what I imagined a cloud wold feel like. 

"Holy heck, what happened?" 

"Well, I asked my mom where you were going to sleep and she said on the daybed and I explained the load of crap it was and she checked it out herself and decided she didn't want to subject you to that kind of abuse. She literally went and bought the most comfortable mattress available," Blythe grinned as she explained the new arrangement. 

"I love your mom. I don't think I say it enough," I stated, grinning as I closed my eyes. "I guess it's sleep time, because I'm never getting up. Good night." 

"You're such a lard, get up. We have gossiping and board games and face masks to do." 

"Face masks are a human thing, we don't have any of those issues that humans do." 

"Just because we don't need to exfoliate our skin doesn't mean we can't do it anyways in the name of self care and loving ourselves." I rolled my eyes but gave in as she tugged me off the comfortable daybed and towards the floor where all our favorite games were scattered. 

"Hey, Blythe," I caught her attention.

"Yeah?" She looked at me with a smile. 

"There's something I have to tell you." 

---

i know. i'm the worst sjskk. 

anyways it's currently 5:14am on sunday, may 5th. i got zero sleep. 

i have my ap gov exam on monday, i have to make up a chem test (on a subject i never learned) on tuesday + tuesday is my best friend's bday, i have my ap english exam on wednesday +work, i have work on thursday, i have TWO SHIFTS on saturday (9-2:30 then 4-closing), and i have church and work on sunday. 

in conclusion, i hate my life. 

also i have multiple weird insect-like bites on my arms (but they're different ?? like it's two weeks later and they're still loud and proud) plus the other day i woke up with this weird burning sensation on my arm and blisters and it turns out that means i was bitten by a spider and that might've been infected bc i didn't know so i wasn't properly looking after it and i could die from some weird spider venom so i'm nOT doing okay streaks. 

anyways sorry for the two month late and short chapter. love you though. but i'm stressed and going through it anyways wish me luck on my exams this week if i pass them then i get college credits. 

speaking of college, recently found out that they're offering me no money towards my tuition and it's looking like i'm going to be going into student debt very soon.