Chapter 4

It's the next day and Clara went shopping. There was a money system but everyone has birth right to lots of money. Everyone works to keep their lives occupied because they didn't know their true lifespan. The oldest was Brento and he's almost one thousand years old. Clara was amazed but she also was a little scared. Everyone stopped aging around thirty. Her parents were old too but it wasn't uncommon for that. Katryn took her to the high-end stores where they found some wonderful dresses and some regular shirts and pants. They found the perfect dress for the announcement of Clara's return. Starting at the top it was dark keep that went down into a pale green. Clara loved it and it matched her eyes. Next was her meeting with the council.

"Hello Clara," Brento smiled at her and looked at the others who had straight faces. "We are all glad to welcome you home after all this time but we are sorry that we had to uproot your whole life."

"Hello councilman Brento. It's okay. It's been nice so far but for what happened yesterday, " Clara was actually calm to her surprise. It wasn't just her doing though, Maddox was an empathy and could change emotions to an extent. He didn't want another sword or something else to appear.

"I am glad it has been. The rest of the council would like to see your ability. No one knows what it is and we have our two best flashers and shades. Do you mind?" Brento was asking politely. He was worried about frightening her again. She was so timid after all.

"Well I don't know how to make it exactly. It just kinda happened when I inflicted Philip. I didn't meant to hurt him though, " Clara saw the eyes on her. The council just stared and never moved their eyes. Didn't they understand how intimidating it was to just continue to stare right at someone.

"Well we do have an enhancer but the problem is that'll enhance all her abilities. We've already seen what her inflicting does without being enhanced, " Councilwoman Andra spoke. She already seemed to hate Clara which was a terrible start. "How do you know it was from her anyways?"

"It was a transparent sword. I don't think anyone else has ever had this ability," Brento snapped at Andra. The night before they had all argued about how to handle an unknown ability in an untrained girl.

"Whatever. If it came from her why doesn't she just make it appear. Shaping it should be hard but a random object shouldn't. We are not enhancing her," Andra snapped back. She didn't like how powerful Clara was.

"That's not very fair to say. No one knows that it is like to have it but Clara," Brento looked at Clara. "I am sorry for Councilwoman Andra's behavior. "

"It's okay," Clara muttered and then a sword appeared. "She uh made me worried it wasn't from me so I was figuring it out. I just had to remember something scary."

"Okay that's good. Sanaa and Daxlar come here. Is it dull Clara?" Brento smiled at her and gave a slight nod of approval. Daxlar and Sanaa take the sword and look at it. "Anything?"

"I think it's a mixture of shade and flasher abilities, but creating objects. I honestly don't have anything else, " Sanaa kept looking over the sword and finally handed over to Daxlar who came to the same conclusion. "We can do a mentor session together and make it 2 classes long. We would be able to learn more about it."

"Yes I agree with that council. I understand it will be hard to place her classes right but we gotta figure this would. If not twice a week then maybe tutoring sessions?" Daxlar looked at Clara and smiled before looking at the council. Most were nodding but no one was talking. It was very confusing to Clara.

"You will have to do tutoring sessions. Unfortunately Clara has missed too much time in this world and needs to learn how it runs, " Councilman Shoven stepped a little forward as he talked to look at the weapon himself. "We will discuss more after a few weeks so Daxlar and Sanaa have time to work with Clara."

"That sounds alright. Anything else? Clara needs time before the announcement to get her dress on and be ready. First impressions, " Maddox smiled and stood up from the seat he had found.

"We need to talk about possibly having guards for Clara, " Shoven looked at Clara. She had a look of shock. Why would she need guards in such a pleasant world?

"Guards?? Like more than one?" Clara had a scared look on her face. Now she was gonna be the one that got stolen and has to be kept with guards.

"Yes two guards would work well. One ogre and one dwarf. They can maybe help with the unknown ability. Also no one can know about the ability, " Shoven quickly added to the end. It was true, an ability like this would likely cause panic in others. Someone who was raised in a different world having a power that creates weapons.

"But guards? This place seems so harmless and peaceful. Why guards?" Clara was so upset but having to have guards. She was used to over protective parents but guards are entirely different.

"Yes it seems that way but when you were born people were trying to kidnap you. We don't want that to happen," Brento explained. He knew Clara would listen better to him because he understood the inflicting power. He didn't want to have bad blood between them when they'd be working together to control her inflicting.

"Fine, I will handle it. I will just need time to adjust to them I guess, " Clara looked over the room and saw the org and dwarf enter. "But why an ogre? I thought you used goblins as guards. " She only just realized this fact as all the goblin guards stiffened at the sight of the ogre.

"Well we were going to have a goblin but ogrrs have a very different set of weapons. It was a recent change, " was all she was getting told from Brento. She'd have to figure it out for herself because she could tell it was more than that. "You guys are dismissed. Go get ready for your welcome home Clara, mentally as well. You symbolize something in our world people refuse to see."

"Alright I understand." Clara looks over at her new guards. "It's nice to meet you. Thank you for becoming my guards."

"It's nice to meet you too Clara. I'm Sachell," the dwarf gave a smile before nudging the org. "That's Galor. He's a bit grumpy, all the time"

After introduction Clara, Maddox and the two guards went home with light leaping. It wasn't Clara's first time, they had light leaped there but it was so weird. It was light floating on a cloud. She was gonna have to practice to stay focused. Maddox was stretching his concentration to keep her from fading too. Once they were home Clara went to her room and began to get ready. She had to look her status, her last night was Heartfelt now and it was very powerful in this world. It was also held to a high standard that means. So hair was put into a nice but little messy bun and she put the dress on with some black flats. Clara was extremely nervous as Katryn was doing her hair. Katryn was trying to calm Clara but it wasn't working so they just talked about everything. Eventually it was time to leave.

***

The announcement area was massive and part of Silver Creek Academy. It looked well used but also kept very clean. Clara and her family were there ten minutes early. Philip would go backstage with her.

"Hey Clara. Are you ready?" Shoven approached and smiled at Clara. He was trying to be polite unlike Andra who always seemed to be glaring at her.

"I don't have much of a choice in this one, " Clara gave a nervous laugh. She wasn't allowed to have her new guards with her and none of the council had their guards.

"There's always a choice. You know this is the right one Clara. Brento and I will be next to you the whole time and walk you on and off, " Shoven patted her on the back quickly. It was a little strange for them to show affection but after everything Clara was through and will be put through, maybe it wasn't the most unusual thing.

"Let's tell the world who you are and that you have returned safe."

"Let's go I guess. "

They waited on the side of the stage, Brento finally joining them. The one who started the speech was Councilman Jackson. "Hello everyone. Tonight we are gathered here to give a warm welcome home to Clara Heartfelt! Her brother Philip is proud to have brought his sister home after almost 13 years since her disappearance, " there was a quiet murmur of people gasping and talking quietly. "Here she is."

Clara walked out onto stage in between Brento and Shoven. They turned to face the front and smiled at everyone, even if Clara felt like getting sick from how nervous she was. "Clara was found in the other world so please understand she doesn't know our culture. She will make mistakes and it would be great if you could help her learn also. She is excited to learn, " Jackson looked at her. Shoven transmitted for her to talk.

She wasn't at all ready to talk but she did it anyways. "Hi. I am happy to be home and know who my true family is. I know that I represent a change in this world because no one has ever grown up in the other world. I promise to learn and adjust to the culture here and it'll be like I was always here, " Clara smiled and stepped because close to the council. There were other announcements that didn't involve her but she was to stay there and they would all walk off together. Then Clara got to the back and couldn't stop shaking.

"Clara, you did really good. Don't be scared anymore, " Philip walked over to her and gave her a hug.

"They stared at me like I was something evil. It was horrible, " Clara was working on calming herself but it was scary for her.

"That's the easier part. Tomorrow is a tour of our world and the next day you start school. You have a long road ahead of you to be accustomed to our culture and for the people here to accept you," Shoven joined in but he gave Clara a reassuring smile. "People here are very focused on status. Use your last name to your full advantage. It will help you more than you know." Shoven walked away after that and it was time to head home.

It only lasted thirty minutes but it was the longest and scariest thirty minutes in her life. She hoped she never have to do that again. Clara definitely wasn't ready for school but she was ready for the tour the next day. It would be pleasant and beautiful, just what someone needs after so much stress. That was for her at least.