Alluding Unspoken Truths

Once they reached a secluded area, Ava stopped and turned toward Austin. She didn't say anything and just studied him in silence.

Austin shifted uncomfortably. "You know, if you're trying to intimidate me, it's working."

Ava's piercing gaze is melting him down to the core.

"I feel like a suspect in a murder case—should I start listing my alibis?"

Ava remained unfazed.

Austin cleared his throat. "Tough crowd. Alright, how about this one—why did the Mystian fail his teleportation spell?"

No answer.

He smirked. "Because he was in de—"

"—I'm serious, Austin," Ava interrupted, her expression firm.

Austin clutched his chest dramatically. "Ouch. Not even a pity chuckle? You wound me, Ava."

[She's right. Your joke failed. I felt secondhand embarrassment.]

Austin scoffed. Not helping, Akasha, he thought.

Ava took a step closer. "I know that there's a reason why you're hiding your powers," she said, her voice quiet but unwavering. "But I need to ask—are you really going to keep holding yourself back?"

"..?"

"When will you stop idling around and finally do what you're meant to do?"

Austin blinked. Something about the way she said it made his chest tighten.

[That's... that is precisely what I conveyed to you earlier.]

Akasha was equally stunned.

It wasn't just a casual observation—it felt like she knew something.

Austin furrowed his brows. "I'm sorry? What are you talking about?"

"Let's stop with the facade Austin."

"I'm confused."

"If that's how you olay it then, alright." Ava said and inhaled deeply. "I saw you."

His stomach twisted. "Saw me where?"

"That night."

"What?"

"That night at the Evening Ball. When the disaster struck." Her eyes locked onto his. "You saved everyone. I saw you. But when I checked the reports, your name was nowhere to be found, only mine who saved everyone."

Austin tensed. "I don't know what you're talking about." His voice was even, but his pulse was anything but.

Ava studied him for a long moment before sighing. "I understand. I just wanted to say something." She looked away, her fingers curling slightly.

Austin noticed the disappointment in her eyes.

"I've seen people waste their potential, regretting it when it was too late. You might not realize it now, but you will someday." Her gaze flickered with something unreadable. "Maybe I'm just saying this because I'm jealou of people like you who have real talent." She paused. "If you have the ability to do something great, don't let the past hold you back."

Austin remained silent, his mind racing.

Ava's face was calm, but there was something else in her eyes. A deep knowing. A weight behind her words that he couldn't quite place.

It was as if... she already knew what was going to happen.

But that was impossible.

Wasn't it?

Austin exhaled, shaking off the heavy atmosphere. "Speaking of leading… wanna join our small group in taking down the Mage Track in the upcoming Annual Track Tournament?"

Ava raised an eyebrow. "Why me?"

"Because you're strong. For a Sage, that is."

"I'm not."

"Oh, come on. Everyone knows how strong you are with your air."

Ava let out a small sigh. "My affinity isn't air."

"Huh?" Austin blinked. "But… you've always—"

"—It's complicated," Ava interrupted. "Someone helped me discover my true elemental affinity. Someone… special to us. To me."

Austin narrowed his eyes. "So, what is your affinity then?"

Ava crossed her arms. "I'll tell you—if you promise to do something for me first."

Austin groaned. "That's a little bit hard to do, specially since I think I already know what you wanted to make me do, Ava."

"..."

They stared at each other in silence for a long moment.

Ava looked like she won't budge.

Finally, Austin gave in. "Fine."

"Promise me you won't tell anyone." Ava asked. "And promise me that you won't get suspicious of me."

Austin tilted his head. "That serious?"

Ava nodded.

"Alright. I promise."

Ava took a deep breath, then looked him in the eye. "It's lightning."

"Hah?"

Akasha's voice rang in his mind.

[Statement is invalid. The lightning element was not discovered—at least, not within the world's current knowledge.]

Austin stiffened. Just as what Akasha said, that was supposed to be impossible but he admit, it does exist but was not yet incorporated in the Mystical Law. That's the reason why Lightning was part of the knowledge he and Akasha planned to introduce once he became a Sage.

His expression darkened. "Who are you, Ava?"

Ava blinked. "What do you mean—I told you to not get suspicious of me."

"How did you know about lightning?"

Ava scoffed. "Since you can see it when it rains?" She rolled her eyes. "Why are you making this a big deal?"

Austin forced a smile. "Nothing. Just curious."

It appeared that Austin was not the only one burdened by secrets he could not freely share. While caution was always necessary, he couldn't help but acknowledge that Ava, too, was navigating circumstances that forced her into silence. If that was the case, then perhaps she was more than just an ally—she was someone who understood the weight of unspoken truths.

Though trust was not something to be given lightly, Austin decided that Ava was more than welcome to join their small team.

"So do you want to join us?" Austin asked with a sheepish smile.

"No."

The rejection came instantly.

"And don't change the topic. You promised that you will do something that I will ask." Ava said irritatingly.

"Come one, but why?" Austin asked, dejected.

"Lucian is enough for your team to win."

"How did you—"

"—And besides, I thought you don't want to show off your powers?"

"And who said that I will?"

"So you really, do, hide it then." Ava finally caught him off guard.

"Huh?"

[Idiot.]

"I think that's all so we should get back to class. We're already late." Ava changed the topic, making it hard for him to retort.

With that, the conversation ended, but Austin couldn't shake off the suspicion that Ava knew far more than she let on. And that unsettled him.

She watched Ava's back as he followed him down the hallway to their next class.

"Stop staring."

Austin jolted awake from his own thoughts when Ava called him out.

"You promised to do something for me." Ava said without looking back and continued walking.

Austin gulped. "What do you want me to do?"

"You can continue pretending to be some weak, lame, shitless Mystian but you better start doing the things you were meant to do. Or else..." Ava cut herself, her voice cracked.

"Or else, what."

"Or else, you'll regret it so much that you'll want to die."