Abarith
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Chapter 40: A Step Towards Trust
🕑 Added 2024-11-27 20:50:21 +0000 UTCAs they left the stall, the vendor’s intense words lingered in Jeremy’s mind, and the quiet between him and Perci grew heavier. The bustling noise softened as they turned into a quieter street .
“Hey,” she said, nudging his arm. “Let’s go this way. I need to talk to you about something.”
He blinked, caught off guard. “Uh... okay,” he mumbled, his stomach twisting. Memories of Mia and Timothy’s confession flared up again, stirring the same uncomfortable mix of doubt and unease. His chest tightened as he followed her toward the glowing fountain, its soft trickle breaking the silence.
She stopped, crossing her arms and turning to face him. “Alright,” she said, her tone determined. “Let’s just get this out of the way.”
His heart raced. “Get what out of the way?” he asked, his voice cracking slightly. His mind raced, already bracing for a repeat of the awkwardness with Mia and Timothy.
She tilted her head, studying him with an amused curiosity. “You’ve been acting weird around me lately,” she said bluntly. “And, well… you’ve been staring. A lot.”
He froze, his eyes widening. “W-what? No, I haven’t!” he blurted, his face paling.
“Jeremy, you’re a terrible liar. I’ve got Observation, remember?” She laughed.
This wasn’t what he’d expected at all. “I wasn’t... I mean, it’s not like—” He floundered, thinking of an excuse.
She sighed, the faintest hint of awkwardness creeping into her expression. “Look, my mom gave me advice for situations like this.”
She straightened her posture, holding her hands together in an exaggerated formal pose. “‘Thank you for your interest, but I’m currently not looking for a relationship.’” Her voice carried a politeness as if she’d been practicing in front of a mirror. She looked at him at him, half-nervous and half-amused. “So… did it work?”
He stopped, completely baffled. “Wait… what?” he finally managed.
She blinked. “What?”
“Are you saying… you think I have a crush on you?” His voice cracked, his mind still processing what had happened.
She hesitated, frowning slightly. “Uh, yeah? I mean, why else would you keep staring at me?”
“What? No! I wasn’t staring at all!” He exclaimed, his voice jumping an octave. “I was just… thinking! Yeah, I was thinking.”
“About what?” She pressed, her tone skeptical. “Come on, Jeremy. You’re terrible at hiding stuff. Spill.”
“It’s nothing,” he muttered, his voice low as he kept his gaze ahead. “Just... drop it, okay?”
She didn’t let up, stepping in front of him and stopping him in his tracks. “Nope. You’re not getting out of this. If it’s not me, then what is it? You’ve been weird this entire week. And now I thought you were just excited for the trip, but you’ve been walking around like you’re waiting for something bad to happen.”
He hesitated. He definitely didn’t want to talk about it. Not to her, not to anyone. But the look on her face was insistent, and he knew she wouldn’t let it go.
Finally, he sighed. “Fine. It’s just... something Mia and Timothy said. After I got out of the hospital.”
She tilted her head, her face confused. “What’d they say?”
Jeremy glanced around, his voice dropping as though someone might overhear. “They told me the only reason they started hanging out with me was because of my family name. That they thought it’d be useful to know me. I mean, they said it’s not like that anymore, but still...” He trailed off, his stomach twisting as the memory resurfaced. “It’s been messing with my head, you know? Made me wonder if—”
“If what?” She asked, softer now.
He avoided her gaze. “If you and Marcus are the same. If the only reason you’re here is because of my parents.”
For a moment, she didn’t say anything. He braced himself for her to laugh it off, to tease him, or worse—confirm his worst fears. But when she finally spoke, her voice was surprisingly calm, thoughtful even.
“Jeremy, do you really think that?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” he admitted, his words filled with frustration. “That’s the problem. I just don’t know who’s real anymore.”
She stared at him, then she sighed, rubbing her forehead. “Okay, first of all, Marcus and I don’t need to kiss up to anyone. Marcus has his whole family thing going on, and I—well, I just don’t care. I don’t care about your parents or their reputation. You’re the one I chose to hang out with.”
He blinked, surprised by her bluntness. “You mean that?”
“Yes Jeremy,” she said slowly, as if talking to a child. “If I wanted to suck up to some rich, famous kid, don’t you think I’d be nicer to you?”
He couldn’t help but laugh, the tension in his chest easing. “Yeah, fair enough.”
“Look,” She continued, her tone softening, “I get why you’d be on edge. What Mia and Timothy said—that sucks. But I’m not them, okay? I’m here because I like hanging out with you guys.”
“Thanks,” he said quietly, nodding slowly. “I needed to hear that.”
Perci smirked, nudging his arm lightly. “Anytime. So do you promise to stop acting so weird?”
“Promise,” Jeremy said, a small smile on his face as they turned back toward the main streets. For the first time in a while, the weight in his chest felt a little lighter. Maybe he didn’t have all the answers yet, but at least he knew that he wasn’t alone anymore.
By the time they rejoined the group, the sky above Luminaris had deepened into a rich violet, lit up by the glow of the towering buildings. Marcus checked his communicator and groaned dramatically.
“Alright, time’s up,” he announced, throwing his hands up. “We’ve got to head back or my parents are going to freak.”
“Dinner,” Andrew said flatly. “You promised we’d be on time.”
Marcus waved a dismissive hand. “Yeah, yeah, we’ll make it. Come on, don’t make me look bad.”
Jeremy smirked faintly but said nothing, falling into step with the group as they weaved through the lively plaza. The chatter of the crowd and the dazzling lights made everything feel surreal, as if the city itself was alive and watching.
As they approached the edge of the plaza, Marcus suddenly slowed, his eyes catching something ahead. His expression shifted to excitement. He gestured toward a narrow side street glowing faintly with soft, multicolored light.
“Actually... hold up,” Marcus said, his grin returning. “I’ve got one more thing to show you.”
Andrew groaned, already glancing at his communicator. “Seriously? How much time do we have before your parents start calling?”
Marcus waved him off. “Relax. This’ll only take a few minutes. Trust me, it’s worth it.”
Before anyone could argue, Marcus led the way, his excitement stopping any objections. Jeremy exchanged a glance with Perci, who shrugged and followed. The group trailed after Marcus, curiosity replacing their earlier urgency.
They emerged into a small plaza tucked between towering buildings, where a crowd had gathered around a glowing, circular platform. Above it, shimmering figures of light and color danced and shifted, their movements graceful yet surreal. The figures weren’t people—they were constructs made entirely of Essence, flowing seamlessly from one shape to another.
“What is this?” Mia asked, tilting her head as the glowing figures began forming a scene of two warriors clashing with luminous swords.
“It’s a theater,” Marcus explained, his voice brimming with pride. “Artists channel their magic into these shows. They tell stories, history, or even just abstract art. It’s all live, no scripts. That’s all magic right there.”
Jeremy stared at the glowing display, mesmerized as the warriors’ duel transformed into a scene of towering beasts battling over a luminous cityscape. Colors shifted, creating explosions of light that rippled through the crowd.
“It’s beautiful,” Perci said quietly, her usually sharp tone softened.
Marcus nodded. “The best ones are fully interactive. They draw from the crowd’s thoughts to adapt the story. Look, it’s changing again.”
The glowing beasts faded, replaced by a serene forest where animals made of light darted between glowing trees. As the scene unfolded, the audience’s murmurs grew louder, their collective awe adding an almost tangible energy to the performance.
“Is it all just for art?” Timothy asked, squinting at the intricate details of the display. “Or is there a practical purpose?”
Marcus shrugged. “Depends. Apparently it’s good training for people that want to specialize in illusion magic. Some even become famous enough that they’re asked for private shows. But mostly, it’s about emotion. They’re channeling feelings into something everyone can appreciate.”
Jeremy leaned closer, his brow furrowed. “It’s like... they’re painting with their thoughts.”
“Exactly,” Marcus said, his grin widening. “This one’s good, but I’ve seen a performance where the whole audience became part of the story. The constructs mirrored everyone watching.”
“Sounds creepy,” Andrew muttered, crossing his arms. But even he couldn’t keep his eyes off the glowing display.
The scene shifted again, the forest fading into a blazing sun rising over a battlefield. Jeremy’s stomach twisted as the shapes of soldiers emerged, their glowing weapons clashing in a way that felt almost too real. He couldn’t help but think of his parents, of their roles in the endless battles humanity fought. The light constructs moved with an intensity that mirrored real-life conflict. Watching them, Jeremy couldn’t help but wonder if this was his fate too. Were the glowing soldiers any different from him? Tools shaped for someone else’s war, with no choice but to fight. Jeremy clenched his fists, the question lingering like an ache: was this his future too?
The performance ended with a burst of light that sent shimmering waves over the crowd. Applause erupted, and the glowing platform dimmed as the artist—a wiry man with silver streaks in his hair—stepped forward and bowed.
“Thank you for sharing your time tonight,” he said, his voice calm but resonant. “May humanity prosper.”
As the crowd began to disperse, Marcus turned to the group, his eyes shining with excitement. “See? Told you it was worth it.”
“It was... something,” Jeremy said, his voice quieter than usual. He couldn’t shake the image of the battlefield, the glowing soldiers charging into chaos.
Marcus clapped his hands, gesturing toward the street. “Alright, now we really have to get back.”
The walk back to the Valen estate was quieter, the vibrant energy of the city fading as the group neared the polished gates. The faint scent of flowers drifted out from the gardens, and Jeremy’s chest tightened again at the sight of the sprawling house. It wasn’t just nerves this time—something heavier lingered in the air, a tension that felt almost tangible.
“Ready to face the music?” Perci asked, nudging Jeremy lightly.
“Not really,” Jeremy admitted, forcing a small smile. “But I guess we don’t have a choice.”
“Don’t worry,” Perci said with a smirk. “If Marcus can handle it, so can we.”
The gates swung open smoothly, and the group stepped inside. Jeremy squared his shoulders, glancing at Marcus, who seemed uncharacteristically subdued now. Whatever awaited them at dinner, Jeremy couldn’t shake the feeling that it was about more than just the food.
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Abarith
Sorry this was a bit late, I had accidentaly scheduled this for tomorrow instead :(
