Disclaimer: Don't own anything except the comp I'm using right now - if I did, I'd have killed certain characters I don't like. As it is, I'll try not to let my bias get in the way. :)
Warnings: One original character, eventual shounen ai, swearing, some OOC
Notes: Thanks to Duo's ONLY Chick and Hee-chan rocks! for the reviews. Trust me, there are going to be a *lot* of people (and some not-so-people) getting involved in this fic - Oz is just a part of it! And oh yeah - you probably won't like this if you are allergic to magic. But after these intro chapters, it does ease off a bit :)
Part IV: Healers' Collegium
Heero clenched his teeth, struggling to control the flow of power through his body. I don't get it - how did anyone manage to get past the shields? And the flow is so strong... nobody can *possibly* have this much power. I won't be able to hold it much longer, my gift is almost drained already... but if I lose control... He shook his head, forcing himself to steer clear of those thoughts. Filter, pass, filter... shit! It's still coming - and I thought the last flood would be the last! This doesn't look good... hellsfire, where is it all coming from? Filt... no!!
By his side, two Adepts were trying their best to ease the energy flow, but they were barely succeeding - the power simply rushed past each and every barrier they erected. The other judges had already evacuated everybody in the wings - including the monarchs... and Heero's parents. Only the insistence that their presence would distract Heero convinced the latter to depart - and even then, they had done so reluctantly.
Ignoring the sweatdrops trickling down her forehead, the Elementalist asked, Loda, just where is all this coming from?
That's the problem - I can't find the source; this power is too uncontrolled.
But why isn't it coming at us... oh no.
Simera? The Adept left the question unspoken, concentrating instead on another barrier around their young protégé.
It's only attracted to him, and the only difference between him and us is that...
His energy paths were unguarded - we "disabled" them for the examination.
Master Simera nodded mentally, saying, Someone obviously realised that - and figured that we won't be able to do anything about this... damn that bastard to hell.
Can you sense how much is still coming?
Too much.
Master Loda frowned grimly - the reply came as no surprise. And we can't block Heero's channels either - it would be like trying to dam a flood. We''ll just have to see, and pray that it doesn't come to... that.
Both of them became silent once more, trying to hide their concern as they watched their student gradually bending under the force of the onslaught; trying to delay the inevitable. Then, a weak voice reached out to them. Master Simera... Master Loda. It's no use - it would be easier to do it now, before I'm knocked unconscious.
The normally stoic Adepts didn't bother hiding their faces, or the distress reflected on them; it hurt that the gifts of such a promising protégé would have to be destroyed in such a way - and it hurt even more that they were unable to do anything about it.
Just do it, Masters... I don't know how much longer I can hold this... The mental voice was even weaker than it had been a moment ago - and barely hid the pain the boy was going through.
Master Loda took a deep breath, and glanced at her friend, who nodded. Heero... be strong.
The youth gave a slight smile - that was the first time the Master had ever called him by his name; before, it was always "boy" or another similar phrase. Closing his eyes, he said as firmly as he could, I'm ready.
The Adepts linked their thoughts, readying a powerful mental "explosion" - and aimed it straight at Heero. The youth clenched his face, biting back the scream that threatened to rise from his throat as he felt his Elemental gift being blasted apart. Just as the first wave of emptiness hit him, he sank into oblivion...
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"Yeah, yeah, I'm getting up... huh?" The girl's confusion woke her from her groggy subconsciousness - enough for to register the unknown face peering over her.
"Easy there - you're still officially an invalid. I'm Healer Delia, by the way."
Since it was almost impossible not to respond to the Healer's cheerful grin, Suri smiled back, trying to hide her bewilderment. "I'm Suriku, or Suri for short. Um... sorry, but exactly where am I?"
The Healer replied, "Well, have you ever heard of the Healers' Collegium? That's where we are - or rather, we're in one of the adjoining buildings."
If Suri was confused before, she became downright shocked - The Healers' Collegium? That's on the palace grounds - why on earth would I be... oh. The events of the previous day flashed in her mind, and she frowned slightly, asking, "What happened to me?"
"Mili and the others - they're the ones who brought you here - said that they would come and explain things to you later. All I know is that you've survived a rush of *really* powerful flood of Elemental power. That's why they brought you to me - I've had experience in that sort of thing."
"Do you mean you're an Elementalist?"
The Healer chuckled. "I wish I were. I'd give a lot to be able to blast people apart with a thought. But I'm stuck as a Healer - not that I'm complaining. But to answer your question, I meant that I've had experience with people who's energy channels have been damaged."
"Does energy pass through these... channels?"
"That's right - they're also called energy paths. For you, Elemental power passes through them. One of the first things you learn as an Apprentice Elementalist is to guard your channels so they only 'let in' as much energy as your gift can handle. Otherwise, you will basically explode from too much energy."
Suri paled. "Then why aren't I..."
"That's part of what Mili said he'd explain - he owes me an explanation as well, come to think of it. But your channels weren't unguarded - someone put a shield on it for you. You're still alive, at any rate."
The girl's frown deepened. "All I remember is a burning feeling... who would shield me, anyway?"
"Well, the thing is, an average person would have died if that sort of raw power hit them. And it was more than simple uncontrolled power - at least, that's what I concluded from the way the boys were speaking. So I'm guessing that you have a lot of potential - one of the Adepts probably shielded you."
Suri's eyes narrowed. "Are you saying that if I hadn't had that amount of potential, they would have let me die?"
The Healer looked shocked. "Hellfires, of course not! We're not that barbaric. My point was that only a person with the amount of potential you seem to harbour would need to be shielded. Think about it - an ungifted person cannot have energy channels in the first place, and someone with little-potential would have died. That makes my guess a good one, no?"
The girl relaxed slightly. So maybe Mili *wasn't* lying - I do need training, or whatever they call it. But that doesn't excuse him for hiding his identity. But would I have followed him if I had known? Or would I have ran... that was what I felt like doing when I found out. But by the time he dragged me outside, I was too angry to run - shit, I was actually yelling at the crown prince of Sanq! Her thoughts were interrupted when the Healer suddenly turned pale. "Delia?"
The Healer didn't seem to notice her - she was too busy blanching at the news she just received: De, hurry - emergency wing. Heero's come in... his channels are all raw, and his gift... oh gods. Just - come. Quickly. Delia could guess what happened - for all she had feigned ignorance to Suri, she actually had a pretty good idea of what happened at the grounds... enough to guess what the messenger left unsaid. Oh gods indeed - if they had terminated his gift... Outwardly, she slipped on a mask of calm, saying, "Suri, I'll have to go - they need me for an emergency. Do me a favour and don't run off, okay?"
Suri stared hard at the Healer, but nodded. "Go right ahead." Not that she could run off even if she had wanted to - the Healers' Collegium had been huge, even from the outside; she doubted anyone would be able to find their way around without assistance. As Delia hurried away, she thought, I'd give a hell of a lot to know how you knew anybody needed you - but then again, maybe I won't. There have been rumours about telepathy, even at *our* level of society; she's just convinced me they were true. I just hope they aren't able to read minds... But if I can be an Elementalist, what is impossible? With those thoughts swimming in her head, she drifted slowly back to sleep.
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In the emergency wing, Delia and several Healers were struggling to remain impassive as they fed Healing energy into the channels of the boy in front of them - those paths were so heavily scorched that any type of Elemental force passing through in the near future would knock him unconscious. Yet those damages were nothing compared to the pathetic remnants of what had once been a powerful gift; a gift that had been destroyed to stop the flood of power from anihilating the youth completely.
Master Tumi looked on from his corner, ready to fight any energy lines that even strayed in Heero's direction. This was precisely what that bastard intended - not only will Heero be unable to continue Elemental training for years, his emotional scars will last even longer. But if they expect him to give up - well, they're going to get a big surprise. He's not the type to forgive and forget... not until he has avenged himself, or died in the process. That's what I'm afraid of - nobody knows what type of person he is willing to become to get that revenge. But his gift at non-Elemental magic is considerable... if he wants vengeance, I have a feeling he will get it. But hellfires, he's only *thirteen*! What kind of monster will put a child through this torture?
Notes:
You know, I seriously didn't mean to terminate Heero's gift - Suri was supposed to have done something, somehow. But ideas do seem to run away from people, don't they? And now that I think about it, that might turn out for the best after all... *wink*. But the magic will ease off a bit in the next chapter - only a bit, though. How can anybody survive with out magic? O_o
Since puppy dog eyes don't seem to work that well... *bats eyelashes innocently*. A review, pretty please? With a gallon of cherries on top?
... *choke, cough, spew* - so much for trying to be "cute"
