Thank you to everyone who wrote a review. They are always appreciated. A special thanks to Skelethin for beta reading, You really helped me out. Hopefully with more of your help I would be able to post a lot quicker. Well hope you enjoy this chapter.
Forward: I don't own The Psychic Academy, though I wish to open one in the future. The wonderful Katsu Aki does. When her Characters do appear, they will be mentioned in the forward.
Psychic Academy: On the Other Side
Based on the popular manga series by Katsu Aki
By Darkensea
Chapter 8:
The leaves on the trees had begun to fade into their autumn colors. The temperature had steady decreased until the air around the academy could have actually be called chilly. The summer at the Academy had been rather enjoyable, despite the constant disputes with upper classmen . Now mid-term exams were rolling around and studying had become the main way Xaioto, Moon and Soni were spending most of their time. Outside was not cold enough to force them indoors but they now sat bundled up with coats and hats, books spread between them. Xaioto was being questioned by Soni about the electromagnetic fields and the affects they have on auras. Moon was reading a book for his English class.
"Umm Soni," Xaioto said. "We know most of the academic work we have to. It's the aura practical exam that I am worried about."
"We would practice if we know what the practical exam entails, but we don't know and the teachers refused to tell us. So there isn't really much that we can do to prepare for it?"
"I know, but all I can do is throw mist. It would help to know a little more. You have some form of offense, which I am still waiting to see, and you can heal. Moon can make sounds, and throw his voice around. It would be nice to know how to do something else."
"Don't worry about the practical exam. If it was going to be a hard test, they would tell us what it would entail."
"Or it could be done several ways and they don't want us researching different method and planning before hand. It could also be a test of logic." Moon said with out looking up from his book. "So either way there is nothing that you can do to prepare. So relax and ace your academic exams."
"Are you sure?" Xaioto asked.
"Sure." Soni replied. "Now, back to your questions."
They finished their studying and headed inside to get something warm to drink. On the way down to the cafeteria, Xaioto slipped off to the weight room to find Myria. She was the only student in the room, and was helping the gym instructor to replace all the scattered items in the room. He silently began to help her. The gym instructor thanked them and let them go so he could lock the room. They headed back to the roof to talk.
"Myria, last year you took a practical exam. Can you help me practice for it?"
"You want to know what the practical exam is about, right?" Myria replied smiling. "I can't help you. They change the exam every year. Which is also why the teachers haven't told you. They don't know yet either."
"That is an interesting way of doing things." Xaioto commented. "So what was your exam like?"
"For my first semester exam they held a tournament to test our aura application and techniques in battle." Mryia said. "I doubt they would do that again, but it wouldn't hurt to be prepared."
"So what do you have in mind?"
"You don't have an offense or defense of your own, but back in the summer when we last hung out together, you linked your aura with mine to do a stronger attack." Myria stated. "I won't be there to help you, so I suggest you start working with that girl of yours, and learn to sync your aura attack with hers." She watched Xaioto for a reaction, but didn't get one.
"And if I have to fight her?"
"Then you just try to stay alive, and hopefully she won't hurt you too much."
"Thanks Myria," Xaioto said. "I better go, your 'friends' are coming."
Myria paused for a second then said. "Go find your friend, Soni is it? And meet me on the roof in a few minutes."
"Ok then, see you in a few." Xaioto said turning and taking off down the corridor. He soon found himself in the student café, looking for Soni and Moon. They were sitting by window with there cups of hot chocolate waiting for him. He joined them, taking up the cup they set out for him.
"You really have to tell us where you disappear to. Ever since the first day of your arrival, you have been disappearing for moments or even days at a time." Moon said. "What's going on?"
Xaioto didn't respond. He just continued to drink his chocolate quietly.
"You can at least tell us you're going to leave, instead of having us sitting here worrying about you." Soni complained.
"You worry about me?" Xaioto teased, poking her gently in the side. "I didn't know you cared so much." He drained the last of his chocolate and said, For that, come with me."
"Where we going?" Moon asked.
"Not you, just Soni." Xaioto replied rising to leave. A smirk spreading across his face."That's cold man." Moon said.
Xaioto and Soni rose, and Xaioto lead her back towards the roof of the school. Myria was waiting for them, accompanied by one of the Defenders. It wasn't the leader, the one she referred to as Azural, but he was there the first time they meet.
"The Defenders," Soni said, started by there presence.
"Freshmen, Myria?" He said. "I thought you had better taste than that."
"Shut up Rumeri." Myria shot back. "This is my cousin, Xaioto." She walk forward and gave him a quick hug. "He asked us for help in teaching him a little about fighting. So we are going to help him."
"So this is who you been running off to see?" Rumeri asked.
"I been helping him study, if that is what you're asking, yes." Myria said, becoming defensive. "You have a problem with it?"
"No, it's the fact you were being secretive about it that bothers me. Hopefully, my little sister will join us here when she gets out of middle school, and I will do the same for her. You just should have let us know what you were doing."
"Well, now you know. So, are you going to help me or not."
"I'll help you because I would ask you for the same thing when my sister gets here. What do you need done."
"What you do best. It's me and you versus them." Myria said. "But take it easy on them, they're new to this."
"Heh, I'll help you but I won't make any promises."
"Xaioto, what the hell is going on here?" Soni asked still not sure what was going on.
"Sorry dear," Xaioto replied. "I know you dislike fighting. So I'll try my best to protect you."
"When every your ready to start, Xaioto." Myria said.
Xaioto gently pulled Soni closer and the two of them disappeared in to a thick cloud of mist . "You have to trust me on this one, Soni." He whispered to her.
She gave him a slight smile then said "Vir Da Tuo".Aiming for where she had last seen Myria. Thick vines sprang out from the ground around her and shot out in the direction of where Myria and Rumeri were.
Myria stepped closer to Rumeri, as not to lose him in the mist. "He likes circling in the cover of the mist, and can somehow see through it. But he doesn't have an offence. So watch out for the girl." She instructed. Rumeri created a fireball and pointed it at her. "What the hell are you doing?" She said ducking the blast. The fireball collided with a vine rising up behind her, and destroyed it.
"Get behind me." Rumeri called to her. "I'll hold off these overgrown planted till you can figure a way you find that cousin of yours."
Myria stood there watching Rumeri fight off the attacks that broke free of the mist. Vines have to be connected to the root of a plant to grow. If Soni was the root, the vines should lead her to Soni. The image of Xaioto hugging Soni right before they disappeared in to the mist flashed in to her mind. Xaioto should be with her. So find one, you find the other. She began to watch carefully as the vines continued to appear.
"I have an idea. Be right back." She said Rumeri as she flickered and vanished. She appeared standing behind Xaioto and Soni. She knew that Xaioto would take all damage as if he was hit by real electricity, so she aimed her attack at Soni.
Xaioto saw an aura trail, shoot out from where Myria and Rumeri were and over his shoulders. Looking back, he saw Myria appear behind them and launch her attack. Letting instinct take over, he rushed toward Soni, hoping to make it to Soni before Myria's attack did. He reached Soni in time and wrapping his hand around her waist, he dove forcing her to the ground. Only it took a lot longer than he expected to hit the ground. He glance back over his shoulder to see what happened. He noticed a trail leading from him off into the mist. An Aura residue trail? Did he just jump? The sound of Rumeri screaming came from in the mist.
"Soni are you ok." He asked her. She was curled up under him from his jump.
"I'm fine," She replied. "Thanks for the save, and next time watch where you put your hands." He blushed slightly then took her arms directing them toward Myria. "Right there. Go."
"Vir Da Tuo." Soni chanted. Sending her vines off in to the mist. A few moments later they heard Myria let out a groan. "That's both of them"
Xaioto took a long drink from his water bottle, and the mist dispersed. Revealing Rumeri and Mryia, laying on the floor. Xaioto walked over to Myria and knelt beside her. Soni stood behind him watching over his shoulder.
"Umi Ryokuo Newe Bermu." He began to chat, holding his hand inches above her body. On his last check in, Doc had told him about a healing component to his aura which helped him recover from the usage of water that his aura required. Now he wanted to put that healing power to the test. He had worked with Soni on how to heal since it was something she specialized in.
The mist flow from his body wrapping Myria like a blanket. Slowly her wounds began to close up and seal themselves.
Xaioto was surprised by the amount of energy required for healing. He felt as if he was going to pass out by the effort alone. The thirst that accompanied it wasn't helping either. He kept it up until he could no longer see any visible wounds, then collapsed on Myria, exhausted by the effort.
Soni and Rumeri walked over to them and Soni helped Xaioto to his feet, hugging him lightly. "We won." She said, "We actually won."
"Don't be so happy," Rumeri said. "If Myria hadn't blasted me, things would have turned out differently."
"He jumped out the way, and I couldn't see that you were behind him." Myria said. She turned to Xaioto who was finishing off the second bottle of water he had been carrying with him. "So you have learned to jump and heal. Don't worry about the test, you should be able to do fine."
"Thanks." he replied. Turning to Soni, "You might have to help me back to the dorms, I don't think I can make it on my own." She gave a slight giggle and helped him back in to the building.
"That cousin of your is going to become a strong aura user, huh Myria." Rumeri said, as they watched them go.
"I just hope he doesn't kill himself trying to get there." Myria said softly. "Fighting with his life on the line, for those he calls his friends." She spaced out for a moment, before saying. "Rumeri?" She paused. "Mind not telling Azural about this."