W.I.T.C.H.E.: Evolution
By: Sokai
Disclaimer: I, Sokai, do not claim ownership to the workings of W.I.T.C.H. - I leave that honor up to Elisabetta Gnone. Nor do I own Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's X-Men series franchise (even though this story isn't even really related to the series, at least not super super directly, anyway. Just don't want to hear law suit claims LoL). However, I can and DO claim to own this story and its inspired ideas FROM both series.
Note: Wowwwww, have I been gone a super while, eh? Sorry about that, Lovelies, but I was very, very, VERY busy with life, again, specifically . . . having another baby. =) Yep! Evie-Weevie's a big sister as of October this year, to a baby boy. So, understandably, I've now been trying EXTRA hard to juggle two kids while trying to find even . . . five minutes, really, to write SOMETHING down. Sniff. . . . =(
But, yeah! For now, I've been taking advantage of said, so called free time to try to play catch up with everything, including this story! Sooo, please to be enjoying, yes? =)
Oh, poop! I knew I'd end up missing a post-A.N. point within the previous chapter, just as I said I would. Ah, well. =) Was just going to touch upon how Cornelia's parents (and Cornelia herself, at first) are sort of like a far less dangerously compelling Magneto, where his ideals upon mutant separatism are concerned. Obviously, he won't be featured within this tale, but don't be surprised to bump into more mutants within this fic who'll share within his/Cornelia's folks' staunch platform. =)
Anyway! Again, enjoy, Lovelies, and Merry Christmas/Happy New Year, ahead of time! Mwa!
This chapter was written/created in December 2016, and revised December 2017.
Chapter Three
If Will's mutant power had enabled her to travel back in time, rather than the 'useful' ability of electrocuting herself any time she now went near any body of water, then she certainly would have put out all the stops to prevent herself from ever agreeing (albeit reluctantly in the first place) to accept enrollment at Kandrakar's School for Gifted Youngsters, let alone ever step foot onto campus.
Because from where she was sitting, quite literally, she currently wasn't seeing one positive thing about being there, not even with any of the 'feel good' drivel Irma, Professor Lin, and especially not her new Headmaster, Professor Kandrakar, had each spewed at her since her arrival.
After all, what good had it done her thus far? She was now hundreds of miles from home, her family, and with no prospect of ever really keeping, let alone making any true friends, because anyone who would ever try to get close to her just might end up accidentally roasted to a crisp. . . .
At the very least there had been Will's gigantic, and thankfully still 'singles' dormitory to help hide her away during such times she was unable to handle the masses, but she couldn't even have that one, so called 'opulence,' as she'd been stuck being closely monitored within the school's infirmary for the past full day and a quarter!
It was certainly a good thing for Professor Starlighter that Will's Electrokinesis was informed to be still quite tapped out, or else the emotionally jarred redhead would have undoubtedly made the older woman her latest victim, the way she'd kept poking and prodding at Will's body while checking in on her every hour, precisely on the dot.
"In truth, you're looking much better, already, my young pupil, despite the otherwise seriousness of having been Shorted Out. Your fellow schoolmate, Cornelia, truly had healed you quite well! However, to further exercise precaution, I believe remaining within the Infirmary for the remainder of the weekend would be the best course of action, simply to be on the safe side in case of any sudden relapse," the serious-minded woman had diagnosed that Sunday morning upon noticing Will's abrupt, and understandably startled rousing from slumber, as the teenager had had a sudden pair of warm hands gently roaming across her previously unconscious form within medical surveillance. "I suspect, as well, that you should have no issue with making attendance to your first day of classes at Bayville come tomorrow, either!"
". . . . O-Oh, sure . . . no issue at all . . . Professor," Will had muttered groggily with a slightly acrimonious tone, her mind still within a rather sleep filled fog before the realization had set in.
Within all the worry filled, and immensely stressful chaos Will had honestly somehow managed to forget that her active enrollment at Kandrakar's School for Gifted Youngsters now not only meant that she would be attending . . . 'How to Be a Mutant' classes, or whatever each future lesson would be referenced as, but also what she'd surmised to be a comparatively normal high school, as well. . . .
A normal high school . . . with normal teenagers.
Where absolutely anything could happen at any given time, upon any given day regarding not only her own mutant abilities, but the rest of the populace residing within Professor Kandrakar's dual mansion and school. . . .
"I don't . . . understand. If I'm supposed to . . . attend classes at your school and also live there, then why do I need to go to a whole other one at the same time, as well?" Will had anxiously asked both Professors Lin and Kandrakar two weeks earlier, upon learning the apparent conditions of her present enrollment.
". . . . Several reasons, quite honestly, Will. The first being that this particular school district allows what is referred to as 'Part-Time Enrollment,' where any qualifying student of both the private and home school variety are guaranteed enrollment privileges at a public school of their choosing," Professor Lin had begun to explain to her admittedly quite bewildered, future student, "with a minimum of four classes per semester, of course, with at least two being the usual core curriculum. You know, science, mathematics, English, etcetera. Now, although attending classes at Bayville, you will still have your classes and varying studies with us back at the institute, so I am sorry in advance for the extra workload you might be facing within the very near future! At any rate, these are what we like to call the 'surface reasons' behind seemingly giving our students a 'bad hand' in terms of double duty at two sets of schools; however, by allowing such an opportunity to occur, it is Professor Kandrakar's – In fact, unanimously all our hope that by remaining actively integrated within society alongside non-mutants, it will be a way to help keep all of you grounded, and eventually one day forge a path to a peaceful and very much open coexistence. . . ."
Although not honestly dreadful within her overall scholastic career, especially not where anything to do with scientific endeavors were generally concerned, Will had usually done close to the bare minimum of what was required of her to pass each grade of all of her previous schools up until that point, and it was a 'system' which had done both her Grade Point Average, and overall stress management just fine.
Now, however, not only was she meant to juggle whatever sort of mutant focused lessons her new professors would be teaching her down the road, but also mountains of future homework from two separate schools?
The more and more Will thought about being at Kandrakar's School for Gifted Youngsters, being within Upstate New York in the first place, the more enmity she felt and thus, mounting despair that there would never be a silver lining within her newfound life. . . .
As much as she wasn't ready to rejoin the student assemblage roaming about the institute's halls above her, Will was even less willing to spend another day cooked up within the heavily stocked and expensive looking healthcare facility, even if she had been 'lucky' enough to have it all to herself thus far.
Considering the school's overall size - At least, from what she had been able to catch a glimpse of before her unexpected mishap, Will hadn't the foggiest why Professor Kandrakar and his staff would have placed such an important installation within what she had been informed to be the basement level.
At least, if I were in charge of this school, or any one, for that matter, I'd certainly make it a lot easier for people to find by putting it, oh, I don't know, on the main floor. Might make a big difference between a saved, or . . . lost life, the redhead thought within saturnine judgment, her previous, and for once relatively neutral mood beginning to take a sharp nosedive as her mind fought hard to resist reflecting once more upon the day her Electrokinetic powers first awakened. . . .
Because it was nearing the mid afternoon, Will had briefly deduced that the majority of her new housemates would probably be once again more so out and about outside, or perhaps out altogether to maybe catch a movie, or any other typical, teenage leisurely pursuits before having to return early for classes the following day.
And so, as a result, she'd felt a bit confident that she might not bump into too many people if she'd . . . somehow made her way back upstairs, and . . . perhaps maybe even do a bit of sightseeing before sequestering herself to her dormitory for the remainder of the day.
All of this, provided Professor Starlighter didn't find her first and drag her back down to the Infirmary, of course.
I suppose if I have to be stuck living here, I may as well give myself the grand tour sooner now, rather than later, after all, Will mused with a light sigh upon finishing getting dressed into the change of clothes Hay Lin, of all people, had been kind enough to bring all the way down for her. . . .
"I didn't want to just go through all of your personal belongings like that, but I figured that maybe by now you were probably a bit tired wearing a hospital gown! Plus, I was actually . . . trying to think of a way to come down here to see how you were without, you know . . . being too pushy," the cheerful girl had explained with crimson flooded cheeks earlier that morning when she'd suddenly appeared within the doorway, sheepishly holding a folded pair of one of Will's jeans, and a fuchsia colored tee shirt.
Although Will, herself, had been feeling rather abashed at the time to have seen her there at all, making Hay Lin her first and, in fact, only student visitor since she'd been admitted into the Infirmary, Will had noticed that the Aerokinetic mutant had certainly appeared far more so, by comparison.
"I-I just . . . I just wanted to apologize to you, Will, for . . . startling you with my powers . . . a-and my flying," Hay Lin had continued on before Will could have stopped her, or before she could have offered up her own apology, as well. "I was going to do so yesterday, as well, and was on my way up to your dormitory when I'd heard . . . well . . . you know. B-But I really do hope you're feeling much better now, and will accept my apology. . . ."
Having listened to Hay Lin carry on with such humbleness had only served to make Will feel even more guilty for having run away from the otherwise jovial girl in the first place, and it was all she could have done to not want to bury herself completely underneath her hospital bed sheets within a futile attempt to hide away her shame.
Instead, however, she'd actually managed to not only resist, but return the apologetic gesture with one of her own which, if she had been perfectly honest with herself, was something Will had been itching to do as soon as the pair had abruptly separated the previous day.
"I-I, um . . . it's all right, Hay Lin, a-and . . . thank you for the clothes. . . . I, uh . . . well, to be . . . pretty frank, seeing you, seeing anyone suddenly take off into the air like that would probably freak out lots of people," she began within a mixture of vague self preservation, and lingering abashment, "but . . . I'm also sorry for having done so. . . . I-I mean, all you wanted to do in the end was just help me out, right? S-So . . . yeahhh. . . ."
It wasn't the greatest apology, Will had been aware, having basically put blame on the other girl and essentially saying, "I'm sorry that you didn't use your common sense before doing what you did," but at least she had finally gotten it out, and the two could move on from the overall, awkward incident.
Hay Lin hadn't appeared negatively affected one bit, however, and in fact broke out into a wide, toothy grin upon having received the new girl's forgiveness. She'd then clapped her small hands together within ongoing glee, causing her to appear much more like the joyful girl Will had first met yesterday . . . an observation which had admittedly made the redhead feel a bit pleased to have witnessed.
"Really? Oh, that's great, Will, thanks! And yeah, duh, sometimes I do forget that not everyone really has ever seen a 'flying person' before, sooo you're absolutely right! From now on, whenever any other new students show up, I think I'll just stick to helping them out the 'old fashioned' way, before eventually letting loose with my powers like that, again," Hay Lin had remarked within good humor, offering once more to help Will out with anything she might have needed assistance with since she was already there, before the two finally parted ways.
Although the natural instinct had been to decline, Will had honestly surprised herself when she'd earnestly promised the bubbly girl that she would instead see her some time later once she'd been properly (or 'improperly,' as was now the present case) discharged . . . which was a future event she was actually mildly looking forward to, given Hay Lin's ongoing, infectiously friendly nature . . . assuming it was genuine, of course. . . .
Will hurriedly finished gingerly straightening her fresh top with one hand, while blindly tossing her former, now bunched up hospital gown with the other, before making a straight beeline for the sealed, metallic door to her room and quickly pulled it open.
The lights outside of the Infirmary were certainly much brighter by comparison, and after having spent the past day and change either unconscious, or resting quietly within a dimly lit room, Will needed a few moments to allow her eyes to properly adjust to the abrupt change within intensity.
Forced to temporarily squint, Will began to mindfully take in her immediate surroundings, which were certainly a curious stark contrast to all the 'glitz and glamour' she had witnessed upstairs when she'd first arrived onto campus.
Perhaps it was simply because the school's medical facility was down within the basement that the overall scheme was the same calm, cool shade of blue, as were the walls from inside of her previous room; however, it certainly could not possibly also account for the curious choice of lining the entire hallway within solid metal, as well!
"W-What the . . . .? I-I feel like I somehow got transported to some . . . top secret military base, o-or some kind of futuristic deck of a spaceship or something," Will whispered to herself within supreme stupefaction, turning her head to look down both presently secluded, long pathways on either side of her, before hesitantly choosing to take the one on the right. "What kind of school is this? Even one for mutants, this has to be out of the ordinary. . . ."
Feeling more and more tense as she continued on her way down the spacious, empty hallway, Will let out a deep sigh of relief the moment she heard a round of female voices suddenly sounding off within the near distance, and was even more pleased to see that both belonged to two individuals she'd remembered indirectly encountering yesterday upon her arrival: Jubilee, and Megan.
"Another great workout, butt! Although, I wish you wouldn't keep trying to upstage me so much with your 'fancy' gymnastics every time we spar," Will could overhear the pink haired, fairy resembling mutant cheerfully state in between curious moans, as both girls rounded the corner dressed within black colored workout attire, and hair each pulled back into messy ponytails.
"Well, you're the one who'd been insisting on relying less upon your magical abilities and to better train yourself physically, lately, anyhow, so how I kick your ass every time – O-Okay, most times, since you are getting a lot better – is my choice," Jubilee playfully fired back as she gingerly wiped her face clear of sweat with the small, white towel draped across the back of her neck, before being the first to notice Will 'randomly' standing there within the middle of the hallway. "Now, let's hurry up and grab something to eat before I collapse, and –! O-Oh, geez! You scared the crap out of me! Y-You all right?"
Apparently not expecting to have either been noticed, or addressed so soon, Will, too, jumped within her spot and stammered for a few moments within initial response, before Megan politely interrupted with a small, but growing grin.
"H-Hey, I remember you, I think! Yeah, I think I saw you in passing yesterday within the foyer with all your bags and such, right? Here's to welcoming you to 'Kandrakar's School for Gifted Youngsters' – Again, I'm sure! Name's Megan Gwynn! And this is one of my best mates, Jubilation Lee, or 'Jubilee' for short, as she likes, yeah?" she introduced with another friendly smile as both she and the raven haired girl in question approached,with Will doing her best to swallow down any lingering reservations she still admittedly possessed regarding the Welsh girl's unique, physical appearance.
"H-Hi . . . um, M-Megan, and . . . Jubilee. I'm Will . . . Will Vandom," the redhead began weakly, hesitating a moment before slowly extending her right hand out and allowed it to be briefly encased within each palm of both girls in greeting.
Jubilee curiously wrinkled her nose at this a moment, before gently chuckling as she then pulled back her hand and blindly wiped it along the bottom of her tank top.
"Eww, sorry about that, Will. Didn't realize I was that much drenched in sweat – Super clammy hands, now! A-Anyway, so what are you doing down here? Were you in the gym, too, working out, or maybe inside the 'Danger Room?' Although, come to think of it, I don't think I saw you in the gym with us at any time, and training sessions aren't usually scheduled so soon already for the newer students, so – W-What, Meg?"
"Well, geez, Jubilee, why don't you talk her head off, then? Besides! Maybe we ought to be lettin' the profs fill Will in more properly – If not already, that is – about the various 'treats and goodies' to be found around the institute, all right?" Megan playfully reproved her obviously close friend with a slight chuckle and shake of her sweat-dampened head, causing a momentarily befuddled Jubilee to merely roll her brown eyes with a smirk.
Will, meanwhile, who was painfully very much out of the loop, perhaps even more so than either girl before her might have realized, did all she could not to dwell upon the immensely ominous sounding name of the room Professor Lin, nor any other teacher had yet to inform her about – Especially the apparent fact that she would one day be, of all things, 'training' inside of it.
I know that I was told that by coming here I'd be learning how to control my stupid powers, but I didn't think it'd ever entail doing so with the word 'danger' ever attached to it! Like I don't already have enough on my plate to deal with as it is! she thought bitterly, a deep frown slowly marring her previous, and relatively placid (such as it was) facial expression for a few moments, although still regrettably long enough for both fellow pupils to have taken notice.
"O-Oh, hey . . . You okay, Will? We didn't, like, strike a nerve or whatever, did we? I mean, obviously, we don't know anything about you or your 'story,' but one thing all of us here pretty much have in common – Besides being mutants, of course – is feeling incredibly overcome coming to live in such an epic place as this! I mean, I don't care how awesome you think you are at controlling your powers already, or not, y'know? So, for sure, don't feel too bad if ever you feel the need to . . . I dunno, wig out, and maybe punch a wall or two – M-Maybe some pillows, instead, though, so you don't get any demerits, and -"
"- Don't mind Jubes, Will; I think it's mainly a bit of her naturally competitive, and a tad too 'overly confident at times' attitude rearing its nasty head about, now," Megan interrupted with a broad grin and relaxed stance, clearly making a point to quash any brewing thoughts the redhead might have been presently harboring both toward the school, as well as her present situation. "But she still has a good point! Best advice – Which you've probably already heard from someone else, seein' as 'inclusion and acceptance' is sort of a really big thing here – is to honestly just take everything one day at a time, and try not to stress too much about everything, mad as that sounds . . . especially not about the D.R., either, right now, since no one will even think to take you there until absolutely certain you're ready, all right?"
Given the amount of students the uniquely looking mutant-pixie had personally witnessed come and go through the school's doors during her three and a half year attendance, Megan was more than well aware of how to play 'the game' of saying precisely the right things, as well as when to say them in order to try to help make any newcomer feel more at home.
To be fair, so too did Jubilee, although the spunky, tenacious girl did tend to put her foot in it from time to time, and get a bit too ahead of herself, such as right within that very moment. . . .
". . . . Well, I will give this place one thing: It's certainly becoming a bit more difficult to outright, actively resent it the more and more I keep hearing all these 'hope speeches' from everyone. I-I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm still . . . still plenty resentful for being here and all, but . . . yeah," Will only just managed to comment within slight jest, also somehow releasing the previous negativity swelling inside of her, as the pair before her thankfully caught on and began to giggle within obvious understanding.
"See that? You'd think Professor Kandrakar and the other profs would have definitely spiced up their 'welcoming routine' by now, given the truckload of students they've undoubtedly amassed throughout the years, right? But, hey! I guess if it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Jubilee giggled softly within agreement, briefly waving her hand through the air within a beckoning motion as she then led the way to the pair of sealed elevators a few feet ahead of them. "But, anyway! Seeing as talking about what we all are and what we can or can't do, power wise, clearly isn't really your cup of tea, Will, let's just stick with current affairs: What are you gonna wear to Karmilla's concert next Friday? Are you going? If you are, we should totally head to the mall some time next week and pick up a few new outfits!"
Megan rolled her bright, pink colored eyes at this, although she too could not help but to let out a light chortle as both she and Will followed the onyx haired girl into one of the empty elevators.
"Oh, for –! Not everyone's a mall rat like you, you know, Jubes. Plus, you should probably know that -" she teased, carefully reaching around Will to lightly shove at Jubilee's bare shoulder, carrying on the conversation as the elevator doors slid closed.
Perhaps . . . if things continued to carry on within such a manner, with anything to do with 'mutant superpowers' remaining low key (alongside the added 'bonus' of being temporarily unable to even use her own powers, as well), then maybe, just maybe Will could find that she'd somehow survive, after all.
Today, at least, anyway. . . .
The way the great outdoors, nature in general, would somehow always manage to put her at such ease, Elyon would honestly sometimes believe that perhaps her mutant ability was more likened to those similar to Cornelia's, or any of the other elemental-based powers several of her fellow students possessed, themselves.
But, in truth, it had always been that way, as far back as she could recall, particularly whenever the itch to begin sketching a random drawing or two would overcome her . . . just as it was within that present moment.
Drawing was always something Elyon enjoyed all on her own, however was never really a talent she truly embraced and cultivated until after her parents had passed away, as it was something her mother, Eleanor, in particular, would always bond with her over.
"'Art is the window to man's soul. Without it, he would never be able to see beyond his immediate world; nor could the world see the man within'," she'd always liked to quote to her daughter during the occasions she would catch Elyon within the middle of either lazily, or frantically (depending upon the feel of the moment) sketching out a simple doodle, or what both her parents would always refer to as a 'masterpiece.'
Elyon honestly never felt as close to either parent as she did whenever she was curled up somewhere about the mansion with one of her many art books, nor did she ever feel quite as at peace, both about her ever-growing powers . . . and the tragic circumstances which had first awakened her to them in the first place.
And so there she presently sat, outside on yet another, comfortably warm afternoon two hours or after lunchtime, choosing the school's Olympic sized pool area to be today's place of inspiration.
Originally, it had been the plan to go for a walk about the neighborhood with Cornelia, as the taller blonde had graciously offered they do upon leaving the Communal Dining Hall; however, something inside spoke, quite loudly at that, for Elyon to stay on campus, instead.
And if there was one thing both girls, in fact, had learned while living within Kandrakar's School for Gifted Youngsters throughout the years, it was to never ignore any sort of feelings which might have called out to them, as they were usually spot on - Especially for a Telepath, such as herself.
Plus, there had also been the rather important discussion her legal guardian and instructor, Professor Kandrakar had just shared with both blondes earlier that same day regarding becoming mentors to two of the school's newest students, Taranee Cook and Will Vandom, which also helped motivate Elyon to stay right where she was.
The last thing she wanted to do was screw everything up once she'd finally met the young woman she was meant to take underneath her wing, after all. . . .
Elyon had been at it, quietly sat and sketching out random creations here and there – Nothing too fanciful, or even truly detailed - for the past twenty-plus minutes or so, all while a few random schoolmates would come and go from the pool area and either go for a swim, or take a seat at one of the many patio tables strewn about around her.
Given that she was sort of a familiar face at the school (whether or not she was pleased by this), most probably due to being their headmaster's beneficiary, and all, majority of the students had caught on to a few of Elyon's various, so called 'quirks' and interests here and there, and so honestly knew better than to disturb or engage her during such a time . . . which usually worked out for the better, anyhow, as the dishwater blonde really did tend to completely lose herself within her impressively expressive artwork.
And that present moment was no exception, as Elyon continued to peacefully hum an uplifting, random melody quietly to herself as she otherwise pored everything into the current drawing she had been working on for the past five minutes or so, now.
Both her tune, and the sound of her graphite pencil furiously scratching against the open page of her sketchbook began to intermingle within an oddly calm sort of harmony as she continued, the drawing gradually becoming more and more detailed as the seconds passed.
To the few seated around her, Elyon most probably appeared to be within a trance of sorts, and perhaps she nearly was, simply smiling softly and privately reflecting upon the memory of her dearly departed parents more and more as her work of art continued to take an even more distinctive shape.
It wasn't until she was already nearing the end of putting detailed, finishing touches upon at least the main focus of her piece that Elyon's core focus finally fractured a bit, as her mind suddenly became flooded with thoughts, a voice, which was not her own:
. . . . I don't even know why I somehow managed to come here of all places, instead of staying inside my dorm room, or even head back down to the Infirmary. I mean, it's not as though I can go swimming ever again . . . or enjoy a good bubble bath once my powers inevitably come back. . . .
At this, Elyon promptly dropped her pencil as she looked straight ahead toward the glass, double doors which led into and out of the large mansion's south entrance-way and atrium, just in time to witness a lone redhead curiously proceeding to enter the exposed area with what appeared to be extreme caution.
Elyon couldn't help but let a slow, yet growing smile grace her delicate features as she knowingly watched the newcomer gingerly tiptoe further outside, all while taking care to practically hug the glass windows of the building as she did so.
If not for her telepathic abilities, Elyon would have honestly wondered why in the world the crimson haired girl was presently carrying on as she was, almost acting as though allergic to the otherwise inviting, lapping water of the massive pool stretched out before them both.
However, given both the previous, psychic insight unknowingly given to her, alongside the slight 'briefing' Professor Kandrakar had presented to his charge a little earlier, Elyon was otherwise understandably sympathetic to the other girl's current plight.
Well . . . here goes nothing, she thought with a soft, nervous exhale, before gently clearing her throat in order to grab the creeping redhead's attention.
". . . . While I don't honestly know what it's like to have the power over electricity, I do know that it won't always be this scary – T-That is, others like you who also possess Electrokinetic talents all eventually learned to control them, so that otherwise obvious obstacles such as water would no longer be an issue, and, um . . . yeah," Elyon shyly explained with an awkward, lopsided smile as her soft, periwinkle eyes met with an immensely startled honey-brown, and quickly added the tail end as a way to hopefully calm the other girl down.
Elyon watched with regrettable guilt as the red haired young woman immediately jumped within alarm at this, before Elyon quickly stood and tossed her sketchbook and pencil onto the round, poolside table before her.
Her only consolation to having startled the other girl at all was the inside knowledge that her Electrokinesis was presently Shorted Out for at least another day or so, or else Elyon imagined that the redhead's entire body would have probably begun crackling with her currently uncontrollable, raw electricity, and undoubtedly cause the few nearby students who were leisurely wading within the pool to immediately swim further away as a precautionary measure.
"I-It's okay, Will! It's all right! I-I didn't mean to scare you like that, really! I was just -"
"- W-Wait, what? H-How . . . How did you know about my powers? O-Or my name, for that matter? Who are you?" the frazzled girl now openly known as Will fired off toward Elyon about a mile a second, although her ongoing trepidation already appeared to be ebbing away bit by bit as her body began to visibly relax.
I'm not honestly sure why Oracle wanted me to help guide her; I don't really seem to be doing a very good job, or giving off a good first impression. Still . . . I know I've at least got to give it a shot, if nothing else but to help Will feel more comfortable about her surroundings, Elyon mused with a firm nod to herself, the future Headmistress within her already shining through to the surface, unknowingly.
"I . . . I really am sorry for startling you, Will, really – I honestly wasn't trying to . . . nor did I mean to read your mind earlier when you were coming outside a few seconds ago," she apologized with a strong blush, her natural timidness shining through in spite of herself, as she nonetheless pressed on. "M-My name is Elyon. Elyon Brown, and I'm actually a Telepath . . . well, to name one of my abilities, anyway. . . . B-But I knew your name, and what your own powers are mainly from Professor Kandrakar. . . ."
Now protectively pressing her back against the windows behind her, just in case her electricity based powers would suddenly flare up again ahead of their projected recovery, Will closed her eyes a moment as Elyon could clearly see her attempt to center herself, before reopening them to flash the straw colored blonde a surprisingly hardened stare.
". . . . So I guess this is what everyone does when a 'newbie' joins up at this school, huh? Constantly bombard them with so called niceties, all while invading their privacy without any sort of permission to do so? I mean, there have got to be hundreds of us living here right now, right? So why the constant interest in just me? I can't possibly be the only new student currently enrolled at the moment," she snapped defensively, wrapping her arms around herself before her facial expression slowly transitioned into one of obvious guilt.
God . . . And there I go, pushing people away again before they do it to me, like usual. . . . I mean, just yesterday – And even earlier today, kind of - I was feeling practically ecstatic to have people my own age, and not just the adults, try to more or less comfort me and be friendly, so maybe I wouldn't feel so isolated . . . except that was all before I'd managed to hurt yet another person with my 'special gifts,' Elyon unintentionally 'listened in' to Will's emotionally raw mind once again, both girls' faces beginning to reflect profound sadness as a result, before Will's cheeks became immensely inflamed as another, far more embarrassing thought then formed. O-Oh, crap! I probably shouldn't keep thinking about everything that's happened like this – Not if this girl really can read people's minds. Geez! Is there no place I can have some much needed solitude?
Debating upon whether or not to let it be known that she had indeed picked up upon Will's thoughts once more, lest she enrage her even further, Elyon indeed followed through, deciding instead to go with the instincts presently urging her to keep the lines of communication between them (such as they were) as open as possible.
Clearly, this girl had been through quite a bit within the past twenty-four hours, alone, and Elyon didn't need to be psychic in order to know this.
By now, she knew how to recognize when someone was within desperate need of letting everything out, be it emotionally or, within the very real case of every student presently within their school, physically, as well.
"I-I'm sorry, again, Will! I wasn't, or rather, I'm not trying to continually pick up on your thoughts like this," she sheepishly apologized, starting off with a bit of continual timidity, before picking up steam, "but I've found that the more unguarded a person is emotionally, or just generally unaware, the easier it is for my powers to intercept whatever might be on their mind. . . . It actually used to be a pretty big nightmare for me when they first started to manifest, because I was just constantly bombarded by pretty much everyone around me, until I finally learned to control them. Now it's really only whenever I might be pretty tired, stressed, super distracted, or if the person, themselves, might be so over the top upset that I can't actively block them out which . . . I'm guessing is the case right now with you, right? I-I mean, why else, then, would you have come to the pool area, of all places, when you're obviously aware that it's not yet safe for you to be around water?"
Not usually this particularly forward, Elyon honestly then began to brace herself for the worst from the apparently temperamental redhead standing before her; she was instead, however, feeling quite surprised when Will only let out a low, defeated exhale as her brown eyes curiously became a tad glassy.
". . . . Maybe I'm just a glutton for punishment, then, who knows?" she murmured her obviously rhetorical inquiry, whatever tears which might have wished to escape effortlessly vanishing as she rapidly blinked her eyes before suddenly performing an about face and returning back inside.
Elyon could have, and possibly should have left it right there, and allowed the emotionally distraught teenager to continue on within her slow, but steady retreat. However, even without Professor Kandrakar's direct, personal request to do so, her at times inherent desire to help those in need truly was effortlessly overpowering her by that point.
"Will, wait a minute!" she called out to the retreating, fellow mutant, turning away from her a moment in order to quickly retrieve her sketchbook from off of the temporarily forgotten, poolside table, before beginning to sprint toward the double glass doors.
"What for? So I can later add you to my already mounting list of victims once I've fully recovered? I mean, my God, I'll probably be apologizing and feeling ridiculously guilty from now until I graduate for the amount of people I've either offended in some way, or electrocuted into dust! Lord knows I've started to wrack up a pretty decent 'body count,' already, and I've only been enrolled here for a freaking day!" Will vented with complete abandon as she continued to stomp off, with Elyon keeping up as best she could from behind. "How in the hell am I meant to 'stay calmmm,' or 'think positivelyyyy' like people keep telling me – And I mean, do they keep telling me – and also believe that 'one day soon' I'll be within complete control of my lethal powers? I-I mean, I was a pretty guarded person before all this crap happened to me, but now I'm really not allowed to ever feel anything beyond twenty-four hour happiness! Not unless I'd like to take out the entire student body!"
Seeing that Will had absolutely no intention of attempting to rein in at least some of that typhoon of emotion, and fearing that her abilities could possibly already trigger themselves again, somehow (especially considering that a moment of tremendous stress was usually what would precede the awakening of a mutant's given powers, at least, according to Professor Kandrakar), Elyon, swallowing hard, was left with a darkening decision to make. . . .
God, I hope this works . . . unfortunately, she thought morosely, before stopping within her tracks in order to properly focus and ground her own emotions . . . before then proceeding to take over Will's.
She, too, suddenly found herself stopping in place, just as she had reached the empty and winding marble stairwell she'd been heading toward, and curiously looked ahead at nothing in particular as her previous, honestly chaotic emotions immediately began to die down. . . .
With her eyes steadily trained upon her target, as it were, Elyon slowly resumed her trek toward the now very calm and collected Will, who then turned her crimson colored head to the side in order to meet the other girl's uncharacteristically serious gaze.
". . . . H-How did you. . . .?" Will trailed off into a whisper, beginning to feel more and more at ease as the seconds passed, the most she'd ever felt within the past few weeks, altogether.
"It's . . . an extension, I guess, of my Telepathic abilities, Will, one I've sort of recently developed but . . . don't really like to use, for present, obvious reasons," Elyon softly explained with an honestly thickened air of shame, despite the otherwise, positive emotions she was clearly mentally projecting onto the other girl now standing next to her. "Only Professor Kandrakar actually knows about it – Well, last I was aware, anyway – and has been the only one I've actively tried to . . . manipulate emotionally like this. I-I wasn't even sure it was going to work on you or not, given how powerful The Professor generally is and how new I am at this, but . . . I didn't see any other way of swiftly calming you down right at the moment. . . ."
Expecting the redhead to express understandable disapproval (however 'pleasantly' it might have been presently delivered) over having had her feelings altered within such an invasive manner, Elyon instead caught Will flash her a small, yet noticeable . . . smile, of all things,although Elyon was still rather unsure whether or not it was truly genuine, or every bit as manufactured as the positive emotions presently being imposed upon the other girl.
"S-So, wait . . . You're saying that you can use your powers to . . . to change the way someone is feeling, I guess, to whatever you want, instead?" she asked out of honest curiosity, her tone of voice sounding every bit as benign as the simper still plastered across her face, all while Elyon cautiously continued to maintain her mental propulsion a bit longer.
"And even magnify or suppress them altogether, as well as possibly channeling them into something physical . . . at least, what The Professor has told me they might grow into over time. . . . So, you can see why it's not really a favorite sub-power of mine to possess, basically hijacking a person's feelings while holding any other hostage at will, or . . . semi-will, for now," Elyon responded with a slight nod, taking a deep breath as her previously sober expression finally relaxed as she then broke the psychic connection between Will and herself as gently, yet as quickly as she could. She could then immediately sense the already mounting, personal trepidation over her rarely exercised ability beginning to replace the previously imposed positivity she'd placed onto Will. "I-I'm so sorry about that, Will. Really, I am, and -"
"- Thank you, Elyon," Will interrupted with another smile, this one all her own, albeit a bit lopsided, as she proceeded to awkwardly rub at the back of her neck. "No, seriously! I can see that I've completely baffled you for thanking you for, well, treating me like a puppet more than an actual person, there, of all things to do, but . . . I really am grateful. . . . I mean, barring right now which, again, was all your doing, I obviously haven't been too successful with keeping all of my emotions about this in check. . . . I mean, I've definitely been trying to, and under normal circumstances, have gotten pretty good at concealing what I might be really feeling from others, b-but, yeah, I . . . J-Just . . . thanks, again, Elyon. Just don't ever do that to me again without my consent, and we'll be totally cool."
At this, Elyon let out a startled giggle, her cheeks growing incredibly hot within embarrassment as she fought the urge to honestly hug the newcomer, she was feeling that relieved.
"I-I won't, I promise! Well, I'll certainly try not to, anyway! B-But thank you, Will, for not resenting me for it or anything," she spoke with a light grin, now clutching her momentarily forgotten sketchpad to her chest a bit too tightly, as the desire to embrace the redhead had yet to fully subside. "N-Now . . . at the risk of undoing everything I'd just done by asking this, how are you feeling, anyway? That is, obviously you were given the 'O.K.' to leave the Infirmary, but . . . oh. Sorry. This isn't me prying into your mind or anything, again. My friend and roommate, Cornelia, told me all about what had happened yesterday between you and Irma, and how you were healed by her. C-Cornelia, that is. . . ."
Will's previous, honestly now steadily rare expression of slight mirth regrettably then melted into one of fault as she shook her head and looked away.
". . . . Well, technically, I actually discharged myself, but . . . it's just my luck that everybody knows everybody here, huh?" she remarked curiously, more so to herself than to the momentarily befuddled Elyon, before continuing. "I'll live, I guess . . . but I'm more concerned with how Irma's doing, really. . . . Truth be known, ever since waking up this morning, I've been waffling between just hiding away down in that basement, or inside of my dorm room for everyone's and my own safety, and . . . well, trying to find her to apologize. . . ."
Elyon raised an eyebrow at this, simply allowing the present conversation to unfold organically, rather than simply use her Telepathic abilities on the other girl once more, as she'd already made an open vow to try not to from that point on.
"Apologize? What for, Will? I mean, from how I understand it, you had absolutely no control over what had happened then, any more than you did just a few minutes ago with me. . . ."
Will frowned lightly, shaking her head a moment before tiredly plunking down onto the bottom step of the otherwise unoccupied marble staircase before them.
"I, uh . . . I know, Elyon. I know, but . . . well, honestly? I just need to say sorry to a lot of people, already, like I kinda said. W-Well, not so much 'a lot' as really just the one person, Irma, while also eventually finding . . . Cornelia, you said her name was? Yeah, her, as well, to finally thank her for healing me. . . ."
Perhaps she was somehow growing a bit 'spoiled,' as it were, over possessing the unique ability to read another individual's mind, as it now truly was quite tempting by that specific point for Elyon to delve into Will's at that moment, in order to gain a faster understanding of her jumbled train of thought; however, given how the self-professed, guarded redhead was actively choosing, at least for the time being, to express how she was presently feeling – And to an otherwise, perfect stranger, no less, the petite girl instead took a seat next to Will and waited patiently for her to continue.
Seeming to appreciate the overall gesture, Will clumsily rubbed at her hands before proceeding to explain her 'history,' or everything from her arrival to the school, up until that present moment, at least.
". . . . So then, I guess that's maybe why I ended up here, of all places – At the pool, I mean. Not just for the . . . the life I've now lost as a result of becoming a mutant . . . but because maybe I was, I dunno . . . trying to punish myself for the pain I'd caused," Will finished explaining her tale a few minutes later with a hollow exhale, refusing once more to meet Elyon's now concerned gaze as Will's emotional walls slowly began to rebuild themselves back up the longer she consciously realized she was uncharacteristically revealing far too much about herself within one go.
Innocently observing this, Elyon decided not to inquire about what Will's overall life had been like before arriving at Kandrakar's School for Gifted Youngsters, as curious as she truly was, and instead asked, as delicately as she could, ". . . . Because you feel it's what you deserve for how you'd treated everyone since coming here?"
"And for . . . electrocuting Irma, I guess, yeah," Will quietly affirmed with a nod, feeling deeply discredited, yet . . . relieved to be openly expressing what she'd been heavily carrying around inside for the last twenty-four-plus hours, despite her simultaneous, conflicting desire not to do so. "I mean, you really have . . . no idea about the crappy school I used to go to before this one. . . . Okay, well, the school itself wasn't so crappy, but the people were. Really. . . . Ha . . . I don't even seriously know why I'm actually telling you this, telling anyone this, since sharing anything is definitely on my 'Things I Truly Suck At' list I'd kind of already told you about, but . . . I guess maybe I am only so you can better understand the freaking guilt I've been feeling since being here. . . . Back at my old school, when I was the new girl there, no one really bothered with me, you know? And if they did, it wasn't ever really a pleasant, or genuine experience. . . ."
Elyon merely nodded slowly within unfolding understanding, as she now had a slight inkling that where the crimson haired girl was heading with her confession of sorts was one fairly similar to others randomly listened to over the years from many other students before Will.
". . . . And then I get here, and although I still wish more than anything I could just go home and act like none of this ever happened, o-or, at the very least, transfer to another school like this, minus the whole mutant power aspect . . . I find more and more that I can't even properly hate this place the way I want to, the way I expected myself to, because the people inside it are, or have been too freaking . . . nice!" Elyon couldn't help but smile at this as Will thankfully, and a bit unexpectedly followed suit, before she pressed on. "It's true! I obviously don't know this area, the neighborhood, or what this overall school district is like, but I'm imagining it's gotta be highly rated on the Internet or something as 'the place' to come to, right, what with all of you being so damned . . . welcoming! Everyone has really been so . . . so welcoming a-and . . . patient, and . . . and accepting that I just can't stand it!"
Both girls mutual grin promptly faded away as Will's momentarily erected wall faltered and completely gave way just then, and she finally expressed what had been truly bothering her all along.
". . . . H-How can you all continue to be so nice and friendly with me, even after knowing, seeing what I can do? What I've already done? T-To Irma? To . . . To my mother," she shakily confessed in between the wet, hot sobs which were already beginning to escape past her previously cracked, and dry lips. "I-I was normal at my other school, but I just ended up being used and manipulated by my so called 'friends' there. . . . Yet I come here, with a legitimate reason to be avoided at all costs, a-and . . . almost instantly I'm suddenly 'Miss Popular. . . .'"
". . . . My power only j-just showed its u-ugly head two weeks ago, did Professor Kandrakar or whomever e-else tell you that? Y-Yeah . . . and when it had, it was far from peaceful," Will began again, a bit enigmatically in between increased weeping, blindly reaching up to roughly wipe at her face before briefly looking toward a now caught off guard Elyon, who'd previously expected the redhead to continue shielding her face from view as she had been doing up to that point. ". . . . D-Did you know that I didn't even cry then? W-When I'd ended up . . . hurting my mom with my powers, I mean? Screaming, denying to myself as much as I could that it even happened, and getting a bit teary eyed, then, sure, but . . . maybe I was just too shocked – Pun regrettably related – by everything that I just ended up bottling up my feelings even more. . . . Maybe right now, because of everything, I've just finally . . . hit the wall, or something," she ended up hypothesizing, more so to herself, as she unknowingly took the first step of many to come during her ongoing journey of better understanding both her mutant abilities, as well as herself.
At this, Elyon felt she could at last take the chance to speak, herself, and offered up a bit of relative input in the process.
". . . . W-Well, one of the things each professor here teaches about our gifts is that . . . firstly, they are actual gifts, and not anything we or . . . others might negatively view them as . . . and also that we wouldn't be given them in the first place if we couldn't handle them. . . . But, at the same time, we are still people at the end of the day, each of us with various breaking points here and there to deal with at times," she revealed quietly, clearing her throat and straightening her previously slouching posture as she felt Will's undivided attention poring itself onto her. "Afterwards, though . . . we somehow always manage to pick ourselves back up and start again . . . and I think the very same can be said about you, Will. . . ."
". . . . Even though I'd used my powers against my own mother, and over something completely stupid? She'd . . . been bugging me, or so I felt, all week to clean up my bedroom so that I could finally get my laundry done, but I was already feeling pretty stressed out from a rough school week that the last thing I wanted to do when I got home that Friday was chores. . . . And the next thing I knew, we were going at it, back and forth, and I was about to retreat to my still messy room to calm down when I finally lost it once my mom followed after me, and I . . . I s-shot her in the arm with a lightning bolt. . . ." Will breathlessly revealed, wringing her hands together repeatedly as the traumatic memory clearly began to unfold within her mind. ". . . . A-And can . . . can you believe that even with her writhing in complete agony on my bedroom floor like that . . . she still wanted to know if I was all right? Even during the ambulance ride, then later inside the recovery room – H-Hell, even straight up until I was about to leave her to come here, all she did was ask how I was. . . . Tch. Here I am, the one capable of possibly burning down a house if I really wanted to or tried, I'm sure, and my mom kept putting me first. . . ."
All except for when it came to letting me know in all this time that I was a mutant to begin with . . . although, I guess now looking back . . . I can maybe sort of see it from her perspective, Will silently reflected a moment, biting down onto her bottom lip as both her mind and heart furiously clashed over whether or not to continue feeling 'justifiably' upset with her mother for withholding such a blatantly important aspect within her only child's life.
Meanwhile, as a result of this, Will had been too temporarily distracted to witness Elyon violently shudder a bit, her face becoming contorted within pain as though somehow having been physically afflicted, herself.
. . . . It's all right, Elyon. Will naturally doesn't know what she's saying, the dishwater blonde thought within calming, self-reassurance, finally placing her sketchpad aside and slowly wrapping her arms around herself within comfort as she allowed the unsettling memory of losing her parents to be replaced once again with far more peaceful, loving ones, instead.
Apparently finally taking notice, Will, bashfully wiping away the remainder of her tears gazed upon the equally emotional Elyon and asked, "H-Hey . . . Are you all right, Elyon? I-I'm sorry if what I just said upset you. I mean, I know I would be, too, if I just randomly all heard this, and -"
"- N-No, I'm not, Will. I mean, I am, but I am for you, that is. That was definitely a terrible . . . terrible way to come into your gifts," Elyon replied with a weak, saddened smile, feeling far more empathetic to the girl's plight than Will might have realized. "B-But, um . . . obviously your mom's injury wasn't too bad, then, right? I-I mean, that was over two weeks ago that that happened, yet here you are, already, enrolled. . . ."
Will's face scrunched up into one of intermingling concern and contemplation at this, before slowly nodding.
"I . . . I guess so. . . .? I mean, a-at the time, I was just so relieved that she was already being checked out with an otherwise clean bill of health, despite the originating circumstances, and with just a simple arm sling to help keep it immobilized, but . . . now that I'm allowing myself to go back to think about it all some more, and of all the things I've already experienced by being here, I'm starting to think that maybe . . . maybe something was done to help make that all happen. . . .? L-Like maybe by Professor Kandrakar, or Professor Lin . . . o-or maybe even Professor Starlighter? Yeah . . . Maybe one of them used their powers to heal my mom or something, the way that I was by your friend, Cornelia," she openly chewed over, unsure whether or not to feel immense gratitude, or outright trepidation that any one individual could hold such power . . . indeed, much like Elyon, herself, evidently. "But, then . . . if that was the case, how was it that no one from the hospital even batted an eye about the sudden, miraculous recovery? I mean, I-I . . . I did regrettably manage to hurt my mom pretty badly that night, yet . . . yet by the next day, or after, I think, the staff was just carrying on like it was just a minor injury. . . ."
Elyon nodded her head, understanding all too well by now what had most probably occurred.
"I think that that might have been The Professor's doing, actually . . . the 'memory loss' of those who'd tended to your mom during her hospital stay, I mean," she started as delicately as she could, recognizing that although the more Will was finally purging what had desperately needed to be said, the more she was undoubtedly biting off far more than she could presently chew at the same time. "If . . . If you've already met him, which you clearly have, then maybe he's already told you what some of his mutant powers are . . . and one of them is the ability to . . . alter the minds of those he so chooses. . . . So, when your powers first manifested and he was able to find you as a result, The Professor must have taken measures to ensure that no one at the hospital became suspicious over your mother's wounds, and how they'd come to be in the first place. . . ."
Mind now swirling with an even greater 'answered to unanswered questions' ratio than before, Will firmly clutched at the sides of her head, as though attempting to nurse an oncoming headache, before suddenly rising to her feet.
"I-I just – This is just all still so flippin' insane. . . . I mean, any time I allow myself the chance to sit down and really digest all of the information given to me so far about . . . 'The Mutant World,' I guess, the further behind I fall within any weak attempt to understand anything, really," she groaned within frustration, stamping her left sneaker down onto the otherwise polished floor for furthered emphasis. "I don't know how anyone else, a-a 'fellow mutant' honestly could! How you can, or at least seem to, you know? I mean, being able to find any mutant in the world just because they used their powers, for starters . . . and then apparently being able to have more than one ability, at that, for another! I thought that my . . . 'gifts' were bad enough, but now learning, witnessing firsthand that there are others which can completely wipe away another person's free will, and change their original perception, I just . . . I honestly don't know how to feel about any of that. . . . S-Still . . . for now, at least, I will have to properly thank Professor Kandrakar when I see him again for helping us – Helping my mom out like that. . . ."
Watching the redhead apparently choosing to put a proverbial pin within the current focus of discussion, despite her ongoing turmoil, only served to further remind Elyon that, in spite of her own troubled past, she was nonetheless rather lucky by comparison to have already been immersed within 'The Mutant World,' as Will had put it, for five years now, and thus no longer ever felt as woefully confounded, herself.
Is this really what I'll have to do, keep doing in the future once I take over the school, myself, Oracle? Will I have what it takes to put those future students' minds at ease and allay their fears? Have I even done so at all right now for Will? I barely even said anything, Elyon silently questioned as she gathered up her belongings and patiently stood at the redhead's side. What if this is all just a huge mistake you've made by already naming me your successor?
As though suddenly a mind reader, herself, Will let out a gruff exhale as she then proceeded to curiously shake out her arms and legs a moment, before slowly flashing the blonde a sheepish smile.
". . . . Something I do . . . or used to do before a big swimming meet – Helped me get rid of any lingering tension I might have had," she quickly explained with another smile, this time a bit more mournful. "But, uh . . . a-anyway, I think that that's enough sharing and feeling sorry for myself for one day! I think I'm gonna sneak back into my dorm room, now, and . . . maybe give my mom a call to see how she's doing. T-Thanks . . . for listening, Elyon. This actually . . . really helped. . . ."
As Will already turned back around and finally began to ascend the marble staircase, her previous, forthcoming stance having run its course, a curious feeling of déjà vu suddenly overtook Elyon, causing her to quickly open her sketchbook and return to the most recent page.
"W-Wait a second, Will! I-I . . . I think this is for you," she stated with a light smile, her heart growing warm with gratitude as her periwinkle eyes momentarily focused upon the drawing she'd been previously working on before Will's arrival.
Because she apparently honestly had been within a trance at the time, Elyon really hadn't yet realized what it was she had sketched out; now, however, not only did she recognize it to evidently be yet another one of her sub-powers activating without prompt, but it was also a simultaneous answer to the previous inquiry she had mentally posed a few moments ago.
. . . . Maybe I can do this, the petite blonde mused with another smile, this one to herself as she gingerly tore out the rough draft of art from out of her book, and handed it to a now perplexed Will as the pair met each other halfway.
"Huh? What is this for - Whoa. . . ." Will started with a slowly raising eyebrow as she delicately accepted the piece of paper from the shorter girl, before promptly trailing off as her brown eyes gazed upon what appeared to be . . . herself, climbing up the marble stairwell and saying precisely the very same thing she just had seconds ago. ". . . . 'T-Thanks . . . for listening, Elyon. This actually . . . really helped. . . .' I-I . . . just . . . wow. . . . Exactly how many mutant abilities do you have, anyway?"
Although Will certainly wasn't the first person to ask the exact same question upon getting to know her throughout the years, Elyon nonetheless still would find herself feeling immensely embarrassed whenever it was, often wondering herself why she was born an apparent 'Omega-Level' mutant, while others were not.
It also made her wonder just how powerful both of her parents had been, if indeed they'd even possessed any abilities, themselves. . . .
Choosing instead, however, to merely shrug lightly and give another, shy smile within initial response, Elyon proceeded to make light of her own, personal journey.
"Ha . . . Just be glad you apparently only have the one to get the hang of and eventually one day master," she remarked within jest and a shake of her head, before both girls gave one another an awkward, although mutually content wave of goodbye, before Will then jogged the rest of the way up the stairwell and presumably back to her dormitory . . . assuming, of course, that Professor Starlighter did not find and undoubtedly reprimand her for her temporary escape, first.
Surprisingly, despite all which had transpired within the past several minutes or so, a peaceful lull somehow washed over Elyon just then, the same one which had comfortably claimed her while she'd been sat outside.
"'. . . . Art is the window to man's soul. Without it, he would never be able to see beyond his immediate world; nor could the world see the man within.' . . . . Guess you were right about that, after all, Mom. Thank you. . . ." she whispered to herself with a thoughtful, tender smile, tears pricking the corners of her eyes as she looked down at her sketchbook and once again allowed the loving memory of both of her parents to envelope her entire being like a warm, comforting blanket. . . .
- End of Chapter Three
(A.N. Gotta love Will's wishy-washy attitude about all of this, yeah? =) Methinks she'll still have her 'grudge-y' moments here and there within the near future, though, no worries, and continue to be a bit fatalistic sprinkled in, as well – Since, hey, she and I wouldn't be 'proper' Capri-frickin-corns, otherwise, LoL – But overall she's definitely taken that first major step of getting over the first hurdle of finally accepting whom she now is. =)
Will she, too, eventually awaken other mutant powers, as well? ….Probably? LoL But definitely wanted to have Elyon more or less showcase her immense power, herself, right off the bat, which also helps continue to have her fall in line with slightly mirroring Jean, but also still keep her own personal elements meshed in, as well. It's also the same thing I'm attempting to do, anyway, with The Oracle/'Professor X,' although for now he's not AS super super important a focus during these earlier chapters. =) Still, I definitely plan to unveil a few more of Elyon's powers as we go along, already alluding to her mutual, canon ability to control all four elements the way Will can – Although Will probably will not within this story – the way she enjoys being a part of nature, etc.
What else...oh, right! That quote Elyon 'said' her mommy used to say to her. Twas originally spoken by the late First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, but thought I'd 'borrow' it as it was slightly relative to both the narrative, and obviously one of Elyon's other sub-powers...which she'll probably like a LOT better than being able to control another person the way she did with Will – Which, all things considered, she'd taken pretty well, right? LoL
Probably missed other junk, but for now, I hope you liked this chapter and ongoing tale, and will stay tuned for the next chapter which, HOPEFULLY, will be updated within a few weeks or so...provided the babies don't continue to eat up my time. Sigh. LoL)