CHAPTER 29: CH 29: JOKE.

~WHSSHH!~

The wave came crashing down onto Cara.

The wave washed over everyone but specifically Cara.

The next second after the crash was filled with silence— before the gasps of air from the awakened engulfed the space.

Everyone— mirage and Collins included, was drenched in water and sprawled to the floor.

They opened their eyes to see Aegon— knees in the muddy field, hands strained at either of his sides and his head downcast.

Cara? She was sprawled on the floor, the circuitry along her suit was completely dark— no more Aether.

Which was the only downside of the suit. It could only function as much as its user’s Aether capabilities— so when its user is drained so was the suit.

"Cara!" Collins’ screamed as he ran for her, bent down to place her head over his thighs.

The others just looked on in confusion.

The suit had turned off— with her still in it.

He rolled up his soaked sleeves, placed his hands against the suit’s arc reactor on its chest and channeled into the suit.

The circuitry flickered to life for brief seconds but eventually all gave out— he didn’t stop trying.

Again and again, he channeled more and more into the suit but nothing worked.

The others slowly drifted towards them, circling her tin can of a suit.

Collins’ didn’t care. He didn’t even raise his eyes to meet theirs.

Mirage dropped a hand to his shoulder to Collins’ shoulder, trying to calm him. "She’s still breathing, it’s gonna be fine."

Collins’ finally stopped, his hands still on her chest but he stopped channeling— before turning to him.

Aegon. But not with anger or malice— but hope.

"Aegon," he called out for him, Aegon raised his head before Collins’ gestured him towards them.

"Grrgh."

He groaned as he clutched his arms and dragged himself towards them.

"I need you to replicate her ability and take off her suit."

Mr Collins’ said quickly.

"Sir," Aegon forced himself to speak, "I- I can’t replicate her ability unless I make contact with her skin."

"That’s not true. Every boundary, every limitation you think exists isn’t there." He raised his eyes to meet Aegon’s. "It just depends on how powerful you are."

Collins’ wasted no time grabbing Aegon’s wrist and enhancing his ability.

"Hhhhhh—AHHhh!"

Like his pores gasped for air. Like his lungs expanded and his vision tenfold.

Just like the first time Mr Collins enhanced his reach of Aether, even after all the times he’d channeled himself— this was intoxicating.

"Aegon, focus!" Collins called his attention, "Close your eyes."

He followed his instructions. Taking a breath as he shut his eyelids.

"This is going to be a bit more complicated than regular replication. Remember when I said Aether is sentient? I was right and wrong.

Just like viruses, light and so on, Aether can be two things at once. It is also a spectrum. So, I need you to feel the spectrum."

Collins lifted his gaze to the others who hold their breaths in anticipation, signalling for them to move back.

He turned back to Aegon. "Everyone draws on the same Aether but when you turn it into our affinity it’s specialised for each person.

I need you to feel that spectrum and reach out for Cara’s. And when you do, only then do you open your eyes."

’So I’m supposed to find a needle in a haystack— blind. Great.’

Aegon calmed himself. But no matter how hard he shut his eyes all he saw was darkness.

"Aegon focus. You can already feel Aether around you. Now I need you to see it, turn it into colour and reach for it."

He finally found it. A flicker of light in the dark— at least it started as a flicker before stretching longer and longer.

It wrapped the numerous figures— clung to every part of their bodies like a drenched coat.

Each a different colour. A different feeling. A different presence.

Then he saw Cara’s— faint but unmistakably there.

Aegon reached out for it. Tugging on a string and having it flow from her into him.

His eyes shot open. [15 seconds.]

He immediately stretched for her suit. Powering it up and opening it up.

The HUD slid down and its entire body slid to the side. Finally revealing Cara’s unconscious body.

Mr Collins let go of his arm and reached for his daughter.

He took her into his arm and lifted her off the ground. Not even sparing Aegon another glance before heading out of the field.

With Mirage right behind him. The other awakened just stood there— as if stuck in their shoes.

Aegon fell backward into the mud, chest rising and falling like a broken engine.

---

Collins’ moved as fast as his feet would let him— Cara’s head close to his chest and still unmoving.

Mirage followed close behind.

Luckily, the school’s hospital was always open. He pushed the door open and called out for the doctor.

All heads whipped to his direction— a figure moved towards him. Pristine white flowing coat, curly black hair that fell over her shoulders.

She signalled for a grunie, placed Cara onto it and wheeled her away.

Leaving Mirage and Collins waiting and worried about her.

After minutes of failed attempts, Mirage finally guided Collins to a seat.

"Why didn’t you stop him when you could’ve?"

"I don’t want to talk about this right now, Caleb. My daughter’s fighting for her life."

"Collins?" Mirage rolled his eyes, "I’d appreciate it if you didn’t call be Caleb. It’s Mirage."

"Oh please. We were in the same school remember, I’m not addressing you by a phenomenon, especially when you’re just a sad depressed man."

"Why didn’t you stop it when he was going too far, you knew something like this could happen."

"Simple, they need to push past their limits, they need to understand that trials aren’t a joke." He met Mirage’s glare, "They need to understand the concept of death in this world."

"And even at the cost of your daughter’s life? Of any of their lives?"

"Yes." He said flatly, gaining a look from Mirage.

Mr Collins continued. "But Aegon. Aegon Dhalar— for the first time in forever. I’ve finally seen someone with potential, someone who can be reformed.

Maybe. Just maybe... The first Paragon from Aether Studies."