章 47: Forty-six
Jade stared at Naoka, a flicker of doubt in her eyes. She couldn't help but wonder what Naoka wanted with Eloise. She glanced at Eloise, who was packing her bag, and felt a pang of jealousy. She opened her mouth to say something, but the words got stuck in her throat.
The meeting room was gradually losing its occupants, leaving behind a trail of murmurs and footsteps. The sun cast a soft glow on the oak table, where the council had debated for hours. The curtains revealed a glimpse of the garden outside, where flowers bloomed in contrast to the storm brewing inside.
Naoka bit her lip and tapped her fingers on the table. She looked at Eloise with a worried expression. "What about the restaurant?" she asked in a desperate tone. "We can't be here and there at the same time." She cared deeply about their shared venture, and she didn't want to lose it.
Eloise nodded, her eyes searching for a solution. "I know," she said in a calm voice. "Let's go after school, and we'll figure something out." She hoped to ease Naoka's anxiety, and her own.
Naoka smiled faintly, feeling a glimmer of hope. "Okay, see you later," she said, grabbing her bag and heading for the door.
Eloise followed her, but stopped when she saw Jade waiting for her. Jade's face was a mix of emotions, and Eloise felt a surge of guilt. She tried to sound friendly and concerned. "Hey, Jade. What's up?"
Jade hesitated, torn between curiosity and unease. She wanted to know what Naoka had told Eloise, but she also didn't want to sound nosy or insecure. She finally answered, "Nothing. Just… what did she talk to you about?" She hoped Eloise would tell her the truth, and reassure her that nothing was going on between them.
Eloise sensed Jade's worries, and decided to be honest with her. "She just told me about the tournament," she said casually. "Don't worry, it's fine." She hoped Jade would believe her, and trust her.
Jade felt a twinge of doubt, but decided to let it go for now. She didn't want to make a scene or cause trouble. She forced a smile and said, "Well, I'll go back to my activity then." She turned around and walked away, feeling a heavy weight on her chest.
Eloise watched her go, feeling sorry for her. She wanted to clear the air between them, and make things right. She called out to her, hoping to spark a conversation. "Wait, aren't you jealous of Naoka?" she asked curiously.
Jade stopped in her tracks, feeling hurt and angry. She couldn't believe Eloise would say that to her. She spun around and faced her, her voice rising with emotion. "No, don't say that. It's not like that at all. You're the one who's been spending a lot of time with her lately. And you never answered my question from last time. You asked me for time, and I gave you some. But now you're making fun of me?"
Eloise realized she had made a mistake. She had been so busy with the restaurant that she had forgotten about Jade's question. She felt ashamed of herself, and wanted to apologize. But before she could say anything, Amber arrived, interrupting their conversation.
"Hi, Jade," Amber said cheerfully, smiling and hugging Jade.
Jade welcomed Amber's hug, feeling relieved to have someone on her side. She decided to leave with Amber, hoping to forget about Eloise for a while.
Amber looked at Eloise with suspicion, wondering what she had done to upset Jade again. She decided to confront her about it. "I'm going to go look for her," she said firmly, holding Jade's hand. "What did you do to her again, Eloise?"
Eloise felt annoyed by Amber's accusation. She hadn't done anything wrong, at least not intentionally. She tried to defend herself, feeling frustrated by the situation. "I didn't do anything to her," she said sharply. "Well, I'll try to catch up with her then." She moved towards the door, hoping to find Jade and talk to her.
But before she could leave the room, Alice entered the scene, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
"Eloise," Alice said sternly, blocking Eloise's way out. "You have to go back to class. The teacher is waiting for you."
Eloise groaned inwardly, feeling trapped by Alice's intervention. She wondered what the teacher wanted from her now.
Jade sat on the grass, lost in her thoughts. The school garden was a peaceful oasis, with its fragrant flowers and lush greenery. But Jade felt no peace, only turmoil. She wished she could escape from her troubles, but they followed her everywhere.
Amber noticed Jade's troubled expression and walked over to her. She sat down next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Jade, you look upset. What's going on?" Amber asked, her voice full of concern.
Jade shook her head, not wanting to talk about it. She felt a lump in her throat and a knot in her stomach. She didn't know how to explain what she was feeling, or if Amber would understand. "It's nothing," she lied, hoping Amber would drop it.
Amber didn't buy it. She knew Jade too well to fall for her excuses. She looked into Jade's eyes and said softly, "You can trust me. I'll keep it between us." She wanted to help Jade, to make her feel better.
Jade felt a wave of gratitude wash over her as Amber hugged her tightly. She felt safe and comforted in Amber's arms, and she decided to confide in her. She whispered in a shaky voice, "Thank you for being here, Amber. You're nothing like Eloise."
Meanwhile, Eloise, who had come to apologize to Jade, stopped in her tracks when she saw them huging. She felt a surge of jealousy and rage course through her, and her red eyes darkened into a sinister purple. She couldn't bear to see Jade and Amber together, looking so happy and cozy. She felt betrayed by Jade's apparent indifference and disloyalty.
The mysterious voice in Eloise's mind mocked her mercilessly, its tone sneering and persuasive, "Look at them, Eloise. Look how they're laughing at you. Don't you want to make them pay for hurting you?"
Eloise tried to ignore the voice, but it was too loud and persistent. A dark presence that haunted her dreams and influenced her actions. It claimed to be a part of her soul, a manifestation of her hidden desires and fears.
The voice continued to tempt Eloise into doing its bidding, its tone alluring and manipulative, "Come on, Eloise. Don't be a coward. Show them who's boss. Show them what you can do. You have the power to make them burn."
Eloise felt a rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins, a familiar sensation that signaled the activation of her fire magic.
Unbeknownst to Eloise, the shadowy figure that lurked over her smirked wickedly as it watched Eloise succumb to its influence. It whispered in a sinister tone that only it could hear: "That's it, Eloise. Let the fire rage."
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