Capítulo 5: The Elysian Fields
Light streamed through Akio's window, warming his pale skin as he squinted at his alarm clock. He was late.
Hastily grabbing whatever clothes were within reach, he bolted out the door, racing to his first class. When he finally arrived, the room buzzed with chatter. His crimson eyes scanned the sea of faces, searching for Yuna, hoping she hadn't fallen into the same trap of tardiness.
"There she is," he thought with a sigh of relief. Yuna was seated by the window, surrounded by a group of girls. "She's already getting popular, huh? Not surprising. Anyway, I need to find a seat…"
As he looked around, his gaze locked onto another boy across the room. Their eyes met for just a moment, but it felt like a clash of fire and ice. Akio quickly averted his eyes and slid into a nearby seat.
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Klak klak klak.
The sharp sound of heels echoed through the hallway, silencing the classroom. A woman entered, her presence commanding immediate attention.
"Good morning, class. I'm Ms. Odessa, your new instructor," she announced, her voice calm but firm. "Today, we're going on a field trip—our destination: the Elysian Fields."
Akio's heart skipped a beat. The Elysian Fields? He had never heard of such a place in his previous life. Although he wasn't omniscient, he would've known that such a place existed.
Ms. Odessa continued, "The Elysian Fields are a place where the boundaries between our world and the tear realms are thin. It's the perfect environment for understanding the raw essence of tear manipulation. But be warned, the Fields are not without danger. Stick together, follow my instructions, and you'll be fine."
As she spoke, Akio noticed Yuna's eyes sparkling with excitement. He could almost hear her thoughts—she was itching to explore and uncover whatever secrets the Elysian Fields might hold.
The class murmured in anticipation as they gathered their belongings and followed Ms. Odessa out of the academy. Akio lagged behind, lost in thought. He couldn't shake the unease that settled in his chest, the memory of the boy he had locked eyes with earlier gnawing at him. There was something unsettling about that brief encounter.
Once outside, they were greeted by a large, ornately decorated carriage, its exterior adorned with intricate symbols that pulsed with energy. Akio recognized it as a type of transport used for crossing into areas with unstable space—areas where tears could appear at any moment.
As they climbed into the carriage, Akio noticed that the boy from earlier had taken a seat in the back, alone. His intense gaze seemed to bore into the floor, lost in thought. Yuna, of course, had surrounded herself with her new friends, chatting animatedly about what they might encounter.
Akio settled into a seat by the window, his thoughts drifting to the Elysian Fields. What kind of power could he find there? Would it be enough to prepare him for what he knew was coming?
The carriage jolted forward, the symbols on its exterior glowing brighter as they approached the Fields. The landscape outside the window began to blur, colors and shapes melding together as they crossed the boundary into the Fields. The air inside the carriage grew thick with energy, making Akio's skin prickle.
Finally, the carriage came to a halt, and Ms. Odessa stood up. "Welcome to the Elysian Fields," she said, her voice carrying a hint of reverence. "Stay close, and keep your senses sharp. The Fields are alive with power—and with danger."
As the students disembarked, Akio's eyes widened in awe. The Elysian Fields were a sight to behold—a sprawling expanse of shimmering grass and towering trees that seemed to be made of glass, their branches reflecting the sky in a kaleidoscope of colors. The ground beneath his feet thrummed with a pulse, as if the very earth was alive with energy.
Yuna's voice snapped him out of his reverie. "Akio, over here!" she called, waving him over. He jogged to her side, his unease momentarily forgotten in the face of such overwhelming beauty.
"Look," Yuna whispered, pointing to a spot in the distance. Akio followed her gaze and saw it—a tear, hovering just above the ground, glowing with a soft, ethereal light. It was small, barely noticeable among the vibrant landscape, but it radiated an intense energy that sent shivers down his spine.
"That's… a true tear," Akio muttered, recognizing the unique aura. It wasn't as powerful as the one he had encountered before, but it was definitely no ordinary tear.
Before he could say more, Ms. Odessa's voice cut through the air. "Form groups of three and spread out. Your task is simple: find a tear, study its properties, and report back. But remember—do not touch the tear directly. The energy within can be volatile."
Akio and Yuna exchanged a glance, their earlier excitement now tinged with apprehension. "We'll be fine," Yuna said, trying to sound confident. "Let's find one that isn't too dangerous."
As they started to move, the boy from earlier approached them, his expression unreadable. "Mind if I join you?" he asked, his voice cool and calm.
Akio hesitated, but Yuna, ever the social one, nodded enthusiastically. "Sure! What's your name?"
"Kaito," the boy replied, his gaze flicking between Akio and Yuna. "Let's just get this over with.."
Something about Kaito still didn't sit right with Akio, but there was no time to dwell on it. They had a task to complete, and the Elysian Fields were no place to let your guard down.
Together, the three of them set off into the shimmering landscape, the pulse of the Fields guiding them toward whatever fate had in store.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder