The Students of Sarila by Elsie Janda (the beginning after the end novel read .txt) 📕

“Just trust me.”
I wondered if she and Alexander had loved each other. They had known each other since they were young. Maybe… maybe before they were even discovered as being the next two, they had fallen for each other. It made me sorta sad to think that something had happened between them. Maybe after all this was over, they could finally love each other again. Maybe when Peter and I were torn apart, they could be put back together.
I can’t let this come between me and my feelings. If I am falling in love with Peter, which I hope desperately I’m not, I can’t let a stupid aura stop me from it. I will fight this. And that was my final decision.
I lied down on my bed and pulled the blanket up to my chin. As I dozed off, I wondered if I could do this. If I could love Peter.

Alexander Almost Dies (And I May be to Blame)

“Okay, training begins immediately after breakfast.” Sarila informed me after waking me.
“Are you training me?” I asked.
“Actually, Alexander has asked to train you.” Sarila replied. “And I’d like to get to know Peter a little better.”
It didn’t surprise me. Alexander had given the impression that I was his favorite. “Oh, alright. How much time do I have before breakfast?” I asked.
“Half an hour. Starting now.” Sarila exited the room.
I sighed and took a quick shower. I was really stressed out. There was so much going on, and so much that I had to do. If I messed this up, the world was pretty much over. Can you imagine knowing that you could be the cause of the end of the world? It’s difficult to comprehend.
I only really knew one thing – I was strong. I didn’t know how, or why, but I was very powerful. I’ve done things that would kill a normal person. I was also smart enough to know what to do in certain situations – with out any training whatsoever. I couldn’t wait to start my training and see what I really could do.
After my shower, I grabbed a new dress. It looked a lot like the one Sarila wore yesterday, with waves moving over ocean blue fabric. My hair was magically done, again, braided with seaweed. I still had ten minutes before breakfast started, so I grabbed my journal and wrote down:

Things I have done that are somewhat strange:

Extinguished a fire using my aura
Used the power of both Peter’s and my aura – combined, twice
Almost died

When I was done with that, I went out to the main room for breakfast, even though I still had 4 minutes. I found Alexander waiting there. “You’re early.” He informed me.
“I had nothing else to do.” I sat down where I sat yesterday at dinner.
“Better than being late.” He replied. “Or being dead. That would be very bad.”
I laughed. “I think I should be.”
“I would’ve been.” Alexander sighed.
“You’re strong, just like I am, right?” I asked. I’d assumed he was if he was able to compete against Sarila for Master.
“Not as strong. I… I think you might be stronger than Sarila.” Alexander admitted.
“I wish.” I said.
Then, Peter walked into the room. “Where’s Sarila?”
“Getting ready, I suppose.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Maybe she had to get something ready for your training.”
“She’s not training you?” Peter asked.
“I asked to train Tina.” Alexander told him. “And Sarila wanted to get to know you a little better.”
“Oh.” Peter said. “How’d you sleep, Tina? Any dreams?”
I shook my head. “Fortunately, Ignatio decided to leave me alone all night. How did you sleep?”
“Like a rock. Alexander had to pour ice water on my head to wake me up.” Peter laughed, and I joined him.
He sat down next to me as Sarila walked into the room. She shot us a somewhat sad glance before taking her seat. “Well, eat up. Training is going to drain a lot of energy.”
I grabbed a slice toast and spread butter on it. Then I took a few pieces of bacon, and some eggs. When I was content with the portions I had, I attacked the food. I hadn’t realized how famished I was. I suppose it was using my aura yesterday.
“So, what will training be like?” Peter questioned.
“It’ll be pretty basic today. Learning how to activate your aura and how to control it. If you’re a quick learner, you’ll probably get to practice some magical combat, if you’d like.” Sarila explained. “I don’t think today should be to difficult, especially for Tina.”
“Yeah, Tina seems like she was born for combat.” Peter smiled. “You should’ve seen her yesterday fighting that fire!”
I might’ve blushed a little. “Maybe tomorrow we’ll get to walk on water.”
Alexander smiled. “And you guys try denying that you are capable of defeating Ignatio?”
“Yes.” I responded. “He’s strong, too.”
“He’ll start losing his power, soon.” Sarila said. “The closer it gets to the end of his time of Master, the less power he will have. I’d love to meet those two kids, if he’s done any searching at all.”
“What if he hasn’t?” I asked. “What if he stops being Master, and there’s nobody to take over?”
“I suppose the Property Masters will have to find them.”
“Property Masters?” I asked.
“I told you, each element has two properties. Each property has two Masters.” Sarila explained. “They’re like the head assistants to the Master.”
“Does that mean you have two assistants?” Peter questioned.
“Yes. They’re supposed to visit soon, to meet you two, but I’m not sure they will. They have their own competition going on.” Alexander told us.
“I’d let them help you defeat Ignatio, but they’re still searching for the two.” Sarila rolled her eyes. “Not that they’ve really been trying. I have somewhat lazy assistants.”
“That’s upsetting. Some help would be really nice.” Peter said.
“We don’t need it.” I said confidently. “If one of us is destined to be the Water Master, then we should be able to take on the weakening Master of Fire.”
“That’s the spirit, Tina.” Sarila smiled. “You’re right, you should be able to. It may not be easy, but it’s possible.”
“Possible is good.” I nodded my head. “Can I get back to eating now?”
“We have five more minutes to eat, than we need to begin.” Alexander answered.
So the next five minutes were spent in silence as we devoured the food in front of us. I was upset when the time was up; this food was great! “Come on, Tina, let’s go.” Alexander stood up.
Peter grabbed my hand. “Good luck.” He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze before I followed Alexander down the hall.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“You’ll see.”
He opened the door and we entered a black room. He flipped a light switch and blue light faintly lit the room. The lights streaked through the walls, ceiling, and floor. Everything else was completely black. “Let us begin.” He smiled at me.
“About time.” I grinned. “I’ve been dying to start.”
“Almost literally.” He joked.
We laughed for a moment, but the room felt so serious that it seemed slightly forced. “Let’s start by learning how to activate your aura.” Alexander suggested.
“I’m ready.” I said.
“Everyone needs a trigger. A word or thought that has a lot of meaning to you.” Alexander said.
“What’s your trigger, then?” I asked.
“The name of someone who meant a lot to me when I chose it.” Was all he said. Not very elaborate.
I felt like asking who, but I had a feeling that I should just leave it alone. “So, I have to choose a trigger?”
“Is there anything that means a lot to you? A person or place? A possession?”
“Sally.” I began. “And baking. My blanket. One time, for Valentine’s Day, someone sent me an anonymous rose. I don’t know who it was.”
“Why don’t we use Sally?” Alexander suggested.
“Yeah, okay.”
Alexander said something I couldn’t understand – I think it was Latin – and a glowing blue circle appeared around him. “You’d better step inside my circle, dear.”
I obeyed. “Tina, what is your last name?”
“Johnson.”
“What are your parents’ names?”
I struggled to remember the names the orphanage director had told me, years ago when I had asked. “Uh, Tony and Kate.
“You are the only child?”
“As far as I know.”
“Tina Johnson, only child of Tony and Kate Johnson, do you agree to obey every command I have to give?”
“Yes.”
“Do you promise to not abuse the power of your aura?”
“Yes.”
“Tina Johnson, what is your aura’s trigger?”
“Sally.” I gulped.
“Tina, until you or your competitor has taken over as the Master of Water, I am your teacher, mentor, and guide.” Alexander put a hand on my shoulder, and my aura reacted to his.
Now I was surrounded by a bright, baby blue light. “Cool.”
“We will begin your training immediately.”
The blue circle flickered out. “Say the word. Just whisper it.”
“Sally.” I whispered.
My aura glowed brighter. I focused my aura into my hand, making a baby blue ball of energy form on my palm. I hurled it at Alexander. He used his aura to deflect it. “Tina, this is very impressive.” He praised me. “But I must tell you how to control your aura.
“If you lose control, then it’ll burn out quickly. If your aura burns out, you will be drained of all energy”
“So, how do I make sure I have control?” I asked, ready to learn. This would be useful.
“You have to keep control of your emotions, first off. Any strong emotion can easily trigger your aura.” Alexander reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue necklace. “And you can wear this.”
He put the necklace into my hand and I examined it. It was made of seashells and little blue stones that seemed to glow faintly. “The stones are magical; they keep your aura under control. Not everyone gets one of these, but I happened to have one for you.”
I smiled and put it around my neck. The stones glowed brightly for a second, and then turned a soft baby blue. “They reacted with your aura. Now, as long as you wear that, your aura will