91 Aura Anarchy (1/2)
”All clear on Thompson and Third, over.” Ava called into her radio as she veered her Ryder through the air while looking down on the busy streets of New York City.
”Good copy,” she heard her group leader send out the usual response. ”Your patrol is up for the night and replacement is en-route.”
”Good copy. Ava signing out.” She aimed her Ryder to the street and dropped a hundred feet in a matter of moments. She pulled up in time to send a gust of air through the trees of central park before she took the crystal from the powering formation and stowed both it and the bike back in her storage crystal.
Sighing, Ava made her way through the park. She could have landed on any rooftop or clear space throughout the city, yet Central Park allowed her to walk the paths and unwind after patrol.
It had been a long and hard road to get to where she was now. Not Central Park, but the new job she had acquired through Roy and Tony. Becoming part of the crusade had put her in a company with seven senior wielders, one for every affinity. She had been gifted the earth affinity, which gave her many abilities that she was still beginning to understand.
As she walked, her feet glowed a faint green. It was one of the first things she had learned after gaining her ability. She could augment her speed just by using the energy within the earth around her. She was also able to sense when others were around. When someone came within at least one hundred meters from her, whether they were hiding or not, her feet would glow a lighter green in the direction of the source.
After stretching a moment, she used her earth ability to increase her speed as she raced Central Park with a green streak following behind her.
Usually after her patrols, she would come to Central Park for her cardio exercises as well as increasing her understanding of her own affinity.
While using her own affinity to augment her speed, she would still feel an increase in her energy output, putting a drain on her aura at a rapid rate. She was told by her group leader, Jonathan, that the only way to increase the aura output was to use the affinity until it was depleted, then rest to replenish. After resting, her understanding of the aura would increase slightly.
After her fifth lap around the park, the green tint which followed behind her began pulling in front of her instead. ”Someone else is out at this time of night?” Ava asked herself as she followed the source of her aura fluctuation. She stopped just in time to see a tear in the air between a group of trees.
”Woah-Aaaagh!” Ava watched as a boy younger than her dropped from the tear and fell into a pond. She covered her eyes as water splashed her in the face.
Before the tear in the air closed, Ava's instincts kicked in. Her glowing foot stomped the ground, forcing up a thin staff of earth which she held at the ready. ”Identify yourself!”
The boy who fell from the tear stared openly at Ava before he used the water from the pond to form an ice staff. ”I should be asking you the same thing!” He sounded slightly frightened. ”Why are you using the aura so openly, what if he sees?” He hissed as he rose to the top of the pond, his feet glowed slightly blue as he balanced at the surface.
'He's a water user.' Ava thought to herself as she dropped her guard. 'Only those who are loyal to the prince can use the affinities.' ”You had me scared for a second.” She let the staff drop back to the earth, becoming part of the ground once more. ”What's your name?” She put out a hand to help the stranger out of the water.
Instead of being put at ease, the stranger seemed to be put more on guard. ”My name doesn't matter right now. If you continue to use your abilities, the prince will know.” He said as he stepped out himself, without putting his staff down.”
”William Ragnos has a bit more to worry about right now than just an earth activation.” She rolled her eyes. ”What company are you with?” Her smile somewhat faltered as she saw his guard remaining up.
”Company?” He seemed just as confused as she was. ”What is a company?” his staff had formed a point at the tip.
”You aren't with the crusade?” Ava's eyes grew wide as she readied herself. Her staff formed back within her hand, mimicking the pointed edge that her opponent used.
Even though the staff her opponent used was water, she knew he could release it from it's frozen form and encase her in water, or freeze her. Her ability over the earth worked somewhat similar ways. She could use her affinity to encase him in an earth tomb, or use her staff to wrap around his hands as bindings.
All of this information crossed through her mind as she remembered her training with others of different affinities. She had won more than she lost when she was challenged by others in her company. Ava was confident that if this boy became a threat, she would at least be able to restrain him as she brought him to a holding facility before Will could see to him.
”Crusade?” The way the boy questioned Ava put her on edge. Even though the Embassies were slightly new to the world, they had been around long enough for her to become at least somewhat proficient with her abilities. From what she was hearing, any and all changes that had happened within the last year were lost on this boy.
”I see that you are confused.” She put her staff on guard as she tried to reasoned with him. ”If you could come with me, I know someone who might be able to help.”