Page 58 of Restored

I notice a few of the older boys are practicing their magic as I drink. One of them throws fireballs while the other tries to put them out with his water ability.

He misses one, and I hear him hiss in pain as the fire singes the skin of his arm. I drop my water bottle and stride over to them before I can stop myself.

The one with the fire ability is profusely apologizing as the redheaded boy grasps his arm, howling in pain.

“Hi,” I interrupt them, seeing Ledger coming out of the corner of my eye. “I’m Layla.” They look at me confused. “I have healing powers,” I offer, and they look at each other before gasping at my confession.

“I’ve never met anyone with healing powers!” the boy with fire abilities exclaims his brown eyes wide with shock.

“Well, now you have. Do you mind if I look at your arm?” I look at the boy. He has curly red hair and light blue eyes. I can make out blisters already forming on his arm and know he must be in a substantial amount of pain.

He seems hesitant as he glances at Ledger, who is now at my side. “Layla is an incredibly skilled healer; she saved me after I was attacked by some wild Kerolu in the woods.” Ledger pulls down his shirt, exposing his scars.

The boys gape at Ledger’s scars before the red-headed one winces, holding out his arm to me. “Will it hurt?” he asks when I raise my hands.

“No, it might itch or tickle even, but you shouldn’t feel any pain,” I explain, and he nods. I notice a smattering of freckles littering his face.

My power rumbles to the surface, flowing out of my palms and wrapping around the boy’s arm. He gasps, bracing himself.

“Does it feel alright?” I ask and he pauses, relaxing and nodding his head. “What is your name?” I question while I continue.

“Holt.”

“Holt. I like that name.” I smile at him and withdraw my power.

“That is so totally awesome!” his friend exclaims when he sees the healed skin.

Holt looks astonished. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.” He touches it, smiling, revealing a gap between his two front teeth.

“It might be tender for a few days, but it shouldn’t cause you any further pain,” I explain. I feel eyes on me, and when I turn my head I see all the children gawking in my direction.

“Thanks, Layla.” Holt turns to Ledger. “Can I see your scars again? I want to fight a Kerolu one day.”

“No trust me, bud, you don’t.” Ledger mouths a thank you as I walk back to Mia who now stands with Cam.

“Hey, Cam!” I greet as I get closer. They both are holding staffs. “What are those for?” I ask.

Cam vanishes, and a brush of air on my neck is the only warning before he reappears behind me. “You’ve got to work on your reflexes, use more of your senses.” He disappears, then reappears in one of the training arenas.

“This is really not my strong suit. Maddox used to make fun of my reflexes. He would always be right up on me before I realized he was even there.”

“I’m a good teacher,” Cam says confidently tossing me a staff.

The second I enter the training ring, Cam disappears. I look around looking for any hint of where he might reappear.

Before I can even blink, the staff slams into my back.

“Ow.” When I turn around to face Cam, he is already gone.

This time, I move my feet and raise the staff, waiting for him to reappear. I catch his blurry figure in the corner of my eye but before I can react, he smacks me hard in the leg.

“I’m starting to not like this game.” I shake out my leg, refocusing and swallowing the frustration that bubbles up inside of me.

“Try to close your eyes, it may help. Feel the air, how it changes, use your sense of smell, listen. Sometimes you see more when you can’t see anything at all.” Cam fades away, and I reluctantly close my eyes.

I hear his feet hit the ground softly to my left. My staff shoots out meeting air before his punches into my stomach, throwing me off balance and knocking me back. I struggle for a breath and when I do fill my lungs, I’m met with the stench of hay.

I’m transported back to the moment Forde’s foot slams into my middle.

---