46.

The following morning, Summer wakes up to Ember snuggled up to her and Damien still asleep in her floor. It took her a moment to remember what had happened the night before she decided to just let them be as she quickly got dressed and left her room with them snoozing away. Once she was positive that the two had not woken up, she left the tower and decided to explore the University. As she wandered the hallways, she took her time to admire how everything seemed to change around her. To her, the hallways were designed to create a tunnel of trees that allowed light to leak through their branches, creating uneven splotches of light as she walked. The orbs that usually floated within the halls were no longer there, as there was no need for them to be. 

Unable to stop herself, Summer put a hand on one of the wall trees and smiled as she felt the rough texture of bark under her slim fingers. After a few moments, she began to walk again, lost in thought as she allowed her mind to wander to the events of last night. She still couldn't believe that she was a shifter, and that she could change into such a large animal, but how was she supposed to do it on a whim? Still lost in thought, Summer ran into something, or rather, someone, and fell back on her butt with a small squeak of surprise. When she looked up to see what it was she had bumped into, she saw Jade Fist peering at her through his mask.

[b]"Oh! I'm sorry,"[/b] Summer stammered out as she rushed to get to her feet and dust off the green sun dress she was wearing, [b]"I... I wasn't watching where I was going..."[/b]

[b]"It's alright, Summer."[/b] Jade replied, raising his hand in a calming gesture. [b]"What are you up to?"[/b]

[b]"I'm just... wandering the halls really. Between classes and trying to catch up with you all... I haven't... really had the chance to explore... What brings you through these halls?"[/b]

[b]"Thinking. Just... thinking. Walking helps me think."[/b]

[b]"Oh... I see... well... how has your first week of this place been?"[/b]

[b]"So far it's been pleasant enough. Still can't shake off that thought of Lucerna's slaving rings recovering while I'm away though. Irks me that there's nothing I can do about it at this time."[/b]

Summer looked down at her bare feet, as she never did like the feel of shoes, and rocked back on her heals a bit, [b]"I wish I could help them... I mean, I'm finally learning how to do things that I couldn't before and I feel like... I should be helping our people... you know?"[/b]

[b]"Hmm. That's exactly how I felt when I first crawled out... out of..."[/b] Jade fell silent for a moment, and shook his head. [b]"Nevermind. It's good to feel like you have a purpose. Cherish it."[/b]

[b]"May I ask... why do you wear all that armor? It seems like it would be stuffy in this type of place."[/b]

[b]"When I first donned it, that was indeed a problem. But after you wear the same thing for over a century... well, it really feels like a part of you. Guess it just doesn't bother me anymore."[/b]

Summer simply nodded her head as she continued to rock back and forth on her heels, she wasn't sure what to say to that as she felt like it would be a bad idea to question why he wore it at all. She still bore the scars from when she questioned things that she shouldn't and though she was aware that Jade more than likely would not harm her, she felt it safer to remain silent.

[b]"Summer, may I ask you a question?"[/b] Jade said suddenly.

Snapped from her thoughts, Summer looked at Jade and simply nodded her head to indicate that he could do so.

[b]"Those doors. In the main hall. Each one represents one of us. I wanted to ask you... what do you think is behind the door belonging to you?"[/b]

Summer looked up at Jade for a moment before adapting a thoughful look as she thought about what he asked her. She remembered one of her teachers explaining that the doors were there when it was time for a Sage to face what they either feared the most, or if they had unfinished business. The only thing Summer was truly afraid of was Fredrick, and she didn't feel as if she had any unfinished business with anyone. Well... there was one thing she was afraid of more than Fredrick...

[b]"Honestly? I am not certain... Is it possible to face yourself do you think?"[/b] Summer asked softly.

Interesting response. Jade thought it a valid enough possibility.

[B]"Perhaps..."[/B] He said, [b]"Internal conflict is one of those timely... cliches, people always read about in books and play scripts. But then, it seems like the greatest of triumphs, doesn't it?"[/b]

Summer couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped from her as she thought on what Jade said, [b]"It really does seem cliche doesn't it? I guess we won't ever really know what is t is behind our doors until it is time for us to open them. It is just... I have one side of me I know nothing about... I wonder... a lot actually, about what it means to be a shifter really..."[/b]

[b]"You ask me? It's a greater kind of freedom. Oneness with the living of nature... something many elves dream of achieving. But a shifter has a much greater connection, I'm certain."[/b]

[b]"Jade... what do you think is behind your door?"[/b]

Somehow, he was expecting her to ask that question.

[b]"Summer... I know exactly what's behind my door."[/b]

She nodded her head, perhaps it was like that for most of her companions, maybe not. [b]"I do not, but I would like to... I would like to offer you my help, for what its worth, if you will accept it."[/b]

Jade's voice began to lose a bit of its usual stability. [b]"Summer, as much as I value your companionship, the same for all of the Sages... I don't think that's a good idea. You don't deserve to see what's inside Shatterbrain."[/b] He hadn't even noticed he'd said the name until seconds after it escaped his lips.

[b]"Oh..."[/b] Summer murmured, [b][i]Maybe he thinks I'm not strong enough to help...[/b][/i], [b]"I don't... right, I'm sorry..."[/b] She focused her gaze back down to her feet as she softly chewed on her bottom lip, not knowing what to say next.

Jade shook his head. [b]"Because..."[/b] He paused for a moment, and then brought his hand up, raising Summer's chin to meet her gaze once more. [b]"I don't want you, or anyone, to face the madness I faced. I would never forgive myself if that happened to any of you."[/b]

[b]"But... isn't the point... to not have to face it alone? I mean... we are all suposed to work together and everything... If you think it's too bad for me to face then... maybe it's too bad for you to face alone?"[/b]

An honest loss for words. Jade lowered his hand.

[b]"You..."[/b] He muttered, [b]"You could be right. But I... we'll see what happens when the time comes. I don't have any power over you. It's your choice whether you aid me or not."[/b]

Summer met Jade's gaze with a steady one of her own before offering her hand to him, [b]"Then I am coming. I consider you a friend so... so I won't let you do it alone."[/b]

Jade raised his hand to lay it upon hers, but... he paused for a moment. He raised his other hand, tugging on the fingers of his gauntlet... and off it came. His hand was... red. Rugged. Riddled with burns and scars. Didn't even look like skin. His ring finger... you could see the bone. And emblazoned on his right hand was a circular insignia bearing the letters SSJ, branded into the skin, charred and darkened enough to stand out amidst the red and yellow.

He raised his hand once more. Now he was the one offering his. To his suprise, without a moments hesitation, Summer place her pale hand into his burned and scared one. She didn't so much as flinch as her soft hand met with the sensation of scars upon scars that would turn any hand hard. She wasn't afraid of what she had seen, in fact, a part of her was happy that he allowed her to see that part of him, no matter how small.

After a moment, their hands separated. Jade placed his gauntlet back upon his mess of a hand.

[b]"Let's walk."[/b] Jade said, [b]"Together. See what sights the University holds."[/b]

Summer offered him a genuine smile as she nodded her head, [b]"That sounds good to me."[/b]