Chapter 13 – Arlo And Clara

~ MELONIE ~ Everyone was focused on training, but I was focused on Arwan, since seriousness had decided to forsake me, I should use it on something I enjoy doing. Arwan stretched his hand towards me, “Come here, Melonie.” I ran forward immediately, awaiting the training and results of the day. Clara also ran towards us, “Hey guys, I'll be training with you,” she stated, and I smiled warmly at her, noticing the distance between us. “Clara… is something wrong?” I asked reluctantly. Her warm smile disappeared, “C'mon — nothing is wrong. It's just…” I turned towards her with a serious face, “It's just…” I encouraged her to keep talking. “Melonie, I saw you transform yesterday,” she explained. “I have never seen such a powerful creature in my life. You—you were fully transformed into something that never existed.” “Right, so you are even more scared of me now?” I asked bitterly, “C'mon, I'd literally protect you rather than hurt you.” “I know Melonie… I just got goosebumps,” Clara stated, a warm smile spreading across her face. I still wasn't convinced, “So — what's with the distance you put between us?” “Oh, that…” she voiced out, “It's something ridiculous, I just feel like I'd get burned by merely touching you.” I laughed out loud, “That is silly. I'm as cold as ice — touch me.” Clara ran away giggling, “Christ, no! I won't let you burn me unaware.” I smiled warmly, She was so adorable. Arlo rushed forward, “Hey Melonie,” he greeted, and I sent him a deadly smirk. “Clara, we need to talk,” Arlo voiced out. Clara looked at him with a face that said, “That's weird” “About what?” She asked. Reluctantly, he responded, “Will you be my fighting partner?” Clara froze, “And why would I do that?” “What do you mean?” He explained, “You are not that good with your fighting skills, and I don't have lycanthropic abilities. See... It's a give-and-take thing for both of us.” “I'd rather get killed by those things than fight with you, Arlo,” Clara growled. “You are annoying. I'd get pissed in the middle of a fight with a dark walker and face you instead.” “Whoops,” I stated mockingly. Arlo's shoulders dropped. “Why? There's also someone you like? Who's he?” “They went on a mission; they will be back soon.” Clara announced, her face turning lit, “Why don't you fight with the person you like too?” “The person is Melonie, and she doesn't want to be with me.” Arlo retorted. I laughed out loud, trying to explain. “C'mon, bestie, I want to fight with you, I just can't.” “Bestie! Stop pulling my legs, you don't like me anymore.” He kicked like a child. Clara barked, “Well, whose fault is it… You lied to her first.” “I wasn't talking to you, rabbit,” Arlo roared back. Clara stuck her tongue out and widened her eyes teasingly. “You all should get your ass here or you are out of today's attendance and that prompts punishment.” Arwan scolded coldly. “You know what — fuck all of you,” Arlo expressed his disappointment, “I'll just die peacefully before the fight.” “Rip, my friend,” I encouraged with a salute, and he stormed away. “Arlo, get back here or you will be out of attendance,” Arwan calmly announced. “You too?” Arlo cried out, “Isn't it supposed to be like — brothers supporting brothers?” “Melonie, come here — I'm starting with you,” Arwan stated. “Arlo and Clara, train together over there,” he said, pointing in a direction. “No!” They protested in unison, and Arwan simply ignored them. Arwan stared at me with a serious face, “Okay, Melonie, what you did before, can you do the same thing again?” “I'll give it a shot,” I responded calmly. Trying very hard, I felt a strange, unsettling sensation coursing through my veins. It was as if my very essence was shifting like the tides pulling back from the shore. I looked down at my hands, and they seemed... ordinary. The familiar hum of energy that had once coursed through them was gone. I tried to summon the powers I had used just a day before, but they wouldn't come. The memories of what I had done just a few hours before seemed like a distant dream. I had wielded the elements with precision and ease, summoning storms and conjuring fire from thin air. But now, I was just a shell of what I was before. “Melonie…” Arwan called out, “You are not doing anything.” I snapped back at him, “I am trying very hard, but nothing is happening.” “What do you mean? You were completely transformed one day ago,” he reasoned out. Suddenly, a man rushes towards Arwan, throwing him a punch, “My entire loved ones were killed by dark walkers, but you still haven't found a way to get rid of them,” he yelled. I snapped my eyes at him, my hands burning in flames, I was ready to burn him to ashes, “Get your filthy hands off him,” I menacingly muttered. Arwan gawked at me, his eyes widened in shock, “Take him away,” he commanded, and the average old man was dragged away. “Melonie, you — did you just… activate your powers?” His voice rang out. “Try again, Melonie.” Once again, I resumed, but nothing happened. Arwan looked at me with a fascinating face, “Try focusing on your angry emotions. You just did it, you can do it again,” Arwan instructed, “Arlo — come here and get Melonie angry.” Arlo ran forward, “Ha-ha… It's revenge time.” He gawked at me, “Remember when you like someone in the mundane world, he didn't like you back,” Arlo blurted out with raised eyebrows. “Try something more serious,” Arwan pressured. “Trust me I'm already very pissed, but nothing is working,” I interrupted truthfully. Arlo nodded seriously, “Melonie… It's your fault that your mundane mother and her friend died.” I snapped my head towards him angrily, “How dare you, Arlo!” “Put that energy on activating your strength,” Arwan cautioned. I inhaled sharply, gathering all my anger… but still nothing happened. Arwan twisted his head in confusion and exhaustion, “There's something we are yet to uncover about you — like how to arouse your powers.”