“That’s beautiful!” Jasper was breathless at the sight of the endless ocean. Over the hill’s crest, grassy hills framed the view of Port Oceanic and the vast body of water beyond. The town, built from blocks of grey granite and sunbaked terracotta roofs, clustered warmly in the hollows of the hills. The air carried the salty scent of fish and seawater in the breeze. Bright flags whipped and fluttered from the masts of the fishing and merchant vessels passing through the water. Gulls and ravens shrieking echoed across the port, their sharp cries cutting through the serene vista. Jasper felt a pang of something close to envy. Imagine waking each day to this view, instead of the endless flatness of crop fields. Perhaps, he thought, as a particularly piercing shriek cut through the air, perhaps visiting would be preferable to living here after all.
The salty breeze flowed through the carriage window bringing life to the stagnant air they had journeyed in. Another loud shriek sounded earning a groan from the corner of the carriage.
“I had nightmares with those cursed birds,” Alison whined, massaging her temple with long elegant fingers.
Even in the dim light of the carriage her emerald eyes were piercing as she glared towards Jasper. The tall young man had his entire torso out the window with a booted foot hooked under the carriage seat. The shadows darkened her toned form as she stretched, nudging the sleeping form next to her with her athletic physique. Instantly Ruby was on alert, her soft brown eyes usually thoughtful were now sharp, scanning her surroundings. Upon seeing her brother’s torso leaving the carriage she rose to her feet. Her practical leather boots squeaked slightly as two heavy strides brought her across the carriage. She clamped callused, heavy hands around Jasper’s tunic and pulled with silent force. Years spent hauling crops and tools across the fields had built hidden strength in her sturdy frame. Allowing her to pull her brother back in with precise ease. His dashing smile remained undimmed as he was forced from his view. He landed in the carriage with a soft thump before righting himself. He pushed his brown hair from his eyes with ink stained fingers. His brown eyes sparkled with undeterred enthusiasm.
“You have to see this” he exclaimed, gesturing wildly “They dug a path straight through the hills”
Ruby released her grip on him but did not move away, her expression a mix of exasperation and fondness
“It was like that the last time we were here” she reminded “Dad had to coax his horses cause they didn’t like going underground”
As Ruby spoke she looked beyond her brother at the landscape before them. Her breath caught at the sight of the endless ocean. Despite being here several times before she could never stop herself from feeling wonder at the sight.
“Beautiful,” she said, mesmerized.
“You get used to it” Alison snorted, “After a couple weeks it looks no different than a lake”
”You only say that cause you stayed here for seasons” Jasper waved off her remark, craning his neck at the window. As the scenery passed by Jasper noticed a slight shift in pace. Barely noticeable until the driver’s voice rang out, his tone strained and urgent.
“We have some trouble” the driver suddenly called and the carriage noticeably slowed.
Jasper moved first, hauling himself waist-deep through the window to see beyond the front carriage. The road ahead of them lowered while the hills remained, creating a tight path forward. Directly in front of them was a pile of stone and soil blocking the road.
”Looks like a landslide” he reported “Too much rubble for the carriage to drive over”
The carriage jolted to a stop and Alison stepped down first followed by Ruby then Jasper. From the carriages ahead and behind, mirroring their own deep green vehicles, passengers were already clambering down. They gathered in small, uneasy clusters, their gestures and hushed words all directed towards the growing pile of rubble blocking the road. As Jasper walked he ran his hand along the thick metal rods connecting the wheels of each carriage, feeling the slight hum of power within. They looked like decorative pieces but were actually advanced technology designed to transfer force to multiple sources. Allowing the two chestnut horses at the front to easily pull the seven carriage train.
Upon closer inspection the rubble was mainly a large clump of dirt and a stone nearly four foot long and nearly as wide.
“Do we have any tools?” Jasper asked the driver. He carelessly kicked at the dirt letting dust fly in the slight breeze.
”Only for carriage repair” he responded with a shake of his head “We’ll have to go back to the last village for help”
This was met with a volley of groans and complaints from the other passengers.
Alison stepped forward “We don’t need to go anywhere”
She raised her hands and they began to glow with deep blue light, her aura. This light grew between her hands and then beyond, stretching into a spear as long as Alison. With a grunt the light turned solid and she spun the spear with practiced ease.
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”That’s her aura?” A young woman gasped behind Jasper “Looks strong”
“Definitely stronger than mine” A guy with curly brown hair added “All i can do is unlock doors
”I got this,” Alison said with a smirk.
She starts stabbing the clump of dirt, breaking a piece off but otherwise doing minimal damage.
“It might be faster to go back to the village,” Jasper muttered under his breath.
Alison continued for a few seconds before attempting to stab the stone. Her aura made spear drew a scratch on the boulder barely a centimeter deep.
“I don’t think she has this” Jasper sighs, bumping his sister’s hip.
The driver began unhooking the horses to move them to the other end of the carriage train where an identical set up would make going back easy.
“She’ll get it” Ruby waved her brother away, shifting further to the right.
“But someone else could get it done instantly” he said with a meaningful look.
“Or cause a bigger avalanche” she said softly, glancing at the others watching Alison chip at the stone.
Jasper frowned and leaned closer to whisper “You have better control than you give yourself credit. Please we can’t miss orientation”
Ruby hesitated, her fingers twisting in the fabric of her tunic. She glanced at Alison, still striking at the boulder with a triumphant air, and then at the increasingly impatient faces of the other passengers. Someone had to do something. Taking a shallow breath, she finally met Jasper’s pleading gaze, a grim set to her jaw.
“The rubble” Ruby said through gritted teeth.
“I’ll have everyone wait on the other side of the hill” Jasper’s expression immediately brightened and he revealed his dashing smile “Only Alison and I will stay with you.”
“No!” she denied “You will stay with the others and make sure they stay out of range”
“No fair” he complained “I wanna see”
“You could get hit” she said with finality “Either you stay over there or we go to get proper tools”
Jasper pursed his lips, holding his arguments back. He knew she wouldn’t budge, she wouldn’t mind missing orientation. Just as long as they made it before the first class.
“Fine” he snapped and began ushering the others away from Alison. While he did this Ruby approached Alison and let her know the change of plans.
“I could get it in a little while” Alison insisted, now having a second spear in her other hand.
“I don’t want us to miss the boat” Ruby sighed, glancing from the rocks to the retreating carriages.
Jasper followed behind the carriage as the horses slowly made their way back up until they were over the hill’s curve.
“What is she doing exactly?” The curly hair man asked as they walked.
“She’s going to clear the path,” Jasper said cryptically “Just give her a minute and we’ll be on our way”
“Alright but how does she do it?” he continued “Is her aura that strong? Or does she know witchcraft?”
“It’s her aura” Jasper chuckled at the question, the idea of his sister learning and using witchcraft seemed hilarious. “Sadly my sister does not like it to be common knowledge”
The man frowned at the lack of answer but nodded anyway.
“I’m Jasper by the way” Jasper offered his hand
“I’m Mica” the young man took his hand and shook it “Are those your sisters?”
”Ruby is” Jasper nodded “the one with the spears is Alison she’s a really good friend, she’s basically a sister“
”Thats an incredible aura” Mica began but the words were swallowed as the ground rumbled.
A deafening CRACK rang out from over the hill and the ground beneath them shook. Chunks of stone came flying over the hill in blurs, crashing into small divots. Laughter erupted from the otherside, Alison must have enjoyed the spectacle.
“What the heck?” Mica gasped
“Told you she would be quick” Jasper beamed.
He ran forward waving at the carriage to follow him. Mica was beside him by the time he was over the hill and they could see the destruction. The boulder and dirt were gone, or rather shards of the boulder lay across the ground with a new layer of dirt surrounding it. Ruby and Alison stood a few feet from where the obstruction had been. Ruby’s head was hung while Alison comfortingly rubbed her back. Where the stone had been now had a foot deep split on the road, too wide for the carriage to cross. Ruby stared at the crevice with her shoulders slumped, her fists were balled in frustration.
“Looks like she worked too well” Mica said, his eyes wide at the sight of the crevice.
“That’s Ruby for you” Jasper said, his voice dipping as he saw his sister’s disappointment.
The rest of the passengers followed the two men as they approached the two women. The carriage driver let out a long whistle as he topped the hill.
“That’s gonna be harder to fix than the boulder” he said in his booming voice.
Ruby flinched at the words, her shoulders drawing inwards as if they had physically recoiled her.
“No it won’t!” Jasper insisted, raising his arms. He pulled at the strange energy within him, his aura. His hands and eyes began to glow cerulean. With a sweeping motion he began sliding rocks and dust into the deep crevice until there was a layer covering the bottom. Then he mentally pushed his aura into the dirt and stone, surrounding it and penetrating it. With a sigh Jasper felt his aura’s effect take place and he pushed down on a large stone.
The stone gave way immediately, spreading and flattening as if it was fresh clay. Jasper spread his aura further and had the same effect on the dirt, with careful caresses he molded the dirt and stone together till there was no indication they had ever been separate.
“That’s incredible,” Mica said from behind him.
Jasper flashed him a dazzling smile “Thanks now why don’t you help me out by bringing some more materials over”.
Mica and the rest of the passengers began rushing dirt and stones into the ditch. Jasper worked quickly as they filled in the gap, molding everything together smoothly. Within minutes the gap was filled in with no indication there had ever been damage, he even smoothed out the cracks in the ground.
With solid ground once more established the driver pulled the carriage back around. The travelers quickly returned to their carriages, excited to finally reach Port Oceanic. Where they would catch the ship to New Age Academy.
