Illusions and Lies, InL [recommended reading TXT] 📗

by, I realized that I couldn't change anything about the past, but I can do something about the present and the future"

Jesca leaned back to her chair and folded her arms at the back of her head.

"Time heals huh?"

"Time heals nothing. You only get healed the moment you decide to get healed" Acryl told Jesca this as if she wanted to say 'it's your decision'.

Jasmine couldn't help noticing Jesca who only looked afar, as if reminiscing something. Did she too have a bitter past

, Jasmine wondered.

Her thoughts were disrupted as a middle aged man came into the room.

"A meeting was held abruptly by the headmaster and some teaching members. One of them is your professor so I'm afraid this class is canceled for today" he announced.

The students immediately got up from their seats, more than happy to miss a class.

"Miss Forjesca Lex, your presence is also requested by the head master" the man said and left.

Jasmine looked Jesca worriedly.

"Don't look at me like that! It's probably another favor anyway. See you later" she winked and followed the man out.
Jasmine turned to Leenah .

"Favor? What kind of favor?"

"The usual. Sometimes the Academy recruit from their students when they need assistance for a mission" she shrugged.

Jasmine's eyes widened.

"But she's still a student!"

"She's very promising though." Acryl stated.

Jasmine looked at her.

"If the reports are true, then she's already considered as a high ranked security personnel" she continued.
"Jesca?" Jasmine asked aloud which caused Leenah to giggle.

"Yeah. Who would have thought right?"

"I knew she was cautious, her movements say so but often times she just look..." Jasmine tried to put her thoughts into words.

"Laid back?" Leenah suggested and Jasmine reluctantly nodded.

"Well, do you have something else to do?" Acryl asked.

"Uhm, I have to work on a report for my inside security class so I'm going ahead" Leenah hurriedly waved at them and went off.

"How about you then?" she asked Jasmine.

"Nothing really" she conceded.

"You want to come with me?"

"Where?"

"Just follow" she grabbed Jasmine's hand and held on to it as they approached an open field where some security students seem to practice.

They sat at a bench not too far from the students. They were all forming a circle around a guy who looked like he was telling them some tips.

"Wait a minute" Jasmine looked closer and gasped.

It was the same person who helped her when she almost fell on the fountain.

The guy looked at their direction and smiled. He said something to the group and left heading towards where they were seated.

Jasmine's heartbeat increased twice its normal. Did he recognize me?

she asked mentally.

When he was closer, Jasmine tried to face him. She was successful but realized he wasn't smiling at her but at Acryl. She was relieved and at the same time disappointed.

"Hey. I thought you have classes during this hour?" he asked.

"Cancelled. By the way this is Jasmine Brown. Jas, this is Van. Yes, he is the second son of the king of Quarkur and also is the Lightning gem’s vessel"

Jasmine's surprise mirrored his. No wonder he looked familiar, but in her visions, he looked so different with the clothes he was currently wearing. He was less intimidating.

"The famous clairvoyant?" he asked.

"The one and only" Acryl replied.

"A pleasure to meet you. And no formality bows" he admonished her when she was about to.

"How come I didn't get one?" Acryl chose the moment to remind her.

Jasmine bit her lip guiltily.

"Acryl!" Van scolded but she merely smiled.

"Just kidding. By the way, why did you want to talk with me?"
"I haven't heard any news about Arwenn. Have you?"
"No, I haven't either."

Jasmine's interest piqued.

"Do you think something bad has happened?" Van looked worried.

"Queen Minerva would definitely send us message if there's news" Acryl's eyebrow raised.

"I knew we should have gone there with her" Van sighed irritatingly.

"Why didn't you?" Jasmine asked.

"A week after Phinstam decided to send Arwenn to the Spring Fields, King Ganther ordered some of the vessels to attend Rune to serve as a diversion"

"How?"

Acryl and Van looked at each other before he nodded.

"Phinstam received a report that there was an army secretly formed in the north. They got suspicious that someone might be plotting to oppose the system and taking advantage of the Plague. So we were sent here to make an impression of arranging our own army thereby diverting the enemy's attention to us instead of Arwenn" Acryl spoke.

"Does the council already know who is behind all of this?"

"No. The messenger was killed before he could relay the information" Van's voice was grim. "And now we have to await news from Arwenn too"

The words await and diversion stirred something from Jasmine's mind, her dream. The woman in her dream said the plague was a diversion and there was an enemy. Could what the woman said be true?

Jasmine stood up putting the other two's attention on her.

"We can help Arwenn" she said.

"How?" Van asked.

"Well you said it already. You are the diversion. Then we'll have to go around and train the students, for real."

"There's just one problem" Acryl leaned in.

"What?"

"I told you. It's only a suspicion. Phinstam can't act without further evidence. That's the reason why they sent vessels but not actually asking us to make an army. If they did, then they will be opposed by the people"

Jasmine thought of the situation. If the suspicions were true, Phinstam would be at great disadvantage when a war breaks loose. But if it were false, then Phinstam would have to face a possibility of uprising and oppositions from the people. Either way, it's a lose-lose situation.

"Unless, if Phinstam was not a part of it"

"What are you saying?" Van looked at her intently.

"We can still serve as a diversion and create an army. But we will be doing this on our own. we have to make the people think that we are acting on our own accord."

"But what do we tell them if they ask us the reason for creating an army?" Acryl was starting be hopeful too.

"You are forgetting something aren't you?"

"You are a clairvoyant! Very accurate too! So if Phinstam wouldn't support you because you have no physical evidence, you can act on your own leaving Phinstam out of the plan" comprehension dawned on Acryl.

"If there really is an enemy, then that means you will be a target" Van reminded her.

"I'm willing to take the risk" she answered.

"I'm impressed Miss Brown," He smiled. "Not everyone will take the initiative"

Jasmine hesitated a little.

"It's just that, I feel like I have made a promise. And this is the only thing that I can think of to fulfill that promise" she said remembering again the woman in her dream.

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Text: InL
Publication Date: 08-21-2012

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