Chapter 14: Slip and Shine

As Jax ran toward the direction Mira went, he started to notice small shards of ice. They'd been tightened to the stone walkway vertically.

Held tightly like a clover, covered with the last of a mid-morning frost.

Several looked like they'd been crushed by something. As he grew nearer, the frost and ice intensified. At this point, it had started to cover the shop windows.

After a very slippery run, Jax saw her. Laying on the ground exhausted. Talking to herself loudly.

"I can do it," she said. "If I position the ice perfectly, I can make a perfect foothold to brace against," she continued. "I have to figure out how to keep my footing though."

"Mira, are you okay? The town looks like a blizzard went through," Jax yelled as he walked toward Mira. "I was afraid you got hurt."

As Jax walked toward Mira, a beam of sun flooded her. Making her sparkle like a refined diamond.

Jax was taken aback. The sight of her just as magical as the day she showed up in town. He looked closer and noticed she was tattered and closed the stance between them in an instant.

"Mira, you are hurt," he said, offering a hand to lift the girl up. "How did you get so beat up?"

Mira, taking his hand, said, "My footing keeps slipping. Every time I try to launch, my foot slips or the ice breaks. I fell on a few of my own spikes."

As he stepped closer, the air thinned and cooled. His breath began to fog between them.

Jax noting all the bumps and scrapes, and then the sun came back. Like destiny doubling down. Jax was close to Mira this time.

When she shined, something inside of him tugged. This was the hardest pull toward the woman so far. Like the moons in the sky, she pulled at him.

He started thinking, eventually finding the nerve to tell Mira how he felt.

His voice hoarse and shaky. "Mira, I always want to be by your side," he said low so nobody could hear. Nobody would hear because the girl had fallen asleep from exhaustion. Her new powers taking its toll.

After a long-winded confession and a lot of stumbles, he looked back at Mira.

"Gods damnit, she fell asleep," he whispered, picking Mira up and carrying her toward the inn. "Try not to push so hard," he whispered.

After a short walk, he made it to the inn. Exhausted from carrying Mira. Breathing heavy, he adjusted his grip and started up the stairs.

A kind gentleman opened the door.

"Thank you," Jax said quietly.

Once he was inside, he made his way to their bedroom. Laying Mira down and tucking her in before heading back out.

"Rest up. We have a lot to do tomorrow," he said, his tone low. "I'll go get us some food."

Jax left the room, headed downstairs, and was intercepted by a large woman.

"Is Mira okay?" she asked. "I would have asked when you got here, but I didn't want to wake her. She looked tuckered out," she finished.

"She'll be fine. We had a lot of back-to-back excitements. Follow that up with Mira wanting to fly."

The large woman turned at that.

"Fly?" she said. "Isn't she an ice user? How will she fly with ice?" she finished as she was putting away a dish.

"I think she can do anything she wants to. She has an active defiance problem with how our world works," Jax said, a laugh filling the words.

"She made some kind of new power though. So maybe she has the right idea," Jax concluded, starting toward the door. "Hey Sherley, can you have two plates ready for me again when I get back again?"

"Where are you headed with a poor girl in that shape upstairs?" Sherley said, grinning widely.

"I have to report to the guild. We haven't even done that yet," he said before leaving.

As Jax headed toward the guild, he stopped by Shinra's shop. Something had caught his eye. He went inside, having a short conversation before leaving the shop.

"I hope these help," Jax said, holding a box. "If my idea is right, she could use these. I hope they fit," he finished, nearing the guild hall.

Inspecting the outer walls of the guild hall, he noted how large it looked compared to the one in Eldervale.

Once inside, he headed to the counter and saw a familiar face. "I'm here to turn in our report on the escort, Lora," Jax said, handing his report to the woman.

"Did you two have any problems?" she asked.

"Not so much a problem, but it was weird," he replied. "It's all in the report. I need to get back to Mira before she wakes up."

"Oh, I'll get your payment immediately then. Please wait there," Lora said, starting to collect shards in a bag.

When she was done filling the bag and had given it to Jax, he headed out. Making haste because his first stop had cost too much time.

"If she wakes up before I get back, I'm dead," Jax said, his breath hitching. "Maybe once I give her these she'll forget," he finished.

Jax arrived at the inn, almost running through the doors. "Sherley, you got those plates?" he asked.

"Yep, they're right here," she said, handing him the plates. "We've been hearing yelling for a little while. You may want to hurry," Sherley said, waving him on. "Pay me for them tomorrow."

"Sure thing, Sherley. Thank you," Jax replied, rushing up the stairs, a singular voice becoming louder.

"I told that jerk not to leave me again. Who does he think he is?" the voice said. "Where did he go anyways?" Mira continued.

Jax sat outside the door listening. His heart racing and his face sweating from the jog. "Oh great. She's definitely going to kill me this time."

Jax pushed the door open to find Mira looking at him. Her face red and a frown apparent on her face. "Where were you?" she asked. "Was it that important you decided to leave me alone again?"

"Mira, I had to turn in our guild report and get our payment," Jax replied. "I brought food and a present." He said, holding out a box.

Mira's eyes locked on it when she heard that it was for her. "A present?" she asked. "For me? How bold," she teased.

As Jax walked toward Mira, a flash hit his mind.

He was not in the inn anymore.

Something else pulled at him.

Stronger.

Older.

Something else had gravity here.