West Ora Academy: Raising Elara

Chapter 6: Elara

Third Person P.O.V.



"Good job, Ellie," Petra, the demigod, told little Elara as they wrapped up their magic training.

Elara has always enjoyed being praised, smiling widely at the demigod. She thought today’s events played to her favor, allowing her to learn many new things. Her finger was still glowing bright, evidence that she had mastered pulling at her magic.

"What next?" she asked Petra with gleaming eyes, wanting to learn more, ready to devour the demigod’s teachings. She really wanted to learn how to travel the way Petra did. Her father’s way of travel always felt cold and dark to her. It would leave her with a funny feeling, only because it would pull at the darkness she didn’t know she had inside of her.

“Let's train your body now,” Petra answered.

"My body?" Elara did not like the sound of that. She wanted to focus on her magic. She didn’t want to do more physical training. Her father and mother do plenty of that with her already.

"Yes, the stronger your body, the better it can handle your magic."

"Are you lying?” Elara knows sometimes the adults lie to her to get her to do what they like. She hates it more than anything.

"Demigods don't lie."

Elara stared incredulously at Petra for a moment, trying to decide if she was telling her the truth or not. She decided to look into the future like her father had taught her. She looked at all of Petra’s futures, so far ahead that Petra was with the other gods and not on Earth anymore. Not once did Elara witness her lie.

"Okay, let's train my body then." Elara said, sure that she could trust Petra now.

Petra had her run first, building her stamina. She then worked her muscles, having her do squats, situps, and pushups. Petra was a muscular woman, and she knew the value of strengthening your body. She housed immense power herself, but she knew Elara’s power far surpassed her own. Elara did not know that the power she held now was just the tip of the iceberg. Elara already exceeded Petra’s power, and she’s only meant to grow more powerful with each passing year. Petra had Elara stop when she saw her little body quiver. Elara was exhausted, but no amount of exhaustion could keep her from running to her father.

"You did so great today, El. I'm so proud of you." Ares told Elara, giving her a hug.

“Let Mommy heal your body a little so you’re not so sore.” Andy held her hand out towards her, pulling her green healing fire out and coating Elara in it. She’d mastered her healing fire thanks to the class that Nova deemed hell, but Andy thought was amazing.

“Thank you, Mommy.”

Elara smiled up at her mother. She loved her so much, as well as her father. They were the most important people in her life, the ones she wanted to be around at all times. She hated it when her mom had to go train. She didn’t understand why she couldn’t train here just like she had done.

“You’re my little girl, Elara. You don’t have to thank me. It’s what a mommy does for her baby,” Andy said, smiling lovingly at her.

Elara has always thought Andy was a beautiful woman. She’s long thought of her as the most beautiful woman on the planet, even more beautiful than the demigod that had arrived. Elara wanted to be just as beautiful as her mother as she grew up, but she wondered if that were possible. She didn’t have the same hair as her parents, nor the same eyes. She always wondered why they were different, but any time she asked, her father would say that he would tell her when she was older. Those answers are the worst to her. She hates them the most. She doesn’t understand why she has to wait to find out.

“Do you want to play for a little while before we eat?” Ares asked her, knowing how much Elara loved to play.

“Yes! I want to play with my friends this time.” Elara answered, thinking of Lief and Icarus.

“Right, your friends,” Ares smiled.

He and Andy heard of these friends for the first time last month. They think they are just imaginary friends that Elara created since she’s so lonely sometimes. Ares was worried maybe it was something that only she could see, but when he looked into the future he saw nothing. He assumed it was fine, and she was safe. Little does he know that Icarus and Lief are anything but imaginary.

“Play with your friends, sweetheart. Tell them they can stay for dinner if they want.” Andy smiled down, thinking she was being sweet by playing along. If only she knew the truth.

“You’re so funny, Mommy. They don’t like it when other people see them, at least Icky doesn’t.” Elara thought back to her friends, using the nickname she created for Icarus, since she couldn’t pronounce his name correctly.

Lief and Icarus were always by her side anytime she was alone, but they refused to stay when others were around. Their missions are secret, only known to one another.

“Okay, Elara, just don’t go far, and call if you need anything.”

With that her parents, along with Petra, who sensed Jesse had returned, all went inside. Elara began to play tag with the butterfly that had been flying around her. It was blue with black markings, and large wings. She knew that her friends would come soon, so she was just keeping herself entertained for the time being.

Elara was running around laughing when she heard a rustling in the bushes, and two figures emerged.

“Icky! Lief!” she exclaimed, running over to them. “I am so glad you are here!”

Icarus was a tall, strong young man with sharp features and piercing eyes. He had black hair that hung over his forehead, almost covering one of his eyes. His high cheekbones and strong jawline only added to his ‘I don’t give a s**t’ attitude. He wore a black suit and had a mischievous grin on his face. Unbeknownst, even to Elara, Icarus is a demon sent from hell to push her towards the darkside.

Lief, on the other hand, was tall and lean, with delicate features and a gentle smile. He wore a white shirt and white trousers, hiding his wings. Lief was an angel who took it upon himself to foil Icarus’ plans. Lief and Icarus have known each other for centuries. They were once friends before Icarus turned dark and became a demon. Now Lief tracks his every moment, to make sure his once best friend never does anything so dark that his soul can’t be redeemed. Icarus is not a full demon, which is why he still has a body and is able to roam the Earth freely.

“Hello, little one.” Lief said, his voice soft and soothing. “What are you playing today?”

“I’m playing tag with the butterflies,” Elara said, giggling. Her wild, curly hair bounced around her head as she swayed back and forth on her feet. “Do you want to play too?”

Icarus snorted. “Tag with butterflies? That’s boring,” he said, rolling his eyes. Lief frowned at his once friend’s answer.

“I think it sounds lovely,” he said, smiling down at her. “I’ll play with you, and I’m sure despite his initial reaction, Icky will join us soon.”

Icarus rolled his eyes. He hated that Elara had given him that nickname. It irked him to no end, but he had to act like he loved it. It didn’t help that Lief now used it as well. Icarus was beyond enraged when Lief showed up on day two of his mission. He should have known Lief is always around the corner, preventing him from fulfilling his purpose.

Elara was happy to have her friends with her. They played tag with the butterflies for a while, running around and laughing as they chased after the colorful insects. Everyone was laughing but Icarus, who was giving little to no effort to catch the butterflies. He was walking instead of running, and rolling his eyes every chance he got. Soon, Lief and Icarus began to argue. Icarus wanted to do something more exciting, something wild. He wants Elara to embrace the rush of adrenaline that comes from doing something crazy.

“Icarus, can’t you see that the little one is having fun?” Lief said, his voice gentle but firm.

“Fun? This is boring,” he said with a snort, crossing his arms.

“Why are you arguing?” Elara asked, realizing the tension between her friends.

Icarus and Lief looked at each other, then back at the little girl.

“We’re not arguing,” Icarus said, his voice smooth and coy. “We’re just discussing what game to play next.”

Lief smiled at Elara sweetly.

“Why don’t we play a game where we all have to work together?” he suggested. “We can build a fairy house for the butterflies.” Lief was being mean in his own way, knowing this game would bore Icarus more than the last.

Elara’s eyes lit up at the idea. She loves all things fairy, and Lief knew that. He loved seeing Elara smile, and honestly, so did Icarus, which was the only reason he wasn’t pitching a fit.

“That sounds like fun!” she said, clapping her hands.

Icarus rolled his eyes, but the corner of his lip curled up just slightly, knowing he was making Elara happy. She was growing a soft spot in his heart, one he needed to be careful of. Together, they built a small house out of sticks and leaves and decorated it with flowers and berries. The butterflies flew around them, adding their own touches to the house. As they finished, Elara looked up at Icarus and Lief.

“Thank you for playing with me,” she said, smiling. “I had so much fun.”

Icarus and Lief smiled back at her, feeling happy to have made her day. They knew that they would have their arguments, but they also knew that neither one of them would ever leave Elara’s side.

“I did too,” Lief smiled at her, patting her head kindly.

“Promise me next time we’ll play what I want?” Icarus asked her with a mischievous grin. Lief knew what he was trying to do, but before he could prevent it, Elara answered.

“Of course, Icky!”

“I wouldn’t make promises so lightly, little one. You must be careful what you promise others. You never know what hidden intentions they may have,” Lief warned her about the future.

“It’s okay, I trust Icky,” she smiled at the demon, causing his will to falter for just a moment. Would she still trust him if she knew what he really was?

“Very well, little one, until next time,” Lief patted her head again, but Elara surprised him by hugging him tightly where she could reach. He patted her back this time, enjoying the fact that she hugged him. He threw a wink at Icarus as if to say ‘haha, she hugged me and not you’.

“Where’s my hug, moon?” Icarus asked her, using the nickname he created for her when she gave him one.

“I didn’t think you’d want one.” Elara knew Icarus was not the most affectionate person.

“I’ll take a hug from you any day.”

Elara then ran to him and he caught her, letting her hug around his neck instead of his leg. Icarus gave Lief a wicked smirk as he held Elara tightly. Lief worried that perhaps he wasn’t doing his best at stopping Icarus’ plan. Elara seemed to get closer to him with each visit.

“Until next time.” They both said, disappearing into the air before her.

Elara wondered where they went when they were not by her side as she wandered back inside her home. Her stomach was growling, and she was ready to eat.