Rising Above: Chapter One: Part Two: That Night

Carly folded up her laundry and placed it in her drawers. Being a professor at the school gave her the privilege of a large apartment on Campus with her fellow professors. Her particular apartment included a small bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom and a little alcove, which she used for a den. 1

She had painted all the rooms in varying shades of red, orange and yellow for a fierier look. In her bedroom was a huge bay window over looking the field where her and Alasdair fought every morning before going to teach their respected classes. The ledge at the base of this window was where she sat now with her sketchbook and pens.2

For the past few nights she had been working on sketching the field with her and Alasdair both fighting in it. The sun had already set this night but in her sketch, it was just rising. The two sparred in the scene and neither was winning, as was typical.  Tonight, all she needed to do was add color. 3

In her mind she pictured Alasdair. His pale features, deep brown eyes and shocking blue hair, spiked to a perfect point. On the page that her hand rested on, his character came to life in living color, yet still stationary on the page. Next she pictured herself. Smooth black skin, Dark green, braided hair and deep set black eyes. Her own character matched the vibrant color, life and description of Alasdair. Though she was significantly shorter than him.4

Through this same technique she painted the rest of the picture through mind images and painting. The concept of it was a simple mind-thought word that transferred her energy, into color, color into page paints and brought it all to life. It was this same technique that she had used to paint her apartment and classroom on campus.5

Carly also taught this technique as the professor of art and design. Alasdair was the professor of combat and swordsmanship. Both were of the five highest ranking professors in the school. Along with, Professor Reapie, Professor Jonathon and Carly's worst enemy, Professor Keeran. He taught the dark arts of shape shifting and shadow melding.6

Professor Keeran had hated Carly since she had first begun working on campus. There was no particular reason that she could think of but, she accepted his loathing and moved on with her life. She had to put everything behind her tonight for tomorrow was Alasdair's 25th birthday.7

The painting she had slaved over for weeks was to be his present along with a homemade chocolate cake. His favorite. 8

Carly walked over to her desk and framed the painting and wrapped it in a tarp that Professor Reapie had waterproofed for her. The Campus weather director proclaimed it to rain the next day. After setting the present and the covered cake by the door for the morrow, she straightened her nightgown and doused the candle. 9

As soon as she had climbed into her makeshift bed and closed her eyes... She was asleep.10

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