The art studio was warm, the golden light casting soft shadows across the walls adorned with half-finished paintings and colorful sketches.
Iridea sat at her desk, her chin resting on her palm as she gazed out the window, her mind far from the room. Her finger absentmindedly traced the Emotex Watch on her wrist, its surface smooth and cool against her skin.
The door swung open, and Ms. Prism, the art professor, entered with a stack of papers in her hands. She carried a calm, commanding presence, her sharp eyes scanning the room.
"All right, everyone," Ms. Prism called out, her voice firm yet gentle. "Before we start today's lesson, let's take attendance."
One by one, the students called out their names. Iridea barely paid attention. Her thoughts wandered to the lapel pin she had given Nullen, and the blank, cold look he had given her in return.
"Iridea Solenne?" Ms. Prism said, her eyes meeting Iridea's.
"Here," Iridea said, her tone flat.
Ms. Prism's gaze lingered for a second longer before moving on. "Today's topic is the History of Aurellia – The Age of Colors."
Ms. Prism tapped a button, and the projector lit up, displaying an image of Aurellia centuries ago , a world bathed in swirling, vibrant colors.
"In the early days of Aurellia, emotions weren't hidden," Ms. Prism began, her voice steady. "People wore their feelings openly, their skin shifting colors to match their emotions."
She clicked to the next slide, where the figures in the image had skins painted in radiant hues:
> Happiness made the skin glow a warm, golden yellow.
> Anger darkened it to an intense black.
> Sadness draped it in a gentle, melancholic blue.
> Love flushed the skin with a deep, passionate red.
"For centuries, this was normal," Ms. Prism continued. "Emotions were raw and visible, a natural part of life. But as society advanced, the transparency of emotions became a weakness."
The slide changed, showing a group of scholars with solemn expressions, their eyes fixed on glowing stones.
"This led to the rise of the Lucents, a group of scholars who believed that uncontrolled emotions made people easy targets for manipulation," Ms. Prism said. "To solve this, they developed the Chromeliths , rare stones capable of absorbing emotional energy and preventing it from showing as colors."
Another slide appeared, displaying the three types of gems:
> Duskstone: Fragile and affordable, accessible to the lower class.
> Auracite: More durable, suited for the middle class.
> Solargem: The strongest gem, reserved for the elite, capable of absorbing even the most intense emotions.
Ms. Prism's tone grew more serious. "These gems were embedded into everyday accessories: watches, necklaces, rings, and brooches , allowing people to hide their true emotions behind a polished surface."
The screen flickered, showing an image of a shattered Aurelith , its fragments glowing faintly.
Ms. Prism's voice echoed through the room. "Decades ago, the Lucents introduced the Gem Reclamation Protocol, a measure to maintain public safety."
Iridea leaned back, her eyes half-closed. She had heard this lesson so many times before.
"The reason for this protocol is simple , for safety and stability," Ms. Prism said, her tone firm.
The screen changed to a bustling city square filled with people. The next slide showed the same scene, but now the crowd was in chaos, colors swirling uncontrollably across their skin.
"If a gem shatters in public," Ms. Prism continued, "the emotional energy stored inside can spill out, creating what the Lucents call an Emotional Echo , a surge of intense emotions that can affect anyone nearby."
The next slide displayed a set of rules issued by the Lucents:
> Before a Gem Shatters:
- Users must immediately turn in gems nearing depletion.
- The Lucents will replace the depleted gem with a new one, preventing potential emotional chaos.
> Public Safety Advisory:
- Shattered gems release volatile emotional energy, causing an Emotional Echo.
- These echoes can linger, making people feel emotions that aren't their own: fear, anger, sadness , even if they have no reason to feel that way.
> Official Stance:
- "For your safety and the safety of all Aurellians, turn in your depleted gems. The Lucents will handle the safe disposal and replacement."
Ms. Prism paused, her gaze sweeping the room. "The Lucents say they're protecting us, but some believe they're keeping secrets. After all, what happens to the emotions they collect?"
Iridea sat back, her gaze fixed on the Emotex Watch on her wrist. It was still pristine , as if it had never been used. But her mind drifted to the shattered Aurelith she had hidden in her drawer.
If shattered gems were truly that dangerous, why hadn't she felt anything? Why hadn't anyone around her felt anything?
Her jaw tightened. Maybe the Lucents were exaggerating the threat, using fear to keep everyone in line. Or maybe they had another reason for collecting the gems.
Maybe they were hiding more than just emotional energy.