"Hey Rose, check out what I can do!" shouted Sphinx.
Rose turned toward Sphinx and took a step forward. Instantly, she fell upward. A few branches of Log-a-rhythm caught her as Sphinx burst into laughter.
"I'll get you back," chuckled Rose, starting to climb the branches in reverse.
In her miniaturized form, Sphinx sorsaulted through the air. Since she learned to manipulate gravity, it had beco one of her favorite gas. She created zones of weightlessness and played around with them. The two friends had a blast, especially with liquids. There was sothing incredible about bathing in a huge floating water sphere.
Suddenly, Rose exited the weightless zone, and gravity reversed. Startled, the teenager cried out and clung tightly to the branches to avoid falling to the ground. Hesitating for a mont, she decided to climb the tree. She had just been scared and wasn't quite ready to rejoin Sphinx. She was her friend, of course, but sotis the mythological girl was a tad too exuberant.
Or maybe it's just feeling lost...
Rose was weak, and she was aware of it. Even her friend's innocent gas reminded her of this. Since her arrival in Elysium, she had felt like a burden, incapable of helping or ensuring her own safety. This feeling bothered her. She wasn't as feeble as before, but the gap between her and the others wasn't narrowing. Quite the opposite, in fact.
To clear her mind, Rose smoothly scaled the Log-a-rhythm trunk. She relished in her newfound agility and the freedom the attribute provided her.
A few ters above the trunk, she caught a glimpse of Alain. Priam's father was kind, but more importantly, he was the only one not constantly reminding her of her own weakness. His pursuits were less aggressive than the others, and he put his skills to use for the community.
"Rose?"
Apparently, he had spotted her.
"Yes?"
"I've finished your treehouse. Would you like to see it?"
"Oh, yes!" exclaid the teenager.
Ten seconds later, she stood next to the old man, gazing at her new abode. Perched high on Log-a-rhythm, shielded from the forest by a few branches, a cabin made of wood and vines overlooked the clearing. Its brown hue blended well with the red of Log-a-rhythm, and a few rays of sunlight filtered through a skylight. On the simple door, a na was engraved. Rose.
The architect had outdone himself.
"I love it," she murmured, moved. "Thank you, Alain."
"It's my pleasure," smiled the old man. "A teen needs so personal space. Go inside and tell what you think."
Rose nodded. They had arrived just over a day ago, and the lack of privacy had been keenly felt. The space inside Log-a-rhythm contained only a living room and Priam's bedroom. Kazuki and Louis slept outside, and Alain took turns resting with the girls, but it wasn't sustainable in the long run. The group's handyman had thus decided to build cabins within Log-a-rhythm.
Pushing open the door, a simple yet cozy room greeted her. The treehouse couldn't have been more than ten square ters, but Rose didn't mind. It was hers.
A skylight and a window let in light, slightly tinted by the amber resin. Rose was surprised at how well she could see through them. The only piece of furniture was a bed, crafted by Alain and covered with red leaves. Stepping into the cabin proper, Rose looked down at her feet.
"The floor is warm!"
"Log-a-rhythm created a slab and heats it. I built the rest from salvaged wood and helped with the windows. The trickiest part was carving the door hinges," he explained.
"So, I can reach my room from anywhere?"
Alain smiled at the possessive use.
"Exactly. You're the only one who can enter your room from the trunk. The door is for guests and if you feel like climbing," winked Alain.
Rose smiled, sitting on the bed.
"Surprisingly comfortable for a pile of leaves."
"I'll do better when Priam brings back so silk," Alain said. His face lost its smile, and Rose scolded herself. I’m dumb!
"Sorry, I... He'll co back. Sphinx says he's immortal."
"A parent always worries."
The old man hesitated before continuing.
"And you, Rose. Are you doing well?"
The question caught Rose off guard, and she opened her mouth without answering. To others, she would have lied, but to Alain...
"I'm useless," she finally admitted.
Alain tapped the floor, and a stool sprouted. Perhaps because it sensed a blood connection, Log-a-rhythm listened to Priam's father more than anyone else.
Once seated, Alain offered a smile to Rose. "No one is asking anything of you, you know?"
"I know, and I hate it. I need to feel useful to be sure that..."
A tear rolled down Rose's cheek, and Alain remained silent.
"You're not my parents; you owe nothing. I'm afraid of being left alone..."
And I'm afraid of being abandoned. That's what Rose felt and what she was ashad to say.
"I'm not the best at reassuring people," Alain admitted after a few seconds of silence. "I'm not your father, but I won't abandon you. Neither will the others. We're a group now, and everyone likes you. They voted for you to have the first cabin, you know?"
Rose smiled weakly, looking at her hands. Just talking about her fears had lifted a weight off her.
"Thank you..."
"You're a smart girl, Rose," Alain said, rising. "I understand not wanting to feel useless, and I'm sure you'll find a way to help the group. If you need to talk, don't hesitate. At worst, I’ll make you help .”
“I would like that.”
Smiling, Alain left, closing the door behind him.
For a few minutes, Rose replayed the conversation in her mind several tis. Finally, she let out a deep sigh. Mom, Dad, I've found good people. If only you were here...
Rose looked up at the amber ceiling. The wind shifted a leaf, and a ray of sunlight montarily blinded her. Rose let herself fall onto the leaf mattress.
What can I do to be useful?
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