A few years earlier
Aulora was curled up in a corner somewhere in one of the dark alleys of the academy. She had run out to the courtyard after a failed showcase by the top students. She almost burned down the hall where she was performing because she got carried away with happiness, and her flames burned stronger than she expected. Luckily, thanks to the water and healing magic teachers present, no one got hurt – but the young mage couldn't handle the pressure.
"Excuse me," a gentle adult male voice spoke from above her. "Could you show me the way to the showcase hall? This academy building is so huge I got completely lost," he added, laughing.
Aulora lifted her head from her knees. A gentle breeze lifted the grass, making it sway like it was singing a quiet, soothing lullaby. At first, she looked at him seriously, then burst out laughing. Rai's seemingly innocent question somehow broke through her, making the weight on her shoulders feel lighter.
"Sure," she said, trying to calm herself. "Um… what brings you here, mister?"
"Oh, my brother asked me to pick up his daughter after the show. I promised them a trip to the hot springs if she got good grades."
"I see," she replied, growing serious again. Her brief moment of happiness passed as quickly and unnoticed as it had appeared.
"Is everything alright? You look quite down."
"You would be too if you messed up one of the most important days of your life". Huh? Wait… how am I suddenly talking to him like he's an old friend? "I mean… you too, sir… eh, never mind."
"Can I?" Rai gestured to a patch of grass next to her.
Aulora nodded. Rai sat down beside her.
"Don't worry, you'll have plenty of chances to shine," he said, smiling genuinely at her. Aulora looked at him, surprised. What he said was obvious, but it only hit her now. "I'm a little older than you, so I know what I'm talking about. It might feel like your future's in ruins right now, but you'll get the chance to rebuild it – stronger and more beautiful than ever. You just need to light that spark again."
"S-spark?"
Rai, with a warm, wide smile, pointed at her flame-shaped pin.
"As a fire mage, you should know this best. A lot of people see you as just killing machines, but fire is also fireworks, the warmth of a campfire, a hot stove at home, a source of light."
"And you're saying this to someone who almost just burned down the whole hall? It's a good thing the teachers were there, otherwise I could've… I could've…," her lips trembling.
"You know", he said shyly, "you're going to make a lot more mistakes, big and small. Not because you're a bad person or because you can't do anything right. If you think about it, life's just a series of mistakes and accidents. Only a few good choices keep us going and make us want to move forward. That's just how it is. Some mistakes hurt more, but that doesn't mean they can destroy your whole path, right?… But maybe I'm talking nonsense, and it just feels that way to me", he added, chuckling softly.
His words made me feel so light, as if my sadness was already behind me, even though it had weighed on me just a moment ago. And he's doing it completely selflessly? I mean… I'm supposed to show him the way to the academy hall…
They heard the bells ringing.
"Damn, that's the signal. The best students' showcase is over, we have to go. The hall is…"
"…straight ahead and to the left," he finished for her. "Let's go, but first – do you know Neli from second year, the healer?"
He was just pretending! But why? To help me? There are hundreds of sad, poor people on the streets, he can't help them all. And yet…
"Yes, she's my closest friend," Aulora answered, surprised.
"Oh, perfect. She's my older brother's daughter. Our dad refused to go to the hot springs because of his age, but we booked six spots anyway, just in case. We were worried one might go to waste. Want to come with us?" he said as they walked toward the hall.
"R-really? I-if it won't be a b-bother to y-you" Aulora stammered shyly.
"Uncle Rai" Neli called. She was a tall blonde with big brown eyes. She ran up to Rai and hugged him. "Oh! And you found Aulora, my god, I was so worried about her!" she said, then walked up close to the fire mage. "You can't just run off like that without warning, you dummy! Half of the school was looking for you" she added, giving Aulora a little harder tap on the head.
"Ow! I was hiding behind… never mind."
"Wow, seriously, Uncle, you have a real talent for helping people like her" she said, then sighed in irritation.
"I guess like attracts like" Rai said, in a good mood, and gave a little laugh.
"That's right, ha ha. Oh, uncle Rai, I need to ask you this: can Aulora come with us to the hot springs? She's my close friend, and since a spot just opened up…"
"Yes, she already told me you are friends. So sure"
"Just promise me you'll say what's on your mind if something makes you uncomfortable, okay?" Neli said, tugging Aulora's hat down over her eyes. " Or ,should I hold your hand the whole time?"
"Stop it!" Aulora snapped, adjusting her hat. "I'm grown-up, I can handle things on my own!" she said, puffing out her cheek.
"Aww, you sounded like a cute kid, who thinks she's a big girl now", Neli said, and the three of them burst out laughing.
*
"Wake up, kiddo", Nevai shook her shoulder.
Aulora slowly opened her amber eyes.
What went wrong? she thought bitterly. How can I even look Neli in the eye? Rai… he died because of me.
"Get up, or we're leaving without you" Nevai said sharply.
"Take it easy on her," Haien responded. "She probably has no idea what she's doing here."
"Better hurry, if we want to get out of Atoria territory as fast as possible."
The fire mage slowly got up from the cold stone floor. Sleeping on the hard ground like this, it's a miracle she didn't catch a cold. She just sneezed once as she stood, then she, together with Nevai and Haien, walked out of the ruined house.
Aulora looked at the rising dawn. The red glow of the past night gently shifted into a pink curtain of day, then into the first hints of blue revealing the clouds above, reminding her of Rai's gaze.
I'll always remember you as a warm, kind person, Rai, even though I nearly died at your hands just a few moments ago. And I'll keep you in my heart as my friend. I know that on that hill, it wasn't really you. Someone forced you with magic, but that doesn't matter anymore.
What matters is that I couldn't save you.
I'm sorry, Rai.
I'm sorry, Neli.
"Ready?" Nevai asked, clearly irritated, watching Aulora stretch as she stood.
"Yes", she answered in a slightly better mood.
"Let's go then", Haien said, half-optimistically.
Aulora followed them, starting the journey toward the northeastern deserts.
A new chapter of my life begins.
A chapter where I don't even know if I can reignite any of the sparks I've lost these past few days.
I hope you're cheering me on from somewhere, Rai.
I promise, with my magic, I'll make the sky shine warm and bright again, bringing joy to people.
Just like your smile.