Kaelith stepped back, the spellbook still tucked under his arm. The fire in the hearth burned low, casting long shadows across the room. He'd planted the seed; now it was up to them to tend it. For the first time in days, he felt the weight lift—just a little.
- The Next Day -
The twin suns rose over Talsara, casting a warm glow over the village as it stirred to life.
Kaelith stepped out onto the porch, the words from the night before still echoing in his mind:
The Harvest Moon Festival had left the village in a gentle disarray—streamers drooped from poles, and the square was strewn with crumbs and trinkets.
The air carried the crisp scent of dew mingled with the lingering sweetness of baked goods.
He stretched, feeling the tension in his muscles ease, a cautious hope settling in his chest after facilitating the raw conversation between his parents, Talren and Veyra, about Talren's infidelity and Mira's pregnancy.
Before he could linger on the thought, a voice broke through the morning quiet. "Kael! There you are!" Lirien bounded up the path, her auburn hair bouncing wildly, green eyes alight with determination. "You're not dodging me today. You promised to teach me!"
Kaelith sighed, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Alright, alright. Let me just—"
"Chores can wait," she interrupted, crossing her arms and tapping her foot. "Magic can't."
He chuckled, relenting. "Fine. But we need a safe spot. Can't have you burning down the village."
She grinned, undeterred. "Deal."
They trekked to the clearing behind the cottage, where a gnarled oak stood, its bark still singed from Kaelith's own practice the previous night. The morning light filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Kaelith opened his spellbook, flipping to the section on basic fire magic—a skill he'd begun to master in this second life, despite the memories of his past one nagging at him.
"Let's start simple," he said, demonstrating. "Focus on the warmth inside you, then say, 'Ignis spherus.'" A tiny orb of fire flickered to life above his palm, steady and controlled.
Lirien mimicked his stance, her expression intense. "Ignis spherus," she muttered. A spark flared at her fingertips, then sputtered out. She scowled.
"Try again," Kaelith encouraged. "It's about feeling the heat, channeling it."
She nodded, jaw tight. "Ignis spherus!" This time, a flame erupted—too fast, too wild. It shot forward, igniting a bush in a crackling blaze.
"Whoa!" Kaelith yelped, hastily casting a water spell to douse it. Steam hissed as the flames died. "Okay, maybe a bit too much enthusiasm."
Lirien's shoulders slumped, her face crumpling. "I can't do it. It's too hard."
He rested a hand on her shoulder, his voice gentle. "It's not easy, Lirien. I struggled too, at first. It takes time."
She kicked at the dirt, frustration simmering. "Maybe magic's not for me."
Kaelith paused, considering her. He'd read stories of fiery spirits who struggled with the stillness magic demanded, only to find their strength in other ways. Perhaps Lirien was like that—someone whose fire burned brighter in action than in focus. "Well, there's more I can teach you," he offered. "How about some math or reading? Useful skills."
Her nose wrinkled. "Ugh, that sounds boring."
He laughed, undeterred. "Come on, let's try." They settled on a log, and he pulled a slate and chalk from his bag, scratching out a simple equation: 2 + 2 = ?
Lirien squinted, then scrawled "4." "There. Happy?"
"Good," he said, nodding. "Now, something harder." He wrote: 3 × 4 = ?
She hesitated, tracing the numbers with her finger before writing "12."
"Excellent!" Kaelith grinned. "You're getting it."
But Lirien was already fidgeting, her gaze drifting to the trees. "Can we do something else? This is making my head hurt."
He sighed, recognizing the restlessness—she wasn't built for stillness. "Alright, let's take a break. How about a game? Race to the stream and back?"
Her eyes lit up. "You're on!"
They bolted through the woods, laughter ringing out as they dodged branches and leaped over roots. Kaelith's vampire speed gave him an edge, but he slowed at the end, feigning a stumble to let her surge ahead. She reached the stream first, panting and triumphant. "I win!"
He grinned, catching his breath. "You sure did."
They sat by the water, dipping their feet in the cool current. Lirien glanced at him, a spark in her eye. "I might not be good at magic or math, but I'm fast. And strong."
Kaelith raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh yeah? Want to test that?"
She smirked. "Bring it on."
They stood, and she lunged, aiming to tackle him. Kaelith sidestepped, but she was quicker than he'd expected, grabbing his arm and twisting it behind his back.
"Hey!" he protested, caught off guard by her strength.
Lirien laughed, holding firm. "Gotcha!"