The journey to Rivington was surprisingly quiet. There was an occasional shrub monster or plant, but it was quickly resolved. I kept my eyes out for any disturbances or human interaction. I was coping, but I did hope to find Adrien on this trip. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. The group was tired; our last break was about 30 minutes ago. We settled for a quick break, and some students plopped down on the grass to rest. I also let my guard down, till one student sat on the grass and spewed a monster with vines. It grabbed the girl who, unfortunately, awakened it, and she howled.
Without considering anything, I swept in, pulled her by the waist, and spewed fire onto the monster. The girl thanked me and bowed once the plant monster scorched away. I let her go and told the other students to watch out where they sat. They all nodded. I returned to the leading group and sensed Jennifer staring at me. I looked back at her as she smirked.
"You know, you're not bad at pretending to be a hero."
"And you're not bad at pretending to care." I quickly retorted.
Ryder sighs as the other three awkwardly laugh. "Remind me to separate you two if we get stuck in a cave," he mutters.
After catching a break, we made our way to the final stretch. Morale was lifted once we saw the streaks of sea. Some picked up the pace, knowing it would be over soon. Eventually, we made it to Rivington, but it wasn't how we expected it to be. We were told that Rivington was bustling and known for its trading center. However, once we reached the gate, everything looked ruined. The gate is open, but no one is outside. Fishnets sway in the breeze as we look around at the shore. A boat drifts by, abandoned. The air is heavy with salt and static, like the world is holding its breath.
"Where is everyone?" one student comments.
"Maybe the fish finally unionized," Jennifer commented.
I ignored her comment and proceeded to scan around. Another student panics.
"Uh, we should leave this place, it doesn't seem useful to us now."
"No, go investigate the houses for valuables—I mean information," Jennifer demands. The student jumps, having to split. I look at her and shake my head.
"Let's not do that. We should all stick together."
"Oh, I'm starting to dislike you talking back to the leader."
"It's more like a suggestion. We don't know what's lurking around."
I noticed a torn and painted red flag with a salvage mark: two crossed harpoons.
"We might not be alone, folks," I cautioned.
That's when several men and women ambushed us. Wood creaks, nets rustle. A blade scrapes against stone. From alleys, rooftops, and crates, at least 10 pirates step out. Sunburned skin, patchwork armor, and harpoons slung over their backs. Their leader, a towering woman with a metal jaw and fake golden eye, steps forward.
"You picked the wrong beach to bleed on." The woman lets out.
All the students instinctively raised their weapons. Jennifer looks on, her eyes narrow.
"Enemy NPCs. This simulated world finally gives us an obstacle."
"Sim or not, they've got numbers and positions. This is a trap." Ryder adds as he pulls out his weapon. A guitar that has a blade's edge to it. I guess he bought that earlier.
I lowered the flag slowly, stepping to the front. "We're not looking for a fight."
"Too bad. We are. New blood always brings new toys," their leader mocks.
She gestures, and two of her crew yank a student's satchel from the rear. A girl yells, stumbling forward.
"Hey! That's mine!"
"It was. We're redistributing wealth." The thug says. Laughter breaks out. One salvager spits at my feet.
"This is a physical exam. Suppose you're programmed to test us, fine. But hurt anyone, and we end the script early."
The leader laughs. "Oh, you sweet summer code. This isn't a test; this is your lesson. Out here? You either fight, ot get buried in the sand." She draws a jagged hook-blade. The pirates begin to circle.
"Well, if this is a morality puzzle, I'm failing on purpose." Jennifer scoffs as she readies to attack, her hands ready to charge out.
"Fall back. Create a wide perimeter. Watch the roofs." I said firmly as I ready myself.
I hear one student yell. "Why should we listen to you?"
I don't answer. I swat my arms to ignite my flames.
"Last chance. Walk away." I issued to the leader.
She grins as she raises her blade. "No gods. No rules. No respawn," she charges.
The Pirate leader swings her hook downward, aimed right for my skull. I sidestep with time and grab her wrist mid-swing and slam my fist into her ribs with explosive force. A crack of heat radiates from the point of impact. The shockwave of fire ripples outward, sending two nearby pirates stumbling back. I heard my fellow students gasp.
"He knocked three out!"
"Un-armed too!"
Jennifer looks at me, surprised as she speaks low to herself.
"He doesn't need weapons..."
I steadied my breath. Calm, controlled, my hands glow with embers, burning hotter with every movement. A second pirate rushed toward me with a spear. I spin low, planting my feet, and uppercutting the attacker's chin. Fire erupts from my knuckles, sending the goon flying into a hanging net, entangled and stunned. I called out to the others. "Cover the flanks! Form a V-shape! Keep a distance between each other!" Some students move on instinct. Others hesitate until Ryder backs me up with a blast of sonic force that disorients three pirates.
"You heard him! Spread and hit smart!"
The conflict grows as more students perform defensive maneuvers. Jennifer watches from the rear, casting a mirror-wall illusion that accidentally causes two pirates to swing at phantom students. Andrew shields the front left with his earth element, protecting a panicked healer. One student panics and runs, an opportunity arises, and a pirate throws a harpoon straight at them. I quickly shook off my current adversary and blocked the harpoon with my bare forearm, fire bursting at the moment of contact. I wince, but I don't fall.
As more enemies close in, I can feel my heartbeat spike. A purple haze creeps at the edge of my vision. For a second, just a second, my pupil narrows, and heat cracks the ground beneath me. "...Back. OFF!" I slam both fists into the dirt. A ring of fire erupts outward, not enough to kill, just enough to scatter, frighten, and claim space. The ground scorches in a flaming arc, forming a makeshift perimeter. Silence falls, just for a breath. Even the pirates pause.
"Is he... part demon or something?" A student asks, awestruck.
Jennifer answers promptly, coldly, but not without respect. "No. He's just pissed."
The battlefield in Riverton is still brightly active. The air crackles with residual heat from my fire ring. Jennifer steps forward, just far enough for everyone to see her. Her voice is smooth as she projects. "Well. I suppose if the boys are done throwing fire tantrums..." She flicks her wrist—a shimmer of violet light slices the air. Suddenly, four identical Jennifers appear, walking in perfect step. "Let me show you how illusions are done." The clones split and vanish into different corners of the street. Each throwing off false sounds, fake spell flashes, and phantom movements. Ryder notices this and quickly ducks behind a crate. "Here we go..."
Jennifer snaps her fingers. Behind the pirates, a false inferno erupts, identical to my earlier fire down to the texture and radius. Several pirates fall back, shouting in confusion. "He had backup! There's another firecaster!"
"They can't tell what's real. Use it!" Jennifer yells at the group. Some students cheer. Others glance between her and me. Uncertain, but impressed. One pirate stabs a phantom student, only for the real one to flank and knock him out. A decoy me slams the ground again, causing two pirates to flee the perimeter entirely. Jennifer disguises two injured students as rubble, shielding them until healers reach them. For a moment, I felt it, Jennifer standing in the center of it all, bathed in the glow of her own spectacle. I watch from the edge, amazed by her own ego.
Ryder rushes next to me, standing beside me. "She's doing it again," he lowers.
"Trying to turn the fight into a stage," I reply.
"It's the only way she feels seen," Ryder replies solemnly.
I watch from afar. Calculating, not judging. She's not wrong to help. She just doesn't know how to do it without taking control. As a pirate lunges for a stunned student, Jennifer panics, not for show, and throws a distortion burst that visually warps the attacker's field of vision. The pirate misses completely and falls flat. It's not elegant. It's not flashy. But it saves someone. The student stares up at her, trembling. "Thanks..." Jennifer stares back, surprised, then nods once, awkwardly.
The sun sets off from its peak in the sky. Illusions dance, students scatter in a coordinated fight, and my fire continues to heat the battle. The pirates are on the back foot, but not defeated. The pirate leader, recovering from the earlier blow, rallies three heavy-armed brutes. She snarls, pointing at me. "Take the fireboy down! NOW!" The three salvagers rush me from different angles, one from above. I exhale slowly. My hand flickers, then ignites. For a moment, I'm still. Then, movement.
I sidestep the first attack and shoulder-slam him into a wall. The stone blackens. The second swings a club. I catch the weapon with my hand, my palm sears, and I grit my teeth, sweat flicking from my brow. With a growl, I punch the ground, and a fiery wave explodes outward in a crescent, knocking all three back. My flames usually retract, but this time... the fire doesn't. They linger, curling up my arms like molten veins. Oh no, it's happening...
My vision begins to blur. My heart rate quickens unnaturally. I feel my skin sizzle where the fire licks too long. Not now...not now...hold it together... From that point, I heard the faintest hint of an echo in my mind. It was calm and smooth—"Burn brighter..." I shake it off. No. Not yet. Jennifer notices me staggering, just for a second.
"Hey! Hero! You're burning yourself!" She calls out.
"I can handle it!" I say with panting breaths, still upright.
Ryder glares at Jennifer with a worried face. "No, he can't."
Jennifer growls. She casts an illusion behind Daniel, a cooling field of fake water mist that bluffs the pirates into thinking I'm about to launch a steam blast. They fall back instinctively, buying me time. The salvager leader roars and charges me once more, blade raised. She's faster this time, desperate to end me. I clench both fists, and my flame flickers violet for a moment. "Don't you dare—!" I sidestepped at the last second and landed a brutal burning uppercut to her jaw.
She's launched off her feet and crashed into a water barrel, her figure glitches flickering as her form destabilizes. Then, she vanished into sparks. The remaining pirates froze, then dropped their weapons and scattered. I stumble back, flames retracting slowly. My arms are raw and steaming. I drop to one knee, breathing heavily. Ryder and the other prominent group members swarmed me.
"Idiot. You could've cooked yourself alive." Yuife concerns herself.
"Worth it..." I grin weakly.
"Next time, let us help," Ryder says as he helps me up.
"I'll think about it..."
The other students who weren't injured scattered throughout the rest of the town. Evening arrives afterward. Our group has made camp just outside Riverton, near a cliffside. Simulated stars blink overhead. A fire crackles in the center, surrounded by weary students. Some are eating. Others patch wounds or rest. I sat down near the flames, bandaged but quiet. My hands were loosely wrapped. Jennifer sits a few feet away, her legs pulled up, and her arms around her knees. Ryder plays soft chords on his guitar-blade, half-tuned, half-therapeutic.
"He really took all of the down with just his fists?" Yufie whispers.
"He almost burned out. You saw his arms." Leon answers.
"He's like... not even scared," Zack announced in awe.
I let them talk about me without a response. I stare at the flames, blinking slowly. The area turns silent for a moment. Then Jennifer breaks the silence.
"You know, if you die during a school exam, I'm pretty sure that will result in a poor score."
I don't look at her, but I smirk faintly. "I'm aiming for extra credit."
"Pretty sure that's how you get expelled and immortalized," Ryder adds without looking up from his guitar.
A few chuckles from the group, and the tension begins to lift. Jennifer glances at my wrapped hands. Her voice lowers.
"You shouldn't have pushed that hard. We had it handled."
"You didn't see what I saw," I say as I turn to meet her gaze.
"No. I did. I just didn't...feel it like you do." She pauses, fiddling with a burned piece of rope.
"I'm starting to hate that."
"Don't. That's where it starts." I spoke gently.
She looks at me, confused.
"Change."
She doesn't understand, but I think she wants it to stay that way. Some rocks are best left unturned. Ryder strums a slow, calming melody. He nods toward me.
"Play us something next time, yeah? Before you set your own hands on fire."
"You want a fire solo?"
"Only if it doesn't end with a medical report."
Zak tosses another log into the fire. Sparks swirl upward like falling stars. Jennifer watches the flame flicker quietly, like a secret.
"Next time... I'll cover your back."
The following words I said were without looking at her. "You already did."
_____________________________________________________
Later that evening, the sun had set, and the others were asleep or resting. The campfire had burned low. I sat slightly apart from the group on a flat rock near the cliff's edge, overlooking the simulated sea. I flexed my hands, burnt and bandaged, still trembling faintly—the wind whistled. Simulated waves crashed below. I stared at my palms, then closed my eyes. I recalled the moment during the fight when I heard that faint voice.
My heart raced, and the beats deafened as I heard that voice. "Burn brighter..." I remember the words as if they were spoken behind my eyes: no mouth, no breath, just presence.
"Let it consume. Let it prove you."
I jerked my eyes open. Breathe quickly. The flame on my fingertips flickers for a faint passing, even though the fire is long gone.
"That wasn't mine. That voice.. It wasn't mine."
I say that to help myself, but who wouldn't know their own voice? It was lower and smoother. I swallowed air as I clenched my fists, suppressing the flicker. My arms ache, and my back is damp with cold sweat. Not now. Not again. You're not him. You're not—the flame dies. I exhale—one long, slow breath. Then, I look up to the sky. ...Who the hell are you? No answer. Just wind. I stayed up for a while longer before I went to bed—thoughts swirling till I was able to concentrate on my breathing and the wind, till I passed out.
I open my eyes to see a gray room. Nothing's there, pure silence, then suddenly, the heart beats. I blinked and stood suddenly in Riverton. There was no one. The buildings are ash statues, and the ocean is frozen. Time doesn't flow here; it drips. I walk barefoot through the main street. My clothes were scorched. Blood drips from my hands, but there's no pain. I spot the pirate leader, still burning, crawling toward me. Her eyes glow violet.
"You're not the hero. You're the signal fire... You burn so others know where to die." She crumbles to dust.
The scene changes. I'm in my old village. Homes burning, bodies lying across the street. Smoke coils around my ankles, climbing my legs like shackles. I turn—a figure stands in the firelight. Vague. Cloaked in black flame. His silhouette moves like mine, but it's wrong. Broken at the joints. Too tall.
"You called me." Its voice was smooth, inhuman.
I staggered. "I didn't—"
"You burned. I came. That's how this works."
The figure reaches up—his face is mine, but older. Hollow eyes. A grin full of shadow.
"You pretend it's justice. I know it's grief."
The flames around me rise. A massive violet eruption shaped like a burning demonic hand erupted from the ground, flames encircling the doppelganger.
"Say the word, and we'll finish what you started."
I find myself stumbling backward, fire cracking beneath his feet. The air grows hotter.
"Get out of me. You're not me."
"Not yet." Then the figure lunges right at me.
I bolt upright in my bedroll near the cliff. Breathing heavily. Hands are smoking faintly. The air around me is warmer than it should be. A few embers drift off my fingertips and vanish. I need to find Adrien before it gets worse. I glance toward the horizon—dawn rising, orange bleeding over the ocean. I take a moment to recuperate and then prepare myself for the day. Most of the students have gone into the village to scout. The ones in the camp are a couple of students attending to Jennifer. I frown seeing that. I guess she hasn't changed.
As I was about to approach her, a lanky boy from the town ran back to us, panting.
"I found something! Tucked in a broken birdhouse on the north end."
The group gathers. I step forward, rubbing sleep from my eyes.
"What is it?"
He holds out a note. "Could be nothing. Could be something. But it's recent. Less than a day."
Jennifer looks at the note as he holds it out. "Is it another tutorial message or a buggy prompt?"
The student shakes his head. "It's handwritten. Human. Not system-generated."
I took the note.
"A small group passed through. Heading north, toward the mountains.
Too many beasts near the coast.
Stay quiet. Move at dawn.
—A."
I stare at the last line. My grip tightens. I feel Jennifer reach for the note. I hand it to her and she reads it over.
"A... they couldn't spell out their whole name?" She questions.
"It's him."
Jennifer looks up at me and raises a brow. "Him? Who's him?"
"A guy I know I can count on," I reply instantly.
"You sure? Could be anyone... there's not much to go on."
"No one else signs their notes with just a letter unless they're being watched. It's him."
Silence. Jennifer doesn't push further.
I grabbed the note from Jennifer, who looked momentarily displeased before passing. I folded the note and slid it into my jacket.
"We should head north. Now."
"What? But what if it's a decoy? Or a trap?" says a student.
I shake my head. "It's not, and if it is, we spring it together. But if Adrien's out there, he's not facing it alone." I look over to the student, then back to Jennifer with a stern conviction. Jennifer's eyes linger, and she gets up and sighs.
"You're chasing a ghost. You know that, right?"
"Maybe. But he's my ghost."
She watches him for a moment longer, then sighs. "Fine. North it is. But I will haunt you in the academy if I—we, die out there."
I smirk. "You'd be the first honest ghost I've met."
We waited until everyone arrived back at camp. There, we told everyone our current plan. Most people agreed, and some tried opposing the idea and wanted to return to Kurtz, but were quickly swatted down. With Jennifer's help, we chose to go north quickly. The only time I'd support her behavior. We waited till dawn, dismantled our camp and prepared to leave. The cart was filled, and Jennifer hopped on the horse. With everything settled, we made our way north.
The road along the way was quiet, with only the sounds of cicadas and wind blowing through. A single lamp that sits below the horse's neck illuminates our way. Sets of broken branches to the side of the path. I noticed a single footprint in the mud, half-faded, smaller than his but deeper than a child's. We found a campfire ring that had long since cooled as we continued. Ashes swept aside intentionally.
"He's covering his tracks well." Ryder notices.
"He always did hate being followed."
We continued forward. All fiber of my being tells me that Adrien has done all this. He's clever and cunning. Leon joked about forming a club as we continued: "Reyes' Runaways." The group chuckles. At the rear, a girl with the wind element uses her abilities to scatter leaves across the trail behind us, erasing their path. Jennifer notices and smirks.
"Clever. You might just earn credit for camouflage."
The girl grins. "Only if you stop narrating everything like it's a theater audition." She realizes what she says by covering her mouth.
Jennifer's eyes widened, and then she laughed, light and unguarded.
Is that humility in her, I see? It surprised me, but it's nice to see. We marched onward until we hit a bridge. This bridge was very narrow with a steep drop and a frayed wooden surface. Wind howls through the trees. I kneel and inspect the structure.
"Still sturdy, but we should go one at a time. No talking. Don't look down."
Each student crosses with care. The wind girl uses her powers to levitate the horse and carriages. The horse was surprisingly calm as it was moved from one end to the other. One of the last students gets nervous as she begins to panic. I step in behind her, helping and holding her by the shoulders. "It's okay, take deep breaths, one foot at a time." I can see a faint blush as she looks up at me. She gathers her courage and moves. She successfully gets across and hugs another student in fear.
I smirked as I went to cross the bridge next. Luckily, I'm not afraid of heights, or else this would have been an out-of-body experience. As I made it halfway, a strange silence flowed in the wind. Then, a large thud. A figure drops from the trees behind me. Clad entirely in black, movements silent, face completely featureless, like a mannequin made of shadows. I turn, startled. The figure lifts one hand. A blade of obsidian energy flashes into existence. I furrowed my eyes as I stared into the face of the abyss.
Then, a slash. The figure cuts through the ropes of the bridge like butter. With simultaneous snaps, the bridge buckles. I tried to run to the others, but I was too late. The boards vanish beneath his feet, falling straight into the flowing river. I heard a bunch of screams as I fell. Then, nothing. I woke up later on. Washed up on a muddy bank, coughing up river water. My arms were scraped, and my side throbbed. The fire in my veins felt dim.
I push myself up to my knees, drenched and shivering.
"Great... just my luck for this exam..."
The air was dead silent. No sounds, not even the wind dared to make any. I checked the gear from my backpack that I had bought earlier. Nothing. I noticed gaping holes from tear marks. No food, no equipment, or tools. Just my body, and whatever flame I can call. After being disappointed, I started walking. Walked between trees that fell too close together, on earth that squelches with every step. Hours pass, and the forest doesn't open. I see no sky—only shifting green and flashes of darkness between trunks.
That's when I heard footsteps that weren't mine. I stop, turning sharply.
"...Show yourself."
Finally, the faceless figure stands waiting in a small clearing carpeted with moss. Same black cloak. Same void-face. But now, no weapon. Just standing. I catch my breath as I step forward cautiously.
"You. You cut the bridge."
No answer.
"Why? What do you want?"
Still nothing.
Then, the figure raises a hand, pointing to my chest.
"What... do you want from me?" I say, almost pleading.
The figure steps forward, then another, and stops three feet away. It slowly raises its fist, clenching it. That's when I realized this isn't a threat. It's a mirror, a challenge. This thing wants to fight me, not for victory, but for conviction. Almost on cue, mist coils along the forest floor like snakes. The sky above is gray, flickering like a corrupted screen. I stand, fist clenched. Across from me, the faceless figure was unmoving. The air between us hums with unseen tension.
"You want a fight? Fine." I say, breathing hard.
The figure lowers into a stance, my stance.
I ignite my fists, and the flame bursts weakly, but enough. I charge. Going for a right hook, but the figure matches my blow. Our knuckles collide, causing sparks to burst. I go for another punch with my other hand, and the figure does the same. With each punch I throw, the figure meets it with its own. Every punch is returned, every dodge is mirrored. I grit my teeth in frustration.
"What are you?"
The figure didn't speak, but answered with its fists. I grow angry and impatient. I find myself trying to hit the figure faster. With each connected punch, the figure stumbles, then splits for a second, revealing images flickering beneath its skin. Images I know clearly. Burning homes, a younger me, clutching the hands of a lifeless body. That body was instantly recognizable. I hesitate, then grit my teeth. The figure stands as a voice appears in my head.
"You burn for ghosts. What will you do when there's no one left to save?"
I growl and swing again. The flames lash higher. The anger is getting the best of me.
I punch hard, too hard. Fire blasts from my palm and scorches the figure... but also recoils to my arm.
"Ghh—!"
I drop to one knee, cradling my arm. The skin sizzles beneath the wrap—my body trembles. The fire is hungry. The figure tilts its head, curious.
"You think fire is your weapon, but it's only your leash."
The clearing darkens. The forest fades. Only fire remains, spiraling around me like chains. There, I see a vision. The group I was in, dead, Ryder's blade snapped, then I saw Adrien lying on the floor, his eyes empty. I couldn't help but gasp.
"You couldn't even protect the ones who followed you. Why should you be the one to rise?"
I feel myself screaming. My spirit trembles, then I remember the small moments. For the short time we were together, I remember the laughs and smiles on everyone's faces. It fueled me with determination. With strength. I clench my burned fist. It shakes, but it ignites.
"I'm not burning for ghosts. I'm burning to live."
I launch one final punch, and the fire is focused and controlled. It's still windy and dangerous, but it's still mine. The fist lands, and with a loud crack, the figure explodes into ash and flame, scattering like dead leaves in the wind. I collapse to one knee. The forest returns to stillness. No more illusions. No more whispers. Just me, and a rising flame inside me, my own. I stagger, breathing shallow, my whole body trembling from exhaustion and burn trauma. I collapse to the floor, slumping on my side.
As my vision fades at the edges, color desaturates, and movement slows, I hear footsteps, a light crunching of leaves, fast and urgent. Through blurred eyes, I spot a feminine silhouette emerging from the treeline. Her hair catches the light, soft, loose, and unfamiliar. She's not from the group. She gasps and drops to her knees beside me.
"Hey, no, no, don't go unconscious. Just stay awake, okay?"
Her voice is distant, but not cold. Concerned. Grounded.
"...Adrien...?" I call out weakly.
"No, but I've got you."
She places a hand on his shoulder: warmth, not elemental, but human.
As my eyes close, she seems to yell something inaudible from another direction. Her face is just out of focus. Her presence is unfamiliar yet comforting. Then, darkness.
________________________________________________
I found myself lying on a soft surface. I blinked and found myself on a bedroll. My body aches, and my hands and arms are re-bandaged. A faint warmth presses against my skin, a light elemental salve still glowing where wounds haven't fully sealed. I sit up slowly. Outside, I hear hammering, laughter, and someone shouting about "stupid tree physics." It's peaceful; it feels alive. I blink against the soft light filtering through the canvas walls—the flap rustles. Someone enters.
A girl with pink hair stepped in. Wearing the school uniform, her hair was tied loosely back. She did not have a badge or team crest. Her expression was focused and calm. She was a beauty. She held a bucket of water and a blanket. She saw me awake and froze for a half-second, startled.
"You're up," she says softly.
"Yeah. Feels like I got hit by a mountain." I groaned.
I try to sit up. She steps in to help, steadying me with one hand on my shoulder. Our eyes meet, and her eyes widen. She looked familiar, but I couldn't put a finger on it. She pulls her hand back quickly, blinking.
"You okay?" I questioned, tilting my head.
She nods, composed. "Fine. Just... wasn't expecting you."
She hands me some water. I take it, confused but grateful.
I look out of the slit in the tent. "What is this place? A camp?"
She nods. "Yeah, all students. Wanted to make something that lasts. Not just survive, but stay sane."
I chuckle. "Sounds like something a real leader would say."
She doesn't reply, just gives me a small smile.
"You helped me once. You probably don't remember."
I raise a brow. "...I don't, sorry."
She shrugs as she shakes her head. "You didn't have to. That's what stuck."
I blink, unsure what she means. Maybe I've helped her when I was with Adrien doing that work for the police? I've helped many people, though; none were as beautiful as her. I'd think I would remember saving her, but nothing comes to mind. She sets the blanket beside me and meets my gaze with a gentle smile.
"Get some rest. I'll show you the camp when you're ready." She says as she turns to go.
I call out to her. She pauses and looks back at me.
"Hey... what's your name?"
Her face of curiosity turned into another gentle smile. It shook me to my core.
"Sera." She says gently before leaving the tent.
"...Sera..."
I spent the rest of that morning recuperating and attempting to recall this 'Sera' girl. Nothing seemed to land. After about an hour, I stopped trying to remember as it started hurting my head. Mid-morning, the forest camp is in full motion. Students chop wood, reinforce shelters, cook food, and barter supplies. It's the second exam day, and alliances were made and continued to be reinforced. I step out from the tent, moving slowly but steadier than before. My bandages are tighter now, and my breath is more even.
I spot Sera helping some students out. She spots me and approaches.
"Huh, figured you'd try walking before someone said you should."
I grinned slightly. "I'm not great at waiting around."
She smiles. "Then let's walk."
We walked and talked. Sera showed me and pointed out locations from this camp, including key zones like water collection, a small mess area, and a healing post. Students nodded as she passed. Some deferred naturally. Others hovered nearby, trying to listen in without being obvious. I listened to her, trying to absorb it all, noticing the group's unspoken respect for Sera. I see some male students near a supply station pause to watch us. They're whispering to each other about something that I can't pick up. I was brought back by Sera and laughed it off, rubbing the back of my neck. The group of boys mutters more quietly, glancing at each other.
We pause briefly, letting myself take in the sounds of the camp. I look over to Sera, then back at the camp.
"Some of these people look at you like you built the whole place."
Sera shrugs. "I didn't. I just asked questions no one else wanted to. And I got loud when it mattered."
I smirk. "That'll do it."
We stopped by a raised lookout post. The view overlooks the valley they crossed.
"Five days left. And we're running out of easy answers."
"Good thing I'm not here for easy."
She glances at me sideways, studying me again. "No. You're not."
We smile at each other, then we move on to the following location: a shaded corner of the camp where a few students tend a medicinal garden built into an old grove. Logs are arranged in a circle, and a small crate of books and supplies is nearby. Sera guides me toward the grove. She slows her pace and glances sideways.
"There's someone I want you to meet. Well, re-meet."
I raise a brow and enter. Another girl sits on a log, tending to bandage strips and herbs. She's tall, composed, and quite confident in her posture. She looks up as we approach, her eyes amber with color. Her eyes narrow. Then they widen.
"Holy shit, it's you."
I tilt my head, puzzled. "Uh, have... we met?"
The girl stands and walks closer, still staring. Then, she glances at Sera and gives a small laugh.
"You really haven't told him yet?" she asks Sera.
Sera smiles faintly. "No, I figured I'd let you enjoy it."
The girl begins to circle me, teasing as she stops before me.
"The day before the exam. You saved some vigilantes from some burglars. Remember Pantera and Endure?"
Those names hit like a brick. It was those girls. I was with Olivia and Adrien. It all came back to me. "Ohhh! I remember now!"
Endure nods. "You remember now? Geez, it took you long enough."
"Well, the two of you were wearing masks... Wait, are you sure you should tell me this?"
Sera steps forward, standing beside Endure. "We trust you not to tell. Also, we're stopping all that for a while."
We conversed for a while longer. I learned Endure's real name, like her eyes, she's called Amber. Amber joked about how 'heroic' I was that day, like some cartoon hero coming to save the distressed damsels. Sera didn't find it all amusing, but I did. I enjoy helping people. It also helps me feel safe. We talked more.
"I never forgot your face, not after that." Amber chimes.
I look between them, processing it all. "I was just trying to do the right thing."
Sera looks at me softly. "And now we're trying to do the same."
She sits beside Amber, and I slowly join them. The breeze shifts, and the grove is quiet. For a moment, it feels like the three of us were always meant to reconnect like this. We were missing one. I sigh.
"I'm glad you found each other here. I'm still searching for my buddy."
"Is he the other boy who was behind you that day?" Sera asks.
I nod. "Yep, He was the one who told me not to get involved. I did anyway. He didn't stop me."
Amber smirks. "Smart boy. Brave too, if he ran with you at first."
I pause. "...His name is Adrien. Have you seen him?"
They both shake their heads in unison. "No, we haven't," Sera replied.
I look down at the ground. "He's my best friend."
"He's out there somewhere. Left me a note. Said he was headed north. I don't know how far ahead he is, but... I can't let this exam end without finding him."
A long pause forms, then Sera nods, like something just clicked into place.
"Then we'll help."
I turn to them, surprised. "Ah, you don't have to—"
"Of course we do. You helped us when you didn't have to. Now, when you need help, we'll come to help." Amber says, cutting me off.
Sera stands up, determination resting on her face. "We've got a strong camp. Supplies. People who trust us. If anyone can reach him, it's us."
I stare at them, overwhelmed for a moment, but grateful.
"Thank you, really." I smile faintly as I lower my head to them.
Sera gets surprised and tells me to raise my head. I comply.
"Don't thank us yet. We must still catch up to a boy who's always two steps ahead."
We take the next day to do some scouting. In a shaded area near the edge of the camp, A crude map of the surrounding terrain is spread over a flat rock. Three makeshift markers, scrap metal tokens, are arranged along a path winding toward the northern ridge. I crouch beside the map, pointing to the last marked campsite before the mountains.
"This is where the trail started thinning. Adrien's note said they were headed north through mountain terrain. That's likely this upper section."
Amber nodded. "Then we cut through here. It could take a couple of hours if we travel smart."
"Longer if we run into salvagers or hazards," Sera added, crossing her hands.
"I'd bet Adrien already figured that. He might've left more signs along the path." I said quietly.
"Then we follow the same rhythm: dawn movement, quiet travel, avoid main roads," Sera adds as she points through trees and other similar structures.
We had a plan. Now, it was time to prep. Amber volunteered to coordinate supplies like rations, field kits, and a compass shard. Sera planned a route through the less-populated forest routes to avoid groups who might slow them down. I offered to scout ahead when we traveled. I'll use my instinct and flames to uncover any traps or obstacles. As we finalized plans, Sera folded the map and handed me one of the markers they'd used.
"You were the one who uncovered him before. You should lead us." Sera states.
I take the marker, surprised. "I'm used to being the one who runs ahead. Not the one others follow."
Amber smiles. "Get used to it."
I smiled back. We bumped fists over the folded map, a small but meaningful pact. I look back to see some students watching us from a distance. They jumped at the sudden notice, and they scattered. This may not end well. We pass the time by getting to know each other more. Sera and Amber told me their likes and dislikes and showed their elements. Amber has the elements of Strength and Metal, while Sera has the elements of Light and Angel. When Sera said hers, my eyes widened. She's the complete opposite of me.
I wondered what she'd do if I told them my elements. Well, I opened up about myself as well. I kept the fact that I had the element of Demon from them, of course, but they looked at each other with a worried look for a moment when I said Dark. They seemed okay with it afterwards, I guess they trust me. I'm not gonna take that for granted. We kept talking till evening. As we packed up and got ready, two students, one with a bandaged leg, the other helping him walk towards us.
"Wait. You're leaving? All three of you?" The bandaged student says sharply.
"For a few hours, a day at most. It's a scout trip." Sera explained calmly.
"Yeah? Well, who's supposed to lead this place while our 'scout team' wanders off on a personal mission?" The other student asks.
More heads turn now. A dozen students nearby stop what they're doing, listening.
"We're not abandoning the camp, but my friend's out there. I need to find him," I say with a steady voice.
The bandaged kid challenges me. "And what about Us? You think this place holds itself together? You think people stay civil because it's easy?"
"We built this camp to share stability. Not hoarding it." Amber affirmed.
The second student points at me. "You show up out of nowhere, and our leaders start following you like you're some fireborn messiah? What's up with that?"
The crowd murmurs. Some sympathetic. Others skeptical. I look around, faces I barely know, but who watched me bleed fire and come back standing? I take a breath.
"I never asked anyone to follow me. But I'm not staying here just because it's safe."
"Then you don't get to take our leaders with you!" The bandaged student yells.
Sera speaks up firmly. "We're not your leaders."
Silence. Amber steps beside her.
"People are watching, yeah. But if all we do is 'survive,' then we're no better than the people of this world."
The crowd murmurs with rising tension. We are grouped against the students. Their side is arguing. Some are defending our mission, while others are demanding that they stay. The atmosphere crackles with uncertainty. A new voice cuts through what felt like an eternity of back-and-forth, silencing everyone.
"Let them go."
Heads turn to stage left. A tall boy steps forward from the back of the crowd. His hair is neatly combed, his uniform is tailored to the cuffs, and his posture is calm and deliberate. His eyes are sharp but smiling.
His tone is warm, measured, and controlled. "If they want to scout ahead and help a missing teammate, that's noble. And if they trust us to hold the camp, we should honor that."
I lean towards Amber and whisper. "Who's that?"
Amber also looks unsure. "I think his name's Malik. He's been quiet till now."
I turn back to Malik, and I study his face.
Malik gets between us and turns to the crowd. "We can't build anything here if we don't trust each other. This camp isn't about three people; it's about all of us. So I'm willing to step up."
Malik turns to us and smirks. "Go find your friend. We'll manage things here. I'll ensure the food keeps coming, the posts stay guarded, and the rules stay fair." He claps his hands once, firmly.
He turns back to everyone. "Anyone not pulling their weight reports to me. We'll hold the line till they're back."
The students look at each other, and some even clap. I continue to observe him. Sera tilts her head—something doesn't sit quite right, but there's no apparent reason to object.
I walk up to Malik and talk to him in a low voice. "Are you sure about this?"
Malik turns his head to me and smiles. "Someone has to lead. Don't worry, your fire lit the way. I'll keep it burning."
I hesitated for a second. I thought I saw something sinister in him, but I was also not in my right mind. I push those thoughts away, nodding at him slowly, still unsure. With everything settled, we headed out. I'm coming, Adrien...
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As they leave, Malik watches them go, his eyes darkening slightly, the smile lingering too long.
"Now... let's see what they built... and how easily it burns."
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