A dance of Flames

Harabi and Rumiya met on the balcony during a lavish ball at the academy. The night wrapped them in a dark veil, with the moonlight barely piercing through the dense clouds, creating a mysterious and tense atmosphere. Inside the hall, muffled sounds of music and laughter could be heard, but on the balcony, an oppressive silence reigned.

Harabi sighed, feeling the weight of the night pressing down on her, as if it burdened every word she wanted to say. Her heart was beating faster than usual whenever she spoke with Rumiya. They exchanged short, cautious glances and moved to opposite ends of the balcony. The air was thick with tension and unspoken words. Harabi, determined to break through the barrier, was the first to speak.

"It's dark," Harabi remarked quietly, more to herself than to Rumiya.

Rumiya nodded, without averting her gaze.

"And quiet."

Harabi glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, feeling the awkwardness thickening between them.

"Have you been here long?" she asked, trying to break the silence.

"Since the beginning," Rumiya replied in an even, almost indifferent tone.

"Enjoying solitude?" Harabi attempted to smile.

Rumiya smirked slightly.

"Something like that. Miki and I arrived a bit early, but then we split up."

"And where's Miki?" Harabi quickly asked to keep the conversation going.

"She's with her boyfriend right now. Maybe they're talking somewhere too."

"She left you alone for him?" Harabi raised an eyebrow.

"No, I told her it was fine," Rumiya said calmly. "I can take care of myself tonight."

They fell silent again, and Harabi, gathering her courage, decided to steer the conversation in a more personal direction.

"You know, I'm glad I wasn’t the only one who entered the academy this year. My head was filled with so many thoughts—what could happen? How would people accept me? And the teachers, too."

Inside, Harabi was wrestling with a storm of thoughts. She was afraid of being alone, doubted her abilities, but still yearned for recognition and acceptance. Rumiya, on the other hand, sat in her silence, her eyes betraying a hidden unease and anxiety.

Rumiya slowly turned to Harabi, her deep blue eyes reflecting the night sky, holding her gaze steady.

Harabi smiled awkwardly and continued:

"The Kurosaki family and the Suzukawa family... Our families have been in a complicated relationship ever since my sister died... and yours..."

Her voice faltered, and she clenched her fists, trying to gather her thoughts. Finally, with a smile, she added:

"Reading my sister’s diary, I learned a lot about yours. And you know, I’d like to preserve their friendship. It was pure and beautiful. And… I find it hard to believe that Mire killed my sister."

Hearing her elder sister's name, Rumiya tensed and turned away. She had never known her sister personally, as they had never met. She only knew of her through rumors. The topic was painful for her, but she also felt there was truth in Harabi's words, even though she wanted to believe otherwise.

Harabi sighed, sinking into the heavy thoughts that troubled her soul. She stood on the balcony, surrounded by the darkness of the night, where only a few stars shone in the black sky. Her gaze drifted to Rumiya, whose bright eyes, like the daytime sky, reflected complex emotions.

"Rumiya… What would they think if we became friends?" Harabi asked softly and uncertainly, as if raising a question she had long carried in her heart. Her words were filled with doubt and gentle unease.

Rumiya, watching Harabi, took a step back as if retreating from something greater than just a conversation.

"Harabi... I..." Her voice wavered. "I’m not against it. But the rumors… People have never been kind. ‘If you want to survive, stay away from me.’ It’s better this way."

Harabi looked at Rumiya, catching a whirlwind of emotions in her gaze, full of pain and sorrow. She felt a mixture of feelings within herself—regret and hope intertwining.

In that moment, she wanted to smile because, in front of her, Rumiya seemed like a fragile creature trying to find her place in the world, yet tormented by the fear of her true emotions. Harabi realized this path wouldn’t be easy, but together with Rumiya, they could try to overcome all obstacles and build a friendship rooted in sincerity and understanding.

Harabi froze for a moment, as if all her emotions—fear, hope, and determination—clashed in her chest. The dark shadows of the night felt like close companions, bringing melancholy and heaviness. But she couldn’t let them take over her thoughts.

"Rumiya..." Harabi began softly, her voice trembling but steady.

"I believe that even in a world full of secrets and hidden intentions, we can find true friendship.

"I don’t have many friends or people close to me whom I can trust. I think you feel the same way. We’re alike, Rumiya."

Rumiya, still gazing into the distance as if trying to see beyond the night’s veil, noticed the change in Harabi’s tone. There was uncertainty in her voice, but also determination.

"Harabi," Rumiya began, her voice soft yet tinged with sadness.

"We live in a world where the truth is often masked by lies and deception."

She turned to Harabi, her eyes full of mystery and pain, meeting Harabi’s steady gaze. The two stood on the balcony, surrounded by the darkness of the night that seemed to weigh heavily on the air around them. Harabi pressed on, determined to break the barrier between them.

"Rumiya, I understand that our friendship won’t be easy," Harabi said.

"But sometimes, it’s worth taking a risk to find something real. I believe we can do it."

Rumiya remained silent, her gaze fixed on the distance, lost in thought. She seemed to be wrestling with inner conflicts, her fists clenched tightly as if holding back the emotions threatening to surface.

"You don’t understand, Harabi," Rumiya said, her voice barely audible.

"My family… your family… we’re tied together by too many painful memories and betrayals. Even if I wanted to be your friend, it could lead to even more conflict."

"But we can try to change that," Harabi countered, her voice firm but kind.

"We can show our families that it’s possible to live in peace despite the past. Isn’t that worth trying for?"

Rumiya glanced at her, a spark of hope flickering in her eyes before she turned away again.

"Maybe you’re right," she whispered.

"But I’m scared. I don’t know if I can handle it."

"There’s so much you don’t understand, and so much I don’t understand either," Rumiya added, looking down at her hands. She clenched them again, staring as if trying to rid herself of the burdens that weighed on her life.

"It is about my magic..." she said softly, her voice trailing off, leaving Harabi with a sense that there was still so much more to uncover.

Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by a loud crack and the sound of shouts coming from the hall. Both girls flinched and turned their heads. Flames burst from the hall, illuminating the night sky with a brilliant glow. In panic, students ran outside, some screaming, others crying.

"Fire!"

"We have to run!"

Without a second thought, Rumiya sprinted after Harabi, and the two of them rushed into the burning hall. Inside, chaos reigned. People scrambled, uncertain of where to go. Flames had already consumed much of the hall, and smoke filled the air, making it difficult to breathe.

"We need to find the others and get them out!" Harabi shouted, trying to be heard above the noise. They split up, each searching for the remaining students.

The flames roared like a wild beast as they devoured the academy’s hall. The crackling of fire, mingled with the sound of breaking wood and the screams of panicked students, filled the air. Smoke poured from the windows, thick and suffocating, while the stench of burning wood and fabric made it hard to breathe. Harabi’s heart raced as she pushed through the chaos, her eyes scanning the room for her friends.

“Harabi! We need to get out of here!” Tatsuki’s voice barely reached her over the uproar. Harabi turned to see her standing near the exit, her sharp eyes scanning the crowd. Eils stood beside her, calm but tense, her hand gripping a staff tightly as she watched the fire spread.

“Harabi, we’re getting everyone out! But we have to move quickly!” Tatsuki shouted, her face set in determination.

The three of them made their way toward the exit, pushing through panicked students. The smoke was thick now, stinging their eyes and choking their lungs. The flames licked at the walls, casting an eerie orange glow over everything. Harabi glanced around, but there was no sign of Rumiya among the escaping crowd.

"Rumiya... She's still inside... We need to help her," Harabi said, her voice trembling with panic.

"Rumiya? But how? I thought she didn’t come," Tatsuki said, her face full of concern.

"She’s still there," Harabi insisted, her voice firm despite the rising panic.

"Wait, Harabi. Help is on the way. It’s too dangerous for you to go back," Tatsuki said, grabbing Harabi’s arm to stop her.

"But Rumiya..." Harabi’s voice cracked with desperation.

"Tatsuki’s right. Stay here. It’s too dangerous," Eils added, her tone unyielding.

The ceiling began to collapse with a loud crash, the fire growing stronger by the second. Harabi felt a knot tighten in her chest as she looked back at the burning building.

"This fire is unusual... like magic... Someone set the hall on fire. And this wasn’t by accident," Harabi said through gritted teeth, her gaze sharp as she watched the flames rage.

"You want me to leave Rumiya there?" Harabi shouted, her eyes wide with panic.

Desperation gripped her. Without thinking, Harabi tore away from Tatsuki and Eils, rushing back toward the hall. The smoke thickened as she reentered, the crackle of fire filling the air. She called out Rumiya’s name, but the sound of the flames consumed everything.

"Rumiya... Rumiya!" Harabi shouted, her voice hoarse.

"I’m here!" came Rumiya’s voice from the thick smoke.

Harabi’s heart leapt in relief. She pushed forward through the smoke, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Finally, through the haze, she saw Rumiya, crouched down, trying to pull Miki from beneath a pile of debris. The flames were dangerously close, and Rumiya’s movements were frantic, her strength not enough to shift the heavy rubble.

"Rumiya!" Harabi cried, reaching her friend.

"What’s happened? We need to get out!" Rumiya said, her voice strained, eyes full of urgency.

Rumiya looked up at her, her face covered in soot and streaked with sweat. Her eyes were wide with fear and determination.

"Miki is trapped," Rumiya said, her voice shaking. "I can’t get her out on my own!"

Without hesitation, Harabi knelt beside her. Together, they began to pull at the debris, trying to free Miki. The flames were closer now, the heat unbearable, and the smoke clung to their skin. Suddenly, there was a loud crash from the far corner of the hall, and part of the ceiling began to collapse.

"We have to hurry!" Harabi whispered, panic tightening her chest.

Harabi and Rumiya struggled, their hands trembling from fear and exhaustion. The fire was too close now, the heat suffocating. Harabi stepped back, her hands glowing with blue light as she tried to use her magic to shift the rubble. But the magic was slow, and the coughing fit that followed made it clear that time was running out.

Then, from the thick smoke, Adena appeared. Her face was calm and focused, eyes steely with determination. She surveyed the scene, clicking her tongue in displeasure.

"Step aside," Adena said coldly, extending her hands.

A blue shield of light materialized around them, pushing back the fire. The flames crackled and hissed, unable to breach the magical barrier. Harabi and Rumiya gasped in relief, but the fire still raged beyond the shield, threatening to consume everything.

"Adena, you’re just in time!" Rumiya exclaimed, her voice filled with gratitude.

"And you don’t have the right to call me that," Adena responded coldly, her tone unchanged.

"Miki isn’t moving!" Rumiya shouted, her eyes filled with panic as she looked at Miki’s unconscious form beneath the debris.

Rumiya’s frantic energy seemed to surge, but her hands trembled with fear and uncertainty. She began pulling at the debris again, desperate to free her friend.

"Sudzukawa, calm down. Let us help," Adena said, her voice firm and calm.

But Rumiya’s panic was overwhelming. Her eyes widened, filled with terror, and she screamed in frustration. The words Adena had spoken, detached and impersonal, seemed to trigger something deep within her. Her hands shook as she turned toward Adena, fury burning in her gaze.

"How long are you going to keep struggling, Sudzukawa?" Adena shouted, her voice raw with emotion. "What are you so afraid of? There are no elders or students here. Show us who you really are, or Miki could die here!"

Rumiya's face flushed with anger, but before she could speak, she slammed her palm against her own face, hard. The sound echoed in the chaos, a desperate attempt to snap herself out of the emotional storm threatening to overwhelm her.

"Calm down," Rumiya muttered to herself, her voice barely audible. Her breath was ragged as she steadied herself, staring down at the floor. Harabi, stunned, staggered back for a moment, but Rumiya didn’t wait. With inhuman strength, Rumiya threw the debris aside, freeing Miki from beneath it.

The girl lay unconscious, her face covered in soot and small cuts.

"Harabi, help me!" Rumiya cried, grabbing Miki by the shoulders, her eyes frantic with fear.

Despite her panic, Harabi grasped Miki’s legs, and together they dragged her toward the exit. Adena’s shield moved with them, the flames still raging beyond it. Adena walked behind them, her expression cold, her eyes never leaving the hall.

"We need to hurry," Adena urged, her voice distant, almost mechanical.

Suddenly, there was a loud crash from one corner of the hall, and the ceiling began to fall directly toward them. Adena spun around instantly, her eyes flashing with blue light. A burst of flame shot from her hand, pushing the falling debris aside.

"Go faster!" she ordered, her gaze fixed on the ceiling, which continued to crack and groan threateningly.

Just as they reached the door, the entire roof of the hall caved in with a deafening roar. The ground shook beneath their feet, and a cloud of dust and smoke erupted into the night sky. Adena’s shield flared brightly, holding the debris back from them for just long enough to allow them to escape.

Outside, the night air was thick with smoke, and the full scale of the destruction became clear. Harabi gasped for air, her lungs burning. She didn’t look back at the building—there was nothing more they could do.

Adena stood silent, her posture tense as ever. She didn’t speak a word, her eyes scanning the scene like a hawk. Harabi wanted to say something, but the coldness in Adena’s gaze made her hesitate.

Rumiya dropped to her knees beside Miki, checking her pulse. She was breathing heavily, her hands trembling as she searched desperately for signs of life.

"Move, you won’t find anything in that state," Adena said bluntly, stepping toward Miki. She was quiet for some minute and then spoke quietly. " She is alive."

Rumiya smiled and sat down beside Miki, her face softening in relief. Adena glanced at the two girls before turning her gaze toward Harabi.

Harabi sank to the ground just behind them, her heart still racing. Tatsuki knelt beside her, trying to wipe the soot from her face. Harabi gave a faint smile, coughing from the smoke.she watched the fire burn in the distance. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off—that the fire wasn’t just an accident, that someone had meant for this to happen. But right now, she didn’t have the strength to think about it. Harabi spoke hoarsely to Adena.

"Thank you, Adena. You saved us."

"It was necessary. Just as I said, the story has begun," Adena replied, her tone distant and unreadable.

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