The soft rustling of fabric and the scent of warm broth stirred Mira from unconsciousness. She felt a cool hand press against her forehead, followed by the soothing stroke of fingers combing through her tangled hair. The touch was familiar—gentle yet firm, filled with quiet concern.
"She's burning up again," Akira murmured, her voice laced with worry.
Mira's heavy eyelids fluttered open, and the blurry outline of Akira came into focus. The older girl sat beside her, a wooden tray balanced on her lap, a steaming bowl of soup placed carefully beside a folded cloth.
"You finally woke up," Akira said, trying to sound casual, but the relief in her tone betrayed her. "Do you have any idea how long you've been out?"
Mira groaned softly, her throat dry. "How long?"
"Two days."
Mira's eyes widened, but before she could sit up, Akira placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "Stay put. You're still weak."
Mira frowned, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. She hated feeling helpless. "What happened?"
"You pushed yourself too far," Akira said, dipping the cloth into a cool basin of water and dabbing it against Mira's forehead. "That fire inside you—it's unstable. The more you try to control it, the more it pushes back. If you keep forcing it like that, you're going to destroy yourself before you can even master it."
Mira swallowed hard. She remembered the feeling, that terrifying surge of power, the invisible wall that held it back. She had collapsed before she could break through it.
Akira picked up the wooden spoon and stirred the broth before bringing it to Mira's lips. "Drink."
Mira sighed but obeyed, letting the warm liquid soothe her sore throat. Akira had always been like this—tough, yet fiercely protective. The warmth of the moment made the sting of past betrayal feel distant, almost forgotten.
"You also need to eat," Akira continued, scooping another spoonful. "I didn't spend an hour making this for you to waste it."
Mira managed a small smile. "You cook now?"
Akira rolled her eyes. "I had no choice. Kai wouldn't let anyone else in your room, so I had to take care of you myself."
Something in Mira's heart softened at that. She hadn't realized how much she had missed Akira's presence, her steady voice, the way she always looked out for her, even when they fought.
As Akira continued brushing through Mira's hair, untangling the knots, Mira sighed. "Thanks… for everything."
Akira's movements slowed, and for a moment, she didn't respond. Then, with a small, rare smile, she said, "You're my best friend, Mira. No matter what happens, I'm here."
That Evening – White House Courtyard
Mira leaned against the balcony, staring at the moonlit sky. The day had been exhausting, both physically and mentally.
She heard footsteps behind her.
"So, did Kai beat the arrogance out of you yet?" Ren's teasing voice broke the silence.
Mira rolled her eyes but didn't turn around. "I don't have arrogance."
Ren leaned on the railing beside her, smirking. "You will, eventually. We all do."
They stood there in rare, comfortable silence. The breeze was cool, the tension from earlier fading. After a moment, Ren spoke again, his tone quieter.
"You were impressive today."
Mira glanced at him, surprised. "That almost sounded like a compliment when i was asleep for almost 2 days."
"Don't get used to it." He shot her a sideways glance, and for once, there was no teasing in his gaze—just something unreadable, something that made Mira's stomach twist slightly.
She looked away first. "I'll take what I can get."
Ren chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah. You will."
And for the first time since she had entered the Inner Court and to become the one with the devils, Mira didn't feel so alone.
Training Begins
The next day, despite Akira's protests, Mira was determined to train. She found herself standing in the secluded courtyard behind the White House, facing Celvia and Rhyshe. The morning air carried the scent of damp earth, and the faint hum of magic tingled against her skin.
"You sure you're ready for this?" Rhyshe asked, arms crossed. "Kai was this close to chaining you to your bed."
Mira rolled her shoulders, ignoring the lingering soreness. "I need to get stronger. If I wait any longer, I'll fall even further behind."
Celvia nodded approvingly. "Then let's start with three essential spells—Flying, Telekinesis, and Invisibility. You need these skills if you want to stand a chance in real combat."
Rhyshe grinned. "And if you master them quickly, maybe we'll even teach you how to not crash into fountains."
Mira shot her a glare. "Let's just start."
Spell One: Flight
Rhyshe clapped her hands. "Alright, first up—Flying. You've done it before, but we're going to refine your control."
Mira inhaled deeply and muttered the incantation.
"Placium Tha Urnowill."
Magic surged through her veins, lifting her slightly off the ground. For a moment, it felt effortless, like floating in a weightless current. But when she tried to steer herself forward, she wobbled, tilting dangerously to the side.
"Balance, Mira!" Celvia called out. "You're relying too much on raw magic. Use your core, not just your energy."
Mira clenched her jaw, adjusting her posture. She extended her arms slightly, steadying herself in the air. The control was shaky but improving.
"Now," Rhyshe smirked, "dodge this!"
Before Mira could protest, Rhyshe launched a pulse of light energy straight at her. Instinct took over, and Mira swerved—only to overcorrect and send herself spinning in the air.
With a yelp, she crashed into a nearby tree, landing in a heap.
Celvia sighed. "You really do have a habit of falling."
Mira groaned. "Shut up."
Spell Two: Telekinesis
After catching her breath, Mira moved on to the next spell.
"Telekinesis is simple," Celvia explained. "It's all about focus. You direct your magic outward, let it extend like an invisible hand."
She demonstrated, lifting a stone effortlessly with a flick of her wrist. It hovered in the air, weightless.
Mira closed her eyes, reaching out with her energy. She could feel the stone, sense its presence, the weight pressing against her magic. Slowly, she lifted it—only for it to wobble violently before dropping to the ground with a loud thud.
Rhyshe snorted. "I give it a five out of ten."
Celvia ignored her. "Again. You need control, not just power."
Mira gritted her teeth, trying again. This time, the stone lifted smoothly, floating in front of her. She exhaled in relief.
"Better," Celvia said with a nod.
Spell Three: Invisibility
Finally, Celvia handed Mira an enchanted mirror. "Now for the hardest part—Invisibility. You have to think of yourself as not being seen rather than simply vanishing."
Mira took a breath, focusing. She let her magic spread over her skin, imagined herself dissolving into the air.
"Nexira Tha Vanorelle."
A cool sensation wrapped around her, and when she opened her eyes—her body flickered. Not fully invisible, but close.
Rhyshe whistled. "Not bad."
Celvia, however, wasn't impressed. "Hold it while dodging this."
She sent a water spell flying at Mira, who dodged—only to immediately reappear.
Mira scowled. "It's too hard to concentrate on both!"
"That's the point," Celvia said simply. "Again."
And so, they trained.
Meanwhile, in the Grandmaster's Chamber…
Ren stood before the Grandmaster, his arms crossed. "She collapsed again."
The old man didn't look surprised. Instead, he sighed, his ancient eyes heavy with unspoken knowledge. "That girl holds a power far beyond her understanding. If she does not bring out those flames soon, we will never be able to control what is coming."
Ren's expression darkened. He had seen it himself—the flickering blue fire that felt alive, barely restrained.
The Grandmaster's voice dropped lower. "The longer she waits, the more unstable it will become. And if it awakens on its own…"
Ren clenched his fists. He didn't need the old man to finish. If Mira lost control, there was no telling what would happen.
"Then we don't wait," Ren said firmly. "She needs to awaken that power—now."
The Grandmaster met his gaze, a shadow passing through his eyes. "Then you know what must be done."
Ren nodded.
It was time.
That night, as Mira sat in her room, she stretched out her hand, summoning her flame. The familiar blue flicker appeared, weaker than before.
"What's wrong with you?" she murmured.
The flame twitched.
Mira's heart pounded. Was she imagining it?
Then, a whisper—soft yet unmistakable—echoed in her mind.
"You are not ready yet."
Her entire body stiffened.
Before she could react, pain tore through her chest. The flame exploded outward, filling the entire room in an instant.
Mira gasped. The fire was alive.
And for the first time…
It was speaking to her.