Light flashed around her. An icy sensation traveled across her body. Arin rubbed her eyes, everything hurting. Whispers broke out around her, she couldn't tell what was happening.

“S . . . Scor,” she managed to say.

Once more there was silence. She could feel the strong presence of others. Was someone breathing on her?

More murmurs broke out, feet shuffled away from her. She must be back with the Crimsons. Hopefully they wouldn’t be mad at her.

Arin opened her eyes, she was facing the night sky. Gentle blue lights were glowing next to her. Was it fire from torches? She turned her head to the right, experiencing dull pain.

“Looks like it worked, great job everyone.”

Arin sat up, her armor made such a simple task difficult. Was Scor nearby? She looked around at who was with her, most faces blurred. It took her a moment to realize that she was surrounded by spirits and not people.

“Glad to see you well, Arin.” She turned around, facing Dargon. Immediately, her body tensed. He was so much bigger than she remembered. “Surprised to see me—us? Well, I’m surprised I had to come out here and help make sure you survived. What exactly were you thinking?”

She lowered her head, “well—um.”

“There is no need to explain yourself, I already know.”

“I didn’t want this to happen . . .”

“And I'm sure Scor didn’t as well.” He gestured to his limp body, “he is still exhausted. Poor children, so inexperienced and yet, they have so much pressure, forced to do stupid things.”

He shifted his gaze back to Arin. The spirits around her remained quiet, watching her anxiously. One gently shook him awake.

“Am I in trouble?”

“Yes.” He paused. “What were you thinking?! Was there any thinking at all? Did you truly think you could have won? Croun is strong, clever, and so much more experienced! You would be dead if it wasn’t for the spirits saving you!”

“Dargon . . .” She lowered her head. “I’m sorry.”

“Arin,” he grumbled, “you have to start using your head more. This isn’t some joke where you can run around and do stunts like this.” Dargon turned to Scor. “At least trust him a little more. That is how you merge. You trust him enough to do that, let him help you more.”

“You’re right . . .”

“Arin, I know I am. He is your other half, you are his other half. Trust him.”

“I will, I will!”

“Promise?”

“Yes, Dargon. The only way to get through this is if we work together.”

“And what happens when you finish? You just up and abandon him?”

She turned away, sitting down. “No, I would never! Yes, my original plan was to go back to the Reality Dimension but . . .” If she was to go home, she would never see her friends here again.

“Arin,” Dargon sighed, preparing another lecture. “you have so much time ahead of you before you are ready. Train, relax, don’t do stupid things.”

“Then what do I do?”

“Train! You have yet to master how to use your fire. You may be able to summon it but all you do is release short little bursts. You can barely control existing fire, you can’t make your own fire change form either.”

“Can you teach me?”

“No, but Anolum can.”

A pink Pure Avillian appeared by Dargon, arms folded, his gold robe trailed against the ground. “Greetings, Arin. My name is Anolum and I am the Guardian of Elements. Most of the time I help awaken inner elements, but I can teach others how to expand their skill too.”

“But you are willing to teach me a new technique, right?”

“Only one thing.”

She smiled, standing again. “Is it going to be an amazing move to help me win?”

“You could say that.” Anolum guided Arin to the center of the clearing. Arin followed him, hoping this would work, and hoping this would not make her look like a fool. “Focus on the spiritual energy around you. Can you feel energy being absorbed into you? You will have your fire absorb it and it will be more powerful.”

“How am I supposed to do that?”

“That is supposed to be for you to figure out.”

She frowned, summoning a small fire in her hands. The way it flickered, it didn't appear to be absorbing energy.

“As you and Scor are one, you and your fire are one. Do not let your stress blind you.”

She grumbled, trying to “connect” to her fire. Kilin must have been right about being able to connect with her fire all along.

Think about the wild fire, how you connected with it by using your mind. She had to repeat what she did somehow. Arin focused, desiring for it to grow. It obeyed obviously. It shrank at command.

She opened her eyes, looking at the spirits around her. She could feel their unique auras tugging at her heart. Once more, she squeezed her eyes shut. Silently, she prayed that the energy flowing to her would enter her fire. Arin imagined that she was pulling the thin blue strands to the flame.

“Good.”

She opened her eyes, afraid to lose her focus. In her hands was a warm white fire. Unlike her regular fire, she could slightly feel the heat from this tiny ember.

“White fire, the second hottest flame one can master. Now you see how much you have yet to learn.”

She remained silent, fascinated. It was such a brilliant white. She made this? Anolum coughed, trying to get her attention. The second her eyes drifted away, the flame went back to normal. Disappointed, the fire disintegrated.

“Now you know.” Scor began to wake up, yawning and stretching like a cat. He looked up at Arin, smiling and wagging his tail.

Tears stung her eyes, Arin raced forward hugging her partner. He laughed, mimicking her movement, meaty arms wrapped around her thin back. He must have forgiven her already.

“Scor . . .”

“What? Are you going to apologize for not listening to me?”

“Um . . . yeah. Scor, I’m so sorry. You were right, I was wrong. I should listen to you more often.”

He pulled back, wagging his tail. “It’s okay! You’re just trying to meet everyone’s expectations.

“Yeah . . .” She turned away, lowering her head. “I should’ve been more careful.”

“Arin, Scor.” Dargon floated off of the ground. “You must be more careful from here on out. Now you know that you are wanted dead. Arin, learn your white fire. Scor, master your lightning as Anolum trained you earlier. Together, you may be more ready for Croun.”

“Do we go home now?”

“Yes, go, learn, rest, and prepare. I sense an imminent attack. Best be ready.”

“When is imminent?”

“Soon.”

Arin rolled her eyes, mounting Scor. “Thanks again, Dargon. We owe you!”

“No, I owe you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Soon, Scor. Now go, the Crimsons await your arrival and you have a long flight home.”

The two bowed their heads. Scor stretched his wings wide before leaping off the peak. Wind rushed through her hair, Arin smiled, leaning forward. Hands in tight fists. Adrenaline. That was all she could feel. She now could use white fire. This, this could be a game changer.