Array
(
[text] =>

Chapter 13: A Glimpse of Fire

He was there again, standing on the bank of a river made of lava, the glowing hot liquid rock blazing a trail through the harden lava fields to the ocean. It was like a stream of light, cutting effortlessly lighting a path through the murky darkness. It was warm, which was quite surprising as being this close to the risen magma should have been unbearable and life-threatening.

But Keahi found it comforting, the lava moving like liquid gold.

“Keahi...”

A voice called to him, both familiar and haunting.

“Keahi...”

It was almost like a crackling fire, sharp but fleeting. Powerful, but a mere whisper.

“Time to wake up, Keahi...”

Suddenly, Keahi found himself on his back, lying on something soft and comfortable. And as he opened his eyes, he found himself staring up at a very familiar sight of the ceiling in his bedroom.

He blinked a few times. He was back in his room?

Then, his vision was filled with a familiar face of blue eyes and a rather child-like grin that was framed by unruly blue hair, cascading over his shoulders like a waterfall.

“Finally awake, Sleeping Beauty?”

“Wah!” Keahi yelped in surprise, his eyes growing wide. He would have reeled back in shock, but since he was already lying on his back, it wasn’t like he could go anywhere. So all he could do was simply stare up at him in complete bewilderment.

“Masou!”

That grin on Masou’s widened into a smile and he laughed with amusement from to his actions. “That’s hardly a reasonable greeting,” he chided through his chuckles as he leaned back.

“Ah, sorry,” Keahi immediately apologized as he sat up, quickly realizing that he was still dressed in his Fire Priest garbs and was lying on top of his sheets. He also quickly noted, from the subtle lighting now bathing his room that it was late in the afternoon, the sun about to set so that the night could now take reign.

He turned back to Masou, about to ask him how long he had slept, but when he placed his gaze upon the blue-haired man, he was looking at him with some sort of expectancy, as if waiting for him to say something.

What was he...?

Oh! He couldn’t be waiting for a greeting from him?

“Hello again, Masou,” Keahi greeted politely, hoping that was what the other man wanted, feeling somewhat silly saying it.

But, that was apparently what he had been waiting for as he flashed him his cheerful smile. “That’s better!”

Keahi felt the corner of his lip quirk into a half smile from Masou’s...enthusiasm, before turning to look around his room again. “What happened?”

“You fainted after training, remember?” Masou provided for him.

Keahi swiftly turned back to him, blinking a few times in silent confusion. Then, the memories of the flames, of the hauntingly beautiful voice, of the magnificence of his Fire Beast appearing caused his eyes to widen in remembrance. He remembered it all so clearly now. He had discovered his Spell Binding Circle and met Nootau Chatan, the majestic Fire Hawk!

All in one lesson.

“How...?” Keahi whispered. How could Masou, a man he had only just met, help him to discover his Fire abilities in one lesson?

He then remembered the brief conversation afterwards, where he...

A flaring blush raged across Keahi’s cheeks. “Oh, I’m sorry that I fell asleep on you!”

“Hey, don’t worry about it,” Masou said good naturedly as he flapped his hand dismissively at him before moving to sit on the edge of his bed. “Did you sleep well?”

Still blushing, though now a soft pink instead of crimson red, Keahi nodded before furrowing his brow a little in thought. “Well, kinda, I guess.”

“Hmm?”

The furrow in his brow deepened as Keahi remembered bits and pieces of his dream, mostly the safety and security he felt. “I’ve just had this strange dream.”

“Huh?” Masou muttered as he tilted his head to the side in question, looking genuinely interested. “What kind of dream?”

Keahi was slightly hesitant to tell, his fingers absently playing with the sheets on his bed. “...Lava and fire, mostly,” he softly admitted. “It wasn’t a bad dream, it was just...I don’t know. It’s stupid.”

“Hmm?” Masou hummed, mostly to himself, in thought. He turned his eyes to the ceiling as he tapped his chin in a thinking pose before turning to look at Keahi again. “Well, maybe it’s a sign from the Fire God. Maybe he’s letting you know that you should continue with your training.”

Keahi blinked, stunned. “You think so?”

“Of course!” Masou said brightly, smiling what was quickly becoming his trademark carefree smile. He then abruptly stood to his feet and held out his hand for Keahi to take, looking quite eager about something. “Come on.”

“More training?” Keahi questioned as he looked at Masou’s hand quite wearily. “But I’m still tired.”

Masou, however, only laughed and reached forward to physically take Keahi’s hand in his. “No, no more training for you yet,” he said as he tugged him off the bed. “You’re still recovering. I just I want to show you something.”

Not having the energy, or the heart, to say no to the carefree man, Keahi simply allowed him to Masou to lead him to wherever it was that he was heading. He, of course, led him through the temple again; blatantly ignoring the looks of surprise and confusion on the faces of the Fire Priest they came across.

Keahi silently mouthed apologies to his fellow priests, informing him that Masou was his friend and not to worry. And he was granted looks of sceptical acceptance in turn.

But he couldn’t help but wonder what it was that Masou wanted to show him.

[text_hash] => 0f3ea5d6
)