Ep.23 Trial by Fire Part 2

The evening settled around us as we gathered inside for dinner. Steam rose from bowls of thick stew, carrying with it the promise of comfort after a long day of training. My muscles ached, and hunger gnawed at my stomach—I didn't hesitate to dig in. Beside me, Rowan attacked his bowl with his usual wild abandon, but something felt off about our little family dinner.

Looking up from my meal, I noticed Maya hadn't touched her food. That same anger-filled expression I'd grown painfully familiar with twisted her features, turning her usual warmth to stone.

"Everything ok, dear?" Ms. Vera's voice carried a mother's worry.

"No, everything's not ok." Maya's response cut through the air like a blade. "We've been sitting around training for months now, but I'm plenty strong enough. When do I get to kill that damn Mutt that killed my family?"

Her words hit me like a physical blow. Kill the wolf? The thought had never even crossed my mind. I'd been so focused on survival, on protecting what little remained of our makeshift family, that revenge had never entered the equation.

"You really want to fight that thing, Maya!?" My voice rose with disbelief and fear.

Her eyes met mine, cold and determined. "I don't want to fight it, Kai... I want to kill it."

"That's ridiculous! We can't beat that thing—you'd only be throwing away your life!" I turned desperately to my left. "Back me up here, Rowan!"

But Rowan wouldn't meet my gaze. He fidgeted with his fingers, shoulders hunched before finally speaking in a quiet voice. "I-I'm with Maya. I want revenge for what that thing did to our friends."

Fury exploded in my chest. My fist crashed against the table. "You got t—"

"Now Maya," Ms. Vera cut through my outburst with practiced calm, "I understand your feelings, I truly do. But it's too early to make hasty decisions like this. You'll only get yourself killed at your current skill level."

"I've been training non-stop for months!" Maya screamed, her composure shattering completely. "My mana control has grown drastically, and you've said yourself I might be the most talented mage you've ever seen!"

Ms. Vera's expression remained steady, though concern flickered in her eyes. "Talent or not, you don't have enough experience to take on a foe of that magnitude."

Maya's fists slammed against the table, making the bowls jump. "Then how long? How long will we be stuck here training before I can finally avenge my family?"

Before Ms. Vera could answer, Maya stormed off to our room. Rowan hesitated only a moment before following her. The silence she left behind felt suffocating.

I sat there, still processing the outburst, as Ms. Vera calmly rose and began cleaning up dinner without a word. I stood to help her when Rowan burst back through the door, face pale with panic.

"It's Maya—s-she's gone!"

The crash of breaking pottery filled the room as Ms. Vera dropped a dish. The look of horror on her face made my blood run cold.

"B-boys, you stay here," her voice trembled. "I-I'll get Maya."

"Wait, Ms. Vera, we're coming with—" Rowan started.

"NO!" The force of her shout made us both jump. "You two will stay right here until I get back!" The door slammed behind her before anyone could protest further.

Rowan turned to me, fury and fear warring in his expression. "Kai, we need to go! Maya could be in danger!"

I barely heard him, lost in my own spiral of thoughts. The world seemed to be crumbling around me again, just like that night—

"KAI, WE NEED TO GO!" Rowan's scream cut through my paralysis. He shook me hard, tears welling in his eyes, and reality snapped back into focus.

Maya was in danger. My family was in danger again. I wouldn't—couldn't—lose anyone else.

"Let's go," I said, grabbing my practice sword. As we rushed to the door, Rowan took the lead.

"I know a shortcut to the wolf's den," he called over his shoulder.

"How?"

His hesitation was palpable. "Um, m-me and Maya have been tracking it for a while now."

The revelation stung. Why had they kept this from me? Didn't they trust me? But I forced those thoughts aside. There would be time for questions later—if we survived.

Right now, all that mattered was saving Maya.

Please, I prayed to whatever gods might be listening, don't let me lose anyone else.