The Fire spirit's awaken

> Setting: Elemental International College Library. Late evening. The sky outside has begun to darken. The warm golden glow from the library's old chandeliers casts long, soft shadows between the shelves. Quietness hangs like a heavy blanket.

Aahi sits curled up on a wide reading bench in the far corner of the library — knees drawn up, arms around them.

Her face is hidden behind her long strands of brown and red-blended hair.

The echoes of Aarif's voice still rang in her head.

> "Maybe I don't need your help."

She hadn't cried in front of anyone since she was a child.

But today… she felt like that little girl again.

Unwanted. Misunderstood.

> Tap. Tick. Clink.

She doesn't notice the distant sound — the library staff closing up. Students collecting their bags and shuffling out quietly.

In her corner, hidden between rows of old philosophy books and fiction anthologies, Aahi sat unnoticed.

Time passed.

The whispers of pages turning disappeared.

The faint sound of footsteps faded away.

She finally lifted her head… and noticed the silence.

Too silent.

She stood up slowly.

Walked out from the row.

And froze.

The lights were dimmed.

The main doors were shut tight.

She walked quickly, trying one handle.

Then the other.

Locked.

A chill climbed up her spine.

> "No, no, no…"

She reached into her bag, grabbed her phone, and stared at it.

Battery: 1%... and then it blinked black.

Dead.

She slumped back against the wall near the doors, sliding slowly to the floor.

> "This is just great," she whispered to herself.

The silence swallowed her words.

She wrapped her arms around herself and leaned her head back.

Alone.

Trapped.

And no one even knew she was here.

She looked out through the glass, where the moonlight was starting to seep into the campus ground.

> "Why does it feel like… the whole world's shutting me out?"

Her voice cracked, barely above a whisper.

She closed her eyes.

And for a moment, everything inside her — every ache, every bruise, every unspoken word — sat quietly beside her in that library.

She sniffles softly, brushing a tear from her cheek, when—

Bzzzt.

Her bag shifts.

Aahi stiffens.

The leather flap of her backpack wiggles slightly — like something inside was… moving.

> "What the—"

A soft glow seeps through the seams.

Golden-orange. Warm. Faintly flickering.

Then the bag shudders again, and a soft whoooosh of heat fills the air around her.

She jumps back.

> "Wh-What's happening?!"

And then — a beam of soft firelight bursts up from the bag, forming a glowing spiral mid-air.

Aahi gasps, frozen in shock as the light gently twists and curls… taking shape…

Until it becomes...

A tiny creature.

Fluffy. Glowing. Round like a small toy — but floating mid-air.

Eyes wide and kind.

Ears shaped like flickering flames.

> "Hi," the tiny creature says, in a soft, almost giggling voice.

Aahi stares, speechless.

Then —

> "AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"

She stumbles backward, slamming into a bookshelf, books clattering around her.

> "Wh-what are you?! What is this?! What's happening?!"

The creature flinches, floating back a little.

> "Wait! Please! Don't be scared!"

Its voice is gentle, soothing — like a crackling fire in winter.

The glow softens.

> "I'm not here to hurt you, Aahi."

Her heart pounds.

> "You… you know my name?"

The creature nods, twirling in the air.

> "Of course. I've been waiting for you to feel something real."

> "Wh… who are you?"

The spirit floats closer, offering a tiny puff of warmth to Aahi's chilled hands.

> "I'm Chansey. A fire spirit."

> "A… fire spirit?" she repeats, stunned.

Chansey's soft body glows more brightly.

> "I came from the charm. You've been carrying me for a while… but your heart wasn't ready to hear me yet."

Aahi's eyes widen — she remembers the bracelet.

> "The bracelet… from Eela…"

Chansey nods slowly.

> "That was no ordinary bracelet. It's a spirit charm. And you… Aahi…"

> "You are one of us."

Aahi looks around the empty library — her head spinning, her heart racing.

> "This… this can't be real…"

Chansey floats gently to her shoulder, the warmth calming her down like a living ember.

> "But it is."

> "And it's only the beginning."