Momadeg rolled around once more. Being the start of the week the store would be open for the whole day, from morning bell to closing bell, about 8AM to 6PM. A long day to sit around and do nothing but read, the same text, again. This Ice Spell, she had to figure it out. It was like a puzzle, if only she could figure out what this “Dark Fire” really meant.

Most spell she could just feel. Like the mana in her would naturally pool and flow in the ways it should. But with this spell, the mana kept going in the wrong direction. The symbol made her feel cool, cold even, which is probably what she should have felt. Yet, the fire mana felt like it was flowing away from her fingers which couldn't have been right. She had to fight it, but every time she did, the spell would evaporate before it really started.

If she got it before Reese could, it would feel like a win. Like she could do something. It was strange, she used to think she was so much more capable than everyone else. Then this boy came into her life, incapable of magic and yet still able to do it with her help. It had felt great to be praised and lauded, but now? In the short time they had known each other it felt like she had fallen into his ever-growing shadow. A Shadow that again, she had to help make.

A few customers came in as soon as they opened, not many though. Her parents mumbled something about being low on coins. The shop wasn’t the most profitable from what she gathered. They would earn about 2 silvers for every day they were open, and about 1 for the half days. So about 14 silvers a week or so. Not even enough for a cheap book, but that’s just how it was. The cost of her notebook weighed a bit on her as she thought about it.

As the morning slowly ticked forward with the clock of sunlight and shadows, Emilie thought about Reese at school wondering what things they were learning. She knew he’d be around later, and they could discuss it, but that would be later. For now, it was just more of the same. This damn spell was starting to hurt her head.

About two more hours passed with no customers, and it had to be close to noon.

Her father had left the shop as was usual, off on some errand or something like that. Occasionally he would pick up a contract from the Inn, he was something called a ‘hunter’, which wasn’t the same thing as a hunter who hunted animals. Except sometimes it was? It didn’t really make sense to her. Rarely he'd go on longer quests which could take days, but he always brought back a few extra coins. Those days were particularly great because he often brought meat back with him for a small feast!

“Ding, Dong, Ding, Ding…” In the distance, a loud and almost terrifying bell started to ring. It was like the alarm bell, but different. The person ringing it sounded like they were scared, and it wasn't just six or eight rings, but constant.

“Dragon…” A voice outside the house yelled.

“Dragon attack!” A different voice.

What was going on? Her mother quickly boarded up the shop and shut the windows. Yelling back, she told Emilie to stay away from the windows and doors.

Her little heart skipped a beat and it sped faster in her chest. Confusion mixed with fear as her mother and a crying Ricaza joined her in the corner.

"RAAWWRRRGGG"

Outside, a terrifying roar could be heard.

The world paused, both her mother and brother cried in fear. But she could only sit there in shock, it didn't feel real. Time passed, as everyone sat froze, waiting.

Minutes of silence would pass and then…

"Ding, Ding…”

Again the bells, much more calm and ordered. Did that mean something worse, more dragons? Something else?

Basilara let go of her breath and wiped her face with her sleve.

"Hey, shuh, shuh." She gentially bounced Ricaza trying to get him to calm down

"Emilie, it's ok. I think it's over." Throwing up a mask of false emotions, her smile still appeared cracked showing the underlying fear was still there.

The door slammed open as her father ran back in and grabbed his family. Saying the same thing her mother did.

"It’s fine, it’s over and the dragon’s gone."

But the store would remain shut, and no one was outside. If things were fine, why did it seem like everyone was still afraid? The dragon had been coming by every day, but this time was different. It roared. That had to mean something to the adults. But in truth, they were in the dark as she was, trained to fear the bells more than anything else.

The only other time she had seen the adult like this was when burned the field.

Reese wouldn’t show up today, leaving Emilie even more uncertain about what was going on. Her parents tried to reassure her that everything was fine. But was it really?

The evening was quiet. Again no one outside. Her family didn't talk. Dinner was silent. Only the hushed whispers of her parents talking about leaving could be heard. Though they denied it when she asked.

Sleep was not easy tonight.

Despite the hectic nature of yesterday, today felt more or less the same as always. Just, no one was leaving the house. But her parents were talking normally again, no whispering. A few new jars and buckets of water were in the kitchen, she didn't know why.

Otherwise though, home was still boring, even less customers than usual. Emilie wanted to go outside and practice her spells, but her spot by the school yard was taken, by school, that she couldn’t attend. To be fair though, given yesterday, it seemed unlikely her parents would let her outside anyway.

Reese wasn’t around either because of course he was also at school.

Even more today, she wished she could have been at school. There was just nothing to do here, and maybe she could have learned something about what happened yesterday, and what would happen today?

In truth she didn’t know exactly what she was missing, just that she wanted to try it once, to see what it was like. The thought of other children both terrified and excited her. Maybe she’d actually be able to make another friend, beyond Reese? It couldn't be any worse than sitting here, alone.

The store and home were empty, as she looked around for signs of life, she found none. Technically they were open, but no one was coming in. Her father was out somewhere, but her mother usually stayed in the house all day, tending to a fusty little Ricaza and the store.

Earlier though, Ricaza complained enough that her mother gave in.

“I want to go outside!” The child was quite stern. He was otherwise a well-behaved child, he just liked being outside a lot.

“Honey, can you watch the shop for a little bit? I’m going to take Ricaza on a short walk. The bakery is close, so it should be safe. I need bread anyway.” The last half seemed more self-reassurance rather than a statement of fact.

“Of course!”

At least Emilie would now have something to do beyond sitting and reading, if anyone came in, she was to keep the customer busy and call her mother back. The bakery wasn’t too far away, her mother would hear if she yelled loud enough. It was an important job, at least that’s what she told herself. She supposed in a worse case, she could try to sell something on her own.

The thought enticed a small smile as she went back to the book in front of her.

In was the same one she had been trying to read for over a week now. It would have been interesting if there had been some progress, but there was not. Maybe if she could bounce an idea off someone it would help.

So it was, she sat in that corner reading, waiting, thinking. Eventually her mother came back, as did her father. Yet still, for several hours she sat and, flipping a page occasionally, and barely comprehending anything on the page, and not just because it was advanced. Her fingers kept bringing her back to the ice spell she couldn’t quite figure out.

Attempt after attempt, she kept trying only to fail. Eventually she would give up and try to read something else, only to again come back to it. The sound of a customer finally entering the store breaking her out of the monotony. At least she thought it was customer however when she looked up, “Reese!”

Dragons, that was Reese’s lesson for the day. The four types and threats they pose. The Fire Dragon that had been flying around was dangerous, but there was an even more dangerous type of dragon called an Ice Dragon. The idea seemed intoxicatingly dangerous, and interesting. Ice, the opposite of fire, it was something tantalizing to her, and something she desperately wanted to learn more about.

It's why Emilie continued to study the ice spell, fascinated by its difficulty and in light of the new information intrigued by its potential. “I know I’m close Reese, I can feel the ice on the tips of my fingers!” She smiled, turning her white, almost frost-bitten fingertips to him.

“Emilie, that looks like it hurts. You should probably take a break.” Reese grabbed her hand and tried to warm them with his own. His concern was annoying but touching too. She felt her cheeks warming more than her hands. Some of which was embarrassment as he again tried to solve the problem for her.

Still, it was fun. Even if she kept failing, the trying and each attempt brought her closer to the solution. She could feel inside herself. It was just that last connection that was missing, why it felt like everything was flowing backwards.

After Reese left for the day, she continued to study alone in her room unaware that across the intersection Reese was doing the same.

Another day, another boring sit, in her corner. Again, no customers yet.

Her mother and father were outside doing various things. Her mother had taken Ricaza with her on a short morning walk to the other shops, because of course she had too. Her father headed in the same direction as her mother, though she didn’t know where he was going. Possibly out to the fields to hunt. Supposedly there was a “big cat” out there eating live stock. She didn’t understand why he had to kill the cat couldn't just scare it away?

It seemed like the dragon didn’t matter anymore or at least not as much. The soldiers and Knights in the village had headed up yesterday to take care of it. They’d be back this evening, likely to great fan fair. At least, that’s what Reese had said.

Alone in the shop, that same book in front of her. The understanding, it was maddeningly close. Maybe the mana wasn't supposed to go 'the right way'? She kept fighting the flow, but that was one of the things that bothered her. Even though the mana felt like it was going backwards, it still felt like she was losing it. Like it was still escaping anyway.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Her train of thought would be interrupted by the sound of a very distant bell. The watch towers were sparsely guarded since everyone was out fighting the dragon.

But ones at the out skirts of town was still manned, and at least one person there was quite frantic about the alarm.

It was a bad sound, like a day ago, and it meant some kind of danger nearby, the frantic ringing and speed terrified her. But it was the next sound that froze her core.

“RAAWWRRRGGG”

The deep screeching sound of something very big, and very angry flew overhead, even louder and closer than before. Outside the shop windows, the world began to light up with red and orange hues. Like sunset, but in the morning. The colors reminded her of a time years ago when she lit the field on fire. Looking outside, the carnage was the same. No, that’s not right, this was worse.

Where were her mom and dad? She didn’t know what to do. Her mother and father would though, she had to find them!

Outside was like a nightmare of fire, smoke, ash, and something that smelt like burning meat. “Mom? Dad?”

“Kid what are you doing out here?” Two of the town soldiers chided her presence as they tried to push some villagers by her house.

“Come on! We have to get you to the keep!” Running the man literally picked her up out of the door and he carried her away under his arm.

As scared as she was she knew it made sense, the keep was the safest place in town. Literally designed to protect against attacks from wildlife, like dragons. If her parents were anywhere that’s where they would be.

Without her.

She tried not to think about that last thought, instead, her mind was occupied by the brilliant yellow and orange glow in front of them. It would have been pretty, if wasn't able to kill everything around it.

Without warning, the soldier stopped, and a wall of fire had erupted from the street by one of the dragons. It was as if it were creating a cage of flames they could not pass. The dragon that created it flew around for another pass.

“Shit.” The soldier carrying her dropped her to the ground as he ran to pull a body from the flames. The corpse was charred beyond recognition. “Shit, shit, shit.” He kept yelling.

Emilie stood there in shock; did she know that person? Was it a friend of her mother’s or fathers? Was it her mother or her father? It could have been her if the soldier had been just a bit faster. That could have been her. Something was wrong with her legs, they suddenly felt very weak as she shook in place.

“Emilie!” A call from across the flames. For just a moment, it brought her back. Looking up she could see it was, Reese? On the other side of fire wall. She didn’t understand what he was doing. Why was he here? And trying to cast spells, why now? His water spells were too small to put the fire out.

It was then that it hit her. His spells were too small, but hers weren’t. He was telling her to cast her water spell or at least it seemed like that. There was no time to think, she just had to do it. And so, she did, “Water bolt”.

A ball of water, larger than her, impacted the ground where the fire was coming from and quenched some of it. It was still there, but weaker and a bit dimmer.

"Kid…" The soldier behind whispered and watched as she was doing what they couldn't.

Another, it would take at least one more, “Water bolt.” Still not enough. She wasn't used to casting spell this quickly in secession. There was an issue with overusing your gate, if you pulled too much mana it could make you lightheaded and weak. Even weakens your constitution and make you sick or collapse. She needed a moment to breath.

“Raawr-grrr” A deep, hate filled growl came from behind Reese as a Dragon flew over them and slammed into the ground causing the whole ground to quake. Emilie was quite aware of the demon that was behind her.

As terrifying as it was in the sky, on the ground it was so much worse. It’s scar and pock covered face screamed a life of fighting, pain, and death. The Dragon drew a breath and burned two villagers closest to it.

They were the nice couple who lived across the street, Emilie knew them and they were friends with her family. They were always nice to her, even after what she had done. They would occasionally smok meat by her house and sell them. Now, they became the smoked meat as the dragon’s breath cooked them alive.

The horror of seeing them try to scream, only to boil from the inside, was not something she could process.

It couldn't even be described as a nightmare. As the fire burned them, it would also burn her mind. It was too much, no one could be prepared for this. Even her worst nightmares weren’t this bad.

Two soldiers ran towards the beast, one knowing just enough magic threw small bolts of fire at it. But that just seemed to piss it off more. A being with fire magic in its blood, would not succumb to mere fire bolts.

This monster was going to kill her, it was going to kill all of them. Burn all of them with its fire. “Fire”? Why did she keep hearing Reese yelling that?

“Emilie! The Ice Spell! It’s Dark Fire the opposite of Fire!”

“Opposite of Fire?” She kind of understood that Fire and Dark Fire were both the same and different, they were the same mana forces, but countered each other. The Dragons were using Fire magic, they had an affinity for it. Did that mean they’d be weak to the Ice Spell to Dark Fire? She didn’t really understand, she didn’t have the time to understand. What she needed was to trust her friend, to trust herself.

Emilie hadn’t successfully cast it yet, but she had to try, she had to succeed. For a moment, she closed her eyes and began to recall the glyph she saw in her book. The fire symbols looked weird, inverted somehow, like ice cycles instead of flames. It was complex, but she could still trace each strand, each sub-symbol. In her mind she heard the words, not in human, but in feelings. She could feel it as her hand began to grow cold. It was a fire spell; she knew that from the symbols. But it was cold, that didn’t matter she couldn’t think about that, just feel the flow of the mana, let it go backwards but still out.

Her right hand raised towards the dragon, who was still focused on the two living soldiers still in front of him. She had to be quick, she continued to trace the glyph again in her head, moving to the water symbol as she remember the words in the book, “Cold ice and frozen air, a winter of despair, I call to you.” A single seed crystal began to form from her hand as conjured water froze instantly.

She felt the mana flowing. “Freeze what is in front me, stab what is ahead, make for me an arrow of ice and malice.” But the feeling was different somehow like it was in reverse and flowing into her and not out. She was fighting the sensation before, but that was wrong. Dark Fire, the opposite of fire, she needed to embrace that thought.

And so, she did, the sensation grew as she traced the last dark fire symbol in her mind chilling the ice spike that had formed to its core. “Pearce them all, stab from my cold and frozen heart.” An ice cycle, a foot long and half a foot wide. Her crudely made arrow, of mana and ice.

Her mind connected the symbols in one last motion, and with one final statement “Ice Bolt.” It flew forward, faster than even the ballistae could throw. She meant to aim for the head but missed. Instead, the bolt ripped through the dragon’s side destroying its wing and tearing the remnants out of its back, along with several pounds of flesh.

Whether the dragon screamed a roar or roared a scream, regardless the sound was unlike anything she had ever heard in even her worse nightmares. It felt like an ice spell hit her, and she froze.

The dragon turned to face the young mage with rage in its eyes. It would kill her for what she just did. Its maw opened wide as a fire spell formed, leaving its neck wide open for the soldiers to attack. The man on the left dug his short sword into its neck using all of his force, he cut something important as the sticky red liquid pulsed out freely. The dragon screamed again, stopping its spell as its mouth filled with it's own red essence. The other soldier ran under it, using his long sword to slice a length along the dragon’s chest, as a rain of blood coated his armor.

With the last of its life the dragon tried to burn whatever was around it. Its head coughing red fluids as the flames spilled out with the last of its life force. It twitched and moaned, trying desperately to kill something else. Anything else but failing. The soldier at its neck was thrown back, while the other quickly ran back around and grabbed Emilie, taking her away from the danger.

Inside the dragon’s chest, its heart could no longer beat right, the blood loss just too great, as it began to fibulae the dragon cursed one last puff of fiery venom before it just stopped.

The solider carrying the child could only look back as the great demon died. “Kid, I think you just saved our lives. I saw those water bolt spells, can you put this fire out?”

She nodded and threw another water bolt, opening a path for everyone.

“Reese!” Emilie called back to him as the small crowd ran to the Keep, leaving him behind.

She watched as the soldier carried her away from him. He stood there, glancing back at his home before running there. “Reese…” She whispered to no one. He had sisters, she knew that. That had to be what he was running towards.

Thwush.

The sound of the Ballistae firing on top of the keep echoed as they made their way inside. Many of the local village was waiting there. Anyone who was out in the open, or nearby had headed inside. Including, her mother, father, and little brother.

For some reason her father had a black eye and was being held down by a soldier.

She was happy, they were safe, but… they had left her. “Mom, dad!” She cried as the soldier let her down.

Emilie did the only thing a child could do in such a situation as she ran to hug her family.

“Emilie, thank the gods you’re safe.” Her mother’s voice echoed with relief.

Despite their show of relief, Emilie couldn’t stop crying. Even as she hugged them. They had left her. “Why did you leave me? Am I that bad?”

“Oh Emilie, no. No, no, no. We didn’t leave you. Your father tried to go back, but the soldiers wouldn’t let us leave the keep. Your father knocked one of them out but, well there were more of them.” She hugged her even harder, threatening to break her body with their affection.

It made sense, and Emilie knew her parents weren’t lying to her. So then, why didn’t she believe them. Even with their tears, why didn’t it feel real?

“Thwush… Squarrrggg” The sound of a stone shot hitting a dragon could be heard even inside the keep. That was two down. There was another one left.

Inside the keep the ground shook, as the largest and deadliest of the three landed.

On the ground, it would be harder to hit, the Ballestia would need to be physically moved to aim at it. That would take time and it would be difficult.

The deep sound of a growl was shortly followed by the roaring sound of fire as the dragon no doubt killed another person. Was it someone she knew?

“Thwush… Crasshuggg” The sound of a stone shotput hitting the last dragon could be heard.

“I GOT HIM! I GOT BOTH OF THE FUCKERS!” The soldier manning the ballistae on top of the old keep screamed. Signaling that was all of them.

Neomsadi, Reese’s older sister came running in with their two younger sisters under her arms, just as it ended. She fell to the ground, nearly dropping both of the crying children. Each of the smaller ones crying and wailing for their respective mothers. Nemi on the other hand was saying something different.

“Reese. Please someone help my brother. The dragon burned him.” Nemi stared at the ground, as if, not all of her had made it to the keep.

Emilie’s blood grew cold as she heard the words. If Reese was hit by the dragon, there wouldn’t be much hope. She saw what it did to everyone else.

“Please someone help.” She begged again.

A rather fat merchant nodded and waddled over, as she ran back outside to her brother with him waddling behind.

Outside Neomsadi leaned over her brother’s body, he didn’t look that bad. Nothing like the others. He was obviously burnt but he’d live.

“Help us!” Emilie heard Neomsadi’s cry from inside the keep. She was going out there too, maybe she could help.

“Reese!” Emilie cried out as she ran from the Keep, her mother and father behind her carrying her crying brother.

The larger merchant was already tending to Reese. The man had come into their family’s story a few times, he might have been friends with his mother a fellow healer, but that didn’t matter.

“Reese. Are you ok?” Emile wasn’t crying. Trying desperately to hold it back. There had to be something she could do.

The ice spell, that might help with the burns, “I can try to cast that ice bolt spell and cool your burns?”

Clearly in pain, Reese chuckled, like likely making it worse. “Emilie, I’m fine. Hurts, but I’m fine. Besides I think that spell would impale me.” He smiled up at her.

He had saved his sisters and help her bring down that dragon. He was the last connection she needed to make that ice spell work. Why couldn’t she be more help. It felt like she lacked an agency in her own life. While somehow ignoring everything she just did.

“I’m sorry.” She whispered, too quiet for any but her to hear. She felt useless, despite all evidence to the contrary.

The two soldiers who saved her life came up to her, along with a few more in reserve. Behind them, her parents, still cradling her younger brother. She flinched as she thought she thought of being hit to the back of the head. But instead, something else happened “Kid. You know water spells better than any of us, can you help us put these fires out?”

“Eh?” In shock, it was all she could say.

“You should do it Emilie, be a hero.” Even through the pain Reese was still smiling at her. How could she be a hero by leaving her friend on the ground like this. But maybe they were right, maybe she could help a little. There wasn't much she could do here.

Water spell after water spell, bolts, torrents, other spells she barely remembered. Each time another fire was put out. First the school, then the various business on Market Street and Mountain Pass. She felt her mana run low but pushed forward anyway. Reese would have tried to cast spells without any mana at all, she could push herself at least to that point.

“Torrent” Her head began to feel light.

“Water bolt” Her hands grew numb.

“Wat… water bolt” It was tiny, but enough to put out one more fire.

The next time though, “Tor… Tor…” She took a deep breath, and once more tired “Torrent”, but nothing happened. Instead her mind went blank, and she collapsed.

“KID!” One of the soldiers picked her up. The soldier said it was mana exhaustion, she’d need time.

She tried to stand on her own, “No, stop. Don’t push yourself kid.”

“But I have to help. I have to put the fires out…” It was hard to stay awake. Like every part of her demanded sleep.

“Kid you did more than anyone else here. The rest are field fires, we can get to them ourselves.”

“No. If I put them out, everyone will stop hating me. You won’t be afraid of me anymore… I have to do something.” She tried to stand but was just too dizzy to keep her legs steady.

“Kid… Emilie, I promise you, none of us hate you. You damn well save the town!”

She wanted to believe that, but she just couldn’t. How could someone like her save anything? People like Reese, and these soldiers were the hero’s today. That’s what she kept telling herself, as she ignored the truth of her own strength.

Closing her eye, she just needed a little break, then she would help again…

"Kid!"