The campfire, now reduced to mere embers by Drake's previous demonstration, patiently awaited a new flame.

Elara focused intensely on the extinguished fire, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to invoke her magic. However, all she managed were a few harmless sparks that died before even touching the wood. "Aaah! This is impossible!" She let out a frustrated scream, feeling defeated.

Drake, noticing Elara's internal struggle, approached with unexpected gentleness, kneeling beside her. He covered her hands with his, in a gesture of support and camaraderie. "Look, magic can be tricky. There's no need to be ashamed," His voice was soft, reassuring. "Try visualizing the magic happening before releasing your energy. For more complex spells, or if you're just starting, speaking out loud helps to focus."

Elara felt her cheeks warm with Drake's proximity and touch, a mix of embarrassment and surprise making her stutter. "Ah, okay… okay. Flame… Flame of Fire? I… I don't know what to say." Her voice was an uncertain whisper, revealing her insecurity.

Drake let out a light laugh, trying to ease the tension. "It can be anything that makes sense to you, something that helps you focus."

"Scarlet Flame." She murmured, almost without hope.

At that moment, Drake, with a discreet movement, channeled a bit of his own energy through the contact with Elara's hands. He adjusted her mana flow, gently guiding her to feel and control the energy.

Suddenly, a vibrant and intense flame burst from Elara's palms, illuminating their faces with a warm and welcoming glow. "Looks like we're going to need more wood now," Drake commented, a proud smile on his lips.

Elara, with eyes wide in admiration and a smile that lit up her face as much as the flame she created, could hardly believe it. "Did I do that? Drake, thank you so much, seriously! Even with practicing in my spare time, this was the most incredible thing I've ever managed to do!"

Away from the light and warmth of the fire now burning brightly thanks to Elara's magic, Koji and Julie focused on a more mundane but equally essential task for the group's survival. In a clearing a little away, they worked together to prepare the wild pig, a comfortable silence between them, broken only by the sound of the blade and nature around.

Julie, noticing Koji's hesitation and his reason for choosing a more secluded spot, decided to confront him directly. "You can talk, Koji. I know you brought the pig here to talk about something away from their ears," she said, with a voice that mixed curiosity and a light tone of jest.

Koji, surprised by Julie's insight, sighed before opening his heart, sincerity shining through his words. "You know, Julie, maybe I was wrong about Drake. I spent the whole afternoon with him, and... he really seems like a nice guy, you know? Someone pretending would have slipped up at some point, but he… he was genuine all day. It's not like he's playing a character; that's just who he is," Koji confessed, reflecting on his own doubts and prejudices.

Julie, listening attentively, nodded, a slight smile forming on her lips. "So, was that it? Can we go back now?" she teased, ready to return to the light of the fire and the company of the others.

Koji, realizing he had said what he needed to and perhaps finding a bit of peace in his own conclusion, agreed. "I guess so…"

In a fluid and almost artistic movement, Koji drew his katana, the blade briefly glinting in the moonlight before being used to skillfully remove the skin of the wild pig. In less than a minute, the task was completed, showcasing not just his skill with the blade but also a silent respect for nature and the necessity of survival. "Let's go, help me carry this back," Koji said, now ready to rejoin the rest of the group.

After gathering around the revitalized fire, now thanks to Elara's magic, Julie took on the task of preparing the meal with the wild pig Koji and Drake had brought. Her ability to transform simple ingredients into a tasty feast did not go unnoticed, and soon, tempting aromas filled the air, promising a welcome relief after the day's activities.

Drake was the first to compliment, unable to hide his admiration. "Julie, this is incredible!"

Elara, equally impressed, added her own praise, a content smile framing her words. "Seriously, Julie, it's wonderful."

Together, they shared laughs and stories, the warmth of the fire and mutual company warding off the night's chill. However, peace was briefly threatened by the formation of rain clouds, the night sky beginning to cover with shadows heralding an impending storm.

Koji took the initiative to organize the group for the night. "We have two tents, grab your sleeping bags. We can split them," he said, looking at the sky worriedly.

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Julie, with a touch of practicality, quickly suggested. "Let's go, Elara, you can sleep with me tonight."

"Nã- Elara- Sleep With Me... AAAH!" Koji began to protest but was interrupted.

It was Drake who cut in with a laid-back proposal, his voice playful. "Relax, I'll sleep with you, buddy!" he said to Koji, a reassuring smile on his lips.

Koji responded with a mix of irritation and humor. "Shut up and come on..."

Once settled in the tent, the silence of the night enveloped everything, while the gentle rain tapped the fabric of the tent with a steady rhythm. Drake was almost succumbing to sleep when Koji's low voice cut through the quiet. "You know, Drake, I wanted to ask you some questions," Koji murmured, almost as if fighting his own hesitation.

Drake, pulled from the edges of sleep, turned slightly, surprised by Koji's sudden desire to talk. "Sure, go ahead," he replied, trying to hide his own astonishment.

With an almost inaudible sigh, Koji launched his question into the dark, his words laden with curiosity. "So, Drake, you and Elara... is there something between you?"

Drake felt his face heat up under the cover of darkness. He hesitated, scratching his head, searching for the right words. "Well..." he began, his voice revealing his uncertainty. "We're friends."

Koji's response elicited a low chuckle, seeming to find some comfort in the situation. "Elara is an amazing girl, I have to admit. But don't worry, I'll take good care of her."

Drake couldn't hide the sudden twinge of jealousy Koji's words provoked, hurrying to change the subject. "It's good to know, Koji. And Julie? You two seem to get along very well, even though you argue so much."

Koji's laughter softly echoed in the tent. "Oh, that's normal for us. Julie and I have always been like this," he said, with a tone that mixed affection and exasperation.

"That's great to see," Drake replied, an audible smile in his voice. "Sometimes, it's in the arguments that we show how much we care about each other."

Koji's words seemed to touch him in a way he hadn't expected, making him turn to his side, lost in thought. The conversation, though brief, had triggered a chain of thoughts that led him to ponder his own relationships and feelings.

Drake, for his part, found himself immersed in his own reflections, Koji's words echoing in his mind. "Do I like Elara?" The question accompanied him to sleep, a query that, although simple, promised profound changes in his heart and future decisions.

"No... no!" Drake's voice was a hoarse whisper, fighting against the images that haunted him in his sleep. Around him, the invisible walls of his tent seemed to close in, transforming into the voracious flames of his nightmare. The suffocating heat, the distant screams, everything felt so real, so palpable, that for a moment he saw himself again in that burning room, despair enveloping him like a heavy cloak.

With a start, Drake woke up, his chest rising and falling at a rapid pace, cold sweat sticking his shirt to his skin. He ran his trembling hands over his face, trying to push away the images that refused to disappear with the darkness.

"It's okay, Drake, it was just a dream... just a dream," he murmured to himself, his voice still trembling, as he struggled to calm down. He could feel every accelerated beat of his heart, a reminder of the flames that danced in his mind moments before.

Unable to remain lying down, Drake decided he needed air. With slow and careful movements, so as not to disturb the companions who slept peacefully, he wriggled out of his sleeping bag and left the tent. The night welcomed him with a cold embrace, the moonlight bathing the camp in an ethereal glow. The Lusiry Woods, now a tangle of shadows and silhouettes under the night's cloak, seemed to hold secrets known only to the darkness.

Drake walked with light steps, feeling the cold grass under his feet, seeking the calm that the day had not brought him. He looked up at the sky, the twinkling stars offering a peaceful contrast to the torments of his mind.

"What are you trying to tell me?" he whispered into the void, his words lost in the night breeze as he caught a faint light source amidst the darkness of the night.

"What could that be?" Drake murmured to himself, his low voice almost lost among the whisper of leaves and the distant sound of a stream. The night enveloped everything in its dark mantle, but that light invited him to come closer.

As he approached, each step seemed to echo louder than intended, his heart beating at a pace that competed with the sound of his cautious movements.

Behind a tree, he peeked out with his eyes adjusting to the dim light. The scene before him seemed pulled from a forgotten tale, two men wrapped in cloaks, one holding a lantern whose faint light struggled against the darkness, the other firmly holding a cage in his hands.

"Are you sure this will work? Catching a fairy is no simple task, they say that those who harm these creatures end up with a fate worse than death," the man's voice trembled slightly, betrayed by the hesitation and fear that the old stories inspired.

His companion, however, let out a low laugh, filled with confidence and disdain. "Don't worry, my friend. We know the value of fairies. They possess this magical dust that's worth more than we can imagine. And this one... well, let's just say she's a unique opportunity," his words were a venomous whisper, promising riches beyond comprehension at the cost of a magical being.

The first man, still visibly uneasy, cast a worried glance at the cage. Inside, a small and delicate form stirred, its faint light a testament to its struggle and despair. "And when we no longer need her? What then?" he asked, his voice laden with a weight that greed could not completely dissipate.

"Ah, we'll use the magical dust until there's nothing left. After that, we can simply... get rid of her," the other replied, his tone casual and detached, revealing boundless greed, without any trace of compassion or remorse.

Drake, hidden in the shadow of the tree, felt each word as a blow. Indignation and anger boiled within him, a storm growing with the men's conversation. Fairies, creatures of pure magic and innocence, did not deserve such a cruel and greedy fate. He knew he couldn't just stand there, listening without acting. But he also understood that any rash movement could put both him and the fairy in greater danger. With a heavy heart, but determination burning stronger than ever, Drake waited, ready to find the right moment to intervene and save the fairy from unimaginable cruelty.