The carmine sun was already setting. I sat on the mansion's roof, watching its reflexes that slowly disappeared from the lake's surface, and the birds bustling about among the branches, preparing to rest. Every now and then one of them would still give a silvery chirp, sending a thanks for a beautiful day to the darkening sky. My heart felt so light...

Right after our first flight, Siaril declared that he felt worn out and retreated to his room. I couldn't blame him. The whole tension and the relief afterwards combined with all the excitement were starting to get to me as well. But despite all the tiredness, I couldn't forget that smile... it hid again shortly after we came down to earth, like a bird that settles into the grass and folds its wings when the danger has passed, but my soul was still soaring thanks to it.

I felt like it was very close now. The moment where Siaril would shake himself free after that tragedy. I was finally certain about helping him to destroy the pain. I smiled involuntarily.

However, among all that happiness, there was something stirring inside my chest. And I couldn't even specify what this weird feeling was. I sighed and glanced over my shoulder, to the east, where the sky was already taking on a deep shade of navy-blue. A blurry thought of Elithia crossed my mind. I wondered how she was doing now that I was gone again... were my parents worrying much? And Kristya, was she...

My wings twitched suddenly, receiving a shy impulse from that stirring in my heart that suddenly became clearer. I could find all that out easily now. I could fly there, visit my home, and it would probably take merely a third of the time of a normal journey...

I got up and stared at the lush expanse of forest, stretching all the way up to the dark horizon. I was ready to do it right then and there, and if someone tried to stop me, I probably would have thrown them right into the lake. I crossed the roof's surface to reach its opposite edge, spread my wings...

... and then, as if to spite me, I heard someone's voice. Someone's... singing?

I stopped in my tracks and blinked a few times. The voice was familiar, the silent melody sailing on the delicate, evening breeze... I turned back, carefully crouched at the edge of the roof I was previously sitting on and looked down.

On the small balcony of her room, leaned against the balustrade, stood Yasenka. Her eyes were closed, her beautiful face turned to the remnants of the sun in the west. She was singing softly, the unintelligible words composing some mysterious and tranquil melody. Outwardly, it was not much different from any other song, but the graceful sounds were delicate and warm like the faint touch of a whisper...

I was ready to back away, not wanting to disturb whatever she was doing, when suddenly, among the strange, unfamiliar words, I heard my own name... I looked down again, confused. And she, as if sensing my stare and puzzlement, switched to Earlindonian so smoothly that I barely noticed that I was suddenly able to understand:

"He never knew you were the missing piece...

Walked in the shadows until you brought him to light...

Never let go of whom you belong to...

For some things can only be seen if there is two of you..."

Suddenly, the song broke. "Eavesdropping is not very healthy, you know that?" Yasenka craned her slender neck.

I felt my cheeks heating up. "I... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you..."

"It's alright. Could you maybe lower yourself down to my level? My nape is starting to hurt."

I hesitated shortly, but leaped from the roof at last and settled down onto the balcony with a few careful beats of my wings. "I'm really sorry..." I mumbled again, hopping down from the balustrade.

"I told you, it's alright," she smiled gently.

"But... what was that anyway?"

"If you mean the singing, that was a prayer."

I blinked. "What do I have to do with your prayers?" I didn't manage to stop these words from slipping past my lips.

There was a hint of amusement in her eyes as she looked into mine interrogatively. "You must've practiced this eavesdropping thing quite a lot." When a sheepish smile bloomed on my face, she continued: "Well, since you kind of have the right to know, I'll tell you. I was praying for you both."

"Us both?"

"You and Siaril."

"Why?"

"Because it would be wonderful if you managed to solve this problem." She glanced at my surprised expression and smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, I know, none of you really told me... The day you arrived in the forest, my curiosity got the better of me. And I wanted to make sure the wings Siaril showed us weren't just a mage's trick or something... so I listened to your conversations in my hovel," she bowed her head a little. "I'm really sorry."

"Let's call it even then," I smiled. "But since you know already, maybe you have some idea to help?"

"You've been doing quite fine until now."

"Maybe, but what if that's not enough?" I suddenly felt my stifled doubts resurface. "What if it's all in vain, what if it's impossible to help him by now? You've seen his eyes, haven't you...?"

"Yes, and I know that look. I've seen it a few times, in the water..."

I frowned a little at first, but quickly realized what she meant. "Oh, like... in your reflection...?"

"Yeah..."

"Was it... your parents...?" I dared quietly.

"Oh, no, I lost them so long ago that I barely even remember them. It was... something else that I'd rather not talk about now."

"I'm sorry..."

"Don't be," her sad smile transformed into a look that was way too serious for such a beautiful face. "Anyway, what I actually wanted to get at, is that you're never a lost cause if there is but one person still fighting for you. I had someone like that, and Siaril does too. I know that it sometimes looks like he wants to hold on to his isolation like a drunk to a fence, but the pain is recent, and it won't go away so easily. And it's far greater than mine too, because real friendship is a seed that sprouts rarely, but once it does, you can rip it out only with the heart together... it's a miracle that he can still go on after that... Still, he has to understand that friendship is exactly what he needs to heal these wounds. And he needs to understand that the fear sparked by your resemblance to Sitriel is completely baseless. There's a fundamental difference between you two."

I gave her a confused look. "What difference? And how in the world can you know that?"

"Tell me, would you be able to die for Siaril, like Sitriel did?"

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For a moment I got lost in thought and in those piercing eyes. And the answer that I found after a long reflection surprised even me. "No... I'd do everything in my power to not let that happen, because then he would suffer even more..."

A warm glimmer surfaced from those green depths. "See?"

I smiled and turned my gaze towards the lake. "I want him to laugh and live freely like you or me..." I admitted quietly. "I want to lead him out of this darkness that he created around himself, and got lost in it like an idiot..."

She giggled silently. "If that's so, then you just need to keep one thing in mind."

"What's that?"

"It's true that our journey through this world cannot always be beautiful. Without the little 'hiccups' in life we wouldn't be able to appreciate all the good that befalls us. It's the same with light though. If it's alone, it makes no sense. It has to coexist with darkness, otherwise no one would be able to tell that it's there, right? But whatever way you look at it, the darkness is never able to conquer light," she lifted her palm and opened it. And again, there was this little, bright flame that started to dance along her fingers. "Darkness is just the absence of light. A place where no flame is burning. And as long as the flame stays strong, the darkness stands no chance. The only way darkness can win, is when the light loses hope," she looked me in the eyes, closing her palm. "In this case... you are the light, Sig. And if you really wish to help him, you cannot lose that hope. You have to be sure that you desire it more than you're afraid of it."

I closed my eyes with a smile, allowing the gift of those words to sink in. "Thank you..."

A comfortable silence fell over us for a few minutes as we admired the last crimson glow of the sky. I interrupted this pleasant moment rather reluctantly: "May I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"How do you do it? I mean the fire."

"You can do it too."

"I know I should be able to, but I still don't know how..."

"Well, let me tell you something first then. The fire of the Disciples can only burn if it has a reason to. Someone who it can burn for. That's why we received this magic in the first place - to protect. And that is why I think that you of all people shouldn't have a problem with summoning it. You just need to find a source for it inside of you, along with this sprinkle of magic that is hidden somewhere inside your being. And the best place to search is here," she reached out and placed her delicate hand on my chest, near the heart. "Try it, it's really not that complicated."

I looked at her slender fingers for a moment, thinking it over, then nodded slightly and closed my eyes. When she retreated her hand, I opened one of mine, just like she did earlier, and started searching for this 'source'. I didn't need to look far. As soon as the image of Elithia, my parents and my little sister appeared in my mind, I immediately felt the familiar warmth inside my chest, but somehow clearer and more intense than usually. Without much thinking, I did the only thing I found logical in front of my task. I embraced that warmth with my thoughts and tried to materialize it somehow... make it real...

... and suddenly heard Yasenka's silent whisper... I wasn't sure, but it sounded like it had a hint of bewilderment to it: "Now don't stop thinking about it and open your eyes, slowly."

I obeyed, my gaze falling upon my open palm. There was a bright flame dancing between my fingers, a bit larger than Yasenka's even, challenging the color of the sky in its beauty. I gaped. I almost didn't feel the heat at all, just a tiny, pleasant warmth.

"You're unbelievable..." she didn't even try to hide her amazement. "First try, not to mention how strong it already is..."

"Well, there's a reason for that..." I could barely control the excited trembling of my voice. "Thank you."

"For what? You did it on your own."

"But without you, I wouldn't have known how to... And how do I put it out now?"

"Similarly, just the other way around."

"Oh, you're just so funny..." Even without exact instructions though, I instinctively grasped the mechanism of it after a few moments and made the flame disappear.

Yasenka smiled. "It might get even stronger soon, if you manage to put Siaril in order."

I nodded. "Maybe we'll be able to together. I mean... even if he doesn't want to allow that thought to himself, we all already are friends."

"If that's what you really feel... can I ask a little favor of you?"

"Anything."

"Don't force yourself into clearing everything up on your own in the future... If you have some problem or are struggling with something, just share it with me. I'll carry what's too much for you. Alright?" she winked.

"You're the best..."

"Now go, before they call it a day."

I blinked. "Sorry?"

"Didn't you want to go somewhere?"

"How..."

She just laughed heartily. "Don't ask, just go, but be careful. And don't forget to return to us, I'll have the rest of your shirts redone so they fit with your wings soon."

I just shook my head, smiling in bewilderment. I figured I should be grateful that there was no need to throw her into the lake. "I promise I won't miss out on that," I climbed atop the balustrade again.

"Have a nice flight. And a safe one."

I leaped from the balcony. A vague sensation at the tip of my wing abruptly told me that I miraculously missed Yasenka's head by a hair's breadth. I spun around in midair. "I'm sorry!" I yelled, panicked.

"I'm fine, don't worry!" she waved, amused, then urged me to finally leave with another hand gesture.

With a few beats of my wings I gained some height and circled the mansion's premise once before turning east. It was a wonderful evening for flying. The air was a bit sultry, but the breeze moving around my wings made it far more comfortable. And tempted me to do some research with directions and heights. I soared above the dark thicket, delighting in the feeling of freedom the caressing touch on my skin elicited.

I went a bit higher and looked around. To my right, I could see the Serelath Valley, so I assumed my home should be somewhere straight to the east, maybe a bit north-east. I folded my wings and went into a dive, then snapped them open just above the tree tops and started ascending again. It was so beyond fun...

After what felt like an hour of aerial experimentation, when the moon rose lazily over the horizon where I came from, I saw a faint glow between the trees ahead and slowed down. I let myself fall a bit and soon saw the roofs of familiar cottages, the bonfire burning between them, and the silhouettes of people... The faint columns of smoke from the chimneys showed that it was just past supper time. They soaked up the moonlight and dispersed higher up like silvery clouds below the starry sky.

Flying was so much faster than walking, even faster than horse riding... it felt like I reached my destination in no time. Or was I just having too much fun on the way?

I carefully dropped in between the trees and settled down on a branch of one of the not too tall lindens. From there, half-hidden among the young leaves, I started to look out.

I was following Ivyette to her house near the center of the village with my eyes when I heard a familiar voice nearby:

"I'll get right to it, I'll just bring some water first."

I carefully leaned out a bit and peered downwards. There she was... Elithia just came out of her house, a small wooden bucket in her hand, and headed towards the brook. In other words, exactly in my direction.

When she passed underneath the branch I was standing on, I spotted an opening between the trees and leaped lower, further towards the stream. I wasn't able to avoid the rustling of the leaves though, and the ever perceptive Elithia looked up.

She probably wouldn't have noticed me in my dark clothing if it weren't for the moon. She somehow looked me straight in the eyes and the bucket fell to the ground with a soft thud. "Si... Sigrian?" she stammered. And then the shock of me even being here went forgotten. "What are you... how did you get all the way up there?! Are you crazy, you're not a feather-light kid anymore, get down!"

I just grinned. "If you insist..." and jumped down.

Elithia shrieked, covering her face with her hands in terror to avoid witnessing the macabre sight that she was sure would follow. When she didn't hear any screams or cracking of bones though, she hesitantly opened her eyes again.

And suddenly shock stained her features once more, but of a different kind this time. It wasn't what I expected. For some reason my heart suddenly skipped a beat, as if sensing something disastrous closing in. Even the trees rustled miserably in the sudden gust of night wind.

"I see..." my friend whispered suddenly, the surprise in her azure eyes melting into what seemed to be sadness. I wanted to say something, but she continued before I could even put together a coherent sentence: "It was obvious to me even before all of this started happening... you always were someone special... you stood out from everyone else, always seeing things your own way, treating the world like only you would... like you weren't really part of this normal realm... my realm..." the last words were almost inaudible.

A sudden chill ran through my whole body. "Elithia..."

She lifted her head again and smiled at me sweetly, brightening the darkness of the evening a little. But I've never seen a more pained smile in my entire life... "It looks like you've found your place in this world. And a lot seems to have changed in those few days... you feel comfortable there, don't you? Otherwise those wings wouldn't have come so quickly..."

"No, that was just..."

"Don't bother yourself with me," she interrupted me again. "You can forget, I don't mind... just... just please, please be happy..."

Her golden fringe covered her eyes again and she quickly ran past me, completely forgetting the bucket still lying in the grass. I snapped out of it a second too late and turned around, wanting to snatch her wrist, but my fingertips only brushed the fabric of her sleeve. I wanted to run after her, but something stopped me. What would the other villagers say if they saw me like that? How would my parents react...?

When I heard the distant slam of a door, my hand fell limply to my side, my caught breath leaving my chest in a feeble exhale that didn't ease the tension even the tiniest bit...