Nora sat on the ground, her bandaged forearm visible, her expression curious.
Charles looked at her, an idea forming.
'If I want everyone to buy that my power's fire, I need to convince someone like Nora,' he thought, a grin spreading with excitement.
She was Master rank, someone who knew powers. If he could fool her, his lie might hold.
"Wanna see what I can do?" Charles said, flashing a confident smile, though nerves fluttered inside. "I wanna show you my… fire."
Nora raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms.
"Oh, sure. Go for it," she said, her tone amused. "Blow me away, Rian."
Charles took a deep breath, pressing his palms together like before. He closed his eyes, visualizing the electricity coursing through him.
'Just a little… don't overdo it,' he thought, trying to control the energy.
He pictured a bright flash, something that could pass for fire.
But, as usual, his power had other plans.
BOOM!
A smaller explosion than the one at the training field, but still strong, burst from his hands, lighting the clearing with a blue flash.
Charles stumbled back, yelping in pain. His hands burned, the wounds under his bandages feeling worse.
The air smelled scorched, and nearby leaves fell, singed.
Nora, a few meters away, widened her eyes. Her long brown hair, loose in the night, whipped back from the explosion's shockwave, strands sticking to her face.
"That was impressive!" Nora said, a mix of surprise and admiration. She stood, brushing dirt off her tunic. "Didn't expect something so… explosive. That's your fire?"
Charles forced a smile, ignoring the pain in his hands.
'It worked,' he thought, relieved. 'She bought it.'
But inside, he was worried. The explosion had hurt him again, and he couldn't keep this up.
"Yeah, my fire," he said, scratching his neck. "Still getting the hang of it."
Nora studied him, like she was trying to figure him out. Then, more seriously, she said, "I knew someone who controlled fire like you. No flames, just explosions. Always ended up hurt, just like you now."
Charles blinked, intrigued.
"For real?" he asked, stepping closer. "Did he figure it out? Could he do it without getting hurt?"
Nora shook her head, her expression flat.
"Nope," she said bluntly. "Never fixed it."
Charles frowned, waiting for more.
"So what happened to him?" he asked, his tone mixing curiosity and concern.
Nora sighed, looking at the ground.
"Lost his hands in a fight," she said, her voice distant. "Caused an explosion so big it took out his opponent, but the backlash was too much. Never used his power again."
She paused, meeting Charles's eyes.
"Be careful, Rian. That path doesn't end well."
Charles felt a chill.
'No way he lost his hands,' he thought, glancing at his own wounded palms. 'The way I'm using my power is garbage.'
If he kept causing explosions, he could end up the same. The thought of losing his ability—or worse, his hands—made him nervous.
But he couldn't show it in front of Nora.
"Got it," he said, forcing a grin. "I'll practice so I don't end up like that guy."
Nora stepped closer, eyeing his hands. The bandages were dirty, and burns peeked out at the edges.
"How bad's the pain?" she asked, her tone more curious than worried.
Charles shrugged, downplaying it.
"Not much," he lied, though every finger movement felt like touching coals. "I've had worse days."
Nora yawned, stretching with a tired look.
"Well, I'd rest if I were you," she said, flopping back onto the ground. She lay on the dirt, arms behind her head, like the cold or looming rain didn't faze her. "No point wrecking your hands now."
Before Charles could reply, the first raindrops hit, splashing his face.
In seconds, the sky opened, and a downpour soaked them.
Charles looked up, groaning.
"Great, just what I needed!" he said, wiping water from his eyes.
He glanced at Nora, still lying there, unbothered.
"Why don't you shield us from the rain?" he asked, half-joking. "You're a Master, don't you have some trick for this?"
Nora cracked one eye open, a lazy smile spreading.
"I'm tired," she said, yawning. "Besides, rain doesn't kill."
Charles laughed, shaking his head.
"You're… something else," he said, sitting beside her on the wet ground.
The water soaked his tunic, but after everything, he didn't care. The rain's coolness was almost a relief for his burning hands.
He looked at Nora, who seemed to enjoy the water on her face. Her wet brown hair clung to her cheeks, and her soaked tunic faintly outlined her figure. Charles noticed, with heat creeping up his neck, the fabric tracing the shape of her nipples.
He quickly looked away, feeling like an idiot.
'Focus…' he thought, staring at the falling drops.
Nora, oblivious to his reaction, glanced at him sideways.
"Why not head for cover in the clan buildings?" she asked, amused. "Looks like you're worried about staying dry."
Charles shrugged, grinning.
"I'm tired," he said, mimicking her earlier tone. "And rain's not so bad."
Nora let out a short laugh, closing her eyes again.
"You and I are gonna get along," she said, a hint of sarcasm. Then, more seriously, she added, "How many days till your duel?"
Charles counted mentally, frowning.
"Four or five," he said, scratching his neck. "Not sure of the exact day."
Nora opened her eyes, raising an eyebrow.
"Cut that out," she said, mockingly. "Don't brag about having so much time to prep."
Charles laughed, raising his hands in surrender.
"Hey, it's practical!" he said. "I'm up against two guys who're supposedly Master rank. I need every day I can get."
Nora studied him, like she was sizing something up.
"What rank are you now?"
Charles grinned, a touch of pride.
"Just got promoted to Novice," he said. "For the… fire thing."
Nora nodded, her expression hard to read.
"Not bad," she said slowly.
But then she frowned.
"Why were you with the Aspirants in the first place if you already had powers?"
Charles's stomach knotted.
He couldn't tell her the truth about his lightning or Lira's plan to keep it hush.
Instead, he winked, flashing a confident smile.
"It's a secret," he said playfully. "Let's just say I like to surprise."
Nora laughed, shaking her head.
"You're an idiot," she said, but her eyes sparkled with amusement.
Charles looked at Nora, noting how relaxed she seemed despite the downpour. Water ran down her cheeks, her expression almost serene.
'She's pretty,' he thought, then shook his head. 'Not the time for that… I've gotta get out of this place eventually. Can't get distracted.'
To break the silence, Charles asked, "You always do this? Sit in the rain?"
Nora cracked one eye open, a mischievous smile forming.
"Truth is, I'm doing this 'cause I didn't shower yesterday."