"So how's the food?" Emma asked, sitting beside him at the wooden kitchen table, her voice casual and bright.
"They're good," Caelen replied between bites, scooping up the last of the eggs from his plate.
Emma grinned, satisfied. "Rebecca said I'm getting better."
He set the fork down and leaned back a little, eyes lingering on the empty plate before shifting toward her. "Emma, you know… I never really took most things seriously. Especially the magic stuff."
Emma tilted her head, curious but silent.
"The church never really taught us that. I mean, not the real stuff," he continued, meeting her eyes now. "So I was wondering… could you help me out with it?"
She blinked at him, surprised—but then a bright smile crept onto her face. "Come."
Before he could ask where they were going, she grabbed his wrist and pulled him out of the kitchen. They stepped outside and rounded the side of the house, sunlight warming their skin. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine and dew. Behind the house stretched a wide backyard that eventually met the edge of a dense forest.
Caelen slowed his steps, eyes drifting toward the treetops. In that moment, a familiar image flashed in his mind—the priest's face, staring down at him with hollow judgment.
His expression tensed.
Emma noticed immediately. She stopped and turned to him, still holding his wrist loosely. "Hey. What's wrong?"
Caelen exhaled and shook his head. "It's nothing. Just remembering a few days ago. I guess I'm lucky I got a second chance."
Emma gave a small nod. "Then if you want to make that second chance count, you need to learn how to take care of yourself."
He looked at her and smirked. "I'm ready."
Emma stepped forward into the clearing at the edge of the forest, releasing his hand. "Alright. Let's start with what I know best."
She looked proud now, hands on her hips like an older sister finally being asked to show off. "All magicians have what we call magical power. That's the energy that lets us use spells. Think of it like fuel."
"Got it," Caelen said with a small nod.
"But it's not just about power," she continued. "What really shapes your magic is your affinity. That's basically the type of magic you're born with—or the ones you're most compatible with."
"Like what?" he asked.
Emma raised a hand, fingers glowing faintly. "Mine are Light and Water. Pretty rare combination. The church loved it for healing potions. They even tried to find others with the exact same pair—it doesn't happen often, but it's not impossible."
As she spoke, a small stream of water formed above her palm. She compressed it into marble-sized spheres that shimmered in the sun. With a flick of her wrist, the water bullets zipped toward a nearby tree, peppering the bark with little impact dents.
"Held back, of course," she said, smug.
Caelen laughed. "How do you even learn spells like that? I always wondered how you never forget any of them."
Emma gave a small shrug. "You visualize it clearly—like really clearly. The more you do it, the more natural it becomes. But spells still need a few things: no distractions, enough magical power, and a strong body."
"A strong body?" Caelen asked.
"Yeah," Emma said, nodding. "Casting strengthens your core. That's why magicians can hold their own in a physical fight. Not like pure warriors, but still… we don't break like twigs."
"Wow… okay. That actually makes a lot of sense." Caelen frowned a little, trying to summon the same focused feeling he had when he awakened. He closed his eyes and tried to draw on it again.
Emma watched quietly, noticing his face tighten in effort.
"Don't force it," she said gently. "Magic has to feel natural. It's like breathing. Once you grasp it, it flows."
Caelen opened his eyes, exhaling slowly. "Right…"
"You're a warrior, I think," came a new voice from the trees.
Caelen turned, instantly alert.
Out from the woods stepped Lucy.
She looked relaxed, arms at her sides. Her dark hair fell over her shoulders and there was a slight smirk playing at her lips.
"He is?" Emma asked, turning to Caelen.
He didn't know how to respond. Ever since the truth came out about Lucy—her family, the demon hunters, his awakening—he hadn't seen her the same way. But she was standing there now, calm and smiling. Not threatening. Not distant. Just present.
"I was the one who helped him awaken his affinity," Lucy said as she approached. "So… there's a chance he's got the warrior side in him."
She stopped a few steps away from him, and Caelen noticed her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. Still, she seemed… lighter.
"I'm sorry about the other day," she said. "I guess I was a little jumpy."
"It's fine," Caelen said, smiling. "Nothing wrong with being a little jumpy. Happens to all of us." He paused. "So… you're a strong warrior, or something?"
Lucy nodded. She lifted her arm and focused. Ice began to spread across her fingers, forming a crystalline sheath. She swung her arm toward another tree. The ice exploded into frost on contact—but quickly melted away.
"Held back, obviously," she added, flashing a small grin.
Emma folded her arms. "Show-off."
Caelen just laughed. "I think I'm gonna need both of you if I'm going to figure this out."
Emma stepped beside him again. "Don't worry, we've got your back."
Caelen nodded.
"Look, I'm helping you out because I kicked you out yesterday," Lucy said as she stepped forward, her arms crossed loosely. "And I'm just making things easier for you, since we might not even have the same affinity, and full teaching is not available even if we did the same affinity."
Caelen glanced at Emma, who looked away, avoiding his eyes. He picked up on it immediately.
"So... this was your idea?" he asked her.
Emma smiled guiltily but said nothing.
Lucy rolled her eyes. "Magicians and warriors might both use magical power, but how we use it is completely different. You need to understand that first."
She gestured at him as she continued. "We've got magical cores too, sure—but that's not how we channel our power. Ours flows through the body, through the veins. That's why warriors tend to get naturally stronger, faster. The body adapts with every use."
"Some believe there's a way to harness both," she added with a shrug. "But those two paths have been split for so long, most people gave up trying to combine them. Doesn't really matter anymore."
Caelen raised an eyebrow. "So… do you want to learn both?"
Lucy smirked. "Nope. Not interested in reading books or studying theories. That's for people with too much time."
She stepped back and flexed her hand slightly, summoning a thin layer of frost across her fingers.
"We mostly use physical magic spells," she explained. "Techniques that stay close to the body. Like what I did earlier—that was kind of a cheat. The ice finger move is supposed to be a close-combat slash technique, like claws."
Emma looked amazed. "Wait… you shot it?"
Lucy gave a small, satisfied nod. "Yeah. Compressed and released it like a projectile. It's not textbook-perfect, but it works."
Without warning, she stepped closer to Caelen and placed her hand gently on his chest—like she did before.
"That feeling you had the other day?" she said, voice low now. "Concentrate on it."
Caelen felt it immediately. That same spark pulsing through him, deep and warm like a heartbeat of energy.
"This—this is your base," Lucy said. "This is your magical power. Unlike magicians, yours isn't a pool stored somewhere inside. It runs through you. It makes your muscles stronger, your bones tougher, your instincts sharper."
Caelen listened closely, letting her words guide the sensation.
"Now," she said, voice steady, "once you've grasped that feeling, try to expel it. Not throw it away—let it go, but still feel like it belongs to you."
She leaned closer, whispering, "Now… let go."
Caelen exhaled, focusing everything he had on that single sensation. The pulse inside him surged once—and then, suddenly, with a snap like cracking air, a zapping sound burst from his arms. For a moment, both his hands lit up—crackling and glowing with faint arcs of lightning before it flickered and vanished.
Emma gasped.
"Lightning? That's incredible!" she said, her eyes wide as she grabbed his hand instinctively. "Caelen, you've got an amazing affinity."
Even Lucy, usually composed, looked mildly impressed. Her expression was more reserved, but her eyes betrayed the intrigue.
"They thought mine was rare," she thought to herself. Her gaze drifted for a moment as a memory of her family's expectations flashed across her mind like a flicker of light in a storm.
Then she blinked back to the present and nodded once. "Congratulations."
There was a short silence. Then Lucy turned and walked a few steps toward the house.
"You wanted to play that game, right?" she asked over her shoulder. "Depending on how many rounds you win against me, I'll decide how much I'll train you."
She didn't wait for a reply, just kept walking.
Caelen was still looking at his hands when Emma moved in closer. Without a word, she hugged him from the side, arms wrapped tightly around his chest.
He blinked, surprised by the sudden embrace. "Hey… what's that for?"
She didn't let go. "I'm just happy for you."
Caelen softened, letting the moment settle. He didn't say anything right away—but a small, genuine smile crept onto his face.
"Alright, alright…" he joked lightly, nudging her shoulder. "Let go of me before I melt. You're going full sentimental on me."
Emma laughed and finally pulled back, but her smile stayed, eyes bright. "Shut up."
For the first time, it really felt like he was stepping onto his path.
What they didn't realize was that Lucy hadn't walked off as far as they assumed. She had paused at the edge of the tree line, glancing back quietly, watching them, unsure if she was interrupting something.
She saw the way they were with each other. The ease, the comfort. The laughter.
She stood there for a few seconds longer, then turned away.
As she walked back toward the house, her steps slowed slightly. Her hand rubbed the back of her neck, and a rare, almost shy expression crossed her face.
"I wonder…" she muttered to herself, cheeks a faint red, "… after all of that, can I really call them friends."
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