The fire crackled softly in the center of the clearing, casting trembling shadows across their faces. Mai sat with her knees drawn to her chest, eyes locked on the flames. Duncan leaned against a tree nearby, arms crossed, silent but heavy with thought. Tiffany, unusually quiet, walked a small circle around the edge of the trees, pacing.
Mai broke the silence. "Duncan. You said you saw the fire... in Glob."
His head tilted slightly. "I did. But not from inside. I was far—too far."
She turned to him. "Tell me what you saw. Everything."
Flashback – Duncan
The year was 1998. The hills overlooking Glob village were dry, silent. Duncan stood among a squad of Western Corps soldiers. Their commander, Captain Ramlo, stood with arms folded, voice like gravel.
"Orders are clear. You see red aura users — you fire. I don't care if they're elders or toddlers. This village harbored flower carriers. They're a threat to balance."
Duncan clenched his fists.
"Sir... this is a farming village. There are families here."
Ramlo's stare cut into him. "They're all suspects. You forget your place again, soldier?!"
That night, Duncan waited until the others slept. Then he ran. He climbed the eastern ridge, boots bleeding, heart splitting.
And there, just before dawn, the fire began. He saw it all.
Black smoke. Screams. And at the center — a woman cloaked in red, fighting desperately. He didn't know her name, but he would never forget that final roar.
"I saw her fall," Duncan whispered now. "But I didn't help. I didn't even scream."
Mai's face was blank. She was shaking, but she didn't speak.
That night... another voice broke the silence.
"His name was Leo."
Mai turned. Tiffany stood behind them, arms crossed, voice steady.
"My brother. You wanted to know."
She stepped forward, sitting slowly.
"He was younger. Softer. I used to push people away — but not him. He followed me everywhere. Said I was his sun."
She laughed once. Bitter.
"And then one day... Gigel came. Burned our entire home. And Leo — he tried to save the others. The kids. He died doing it."
Mai whispered, "And you?"
Tiffany looked away. "I couldn't stop him. I screamed. And Gigel looked at me. And didn't kill me. He left me alive — like I was nothing."
Mai reached out, gently. Her hand rested over Tiffany's.
"That's when the sunflower found me," Tiffany continued. "It wasn't a blessing. It was punishment. A light I didn't deserve."
Silence again. Then Duncan, voice cracking, said, "We're all carrying ghosts."
Mai nodded. "Then maybe it's time we stop running from them."
A pause. The fire cracked again.
Mai's hand was still over Tiffany's. Their eyes met — a long, fragile moment.
Tiffany whispered, "I've never said that out loud. To anyone."
Mai leaned closer, barely audible. "You didn't have to. I saw it in your eyes."
A breath held between them.
And then — gently, almost hesitantly — Mai kissed her.
A brief touch. Warm. True. Not out of passion, but something deeper: recognition. Grief meets grief.
Duncan, still leaning against the tree, looked up. He saw them and looked away.
His jaw clenched. His violet aura flickered and dimmed.
Morning
The three woke early. The path ahead was rough — a steep trail leading north toward the ruins of Ikaido Shrine, rumored to contain old scrolls related to the first flower carriers.
But none of them spoke.
Each was buried in memory. And each knew — they were no longer walking just for survival.
They were walking to make it right..