As Lira stood at the entrance, her eyes wandered past Maelin to the others spread throughout the forge. She noticed the subtle differences between them—how the higher-class elementers channeled fire directly from their palms, using elegant, effortless motions to heat metal or tools without ever touching the flames. Their power crackled like tamed lightning, precise and clean.
In contrast, the others—those of simpler origin—worked nearer to the hearths, learning through sweat and proximity. They practiced hand-to-hand skills, bending and shaping the metal only after it had been heated by natural flame. Their path to mastery was slower, but perhaps more grounded.
Maelin dipped the glowing blade she had shaped into a barrel of water. Steam rose in a sharp hiss. Then, as if sensing her, Maelin turned, her eyes lighting up when she spotted Lira.
She smiled wide and strode over quickly, her boots tapping lightly against the stone.
"Nice to see you here! Did you come to check what we're doing?" she asked, eyes bright. "Do you want to join us?"
Lira immediately raised both hands in protest, stepping back half a pace. "No, no, no. I can't join. My tolerance to heat is... not that great."
Maelin laughed warmly. "That's true. Even we fire elementers have to build up tolerance. It's not as hard for us as for the others, but it still takes time. That's why we forge so much—so our bodies forge stronger too, with the heat." She flexed her arm jokingly. "It's amazing how much my power has changed since I started here."
They left the forge together, walking through shaded courtyards and quiet corridors until they reached Lira's room. The air there was cool, still scented faintly with herbs and ink.
As they sat, their talk turned softer. After a few light-hearted moments, Lira's expression grew more serious.
"There's something I need help with," she said.
"I think I need special gloves to handle Ice Lotus properly," she explained. "Something that won't interfere with its energy, but still protects me. I can feel how strong it is… and I don't want to risk harming it—or myself."
They left Lira's room with quiet purpose, weaving through the winding paths of the academy. The stone halls gave way to the open training grounds, and soon the hum of the forge reached their ears—heat radiating in waves as sparks danced in the distance. Maelin pushed open the heavy forge door, her eyes already scanning for materials, while Lira hesitated at the threshold, the warmth washing over her like a tide.
Maelin leaned on the edge of the forge table, examining the materials laid out before her. "So, you need gloves that can handle heat—and maybe even elemental energy? Sounds like a challenge I'm ready for."
Lira smiled but kept a cautious step back from the heat. "Yes, but I won't be able to stay long. Just standing here is already too much for me."
Maelin chuckled. "That's fair. Even for us fire elementers, it takes time to adapt. That's part of our training. We forge metal—but we're also forging ourselves stronger through it. My power's changed so much since I started here."
Lira nodded as Maelin began selecting thin sheets of heat-resistant ore and fine elemental threads. Sparks danced in Maelin's palms as she shaped the gloves, layering materials carefully. Lira watched from the edge, eyes wide with hope.
But something wasn't working. The first glove blackened at the edge, the fire flaring too hot. On the next attempt, the flame wavered, too weak to fuse the inner lining.
Maelin groaned. "Tch… I can't get the balance right."
Nearby, their forge instructor, Master Anire, stepped forward. His voice was calm but edged with steel. "You're rushing. Don't force the fire—feel it."
He extended his hand, conjuring a steady flame. "Breathe with it. Fire listens when you listen first."
With effortless control, he wrapped heat around a scrap of material. It bent and fused with perfect rhythm.
Maelin inhaled slowly, nodding. This time, she didn't push. She moved with her breath, her pulse, letting the flame rise naturally. Her hands flowed with renewed precision, wrapping fire gently but firmly around the glove pieces.
Lira leaned in, her face lighting up as the seams of the gloves glowed with an ember-like pulse.
Maelin held them up, surprised and proud. "I did it."
Master Anire gave a small nod. "You listened to the fire. That's the first step to becoming more than just an elementer. That's the step toward mastery."
Maelin's eyes gleamed. Lira stepped forward, accepting the gloves with care.
"They feel… alive," she whispered. "Thank you."
Maelin grinned. "Just be careful with that lotus. I don't want my gloves going up in flames."
Lira laughed softly. "Neither do I."
As they walked out of the forge together, the sun dipped low, casting golden light across the training grounds. A quiet resolve bloomed in Lira's chest. The gloves were more than protection—they were a step toward understanding, growth, and something greater.
And she wouldn't be walking that path alone.
---
With the finished gloves carefully tucked into a satchel, Maelin and Lira stepped out of the forge and walked in companionable silence toward the greenhouse. The golden light of late afternoon shimmered through the glass dome ahead, catching on the dew that clung to the plants inside.
As they entered, the temperature dropped noticeably. Maelin paused, taking in the lush, vibrant space—rows of rare herbs, twisting vines, and glowing fungi. But her eyes were immediately drawn to the lotus at the center, resting in its chilled pool.
"Woah…" she breathed. "It's... stunning."
The flower shimmered softly, its pale blue petals edged with iridescent frost. "It doesn't even look real."
High above them, two tiny fairies hovered unseen, their translucent wings beating soundlessly as they circled Maelin with wide-eyed curiosity. They spiraled closer, invisible to Maelin's eyes, inspecting her with quiet fascination.
Lira stepped forward, gently taking out the gloves. "They're finished," she said softly. "Will these work?"
From the lotus pool, Ivvie emerged, her form delicate and glowing faintly. She gave a tiny nod, her voice like wind over water. "They're fine. Good work, flame-forger."
Maelin blinked, trying to spot where the voice had come from, but saw nothing.
Ivvie floated beside the lotus, addressing Lira. "Now you can put the gloves on. Take one petal. Just one—for now. Keep the gloves and use them whenever you need the lotus in potions. Even a single petal will feel cold."
Lira nodded solemnly and slipped the gloves over her hands. They pulsed faintly with Maelin's elemental fire, a quiet shield between skin and frost.
She stepped as close to the lotus as she could, the chill seeping through the air despite the gloves. With steady hands, she reached out and cradled one delicate petal between her fingers, gently plucking it free. A shimmer ran along the flower's edge, as if it acknowledged the offering.
As Lira turned, the second fairy, Sielae, emerged from behind a cluster of silverleaf, her wings glinting like frost in the light. She held out a small pouch, dyed a soft, glowing blue.
"This pouch is special," Sielae said, her voice clear and melodic. "It will keep the cold sealed within and protect you while handling it. Always be careful."
Lira accepted the pouch with a grateful nod, carefully placing the petal inside. A gentle warmth spread through her chest—respect for the gift, and for those who guarded it.
After the exchange with the fairies, both girls turned at the sound of soft footsteps. Thara, the herbalist, was leaning casually against one of the greenhouse's stone pillars, arms crossed and a gentle smile on her face.
Both girls startled slightly, then greeted in unison, "Hello, Teacher Thara!"
Thara chuckled as she approached them. "You girls always surprise me. What a team you make." Her gaze settled on Lira, warm and impressed. "And you, Lira—you've been a big help here. I never even thought of collecting the petals like that."
Lira smiled shyly. "I got advice from Sielae."
Thara's eyes sparkled as she nodded. "I see. Having friends is truly a treasure. Remember them well."
She gave them each a fond look before waving them off. "Now off you go, girls. It'll be night soon."
After the girls returned to their rooms, Lira sat on her bed once more, cradling her green book in her hands. As she thought about the lotus, the pages gently fluttered on their own. New words appeared, revealing how the special gloves allowed her to safely handle the plant—information that seemed to write itself into the page. She still wasn't quite used to this strange magic.
But now, a new question pressed on her mind: how do you make a potion with an ice lotus petal, and what is it for? As she pondered this quietly to herself, her eyelids grew heavy, and she slowly drifted into sleep.
While Lira slept, her dream took shape. She saw a woman—older but bearing a striking resemblance to herself—moving gracefully among shelves filled with bottles. The woman waved her hands, weaving vibrant green elemental magic that made plants shimmer and potions glow. On the table lay an ice lotus, its petals glistening coldly. Lira tried to step closer, but the more she reached out, the hazier the vision became, until the dream slowly faded away.