The bell signaling the end of recess echoed through the schoolyard.
"Wow… I didn't even notice the time passing," Judha said, stretching her arms lightly.
"Me neither," Clark replied, glancing at the sky. Blackfire only nodded in agreement, still lost in thought.
Blackfire glanced at Judha again— and then stopped.
"Huh…?" she murmured. "Judha… your irises… are they golden?"
Judha froze for half a second.
"S–Yes…" she answered quietly, averting her gaze. "My family comes from an old Tamaranian class."
"An old class?" Clark asked, curious. "Which one?"
Judha hesitated, choosing her words carefully.
"Well… it's hard to explain completely. But our origins trace back to divine warriors."She paused."Like angels… and spirits."
"Divine warriors?" Blackfire repeated, surprised.
"Yes," Judha nodded. "Our class has a golden aura, unlike the common Tamaranian green or purple. We're deeply connected to spiritual energy. In theory, our techniques can reach the other plane… and even imprison demons or malevolent beings."
Blackfire blinked.
"I've never heard of anything like that."
"I think I have," Clark said slowly, snapping his fingers. "I've heard stories about your class before… I just can't remember the name."
"Luminari," Judha said softly. "We're called Luminari."
"That's it!" Clark said. "I heard that the legendary warrior Saphira had something to do with the Luminari. Because of her powerful eyes—she could seal demons too."
"Wait," Blackfire interrupted. "Saphira was a Solaris. The strongest class in Tamaran."
"You're right," Judha replied calmly. "She was a Solaris. But her eyes were… special. Magical."She gestured vaguely near her face."Her irises were red, with black spirals instead of pupils. It was a technique—used to mesmerize enemies while she prepared her attacks."
Blackfire stared at her.
"So… your eyes are magical too?"
"No," Judha shook her head quickly. "Mine are just… golden. Nothing more."
Clark tilted his head.
"And your parents, Judha? Do they have ocular powers too?"
Judha hesitated again.
"I… don't really know."
"You don't know?" Blackfire asked gently.
"They… travel a lot," Judha said, forcing a small smile. "They're always on missions outside Tamaran. So… I've never seen them use anything like that."
"I'm sorry…" Blackfire murmured.
"What kind of missions?" Clark asked.
"I don't know," Judha admitted. "I never really knew."
Blackfire let out a small laugh, trying to lighten the mood.
"Alright, let's stop there," she said. "We're accidentally skipping class just talking in the cafeteria."
The three of them laughed together.
"Judha," Blackfire added, "Clark and I are heading back now. See you later."
"Okay! See you!" Judha waved.
"See you!" Clark and Blackfire replied in unison.
As Blackfire and Clark walked down the hallway toward their classroom, Clark suddenly spoke.
"Didn't you think that was… strange?"
"Strange?" Blackfire asked. "What part?"
"She's the only Luminari in Tamaran," Clark said. "There aren't any others."
"Really? I never noticed."
"Normally, anyone who goes on missions outside Tamaran is part of the elite warrior units," Clark continued. "And so far, no Luminari has ever been listed among them."
"How do you know all that?" Blackfire asked.
"The elite base stayed near my village for a while," he replied. "I asked a lot of questions."
Blackfire slowed her steps.
"The thing I found strange," she said quietly, "was her earring."
Her words made Clark stop.
"Her earring?"
"Yes. On her right ear," Blackfire said. "A golden, triangular earring."
"I didn't notice that."
"She hides it with her hair," Blackfire explained. "But from where I was standing, I could see it swinging when she talked."
"And what's strange about that?" Clark asked.
Blackfire lowered her voice.
"In Tamaran's most famous legend… it says Saphira wasn't killed. She was sealed into a pair of earrings by a demon."She swallowed."Triangular earrings. One holding her body… the other her soul."
Clark stared at her.
"So you're saying Judha could be… half of Saphira?"
"No," Blackfire said quickly. "That's not what I'm saying."She looked away."I just thought the earring looked… too similar."
They stood in silence for a moment.
Then Clark exhaled.
"Let's ask her later," he said. "We'll be late for class."
"Yeah," Blackfire nodded.
As Clark started walking, Blackfire suddenly reached out and grabbed his hand.
"Clark!"
"H–Huh?" He froze. "W–What is it?"
She hesitated, cheeks warming.
"About your sleepover…" she said softly. "I think… I can go this weekend."
Clark's eyes widened.
"O–Oh! Okay… I'll tell my parents."
They stood there, hands still joined, sunlight pouring through the hallway windows.
Neither spoke.
For a brief moment, the school felt quiet.
Then Clark cleared his throat.
"Um… should we invite Judha?"
Blackfire blinked.
"Oh… I thought it would just be us two."
"Ah—right," Clark said quickly. "If you prefer, it can just be us."
"I've never had a sleepover before," Blackfire admitted. "So… maybe next time we can do one with Judha too. A better one."
She gently let go of his hand.
"That's fine," Clark smiled.
"Come to my house on Saturday. Six PM," he said. "Don't forget your pajamas."
"Deal," Blackfire replied, giving him a small thumbs-up. "I'll bring something for us to eat too."
They laughed.
"Let's get back to class," Clark said.
"Let's!"
They arrived together, slightly late—but the teacher allowed them in.
"Next time," Professor Hakim teased, "you two lovebirds will be staying in the hallway!"
The entire class erupted.
"THEY'RE DATING!""THEY'RE DATING!"
Blackfire froze in embarrassment while Clark panicked.
"N–No, Professor Hakim! We weren't doing anything!"
"Alright, alright," the teacher laughed. "Everyone quiet now. Pay attention."
Blackfire sat down, dying of embarrassment, with her heart still racing.
The final bell echoed through the halls, signaling the end of the school day.
Students began pouring out of their classrooms, voices overlapping, footsteps rushing toward freedom. Blackfire waited near the school gate, her eyes scanning the crowd.
Then she saw them.
Clark waved first, jogging toward her.
And beside him—
Judha.
"There you are," Clark said, slightly out of breath. "We thought you'd already left."
Blackfire smiled, relieved.
"I was waiting for you."
Judha's eyes lit up softly.
"Together, then?" she asked.
The three of them walked side by side, leaving the school grounds behind. The afternoon sky was painted in warm tones of gold and orange, and the city of Tamaran felt calmer at that hour.
They talked about small things—classes they liked, teachers they didn't, silly rumors from school. Laughter came easily now, natural and unforced.
As they reached a crossroads, Clark slowed his steps.
"This is where I turn," he said, pointing down a quieter street.
Judha stopped as well.
"And I go this way," she added, gesturing in the opposite direction.
Blackfire stood between them, hesitating.
One by one, they went their separate ways.
Blackfire watched them walk off, her chest warm in a way she wasn't used to feeling.
For the first time, the road back to the castle didn't feel so long.
And for the first time...
She wasn't walking alone anymore.