At the start of her journey Flamma would have never imagined she'd end up behind a counter of a quiet faux of a bookstore. To be honest she was a little frightened of what the future held. It was Anchor's decision to follow Vestalt after their incident at the forest nation. Flamma could still remember those events as if it happened meerly yesterday.

They were a group of six at the time. Ciber, Tio , Impe , Accend and of course Anchor and herself. They lived in a quiet village on the outskirts of the lava territory. They were all third generation gormiti. Some grew tired of Magmion's antics and branched off, perferring to live peaceful lives rather than fighting in a pointless war. Her village was one of the few that sprung about due to that mindset those few gormiti harboured.

Flamma grew up happily in her village with her friends she held dear to her. Though one day, Flamma fell ill and the only cure, from the wise words of their village elder, was a root from the forest nation. Magmion rampage through the Gorm left tension between the fire gormiti and the other elemental gormiti, thus a known rule amongst their village was made. Nobody was allowed to venture outside of the village. Not to other elemental areas and especially not to Volcano Mountain.

Flamma was content with her inevitable short life. She had her friends who she considered family and her village she adored so much. Though Accend couldn't bear it. He was their so-called leader of their mini-pack. It was his idea to go against the words of their village elder and venture to the forest nation. Anchor, timid and feeble at the time, was strongly against such. But Accend was special. He had an inate ability to convince others and lead. Thus him and their mini-pack left at the cold of night, leaving Flamma behind.

"Don't worry!" Accend said with his effectious smile,"We'll get that root and come back straight away!"

He wiped away the lava tears from her blurry eyes. "We'll play again like we used to. I promise."

And that was the last Flamma saw of him.

Only Anchor came back, root in hand, eyes devoid of his usual spark. Once Flamma was fully healed he had told her the news. Their beloved friends were dead, caught by the forest gormiti and presumably killed. Anchor only made it out alive due to Vestalt and her army's intervention.

Anchor had also told her he was leaving the village. Having disobeyed the elder's wishes, he was banished, only allowed back for one more night to give Flamma the root. Anchor didn't care. Their village was cut-off from the rest of the lava nation, so news on Magmion's exploits were few or considered merely rumors. But Anchor told her that Obscurio and Magor were back in Gorm, the gormiti from the legends, Magor, the one who started the war.

Vestalt was part of Magor's fleet, in fact she was second in command. Anchor didn't give a damn about Magor, he just wanted to avenge his friends so he'd follow Vestalt, his saviour to battle. He'd learn from her and grow stronger. Strong enough to get back at the forest nation, no, the lord of the forest himself.

When the time came for Anchor to leave, Flamma rushed after him, claiming she'd do the same. She was terrified. Magor was a cruel leader and Flamma didn't want to fight in a war but she felt guilty. Her friends died to keep her alive. She needed to repay them somehow. She needed to get stronger. So the both of them left together , trained together under Vestalt's guise.

Magor's next move was to reconstructing the fire orb, once lost in an ancient battle right before he disappeared into a votex to an alternate dimension. Vestalt had happened to be fighting in that battle and was sucked into a rift, leading her to a tower called Tartarus. There she found several pieces of the orb before somehow making her way back to Gorm.

So Flamma and Anchor, alongside their fellow lava soldiers searched the Gorm for missing pieces of the fire orb. They also travelled to Tartarus, searching for pieces there with the book Vestalt found during her entrapment.

Through the book, they also found out the final piece of the orb was somewhere on earth, and with many sacrifices were able to open a portal to earth.

And now Flamma is here, behind a counter in a faux of a bookshop. The peacefulness almost reminds her of her time back in the village. It sadden her, but she couldn't wallow in self-pity everyday. Her friends gave her a second chance of life, though life in Volcano mountain was hard with Magor and constant training, she's now stronger than ever before. She gets to experience new things and meeting new people! All that hardship lead her on this path and she going to give it her all. For her sake and for the sake of her friends.

"Flamma!" Anchor calls out from the entrance. "We're leaving. Commander Vestalt will take over the counter."

With a grand smile, Flamma skips to the front door and clucthes Anchors arm, much to his demise. What new things she'll find today? Regardless, she's excited for a new day of wondeful encounters.


Another dream about him.

Kagami stares at the messy cupboard. 1.35am in the morning and she's snooping around the kitchen for a warm cup of milk. Another nightmare and for the sixth time this week. At first, Kagami just brushed it off as a typical nonsense dream but the recurring events are worrying her. It's been the same dream every night. Of her alone in the desert with Supreme Luminous from the stories Ojii-san told her as a kid.

"It's your turn now."

What does he mean by that?

Surely she can't forget the ending. She's engulfed in flames and a mysterious figure cackles murderously till she wakes all sweaty. Kagami couldn't explain why everything feels so real. The orb, its harsh intense energy pulls her in...but it doesn't hurt.

Kagami is desperate to tell someone but she doubts anyone would take her seriously. If anyone at school found out she's obsessed with a fictional world of strange creatures, that'd be it for her status. She'd be the laughing stock of the whole school. Maybe her Ojii-san would understand, but somethings stopping her from approaching him. She can't explain it, but there seems to be an invisible wall between them. A wall she very much likely wants put. Ojii-san has been nothing but kind to her since her birth so her not fully trusting him does seem a bit rude but Kagami couldn't help it.

One thing's for certain. There's no way in hell she'd tell Shujin. He isn't scary or anything, yet less friendly than her Ojii-san, he's nothing like her mother. For one, she wouldn't be able to escape her sharp gaze back when she lived in Japan. Even away from her mother, Kagami could still feel her lingering presence.

The letter...

The assignment.

Kagami shakes her head, ridding the thoughts of her recuring nightmare. Now's not the time. She has do more research her assignment. She shouldn't be worrying about some stupid nightmare. Her mother was right. Those fairy tales weren't good for her brain.

Kagami approaches the refrigerator. With every second she's wasting precious time she should be using on her assignment.

Quiet but still hearable, a slow squeaking envelopes the apartment.

'Someone's awake!'

Kagami instantly ducks, praying the dark of the night and the cupboards would conceal her from the predator.

'Please don't let it be Shujin.' Just the thought could give her a massive headache. Shujin wouldn't stop pressing her till she'll 'spills all the tea' as they say here in the west. Doesn't help that she's already half asleep.

Yet her nagging curiosity wouldn't stop itching. Certain she's still concealed by the dark, the girl takes a peak. It isn't Shujin, bless her heart but her Ojii-san instead. He tiptoes across the hall towards the front door. Examing the apartment complex for any sign of life (praise the orbs, Kagami closed her door and turned her lights off before entering the kitchen, that'd be a dead giveaway.) he breathes a sigh of relief before exiting.

Where is he going? Kagami couldn't help but wonder. However, her curiosity came to a halt. The assignment, that's the most important thing. Kagami closes the fridge, losing her appetite in the process. She's wasted enough time already.

Quoting her mother's infamous line. "Back to work."


Kagami ogles at the regular sized cappuccino she bought. She didn't know if those inherited tastebuds were a blessing or a curse.

In defense, Kagami's been tired out of her mind for the past few days. The girl could hardly keep her eyes open during class. Even during the recent student council meeting, Jenny couldn't help but point out how unusual Kagami's been acting.

'You okay Kagami?' Jenny asked after their meeting had finished.

'Hmm?' Kagami posed, taking a rather sunken look on her features.

' You're more grumpy lately...is everything okay?'

Kagami slammed her fist on the table. 'I am NOT grumpy!'

Jenny mouthed something Kagami didn't catch as she backed away slowly. 'Okay...um I'm going to take my leave now."

All Kagami could do was bonk her head on the table. The pain wasn't even as bad as her lashing out on Jenny.

Anyways, Kagami's suppose to met Toby at the library by now. She booked a room for the two of them in advance. It's the ideal situation! No distractions, nobody else, just the two of them working on the assignment. Kagami went ahead to prepare but she fell asleep. Thankfully she woke up before Toby arrives. If he saw her like that it'd be way too embarrassing to recover. Knowing Toby, he'd use that against her.

That is, if he shows up.

For now she has to deal with this cappuccino first before worrying over the resident troublemaker. She could not afford to fall asleep so she succumbed to one of her worse nightmares.

She succumbed to the coffee addiction.

Chris appeared awful in class, but this is only going to be one. Just one cup should be enough and then no more. Plus it isn't like she's going to get hooked on them anyways (maybe those taste buds are a blessing). So Kagami lifts the cup till the opening touches the tip of her rose-coloured lips.

'Here is goes.'

Kagami downs one gulp.

...

...

...

She does a double take.

Kagami gaggles. The sheer bitterness rushes through her neurons. It's as if she had eaten a black chalk. The girl couldn't withstand it anymore. She spurts out any remains in her mouth, staining her jumper with coffee and saliva. What concoction is this? How did Chris manage to down five? Rushing to the nearest bin, in autopilot she chucks the drink into the dumpster. Kagami flinches as the taste still lingers. She continues to cough and hackle, just anything to get that wretched taste gone and out. She sticks her fingers down her to mouth, rubbing off the bitter taste. It's dumb, she knows, but she couldn't stand the taste. Thankfully she stumbled into an empty hallway.

After seemingly getting rid of the taste, she leans her weight onto the bin. She should head back. She's wasting time again.

Whilist heading back to the library Kagami makes a dash to the school vending machine. Sparkling water doses the bitter coffee straight clean and away. Kagami couldn't relish on the calming effects on the water as she just notices the stain on her clothes.

'Damn it!' The girl does not have time to go to the bathroom and a perfectly good scarf is dangling on her neck so she uses that combined with the water to make her look somewhat presentable. The stains are still in place but they're fading and she could still conceal them with her she arrives at the library. She checks herself one more before continuing forward.

Yet she thinks of the possibility of Toby not showing up. Toby makes it pretty evident that he does not care for the assignment one bit. His posture, tone, even when she does get the opportunity with Toby he seems so...rude? Kagami never really interacted with Toby much. She's really close with Nick, everyone knows that and she only recently started to get to know Lucas and there's Jessica and Gina too but Toby was always an oddball. It's weird. Tense almost. It's as if...Toby never liked her from the start, before this whole assignment craze. But why? They hardly interacted, so there's no reason to dislike her, right?

Kagami sighs.

There she goes daydreaming again.

Regardless she may need Nick's help on this one. Kagami unlocks the door. She had left her phone in the room. She might send him a quick text before hitting the books again. Where was it again? Right behind the pile of books, the ones Toby's reading.

...

The bright red phone case lies there by Toby's arm.

...

...

...

...

A few centimetres, almost at arms reach, there lies Kagami's phone by Toby's arm.

...

...

.

...

...

The arm, belonging to not Nick, not Lucas but Toby is literally finger tips away from her phone.

...

...

..

The boy doesn't notice Kagami at all.

.

"TOBY?!"

Toby breaks out of his trance, startled by Kagami's call.

"What are doing here?" Kagami asks.

Toby gives a puzzled expression. "To work on our assignment?" A sly grin appear on Toby's face kicking off his playful instincts. "But if you don't want me here I guess I can -

"NO!" Kagamai rushes over to the boy, grabbing his arm desperate not to let him leave. It's a miracle he's even here in the first place. "I mean, sorry It's just..."

"You didn't the delinquent Toby so show up on his own accord did you?"

He didn't have to put it so bluntly. "I wouldn't put it like that! It's just, I didn't expect to see you here so early. "

Toby raises his eyebrow. She totally sees him as a delinquent. He isn't all that offended, it's the truth after all. However misses goody two shoes can't admit it, probably because she doesn't want to get on his bad side. Anyways, Kagami's dying to work on the assignment and so does doesn't really have a choice given Nick and the gang made sure of that. So Toby relented. He isn't fond of anything that doesn't define 'fun' but Toby isn't too keen on his layback approach effecting someone's health so badly.

Yeah, that's right. Toby isn't a total heartless bastard. Being a gentleman for once, Toby gets up from his seat, patting the wooden chair insinuating for Kagami to sit on it. Though confused the girl obliges.

Toby hops to the opposite end of the table. He scurries to his bag in delight. "I've got a great idea for our assignment, I was thinking about it all yesterday evening."

Kagami strikes a worried glance. Toby's cooperating. He must be planning something. Regardless, it's the closest Toby has gotten to caring about their assignment so Kagami is willing to hear him out.

"So I've been going over the text book, you know since I've been behind and all." Toby pulls out said biology text book. He flips through the pages trying to find something.

Kagami's flattered, surprised even but there's still something nagging on her mind. "Toby, I'm glad you've done your research but..."

"But what?" Toby stops scanning through the book.

"What about the books I gave you from the library. Did you read those?"

"Oh yeah those! I returned them the other day. Too many complicated words. I thought it would be best to use the text book instead."

"Why didn't you tell me!" Kagami says with hurt apparent in her voice. She specifically told him to read those books!

"Hm I dunno know. Guess I forgot to tell you, anyways -"

How could he forget! They met up yesterday evening, he should've told her then!

Toby continues. "We should do ours on the eco system, Venture Falls eco system!"

Big. Fat. Red. Flag.

"NO!"

"Why not?"

Has Toby not been listening to a word she said the past few meetings? Here she is thinking Toby wouldn't be that much of an airhead! Kagami sighs before explaining to Toby. " Lucas and Gina, Ike and Matt, Abel and Andrea, Justin and Chris, all of them will be doing the Eco system! If we do it too then we'll lose the chance of getting a good grade! "

"But that means we'll have to make our presentation the best!" Toby clasps his fists together, pumped up with the excitement of going against his classmates.

However, the excitement is short-lived as Kagami shuts Toby down once more, "If we do an outstanding presentation then we might get a good grade but it won't be enough for an A! It's an easy topic so of course to Ms. Mc Guck it'll be taking the easy way out! "

Toby slouches. He's spent all yesterday afternoon working his butt off to play catch up , putting Gorm and possibly the fate of the world aside so he can help this girl get a good grade just for her to say no?

"But I worked so hard yesterday..." Toby pouts.

That struck a nerve to Kagami. He may have tried yesterday evening but Kagami's been pouring blood, sweat and tears since day one and all of that gone to waste cause Toby didn't want to lift a finger to help. He thinks he got it bad? Usually Kagami would say quite, if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all. But she's pissed. "And I've been working hard since day one! Frankly, I'm not going to throw all that away just because someone didn't want to cooperate from the get go."

Toby isn't dump. He heard that passive aggression in her voice. "That someone may have had other business to attend to but they're here now to help!"

Kagami relents. Now's not the time to be arguing. "Okay. Okay. Sorry. Will you hear me out...please?" That's more for herself than for Toby. She needs some way to calm herself down before the situation escalates any further.

"...Sure." Toby says, albeit bluntly.

"As I told you before, we'll be doing the body, specifically the cellular respiration in both plants and the human body and photosynthesis."

"But isn't Kemi's group doing photosynthesis?" Toby swore he heard Kemi crying over not understanding those photosynthesis formulas.

"Yeah, but they're not doing photosynthesis and cellular respiration!"

Good point but there is another complaint that Toby has. Though he tried his best he still hadn't fully caught up to the class. He has a basic understanding of photosynthesis, yet he doesn't know jack about cellular respiration. Not only that, photosynthesis, plant respiration and body respiration were all three different topics with multiple chapters on their own summing up to more workload Toby couldn't chew. It's simply unfair. The amount of time it'd take him to sit down and research those topics would far outweigh the time he'd have to work on the presentation. Basically suicide!

"Uh...Kagami?"

"Hm?"

"Maybe we should stick to one topic?"

"No."

It took every ounce of strength for Toby not to get up and leave. Is she this overbearing when working with others? Toby couldn't fathom how anyone could stand her!

"Look Kagami, this is insane! I've barely reached chapter 3 last night! There's no way I can study all those chapters before the assignment is due!"

"Well, maybe you shouldn't have slacked off and actually attended class."

That's it. Toby tried. By God, he tried to be nice and help the girl. However, she's the one being uncooperative. There is no way Toby's doing that much for a potential A. Kagami may be ready to slave herself away but she isn't bringing him down with her. Heck, Nick doesn't do this much.

"Kagami.. I know it might not seem this way, I truly want to help but this is too much for me to handle."

"Too much? This is the only way we can get an A!" Kagami slams her fists on table, already ticked off with Toby slacking again. " You want to settle for a B? C? Not me! I have to be at my best, please just understand -"

Okat that's it. No more Mr. Niceguy. "Not everything has to be perfect! You know, somethings getting a B or a C isn't so bad."

"Toby...I can't settle for a B!" Kagami could feel the tears well up from her eyes. Things weren't suppose to go this way.

Toby rests his palm on his head. 'Shit.' It's already enough people are on his case about the assignment. If they heard he made Kagami cry, there'd be a witch hunt after him. Toby isn't all for making girls cry but he's adamant on his decision.

Back to being Mr. Niceguy. "Sigh..look, if you really want an A so bad we'll do it but with a different way! A way that's less...destructive."

But Kagami isn't letting up.

"I can't take that chance! We have to things my way!" she cries.

"Why's that!?" Toby screams. Why does she have to be difficult? If she just listened to others for once in her life-

"BECAUSE!" The tears that threaten to leak cloud her vision but she doesn't care. "Because... My way works! It always has. I...I can't change that. Not now..."

"But, you won't know if you don't try!"

"Toby, you don't understand! I can't! Please!" Kagami begs.

Toby couldn't lie to her. "I'm sorry, I can't." Perfect. The word continues to ring through her mind. All her life she had been that very word. She's the model student, gifted, special, a goddess. In a higher realm than any of her classmates. For everyone else in her position, they would've felt honoured. But for Kagami, she loathed every second of it. She hates studying, the way people would place her on a pedestal. It's lonely, scary even.

However, she continued for her mother's sake. Because what matters most to Kagami in the entire world, is her mother's love.

So she'll keep studying, and keep putting on this facade if it makes her mother happy. The thought of disappointing her mother, utterly crushed Kagami. Why did Ms. Mc Guck have to pair her up with Toby? Why did she have to sabotage everything she worked for?

"Why..." she calls out. "Why did it have to be you?"

Toby stares at her blankly. That look on her face, it creeps Toby out.

Kagami couldn't take it. Why couldn't she be with someone else? Why couldn't she be with Nick?

Nick...

With him she wouldn't have to worry. He'd do everything she asked of him. He's that loyal to her. It made her sick to her stomach. Yet he gives her what she wants, so she endures it with a smile.

"Why couldn't it have been Nick..."

Though muted, Toby heard what she said and any sympathy he had for her flies out the window.

He isn't knows full well that Nick is the superior brother. Nick's the golden child. Good grades, stellar behaviour, always does his chores. While Toby's the complete opposite. He's nothing compared to Nick in this life. It's stupid but whenever people compare him to Nick, it hurts. A lot. As if it's reaffirmation of how useless Toby is.

Toby side steps Kagami, completely ignoring her rushing to pack his bag. He didn't know where to go, just anywhere away from her.

"What are you doing?" Kagami calls, grabbing him by the wrist ,stopping him from packing.

Toby roughly yanks her hand off, "Leaving."

"You can't leave! What about our assignment!?"

Toby hauls his bag to his shoulder, avoiding eye contact. He just needs to get out. "You figure it out."

Shocked, Kagami freezes in place, granting Toby an outlet to go. Kagami had to go after him. So she races after him, tripping for a second losing her footing before jolts out.

"TOBY!" Kagami finally catches up to him, grabbing the back of his jacket to stop. "Please..I didn't mean - "

Toby speaks up. "You know, it's people like you I hate the most."

Kagami flinches. Unconsciously she lets go of his jacket, utterly bewildered that Toby would say that. She had her suspicions but for him to utter those words. It's a first for someone to say such to her.

"You think you're better than everyone else!" Toby spins around, glaring at her. This is the angriest Kagami has ever seen Toby. " Little Miss Perfect on her throne, looking down on all of us good-for-nothings!"

'How dare he!' "Don't put words into my mouth! You don't understand - "

"Understand what? That you only care about yourself?" Toby roars. He didn't care that Kagami is girl, if she cries, that Nick likes her. Kagami had provoked him and Toby didn't know how to stop.

"You use people to make yourself look better. You don't care about Nick, Jess or any of them! You're only worried about yourself!"

Kagami clenches her fist. She avoids eye contact, staring at her feet instead.

"You act like you're the nice student council president that has everyone's best interest in mind but you're not."

'Shut up.'

"You know what you are? A fake!"

'Shut up. Shut up!'

"A fake that uses people to make herself feel better!"

'shutupshutupshutupshutupshutupshutupshutup SHUTUP!'

Toby strides up closer using his height against to hover above her. His gaze holds hers, locking her into a trance. "And there's one thing that you need to drill into that thick brain for yours."

Kagami's clenched fists shake frantically. 'Why can't he shut up already!?'

Yet Toby isn't letting up. He leans in close, so close they could be practically kissing from far away. "You're just like the rest of us. No matter how hard or how long you try, you'll never be perfect. So just quit the nice act already."

Kagami loses it.

"And why don't you shut up already!" Kagami snatches Toby shirt, jerking him away from her face. "So you got me figured out huh? What a joke! You will never understand what I've gone through to make it this far!"

A crowd starts to form around them.

Toby fires back. "How am I suppose to understand when you're being a bossy bitch all the time!"

The crowd 'oohs' ring out at the comment. Nobody had dared swore at Kagami before. But Kagami isn't done. That just lit a fire within her. So she bites back, hard. " Oh so I'm the bad guy now!? Look at yourself!"

"Hey! Now you - "

"No! I had to endure you throwing insults at me, now it's your turn!"

So Kagami goes off, leaving no time for Toby to rebut. "All you do is skip class all day and jerk off! And I'm the one who doesn't care about other people? Hypocrite!" Despite the height disadvantage, Kagami is the one towering over Toby. He dominated the argument at the beginning but now, Kagami's gonna show why you don't mess with her.

"You're a disgrace to your friends and family! You probably worry them to death with your crazy antics. "

Toby cackles, He's heard all this before. "My parents?! What about yours? I don't see them anywhere! I bet they sent you here so they don't have to deal with an ungrateful daughter like yourself – "

A huge smack erupts and confused, Toby's eyes were now fixated on the ceiling. Kagami had slapped him.

"Don't you dare talk about my mother like that."

The slap was so hard that it knocked Toby off of his feet. He lays on the ground, shocked out of words to say. He places his hand on his cheek. 'Did she just smack me?' Not even his parents would lay a hand on him.

"Do you think I like being in the student council?" the tears threaten to come back as she trembles, clutching the hand that smacked Toby. "That I like being the perfect student?"

Kagami didn't know what she was saying. Her emotions are on an all time high and she goes on autopilot. "I'm only doing this because my mother..." The tears begin to fall. "My mother..."

"My...my...oka-san.."

Where was she when Kagami needed her?

"Woah woah woah Back up!" Mr. O Brian rushes through the crowd. "This is a library! Get back to your seats or get out!" with his warning the students flee back to whatever they were doing. Kagami and Toby still remain in place.

"Kagami!? Toby? What's this commotion?"

Kagami looked up at the teacher, her vision completely blurred with tears. "I.." she chocks out. A lump in her throat stops her from completing her sentence. Whatever she trying to say, she didn't know herself. The energy from before is zapped from her. Unable to bear it any longer she does the only thing she's capable at the moment. She runs.

She pushes past the audience, not caring about courteousness. Kagami couldn't see where she is heading. She's outside, given the cold autumn wind. The tears completely blinded her vision. With her emotions in a mess, Kagami doesn't register a fairly large brank and she trips ungracefully. Her primary instinct is to balance herself, but her hand slips and she's sent tumbling down a hill. Everything is a mirage of colors, she couldn't tell from up and down till a tree bark halts her fall.

Kagami briefly dusts herself off and wipes away the tears. Though how many times she wipes her eyes the tears won't stop.

Baka! Idiot! - she scolds herself. It's the first, in two years since moving to Venture Falls she's gotten into a fight. Kagami's embarrassed, angry at herself for letting her emotions take over. Everything is ruined. If Toby was reluctant to work on the assignment he sure as hell doesn't want seeing her face ever! She struck him, everyone saw it. He'd tell Mr. O Brian, everyone, how much of a horrible person she is. What would they think? What would Nick think? They'd hate her for sure , shun her from the student body. She'll be a total outcast, kicked from the student council, glares surrounding her wherever she goes.

Baka!

Kagami hoists herself up only to stop midway with a sharp sting from her knee. She must've scrapped her knee from the fall. That triggers Kagami and she's blubbering uncontrollably.

'Stop!' she instructs herself. 'Stop crying!'

Her attempts remain fruitless, instead fuels her weeping session, sniffling harder with each command.

If her mother saw her crying like a baby, Kagami couldn't imagine -

That's right her mother.

Kagami fumbles through her pockets, pulling out the letter from her mother. She unveils the envelop, rereading the letter quietly to herself.

To my dearest daughter,

Sorry to keep this letter brief. Your grandfather sent me your recent report card. Your father was pleasantly pleased with your results. He wouldn't stop bragging it at his meetings. Oh, I almost forgot, your father is going on a trip to Paris this coming Saturday. He was so impressed with your achievements that he decided to take me with him!

You're truly a special daughter Kagami. To have you in my life, it has done wonders. Please keep up the stellar work.

Love,

Your mother.

This letter...

Kagami loves her mother, she'd do anything for her, but whenever she read her letter, it irritates her. Kagami knows she shouldn't be feeling this way. It's disgusts her, how much she...she revolts her mother? It keeps her mother happy and living but can the same be said for herself? She's like a bird in a cage. Wings are meant for flying but Kagami isn't aloud to use hers. But if it makes her mother happy, she'd stay in that cage. Why? Her mother's back in Japan. She's free to do whatever she wants, right? No! If she doesn't keep this up then her father will - Yes! that's what she truly wants to do right? What she really wants it to appease her mother! But why! Why does it hurt so much?

Kagami crumbles up the paper. 'I shouldn't be feeling this way!'

She's been preaching over and over again, how others don't understand what's she's gone through, what she's sacrificed but here she is not comprehending why she's doing what she's doing. Kagami's trapped in a perpetual loop, unable to escape, to truly understand herself.

Kagami shuts her eyes. The tears, once pitiful are now tears of angry.

Wallowed in her plight, Kagami senses a faint smell of smoke.

'Smoke?'

Kagami loved fairytales as kid. Her Ojii-san coming over to visit in Japan was one of few delights as a kid. He'd tell her stories, though not the usually stories of princesses and wizards. No, the stories he'd tell her were about elemental creatures called Gormiti, and Kagami was absolutely invested in those tales. Magic had always interested her ever since but she never believed it was real. That is, until now.

The faint, now strong scent of smoke emits from the former neatly written letter set a flame in her hands.

Kagami's primary instincts kick in and she flings the burning note away, jumping back towards the tree in total shock.

Did she...? How?Wha - ?

Completely in a daze, the girl failed to realize that the letter, that her mother neatly handwritten, is on fire in the school garden with the fire growing ever present.

'Shit!'

Kagami quickly rises to her feet, ignoring the pain in her right knee, forgetting her recent scare and stamps on the fire. She didn't have any water, what else is she suppose to do?

Though successful in putting out the fire, the letter is in complete shambles. There is no salvaging it, nothing but ashes now. 'What the heck is going on?' Kagami thinks out loud. The girl had no time to process her hidden ability to conjour up flames when she heard someone call out her name.

"KAGAMIIIIIIIIIII!"

It's Lucas. She could see him on top of she hill she fell off, alongside him is Gina. She spotted them but didn't take notice of her yet.

Kagami couldn't face anyone at the moment. Not now, while she's in a vunerable state. Despite the pain she stands on her feet, prepared to sprint away before Lucas could chase after her.


A/N: ๑•́ㅿ•̀๑) ᔆᵒʳʳᵞ

But anyways PLOT AND ANGST TRAIN CHOO CHOO ! HECK YEAH! Щ(・`ω´・Щ)

Ya'll probably hate Kagami's guts and yeah...I don't have anything to say about that other than that scene was hard as hell to write. It's weird but i knew what Kagami had to say to piss Toby off but vice versa, yeah that required a lot of thinking on my end which is weird cause she's my OC and all that. I had to kinda dig into a deep within myself and pull out from my own experiences just to get that 'oomph' feeling i was going for and that kinda put me in a depressing mood so I had to step back from the fic for a while just for the sake of my mental health. I hope you all got that 'oomph' reaction I was going for.

So expect more angst from here on in.

Have to mention this since the preview is deleted :

Another thing I want to bring up , I am seeing this fic to the end. I know this will take forever to complete but Imma do it. If this fic goes a year without an update, then I died. Seriously, I'm not joking.

So don't worry about me dropping this fic. I won't. Unless I die.

See ya'll next time.