Raya slowly opened her eyes, yawning and stretching as she sat up. She patted the spot next to her in search of Namaari's hand, blinking as the light coming through the window hit her eyes. Her fingers hit cold metal and she turned to find the dragon necklace resting on the pillow beside her.

She cradled the necklace in both of her palms, staring down at it as she worked her lower lip between her teeth. After a moment, she sighed heavily, clasped the necklace around her neck, and rose to get ready for the day.

Raya ducked as a training spear flew over her head and clattered on the cobblestones behind her. She picked up the spear and glanced around the group of children currently training with wooden weapons in the courtyard. Her eyes landed on a boy named Vinh who was trying his hardest not to look guilty. Mustering her best glare, Raya walked over to him, stopping to correct the combat stances of a few other children along the way. When she reached Vinh, she crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow when he gave her a sheepish smile.

"Sorry, still working on my aim," Vinh said, rocking back and forth on his heels as he continued to grin at her.

Raya rolled her eyes and handed him the spear. "Just be more careful next time." She opened her mouth to say more but had to hurry back to the other side of the courtyard when she heard a practice fight devolving into a real spat. Grabbing the backs of their shirts, Raya hauled the two children apart as they continued to swipe at each other.

Vinh started shouting behind her and Raya grimaced, moving the two squabbling kids with her as she turned around to see what he was up to this time. She let out a relieved sigh when she saw the children running over to greet Namaari at the edge of the courtyard. Releasing the two who had been fighting, Raya slowly followed, smiling as the kids started to bombard Namaari with questions.

When Raya reached the group, half the children broke away to surround her as well, all of them yelling excitedly. She shook her head, unable to distinguish anything they were saying. "I'm so glad you're here," she shouted, raising her voice so Namaari could hear her. "I was helping Virana with these kids this morning, but she had to do something urgently after lunch and left me alone with them."

Namaari looked around at the wooden weapons and half-destroyed training dummies spread across the courtyard. "And you suggested combat training?" she asked, laughing when Raya shrugged. "That was probably the worst thing you could've picked."

Raya grunted as Vinh yanked on her arm. "Well, I know that now. Will you please help me?"

Namaari smiled at Raya's pleading look before turning her attention to the children. "Raya and I can show you our magic," she said, gently but firmly. "But you all need to be quiet first."

Every child around them froze, snapping their mouths shut as their eyes went wide. Namaari waded through them to reach Raya, extending her hand in front of her. Raya moved to meet her, blue light spilling from their fingers as their hands met. The children all watched in stunned silence until Raya and Namaari were covered in their magic's glow.

"It's pretty!" Vinh shouted. Then he squinted and started to poke Raya's arm. "But what does it do?"

Raya glanced at Namaari, who shrugged, then looked back at Vinh. "Uh, it makes a light?"

Vinh frowned and put his hands on his hips. "That's it?" He huffed in annoyance when Raya nodded. "But that's boring! Can we test it to see what else it does?"

"Sure, we can—" The words were barely out of Raya's mouth before Vinh whacked her with his wooden sword. "Hey, don't—wait, that didn't hurt at all." Raya thought for a moment, then pointed at Vinh. "Do that again, as hard as you can."

Vinh grinned at her, twisting around and drawing his arms back as far as he could. He hit Raya hard enough to make her stagger a few steps back, but she was otherwise unhurt.

Raya was grinning as wide as Vinh now. "I didn't feel that either! I think maybe our magic is like a shield?"

"Does that mean I can hit you again?" Vinh asked, already pulling back for another strike.

Raya dodged the blow and took off running across the courtyard. "Only if you can catch me first!" she yelled over her shoulder.

Vinh sprinted after her, quickly followed by all of the other children as they grabbed training weapons of their own.

"I'm invincible!" Raya shouted after Vinh hit her several more times. "Your puny attacks do nothing!"

Namaari was laughing so hard she was having trouble staying upright and didn't notice Virana entering the courtyard until she was almost standing next to her. Eying Virana, Namaari straightened up and clamped her mouth shut as she unsuccessfully tried to stifle her laughter.

Virana watched Raya and the children for a moment, covering her mouth as she laughed softly. "What exactly is going on here?"

Namaari smiled as Raya took another hail of blows. "Raya figured out that our magic makes a shield and the kids are helping her test it."

Om the other side of the courtyard, Raya whirled around and ran back at the children, making them scatter as they shrieked with laughter. She managed to pick up Vinh and throw him over her shoulder even as he continued to smack her with his wooden sword.

Virana tilted her head, smiling as she waved Raya and the children over to them. "It's good that she learned something about your magic, but I think this is the last time I'll let Raya watch children on her own." She stepped forward as the kids gathered around her. "Now, if you'll come with me, please, we have a lesson to finish."

All of the children groaned in disappointment, their shoulders slumping as they dropped their training weapons on the ground. Raya set Vinh down and Namaari could see that they had matching pouts on their faces.

Virana reached out to touch Vinh's shoulder once he was within arm's reach. "If you'll come back to the lesson, I'll tell you the story about how Raya fixed the Dragon Gem before we start again."

Vinh instantly brightened and he and the other children eagerly followed Virana out of the courtyard and into the palace.

Raya came to stand beside Namaari, bending over and putting her hands on her thighs as she gasped for breath. She watched until the last child entered the palace, then frowned and turned to Namaari. "Wait, did she say I fixed the Gem?"

Namaari nodded, brushing her hair behind her ear as Raya gave her an incredulous look.

Raya's frown deepened. "Why?"

Namaari shrugged and started to pick up the training weapons the kids had left behind. "After everything I've done, I just don't really feel like I should be the hero of the story."

Raya stooped to gather some of the weapons as well, but she kept her eyes on Namaari. "But you're the one who fixed the Gem. You are a hero."

There was a blush creeping up Namaari's cheeks and Raya could hear the forced calmness in her voice when she spoke. "I just don't feel like I deserve to be remembered that way."

Raya made a frustrated noise. "I wish you wouldn't be so hard on yourself. You're amazing and you—" she stopped and fumbled with the weapons in her arms, dropping most of them.

Namaari watched for a moment as Raya struggled to gather the practice weapons again, then crouched down next to her. She grabbed the last two swords and offered them to Raya, giving her a small smile when their eyes met. "I think you're amazing, too, dep la," she said softly.

Raya visibly gulped but managed to take the remaining weapons and stand up without dropping them again. "Did I…" she cleared her throat, looking down as she shuffled her feet. "Did I do something wrong last night? You weren't there when I woke up this morning."

Namaari winced before she could stop herself. "I just wanted to go on a walk."

"Oh, okay." Raya bit down on her lower lip, her next words coming out in a rush. "I'm sorry I woke you up in the middle of the night, I shouldn't have done that."

Namaari shook her head. "No, you didn't—I just—" She stopped and pinched the bridge of her nose as she closed her eyes, taking a few deep breaths before she opened them again. "I'm glad you came and got me when you needed help."

Raya stared at her for a few seconds, her face growing redder until she finally nodded and looked away. "Well, in that case, do you, uh, do you think you could stay with me again tonight?" she asked, the tips of her ears turning pink. "I didn't have any nightmares when you were there last night."

"Yes. I can do that," Namaari managed, her voice sounding slightly strained.

Raya let the training swords fall from her arms and lunged forward to pull Namaari into a fierce hug, almost knocking her over.

Namaari took a half a step back, wrapping her arms around Raya once she righted herself. "We're never going to actually pick these up, are we?"

Raya laughed as she turned her face into Namaari's neck, holding her as tightly as she could.

Raya was lying on her back, staring up at the ceiling of her room. It had been hours since she laid down to sleep, but a restlessness in the back of her mind was keeping her awake. She frowned, chewing on her lower lip as she debated whether or not she wanted to try getting up.

Namaari shifted next to her, rolling over in her sleep so she was facing Raya. The soft glow of their magic lit up her face and Raya found herself transfixed at the sight. Namaari's features were completely relaxed, peaceful in a way they never were when she was awake. Raya watched her for a moment, then took a deep breath, surprised by the tightness in her chest. With her heart pounding, Raya raised a shaking hand toward Namaari's face, flinching back at the last second when she twitched in her sleep.

Namaari's entire body tensed, curling in on herself as her face twisted into a grimace. Her breathing quickened and she muttered something that Raya couldn't quite hear.

"Namaari," Raya said gently. Namaari shifted again but didn't wake up, and Raya reached out to shake her shoulder. "Namaari," she said again, this time louder.

Namaari's eyes opened but Raya could tell she was only half awake, still stuck in her nightmare. Raya moved closer, slowly pulling Namaari against her. Namaari was stiff but didn't resist, eventually settling with her head on Raya's chest. The weight of Namaari against her brought the tight feeling back to her chest, making Raya almost gasp for breath. Namaari tucked an arm around her waist and Raya forced herself to slow her breathing, not wanting to wake her.

Raya stroked Namaari's hair for a few moments until they both relaxed and Namaari's breathing was again deep and even. She kissed the top of Namaari's head, smiling as she laid back against her pillow, no longer annoyed that she couldn't sleep.