Torch of Will

Chapter Eight - Light the Torch

   "Heya, Frisk! Hi, Ryan!" Asriel called from the driver's seat joyfully. Frisk waved back and went to the passenger's seat. I silently went to the backseat, deep in thought. Asriel looked up at the grey skies. "Looks like it's about to rain..." he murmured. He smiled back at me. "Good thing you aren't going to be running in the rain this time, bud! And, uh..." he winced. "I'm really sorry about almost running you over and all that.."

"It's alright, it was my fault..."

The car ride was mostly silent at the beginning. Asriel and Frisk were having a conversation that went over my head. I sat there, trying to dwell on memories that I, in any other scenario, would stay away from. Would it work? If I thought about my sister enough, would I make a fire?

"What were you doing yesterday?"

I yelped at the sudden voice and turned to my left. There sat Chara, wearing a green jacket, loose jeans, and a bored expression to go with her piercing, red gaze.

I crawled as far away from her as possible. 'Great,' I thought. 'I'm stuck in a tiger's cage.'

She looked at me strangely. "What?"

I gulped subtly. "N-Nothing..."

She narrowed her eyes slightly, reading my tone. "Answer my question. What were you doing out in the street?"

"I-uh...I really wanted to get home. I couldn't stand the rain..."

Frisk looked at me, concerned. "We can give you a ride every time it rains, if you want."

I waved my hands frantically. "It's alright! You don't have to!" Chara raised an eyebrow, which I ignored. "I don't want to be any trouble!"

Chara sighed. "Until your parents get you a car?"

I winced at the mention of parents. "Or until I can pay for one..."

She hummed. "They can't afford one?"

"Ah...sure..." I said. "Yeah, that works..." After all, who could pay when they were dead?

The rest of the ride was spent in silence.

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English was third period. That went well for me; that meant that I could read the Soul Magic book in peace.

'Just to make sure,' I thought. 'I'm going to stay in this backroom.'

I flipped through the pages, making use of the thirty minutes of independent reading time the teacher gave us. 'Let's see...Frisk said this was supposed to be my Soul.' I looked at the purple heat in the book. 'Maybe if I want to activate it, I have to somehow understand it? I mean, true power comes from understanding yourself...' I trailed off and examined the Soul. I remembered the flames. 'A flame is the first Magic...' I remembered the fire in Frisk's hand. I recalled the strength it exuded and the shine it gave.

'If my Soul is purple, and her fire is red...is her Soul different?" I flipped the pages and was surprised to see more hearts. 'There's a whole color scheme here!' There were six more traits, each with a different color.

'There are seven main Soul Traits: Determination, Perseverance, Integrity, Patience, Bravery, Justice, and Kindness. Each one is unique, both in Magic abilities and personalities they associate with. Their mechanics are all different except in one area: the Soul Flame."