Ignis Amare

Illumination

It was supposed to be a normal trip to Impetus. The only nerves involved were to be from me coming face to face with Liam for the first time. I guess things rarely go how one expects. It was a relatively quiet trip here, but as we approach the city limits, we see multiple colors of flames burning.

There's a battle going on, and we're about to end it.

"You guys should head there now. This vehicle is armed and armored, but you guys can get there faster than this to help. I've already signaled for backup, so we won't be in this alone." Beatrix says through clenched teeth.

I turn to Kendra. "Take my hand. We can teleport."

She looks surprised. "Don't you need to know where you're going?"

"I can see their flames even from this distance."

"Oh." He eyes turn gold and silver as she takes my hand. She gives me a nod, and we glide through space in a blink to the middle of the conflict.

There's a man bruised and bloody that jumps in between a massive orange fireball and a child the instant we arrive.

"Liam!" Kendra screams, causing a heavy feeling to surface in my chest.

In a flash of white and black lightning, she's between Liam and the fireball, blocking it with an even more massive sea of black flames.

At Kendra's display of the Alpha Flame, the fighting momentarily stops. Unfortunately, there is no surrender. Instead, the Flame-Keeper army set their sights on Kendra.

"I got this, Kendra." Liam says, donning lightweight Knight Armor of blue flames complete with twin swords.

"You have...Armor now?" Kendra asks bewildered.

Liam flashes a smile. "Some things have changed."

He charges toward the Flame-Keepers clashing swords with someone in orange knight armor. The Flame-Keeper commands the army to hault while he takes care of Liam.

"So, that's Liam?" I ask, trying to hide my dejection.

She looks at me in a way I don't recognize.

"Yes, that's him."

"Blue flames, huh? The irony." I respond, failing to take a humorous tone.

She moves closer to me, meeting my eyes.
"Don't do it." She says.

"Do what?"

"Leave me." Her voice is captivating as always.

"I won't leave until you tell me to." We're both shocked by the words. I feel tears threatening to flee from my eyes for a reason that escapes me.

Kendra clenches her fist. "We've already been through this."

"Yeah... but now it's happening. Now it's here instead of in a potential future. I don't know how to handle this feeling."

She releases her fist to take my hand. "Just love me. Love me like I love you."

"Okay." I say with a sheepish smile.

She cradles my face with her hand.

"Let's do this. Unless you're going to let me fight alone." She teases.

My eyes glow silver and gold. "Never."

"There's the man I love." Her smile lights up her eyes even brighter.

"I do have a new idea now." My cloak and scythe manifest alongside silver and gold lightweight armor.

"Oh? Is this something I need to worry about? Do you have a crush on him?"