Guardian of Vulnerable Flames

Chapter 46

Zephyr and Furie spent a pleasant time chatting and sharing stories in the tranquil atmosphere of the Storm Station. Zephyr opened up a bit about her evolving relationship with Rain, describing how things had changed since the Winter reception and Rain's duel. As she spoke, Zephyr revealed that Rain's somewhat foolish actions at the Winter reception, especially his defense of her, had played a crucial role in their growing connection. His protective instincts had opened Zephyr's eyes to the depth of his feelings, and she found herself almost grateful for the messy turn of events. Furie listened attentively, letting her friend express her thoughts and emotions. It warmed Furie's heart to hear about Zephyr's happiness and the blossoming romance with Rain. Furie genuinely hoped that the two of them would find joy and fulfillment in their newfound connection.

Time slipped away as they chatted, and it wasn't until Furie received a telepathic message from Leaf that she realized how late it had become. "I am in bed, waiting for you, Furie," Leaf communicated. Taking the hint, Furie gave Zephyr a gentle hug and bid her friend farewell.

On her way home, Furie utilized their telepathic abilities to share the details of her day with Leaf. As she walked through portals and pathways, she reflected on the mysteries uncovered in the library, the playful banter with Zephyr, and the hope that the next year of Guardian training would bring. With each step, Furie looked forward to returning home and sharing the warmth of her day with Leaf.

As Furie approached the cabin, ready to retire for the night, a fire sphere suddenly flew towards her. Intrigued, she quickly opened it to find a message from Ignatius. He was planning a hangout with Furie and Blaze for the next day. Excitement filled Furie, and she promptly replied, expressing her eagerness to see her father and looking forward to the upcoming day. With the response sent, Furie entered the cabin, and a smile graced her face at the sight of Leaf in bed. Quickly undressing, she grabbed a large, comfortable tee-shirt, her designated pajamas. Leaf, his naked chest exposed, smiled at Furie as she got ready for bed. Despite their intention to prepare for sleep, the two of them found themselves engaged in telepathic conversation, as if they had momentarily forgotten that they were not talking with their voices but their minds. While Furie changed, Leaf shared the details of his day telepathically. The exchange continued until Furie finally hopped into bed. Leaf, still grinning, couldn't help but say out loud, "Finally!"

Hearing Leaf's voice out loud, Furie suddenly realized that they had been communicating solely through telepathy. She chuckled, looking at him, and remarked, "I forgot that we were doing that." Leaf pointed to the necklace around Furie's neck, a constant presence that connected them even when words were unspoken. Curious, Leaf asked, "Do you feel its power when we talk? Is there anything special happening when we telepathically communicate?" Furie touched the green gem of her necklace and explained, "Sometimes it lights up when I feel overwhelmed or if a burst of power goes through me. Besides that, the necklace feels like it is part of me. I like its warmth when we talk." She smiled at Leaf, expressing the comfort she found in the connection. Furie continued, sharing that it felt as if Leaf was always with her wherever she went, a sentiment that brought her a deep sense of reassurance.

Leaf, moved by her words, grabbed Furie and enveloped her in a warm hug in their bed. "But the real Leaf is better and warmer than your necklace," he whispered. Furie laughed, nodding in agreement, appreciating the tangible warmth of Leaf's embrace.

As Leaf and Furie settled down in the quiet comfort of their bedroom, the embrace of sleep beckoning them, Leaf suddenly recalled something Furie had mentioned earlier—the cryptic scribbles in Cyclone's book of prophecies. Turning to her with a gentle expression in the dim light, he said, "By the way, I think you should look into Guardians' ancient languages." Furie, her eyes closed in anticipation of sleep, was surprised by Leaf's unexpected suggestion. "What are you talking about? Why?" she inquired, a hint of curiosity in her voice. Leaf, ever attentive, quickly explained his train of thought. He believed that the seemingly random scribbles left in the Book of Prophecies might hold more significance than they initially appeared.

When Furie shared telepathically what she had copied from the book, Leaf, deep in thought, recognized a few of the drawings. He elucidated that Guardians used to employ cryptic languages to safeguard their existence from the human world. However, these ancient languages had fallen out of common usage among the contemporary Guardians. Furie, now laying on her side and frowning slightly in the darkness, asked, "Do you think I could find books about these ancient languages?" Leaf smiled at her, his eyes glinting in the dimness of the room. "Of course. There's probably something we could find in the Guardian's library," he reassured her.

Accepting Leaf's suggestion, Furie mentally made a note to share this discovery with her sister and Guaya. Researching the ancient languages of the Guardians had now found a place on her list of things to do, adding an intriguing layer to the mysteries they were unraveling. As they closed their eyes to the night, the prospect of delving into the secrets of the past added a new spark to their shared journey.