9 A Flame in the Snow

Ravynne sat at home with her elbow on the table, holding her head up with her hand. Her leg twitched in annoyance as she recounted the incidents of the work she did at the medical office and the night prior. The flames from the fireplace glowed in her eyes, going perfectly with her angered mood.

She had gone into the medical office that day expecting Serin to give her the cold shoulder as she did the night before, and Ravynne was completely ready to return the attitude. However, Serin was instead acting completely two faced the whole day. While she acted like everything was sunshine and rainbows, giving bright smiles and encouraging pats on the back, there was always ill intent behind it.

The pats on the back where more like slaps, she was constantly smiling and telling Ravynne that she was doing things wrong (even though she was doing them correctly), and would apologize with a giggle for spilling dirty water on Ravynne claiming that today was just a 'clumsy day'. It irked Ravynne and she wanted to put her in her place right then and there, but she couldn't find the courage to.

Serin was a great cook and there was no way she would make such a mistake. She knew what she was doing, how could she be so sweet and kind after she pulled such a stunt? How could she do that to Ravynne when they were such good friends? That incident could have had Ravynne kicked out of Evania for good. Even worse, why do that to Verlian? He didn't do anything wrong. Verlian was doing such a great job teaching her. All she wanted to do was thank him with a nice meal, but Serin ruined everything. Besides, didn't she have feelings for Verlian?

Ravynne gasped. Maybe it was BECAUSE she had feelings for Verlian! She didn't think something was going on between Ravynne and Verlian, did she? Ravynne laughed to herself, "There's no way." She thought. There was nothing between the two of them. Verlian was just her teacher and someone she shared a house with. Besides, most of the time she was either getting on his nerves or ruining things for him.

What kind of guy would want a girl like that? Ravynne felt herself blushing at the thought of her and Verlian together. "That's just ridiculous!" she thought as she changed her line of thinking. It must be because of something else. Nobody in their right mind would think there was anything going on between Ravynne and Verlian. Anger washed over her again. Even if it was true, how could she do that to her friend and guy she likes? Why not just ask and get the record straight instead of sabotaging them like that.

Ravynne jumped up from the table and slammed her hand down on top of it. "I can't deal with this right now!" She put out the fireplace and ran out into the white forest. By the time she reached her usual practice spot, her nose was red and frozen. She didn't care though, she needed to get her frustration out.

She slid her foot out against the snow and crouched down as far as she could, dagger in hand and shielding her face. Lunging forward, she slashed at the air, perfectly hitting her invisible target. She repeated this action numerous times, ignoring the air that stung the back of her throat and lungs. Her warm dark brown pelt moved perfectly in sync with her, to the point that she almost forgot she had it on.

By the time she was done, sweat was dripping from her face and she stood trying to catch her breath. She didn't want to stay out for too long and it was already difficult for her to see. Ravynne wiped the sweat off from under her chin with the back of her hand and shook it off before heading back to Evania.

As she neared Verlian's house, she noticed two figures standing a little farther down the road. She squinted her eyes and continued forward. It was Verlian and….who else? Onward and onward she went until the second figure become clear. It was Serin. "Maybe she's telling him that she was the one who ruined our dinner. Maybe she's feeling bad about it and apologizing." Ravynne thought.

Just then, she witnessed Serin throw her arms around Verlian which Verlian responded by patting her head. They stood there for a while. Verlian was hugging her and not making any effort to get away. Ravynne felt her heart drop to her stomach. "When I hugged him, he made me let go immediately…" she thought. Her hand flew up to her mouth as tears pricked the back of her eyes. "They must really like each other." She blinked back the tears forming and ran off.

Why was she feeling this way? Wasn't it a good thing that Verlian liked her back? Didn't it mean that Serin's wish would come true?

The more she thought about it, the more her heart hurt and the more she felt like throwing up. "Do…..I like Verlian?" she wondered as she saw a figure appear before her. For a moment, she thought it was Verlian himself, but it was actually just Ashke.

"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be home by now?" Ashke looked around, seemingly looking for Verlian. "Sorry, I just…I just…" Ravynne couldn't help herself as she burst into tears. Ashke looked around awkwardly and ushered her towards his house. She stopped him, knowing that they would have to pass Verlian and Serin. "I don't want to go back there." Ashke didn't push her and instead wrapped his coat around her. "What's wrong?"

"I can't tell you. You wouldn't understand." She sniffled, "You don't need to do this. You can just go home already." She wiped her tears, not making a difference at all. He shook his head, "I'm already here. Try me. I've seen everything under the sun, there isn't anything I wouldn't understand."

"Well…." Ravynne continued to explain the situation with Serin up to when she went to practice more. "…so I was on my way back and I saw them hugging and I realized. I think I have feelings for Verlian. I feel bad that I betrayed Serin by liking him, and it hurts knowing that Verlian would never return my feelings, but I'm also hurt that Serin would just do that without saying anything to me and ruin things for both me and Verlian. We're still friends. I thought we were still friends!" Ravynne turned into a blubbering mess, her hands now covering her face to shield herself from Ashke's gaze.

Surprisingly, he pulled her into a tight hug, his left arm around the small of her back and his right hand stroking the back of her head. She cried into his chest, too upset to process that Ashke was holding and comforting her. She thought he didn't like her that much in all honesty.

Ashke knew the truth behind Verlian's relationship with Serin. He knew the truth behind Verlian's feelings toward Ravynne. He could either make her or break her with this information, but he couldn't bring himself to say. In truth, he was developing feelings for Ravynne.

His tasks usually consisted of surveying and carrying out top secret missions for Verlian. During these tasks, he would notice Ravynne doing her own work. Whether it be at Serin's medical office or training with Verlian, he could always see that Ravynne was putting her all into it. That was something he admired.

When he first met Ravynne, he didn't trust her. The bandits from the previous summer had crushed his and Verlian's trust in outsiders. There was no way to know right then and there that she would be different. Once Verlian's ring went missing, he thought he knew for sure that his initial thoughts were correct, but….he was proven wrong. It was after the ring incident that he began paying more attention to her.

The night Verlian kicked her out was when he realized he was beginning to have feelings for her. Upon seeing a cloaked figure, he knew he had to investigate, but things changed when he noticed that they were following Ravynne. Her being in possible danger made him extremely uncomfortable and all he could think of was to get her to safety.

Now, seeing her shed tears was breaking his heart. "You're doing good so….just keep doing what you're doing." He began to rub her back, "Don't worry about Serin. For the most part she seems like a well matured adult but her childlike emotions come out sometimes. She didn't get to do that when she was younger."

Ravynne nodded and pulled away, wiping her eyes. She had already stopped crying and gave him back his coat. "Here, I should go back now. Thanks Ashke."

He nodded and escorted her back home. After all, he still needed to give Verlian his report…..

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