16 Fires that Never Burn

Lyzbeth Heredis

There goes Latin angry face going into our room to teach Latin. Suspiciously, he seems to be amiable today. How come he's not angry today? As he writes some stuff on the mirroring board, his hands seems to tremble. Why is he shaking? Right, something happened to the Latin angry face. I just don't know what.

Anyway, he can still teach. I think we're learning about Scirese literature in the language of Latin. With the windowpane beside me, I feel a strange cold breeze pass by. It must be due to the early morning breeze. It's not even autumn, yet it already blows like it. Anyway, as time goes by, the cold breeze is changing into heat. I can't take it anymore. I open all the windows near me. I can feel the sweat dripping on my face.

Even Sir Magister minds the heat. He takes off the coat of his suit and continues his writing. All of us, though not complaining, think the same thing – it is hot. Without a word, the boys unbutton their shirts and the girls use anything that could be a makeshift fan.

The wind is inconsistent. It blows hot, it blows cold, but no matter how cold or hot the wind is, this room is burning like fire. It's not even summer! It's only spring. Cassida, though being the land of eternal summer and spring, never burns like this.

And, suddenly, there it is – one long alarm, followed by five short fires of alarms. The Scirese sign of fire! I look into the eyes of Romain beside me, and yes, he understands. Everyone does. Sir Magister loudly puts the stick down and stands by the door.

"Students, there is a fire!" he exclaims. "I want you to fall in line and proceed out into the open space of our campus."

No one even stood up. No one even dares to speak. Even though the door is shut, we can hear the screams of our schoolmates.

"Ah, bah!" one of my classmates exclaims. "Who cares what you say? We're all going to die!"

Even though no one is listening to him, Sir Magister still opens the door. Already, from the inside, we can see people running. It is almost crowded. Everyone is running for the stairwell. Some students are caught in a stampede.

"I don't care if what you think right now!" Sir Magister exclaims. "But, I want you all to get out of this damned room and save yourselves! Do you want to live or do you want to die?"

With his words, everyone started running for the door. There are people everywhere that I can't breathe. The other doors in the school, which have not been opened yet, opens automatically as a safety measure. It is far too crowded. People take a long time to go down the stairwell. I can hear the agony of my other schoolmates being stepped over during the stampede.

Not even the instructors have the mind to lead the students. I look around for the source, and, lo, there it is. The school cafeteria on the top floor! Wait, Scire is the Land of Science and Technology. We don't use gas stoves. We use electricity to power our cooking. I'm pretty sure that this school had a lot of electrical inspection before it is allowed to open. Arson! It is the only reason for this school to be on fire. Some nut job set this school on fire, but I don't know who.

Anarchy is all over the school. Stampedes occur. Students are injured while running out, though Sir Magister tries his best to guide them out. After a while, our class managed to get to the open grounds. Right now, I am still in awe. Scire National High School is on fire! This famed kingdom made its reputation by burning Practitioners of The Arts! Quite the irony indeed!

I look at my back, and there are some of my classmates. They embrace each other out of fear. That's nice and all, but how is that helping the fire? Some ancient instructors even cry as they see the burning school. Yes, I get that Scire National High School is beautiful, but why are you crying? You should be happy that you are alive!

But, now I understand. The school is burning but it is also not burning. It is on fire, but nothing is burning away to ashes. 'Twas as if the building has been laced with fire that never burns anything, instead, it poses as a fire that burns eternally. It does not harm any objects, but it can kill anyone that touches its deceptive flames.

Firefighters do not arrive immediately. Fires never occur in Scire out of accident. 'Twas always about the burning of Practitioners that causes them to build fires. Scire barely even has a firefighting team. Knowing this information, this causes panic amongst every person in safety, away from the flames.

Suddenly, a bird-like creature floats over the students. He was wearing a cloak in the color of violet and royal blue. Is this another sorcerer? Seriously, why are sorcerers attacking for no reason right now? I don't even understand why. Out of fear, I can already see some instructors dialing the persecutors. I hate to be the next person that will be burned. But, seriously. Why are these people attacking a kingdom known for burning us?

As the creature gets closer to the ground, everyone catches a glimpse of his face. "Dearest citizens of Scire, I intend no harm," the sorcerer declares. "I intend only to find someone that causes harm against my people, the Practitioners of The Alacrity Arts. I only set the school on fire, but as you can see, 'tis not burning. I am only finding the girl that dares challenge the power of the sorcerers."

Is he being ironic right now? If he does not think so, I do. You dare not cause harm, but due to your 'not burning fire', you killed a few men and injured many. There are still people trapped inside the building, and it is your fault. Yes, I want to transform and fight him, but I can't and won't. I want to see what he intends. If I do challenge him, well, there will be two persons immediately sentenced for burning.

"A girl with golden locks of hair and green eyes is among you," he continues. "She is an enchantress in hiding. That is why I ask this of all of you, if you happen to see a girl like that, hand her over to me so it would be over and we can end this peacefully."

Damn! That girl is me! What? Is this sorcerer a lover or something to that Danaca I tossed to Infelix weeks ago? Please don't rat me out. Then, suddenly, I feel a thing fall over my hair. As I touch the object, I notice that it is a cloth – a coat. I look at the source, and it is only Mister Ira. Can he ever stop being odd? I put the coat properly on my head. As I look back to thank him, he is gone.

Stupidly enough, I cannot believe people are randomly pointing out students with blonde hair and green eyes. Seriously, everyone? Do you really think your peers are enchanters? You are all intelligent, but damn. You'd really do anything to save yourselves. You would even dare feed your peers to the enemy.

"Miss Enchantress, you cannot hide around there forever," the sorcerer says threateningly. "Show yourself! Do not be a coward, though you are not a Warrior!"

Why would I show myself? Am I that stupid to want myself to be killed? And suddenly, something happens. He goes down and pulls a young man sitting silently behind me. What the hell? As I look up, I can see the same striking copper brass hair and amber eyes of his. That's when I realized that he got him.

He has Romain.