Both unfamiliar and new

"No!" It was the only word that came from me as I got between Ras and Galen.

The realization in my friend's golden eyes flashed too late. He could not do anything to stop his sword from swinging down.

And in me was nothing but the urge to raise my hand, as if it alone could block the blow and save Ras. Even I was doomed.

Until I wasn't. A blinding light flickered before my palms, exploding and spreading like a tiny sun. The light swallowed Galen's mighty flames, releasing a whoosh of wind that blew the dust and leaves on the street. The strangest thing most of all was that I did not look away from this brilliance when it was supposed to be searing and stinging my eyes. Right, this was my magic. It was beautiful, warm and embracing—like coming home after years of journey.

Except that this home had entirely changed. It was both familiar and new. I was a Light Mage. My magic was not meant to be like this. Light Mages like me were only for performances and display, for entertainment. How had I managed to achieve this?

I did not know. As these thoughts ran inside my head, the strong explosion of light had begun to ebb. Slowly, the luminescence started to fade into a mere glimmer, into nothing but empty air in front of me.

I lifted my gaze, seeing Galen lying on the ground and his sword already distances away from his hand. My breathing hitched as I panicked, thinking that I had hurt him whilst prioritizing my desire to help Ras. But it was either he killed him, or I would stop him. It wasn't about choosing between the two, I told myself. I did not mean to cause pain to either of them.

I shook my head, setting aside the curiosity on how I had done such a feat and proceeded to go and check on my friend instead.

I took a step, but paused. Ras, I had to see how he was doing first!

I looked behind me, and I saw that his eyes were wide. He blinked, as if he'd snapped from a daze.

"Are you all right?" I asked him, my chest heaving due to the anxiety.

He blinked for the last time, nodding vigorously and swallowing. "Yeah, I'm good. You saved me, Rosie. H-how—"

I raised a hand. "Don't ask me how. I don't know either. Stay there a moment, I'm going to check on Galen."

"O-okay…" he muttered.

My gaze caught Lira standing on the side, equally stricken as I was. Her mouth was open in a blatant 'What in the goddess' great aunt?' kind of way. The weirdness of the moment had finally and completely settled into me. As I took stock of their reactions, I understood. Performers were not capable of magic like that!

Everyone in the continent regarded mages who belonged to the stage as "Performers", those who were useless in the battlefield and with magics that weren't fit for fighting. Like me. A Light Mage. So how…?

I mentally smacked myself. As I said earlier, now was not the time to be thinking that!

"Lira," I told her, "attend to Ras' wounds."

She was still in a state of shock. "H-huh?"

"Attend to Ras' wounds," I repeated. "I'm going to check if Galen's all right or not."

She straightened, her focus returning. "Ah, yes. Got it."

As she picked up her feet, I rushed toward Galen, dropping on my knees and gently putting his head onto my lap.

The tightness in my chest eased as soon as I saw that he was breathing, evenly in fact. There was not a scratch on him, as well. It was as though he was sleeping so peacefully, and seeing his face now without the cunning eyes, complacent expression and passive-aggressive tones, I was reminded of when we were young. Galen had been simple and direct, gentle and caring. Times within the military had changed him, and I could not blame him for that.

Galen's eyes opened, and he immediately sat up when he saw that it was me. He grabbed my shoulders, searching me up for any injuries. "Rosie! Are you okay?! Let me see. Thank the goddess, you seem to be fine. All body parts are present, it seems. What the hell got into your head, suddenly appearing like that? That was dangerous, Rosie, I could have killed you!"

It was the first time today that he had called me by my name, and it sounded genuine and sweet. Like the way he used to call me in the past. But I kept that thought to myself.

I showed him a smile, but I couldn't prevent it from looking sad. "But you didn't."

I saw how his eyes shifted as he took in a deep breath. His hands loosened on my shoulders. "I'm sorry, Rosie. It wasn't my intention to treat you in that manner. I was just worried for your sake."

He was probably also worried what my father would think when he came back to the palace empty-handed, but I kept that thought to myself again. "I know, I know. I understand where you're coming from."

His gaze lit up. "You do?"

"Yes," I replied, "and I hope you'd also understand when I tell you that despite all this I still won't be going back home."

For a brief moment, his golden pupils darkened. I knew what kind of a crisis I was putting him in. I was ready to make a run for it, should Galen have insisted, and I didn't care if Ras wasn't in a condition to walk—Lira and I could just carry him. But it took me by surprise when Galen sighed, his features softening.

He stared at me fondly, giving me an exhausted smile. "Fine."

I stifled a gasp. "Really?"

He shrugged, his arms dropping. "You win, Rosie. You know I can't get through you at times where you're being insanely hardheaded."

I couldn't suppress a grin from forming. I hugged him right there and then, thinking that I hadn't actually lost my best friend after all. "Oh, Galen, thank you. I'm glad."

But then he said, "But Rosie, I have a few conditions to lay out first."