Burning Like Fire

"A monster under the skin of a fairy" In her vision Kalina could not recognize the voice. However, all she could see were a pair of amber eyes, as burning as fire itself.

"Ah!" She blurted out as the vision left her. It had been the strangest sight of her life. Not to mention the least revealing of all. Nevertheless, Kalina strangely felt it was related to the man she had crashed before. Thinking that way, she jumped on a lamppost and looked for him. With his impressive physique, finding him would be a child's play. 

At least, that she believed. However, Kalina was perplexed when she realized the stranger had disappeared in the middle of the square among at least a hundred people.

"Kal, you disappeared.," Stef called, diverting her attention from the strange matter.

Strange, that was. Responding that nothing was wrong, Kalina followed her friend to Dante.

"Gosh, Kalina! How do you manage to vanish like that? Come, we must find a good point for the parade." Dante urged. However, it was Stef who took command by grabbing both Dante and Kalina by the arm.

"¡Let's go, guys! A very handsome nobleman has promised me a good position."

Kalina and Dante burst out in laughs but obediently followed their friend through the sea of people.

As she moved forward, Kalina thought about her vision again. However, she soon forgot about it as she began to catch in the festive atmosphere. The city looked beautiful. Everywhere was decked out with ribbons, flags, and flowers. Here and there, small pavilions were glimpsed. Each one was wonderful in a unique way. In one tent you could see a pyrotechnic show. In others, flower crowns were woven. Over there, they were painting the most fantastic masks, and further away, confetti was exploding with the kingdom's shield and flag color. 

One pavilion, in particular, caught Kalina's attention. They were doing a sword dance. She tried to approach in that direction. However, Dante had another idea in mind.

"I'll go get some drinks. You guys wait."

"We'll have time to drink after the parade," Stef protested. "Kalina, of course, you're going straight to the swords. Not today. Afterward, you can watch the dance. There is even a special show."

"Alright." Kalina conceded: "Let's see how handsome that nobleman of yours is."

"This is what I get for going out with girls." Dante added with a half smile. Of course, he was joking. He followed them with an arched eyebrow.

Then, the rest of the day passed in a whirlwind of colors, music, dancing, and fun. When the twenty-one bells struck, the trio finally decided to return to the guild.

"I can't stand on my feet anymore." Stefanía spoke too loudly as they took the employees' entrance. The trio was linked by the shoulders, with Stefanía in the middle.

"We probably missed the group presentation." Dante announced while trying not to lose his balance. He had also had too much to drink. 

¡And how enthusiastic was Irion while announcing the spectacle to her! Kalina thought, feeling bad with the perspective of disappointing him. 

The three of them passed through security and entered a hallway filled with chandeliers. This one was much less glamorous than the main entrance but still elegant in a more understated way.

"¡And you Kal! Perhaps you are a bottomless barrel. I mean, where the hell does everything you drink go?" Stef protested, and then, she almost lost her balance.

Kalina smiled at those words. If you only knew, Stef… She thought. The truth was that not even the vilest poison could bring her down.

When Kalina entered the main entrance, she noticed that only a small group of workers were left on the show stage. They were tidying up the stage. Then, she located some guild members in the reception room, lying on the comfortable furniture of the lounge. There were also some unknown people, and she assumed they were members of the famous acrobat company. ¿What was the name? ¿Brumas?

As the trio approached the bar, an annoyed Zarya waited on them. She was almost as tall as Stefanía. Tonight, Zarya had chosen to wear a lush dress as red as blood. She had made up her eyes with kohl and painted her lips with a shade as striking as her dress. She looked beautiful.

"¡Ahem!" Stefanía cleared her throat. "What fly bit you?"

Kalina almost rolled her eyes. That was Stef, always straight to the point. Now that she was half drunk, she would put her finger on the sore spot.

"I see you took the celebrations seriously this time." Zarya sourly commented back.

"Water, please," Kalina asked and then turned around so she could sit Stef in the closest seat. Then she saw him: Irion.

Irion was drinking from a pretty square crystal glass with patterns like vines, and he was not alone. Next to him sat who was probably the most beautiful woman in the world.

Ah...

"Is the famous dancer." Zarya noted, following her thoughts with great precision. 

Well, the young woman was close to Irion, maybe too close. She naturally latched onto his powerful forearm. 

Kalina wondered how the hell she hadn't noticed them before. Irion and the stranger shone and stood out like the flame on a flat candle. The dancer was a being of gold, and she also was eriá. Her eyes, her hair, and even her skin were telling it. And she was tall, as tall or perhaps taller than Stefanía herself.

Kalina felt her chest deflate. She had to look away. Thinking like that, she turned around. Whatever... She thought. She didn't care.

"Come on, Stef." Kalina picked up her friend without bothering to pretend that Stef weighed the same as a feather. Meanwhile, Dante had collapsed on a couch. He will be fine... She said to herself as she carried Stef to her room.

Kalina placed her friend on her bed and tucked her in as best she could. After this, she headed to her room. She didn't know why, but once again, she evoked those burning eyes like the same fire she had glimpsed in her vision.