Too High

As the Ferris wheel continued its gentle ascent, Alex and Emily sat together in their cabin, gazing out at the sprawling fairgrounds.

Meanwhile, Jiten found himself in the cabin ahead, accompanied by a hooded figure whose identity remained concealed.

Initially occupied with his plan to give Alex and Emily some alone time, Jiten hadn't paid much attention to the person in front of him.

However, a nagging sense of familiarity tugged at his memory as he stole occasional glances at the figure.

"Excuse me," Jiten apologized, flashing a sheepish smile and breaking the silence between them. "I stumbled and couldn't make it to my assigned cabin. Mind if I join you?"

The hooded figure turned towards Jiten, their face still hidden in shadow. With a slight shake of their head, they silently indicated their consent.

As the Ferris wheel gradually ascended, Jiten couldn't shake the feeling that he somehow knew the person in front of him. The air was filled with an unspoken tension, and he was determined to unravel the truth.

"Have we met before?" Jiten inquired, his voice gentle yet tinged with curiosity. He scrutinized the hooded figure, searching for any hint of recognition.

Once again, the figure shook their head, denying any previous encounter. Jiten noticed their hands trembling slightly, a clear sign of unease. Wanting to alleviate their discomfort, he softened his tone. "Alright, no worries. I might have mistaken you for someone else."

As their cabin continued its ascent, the atmosphere grew increasingly charged. Jiten sensed a mixture of apprehension and fear emanating from the person before him. Concerned for their well-being, he couldn't help but reach out to offer comfort.

"Is everything okay?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine care. "You seem nervous. If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know."

The hooded figure hesitated, their voice barely audible as they replied, "It's nothing, really. Just feeling a bit overwhelmed by the height, I suppose."

Jiten was about to offer words of reassurance when the figure suddenly removed their hood, revealing a beautiful face framed by blonde hair that exuded an air of nobility. Jiten's eyes widened in shock as he recognized her. "Samantha? What in the world are you doing here?"

Samantha, a mix of nervousness and anger on her face, locked eyes with Jiten and retorted, "You were the one who entered my cabin without asking!" She took a deep breath, visibly attempting to calm herself. "I didn't expect to encounter you here."

Realization washed over Jiten as memories of their previous encounters flooded back. Samantha was one of the people who often got on his nerves, and now here she was, struggling with a fear of heights. His surprise transformed into a blend of amusement and sympathy.

"It's one thing to come here alone, but to be afraid of heights, that's quite surprising," Jiten remarked, a hint of teasing in his voice.

Samantha's cheeks flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance. "Well, it's not something I can control," she retorted, crossing her arms defensively. "And you don't have the right to judge me."

Jiten's amusement shifted to frustration, and he couldn't help but respond, "True, but why would you come here if you're afraid of heights?"

Samantha, her face still displaying fear due to the heights, looked at Jiten and said, "You wouldn't understand." Jiten, feeling his patience wane, became a bit angry and replied, "You know I'm smarter than you, right? If you don't want to tell me, you can simply say so instead of insulting my intelligence."

Samantha, still battling her fear, slumped her shoulders, her expression a mix of vulnerability and defiance. Her voice trembled as she responded, "I... I wanted to face my fear. To prove to myself that I can overcome it. But being up here... it's harder than I anticipated." After taking a deep breath, she continued, "When I said you wouldn't understand, it's not because you're not smart. It's because of my position. I am an Elemental Heir, with great expectations placed upon me. I can't afford to be afraid of heights. That's why I came here, to try and conquer that fear."

Jiten's anger subsided as he listened to Samantha's explanation. He realized that there was more to her fear than met the eye. Despite their past differences, a newfound empathy sparked within him.

He smiled and said, "I know what that feels like."

"How could you?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

Jiten hesitated for a moment, contemplating his response. Memories of his childhood and the pressure he had faced came flooding back.

"My father," he began slowly, "is the biggest name in potion-making history. Ever since I was a baby, it was expected that I would follow in his footsteps. I spent countless hours studying, trying to get the right ingredients and perfecting my skills. I would strain my eyes over books and cauldrons, consumed by the pursuit of excellence."

He paused, his gaze turning distant. "I used to watch other kids playing, enjoying their childhood, and I would wonder why I couldn't just be like them, carefree and happy."

Samantha's expression softened as she listened to Jiten's words. Suddenly, the walls between them began to crumble, and they discovered a shared experience of immense expectations and the longing for a different path.

After that, he said, "Not that I'm rooting for you, but honestly, I think you can overcome this fear easily." Samantha smiled at Jiten and said, "Thank you."

Suddenly, the cabin came to an abrupt stop, leaving Jiten surprised and confused. They were still at a high point in the Ferris wheel, and he remembered Samantha's fear of heights. When he looked at her, he noticed that she was pale and about to faint. In a calming voice, he reassured her, saying, "Samantha, it's okay. This will be over quickly. Think of it as a good opportunity to face your fear." She looked at him and nodded, trying to mask her panic with a calm expression.

Just then, an announcement came, stating that there would be a delay and all passengers could disembark safely. Upon hearing this, Samantha's condition worsened significantly, and she started to panic. Before her panic escalated, Jiten had a great idea. He grabbed Samantha's hands and pulled out a flask containing a transparent liquid. He said, "Okay, calm down. You can use this, but you need to promise not to tell anyone I have it, okay?"

Summoning all the strength she had left, Samantha asked, "What is this?" Jiten tried his best to look mysterious and said, "This is my new potion. I gave it to Alex during his first match. It gives people courage and blocks their fear."

Samantha looked surprised and angry at the same time as she responded, "You had this all along, and you didn't give it to me earlier? Did you enjoy seeing me suffer?" She took the flask from Jiten's hand and drank from it in frustration.

Jiten's eyes widened as Samantha drank the potion, realizing his plan had backfired. He had intended to comfort her and help her overcome her fear, but he hadn't expected her to drink the potion without further explanation.

"How are you feeling now?" asked Jiten, concerned about the consequences of his impulsive action.

Samantha paused for a moment, her expression changing from anger to surprise. She felt a refreshing wave inside her, a surge of confidence and determination. The fear that had plagued her moments ago had subsided, replaced by a newfound sense of strength.

"I'm... better," Samantha said, a mix of disbelief and gratitude in her voice. "I can't believe that this worked."

Jiten, pretending to be offended, asked, "Why is that?" she smiled at him and thanked him.

After the Ferris wheel resumed its motion and the cabin reached ground level, it was time for Jiten and Samantha to disembark. As they stepped out, Alex and Emily awaited Jiten's arrival while Samantha discreetly concealed her face with a hood.

Samantha stopped Jiten and expressed her gratitude, saying, "Thank you for the potion. I promise not to tell anyone, and if it's possible, I'd love to purchase more from you at any price you name." Jiten scratched his head, flashing a smile at Samantha, and clarified, "Actually, the potion I gave you was a mild healing tonic. The courage you found up there came from within yourself!"

Samantha was taken aback by this revelation and exclaimed, "What?! What about the courage potion?" Jiten chuckled and responded, "There's no courage potion, you silly! Instead of trying to please everyone, embrace who you are. If you're not fond of heights, well, just forget about them." With that, he turned and joined Alex and Emily, leaving Samantha speechless.