Chapter 3 - The Magic of First Steps

Wind brushed Aiden’s face, warm and alive with the scent of moss and damp soil. The forest stretched in every direction, a cathedral of towering trees whose canopies tangled high above, scattering sunlight into shards of gold.

Aiden’s jaw dropped. He stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes scanning the impossible beauty around them.

“Val… do you see this?” he breathed, his voice a low, awestruck whisper.

Valerie’s hand tightened in his. Her gaze was drawn above them to where tiny, jewel-toned birds darted through the branches. Their wings shimmered translucent like stained glass, scattering fractured rainbows each time they beat their wings.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered. Her voice was quiet, afraid a sound too loud might shatter the moment. It was the kind of silence that made you feel small, but in a good way. Like you were a part of something grand.

Aiden let out a low whistle, crouching by a patch of flowers glowing faintly blue. He brushed a fingertip across one petal, and the light pulsed, rippling through the cluster like waves. He pulled his hand back, a grin spreading across his face.

“Glowing plants and rainbow birds…” “Val, this forest is like a tutorial area.”

Valerie tilted her head. “A what?”

He grinned, unable to resist. “You know, where you learn how things work before the real adventure begins.” He stood and spun in a slow circle, his eyes a-sparkle with a manic, giddy energy. “This is it, Val. This is the beginning. First, we figure out our abilities. Then we’ll tackle this ‘Divine Quest’ we’ve been given.”

She sighed, amused, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. “I knew this was going to happen. We’re in some kind of afterlife fantasy world and all you can think is, ‘How do I use my powers to be the hero?’”

“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to know how our magic works,” Aiden shot back, “For instance, your magic is obviously for support since you use water and air. And I’ll get the fun stuff, especially using fire!”

She nudged him with her shoulder, rolling her eyes, but her lips curved in a smile that reached her eyes. “Only you, Aiden.”

They walked deeper into the forest, the golden dust of the sun-filtered air seeming to get thicker with every step. Valerie paused now and then to watch butterflies with wings that looked like drifting petals. At one point a fox-like creature dashed across their path, its fur a vibrant crimson, its tail splitting into three, each tipped with faint fire. Valerie gasped softly, her hand flying to her mouth, but the creature vanished into the underbrush before either could move closer.

“Okay, that was adorable,” Valerie said, her voice full of a ridiculous amount of excitement.

“You’re ridiculous,” Aiden murmured, though his wide-eyed wonder betrayed him.

After walking for a bit of time, they came upon a clearing. A small, perfect pond sat at its edge, its surface so still it was mirror-like. Aiden turned to Valerie, fire in his eyes.

“Alright. It’s time.” He bounced on the balls of his feet, feeling an electric energy humming just beneath his skin.

Valerie arched an eyebrow, a small, weary smile on her face. “Time for what?”

“To try out our magic!” He puffed his chest. “The water there will be useful in case I go overboard with fiery passion.”

“Oh, this I have to see,” she said, crossing her arms, a look of amused skepticism on her face.

He spread his legs, thrust his palm outward, and closed his eyes. Fire. Flames. Burning fury. Explosive nova— Nothing. Valerie smothered a laugh behind her hand.

“First try. Doesn’t count,” he muttered, his face reddening. He shook out his wrist, cleared his throat, and tried again, stomping the ground for effect. He tried a different incantation. "Ignite!" he bellowed, his voice echoing in the quiet clearing. Nothing. The birds nearby chirped almost mockingly.

Valerie’s laughter slipped free, bubbling out before she could stop it. She leaned against a tree, her entire body shaking with suppressed giggles.

“Don’t laugh, it’s harder than it looks!” Aiden grumbled, his pout so theatrical it was almost funny.

“Of course it is.” she wheezed between giggles. “You’re just so…dramatic! You look like you’re posing for an edition of ‘Nerds Weekly’.”

He groaned but managed a chuckle, the tension bleeding out of him. “I must be the only guy who can’t conjure his fire. I’m such a useless mage…”

She walked up and brushed his cheek with her thumb, her smile soft and full of affection. “You’re not useless. Just… maybe don’t expect to set the forest on your first try. We don’t even know how it all works yet.”

Aiden groaned again but the frustration was gone, replaced by a quiet, focused thinking. Valerie’s words resonated with him. This was like a new game. He couldn’t just assume he understood how the mechanics worked.

Valerie turned toward the pond nestled at the edge of the clearing. The surface was undisturbed, looking like a portal to another world. Drawn forward, she crouched at its edge, extending her hand.

Aiden tilted his head. “What are you doing?”

She ignored him. Her palm hovered inches above the surface. For a long moment, nothing stirred. Then the water rippled, not from a breeze or a falling leaf, but from an unseen source.

Aiden’s breath caught as a thin ribbon of liquid rose into the air, quivering like a serpent. Droplets trailed upward, defying gravity, shimmering in the light. It wasn’t a powerful move, but it was perfect in its simplicity.

“Val…” His voice was hushed. “How…there’s no way…”

Her eyes glistened. “It’s strange. When I looked at it, I remembered…” She smiled faintly. “That Fourth of July at the lake.” She closed her eyes for a moment, her mind filled with the sounds of laughter and the feel of the sun on her skin. She remembered the sound of the jet skis, the wind in her hair as she sat behind Aiden, holding him tightly as he cut across the water. She remembered being thrown from the tube, the shock of the cold water, and his face full of panic until he saw she was laughing.

“We rode jet skis all afternoon, and you fell off five times.”

“Four,” Aiden corrected automatically.

“Five,” she teased softly, her smile widening. “And that night, under the fireworks, when you kissed me… that’s when I knew I loved you.”

The water glowed brighter as it hovered, reflecting every spark of her memory. It was powered by something more than just magic. It was powered by emotion.

Aiden’s chest tightened. “So magic isn’t just casting a spell. It’s…connection.” The Creator had said something about “Heartlink” magic. It wasn’t about brute force or memorized incantations. It was about their bond. Maybe this is what he was talking about.

The water fell back into the pond with a soft splash.

He clenched his fist, determination burning in his eyes. “Alright, stand back. I need to test out this theory I have..”

Valerie rose, watching closely, her own sense of wonder taking over.

Aiden stretched out his hand. Think. Fire. But not just fire… our fire. He closed his eyes, sinking into a memory.

The kitchen. Smoke alarms screaming, grease fire popping in the pan. The chaos and panic. He remembered the look on her face when she saw the smoking pan, a mix of terror and exasperation. She’d grabbed a dish towel, the wrong tool for the job, and started swatting at the flames while he frantically looked for the fire extinguisher. The absurdity of the situation had been overwhelming.

And then she’d started laughing. A soft, bubbling sound that filled the smoky air. And he had joined her, laughing so hard they both had to lean against the wall, tears streaming down their faces. They failed miserably at making dinner so they ended up ordering pizza. They sat on the couch for hours, grease stain still on the ceiling, talking until the sun came up, sharing stories, dreams, and fears.

That was the night he knew.

A spark flickered in his palm. Then another. Then another, until a tiny, crackling ember danced above his hand.

He yelped, stumbling back. “Oh my gosh! Did you see that?!” He stared at the faint ember, grinning like a kid with a new toy.

Valerie clapped her hands enthusiastically.

“You’ve officially upgraded from boy scout to MAN scout.” The sarcasm rolled off her tongue with ease.

He narrowed his eyes at her, the corner of his mouth twitching.

She giggled, “So what changed?”

His look shifted, his eyes full of a new, profound understanding. “I thought about that night we nearly burned the apartment down. It was the night I realized I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you..”

Her lips trembled, her eyes shining. She pressed her forehead against his chest, her arms wrapping tight around his waist. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Ridiculously awesome,” he teased, hugging her back, the scent of her hair filling his senses.

For a moment they stood there, the pond rippling softly, sunlight wrapping them in warmth. The world seemed to hold its breath for them. They were a team, a pair of heroes in a story they never thought they’d be a part of.

Then the bushes rustled.

Aiden’s breath hitched. Growls rolled from the treeline.

Valerie stiffened against him. “Aiden…”

Yellow eyes glinted in the shadows. One wolf. Then three. Then five. Their bodies slinked into the clearing, fur bristling, teeth bared in silent snarls. The leader was a massive, scarred beast, its eyes a cold, predatory gleam. The pack spread wide, cutting off every escape route.

Aiden pulled Valerie behind him, fists tightening. His mind was a scramble of a thousand different fight-or-flight instincts. “Stay close.”

The lead wolf stalked forward, saliva dripping from its jaws.

Aiden’s pulse pounded in his ears. “Val… we’re gonna have to fight.”

Her voice trembled. “Fight? I can’t—”

“You can.” His tone was firm, trying to project a confidence he didn't feel. “Use the pond. Make a barrier. Just stall them.”

The leader lunged, a terrifying blur of fur and muscle.

“Now, Val!” Aiden shouted.

She thrust her hands forward, but nothing came. Panic overwhelmed her, her breathing ragged, her mind a blank canvas. She tried remembering the memory of the lake, but she couldn't feel the connection to the water. All she could feel was the shaking in her hands and the terror in her heart. “I—I can’t—”

“Focus!” His voice cracked with fear. “You did it before—do it again!”

The wolf launched at her.

Aiden shoved Valerie out of the way. Its teeth sank into his arm sending pain shooting through him. He screamed, sparks bursting from his palm in a panicked reflex. The wolf yelped, releasing him, but blood gushed freely down his sleeve.

“Valerie!” he gasped, falling to his knees, clutching his bleeding arm. “You have to try!!”

She was frozen, trembling, tears streaming down her face. His shouting only made it worse. She felt useless, worthless, a complete failure.

Another wolf charged. Aiden tried to move, but his blood loss had made him light headed. He couldn’t pull himself together. He could only watch as the beast lunged at her. “Val!” he screamed, his voice raw with desperation.

She screamed, curling inward—

BOOM!

A gale roared through the clearing, a focused blast of wind so powerful it tore a path through the leaves and sent the wolf slamming into the pond with a loud splash.

Aiden blinked through the pain, stunned. The remaining wolves, startled by the sudden blast, backed away nervously, their ears pinned back.

From the treeline, three figures emerged.

At the front, a young woman in a green cloak strode confidently, a long staff spinning lazily in her grip. Her hair tousled curls, her grin cocky, her eyes a brilliant, knowing blue. Beside her, a man with a sword drawn, his eyes sharp and assessing. Behind them, a tall man leveled a crossbow, bolt steady and aimed.

The woman in the cloak smirked, resting her staff on her shoulder. She gestured to the unconscious wolf in the pond with a flick of her wrist.

“Well,” she called, her voice bright and easy, “looks like y’all could use a bit of help!”