The guardian of the flame

Months passed, and life settled into a new rhythm. Ember's Light became Rachel's second home, marking the beginning of her new routine."Good morning, everyone!!" she shouted."Rachel!" the staff and customers cheered."She woke up with enthusiasm. Tragic.""You know you love it," Rachel shot back."I tolerate you at best," Roe said, deadpan.From the kitchen came the sound of small feet sprinting, then Sofia skidded into view, hair in a bouncing mess of curls."MISS RACHEL!!"She launched herself into Rachel's arms."There she is, my favorite tiny troublemaker."Sofia gasped. "Daddy says calling a child a troublemaker is projecting!"Roe pointed a dish towel at her. "Stop quoting me in public."Rachel laughed."Didn't see you yesterday," Roe remarked dryly, giving her a sideways glance. "Thought you finally got tired of us.""Not a chance," she smirked, tossing her hair as if she belonged on a runway, not in a café."Miss Rachel! What are you doing here so early?""Finished my run and thought I'd see my favorite people. And how many times do I have to tell you, just call me Rachel, you don't need to add the miss."Sofia's eyes sparkled. "Daddy says I have to call old people 'Miss' and 'Mister.'"Rachel froze.Roe choked back a laugh."I am twenty-four.""You're getting up there," Sofia teased dramatically.Roe nodded. "Tragic. We'll have to start discussing pension plans soon."Rachel pointed at him. "You started this.""I merely raised her right."Rachel leaned against the counter. "Actually, Roe, I've got a."The café door slammed open.An elderly woman stumbled inside, clutching her purse. Two rough men followed her in a loud and careless manner."Give it back, grandma," one snarled.Before Rachel could shift her weight, Roe was already there.Standing between the woman and the men."Not here.""Or what?"He grabbed Roe's shirt.Roe caught the wrist. Turned it. Lowered the man to one knee.The second man swung.Roe stepped aside.The guy hit the floor."Not you down already. I could use a new broom."A couple of customers snorted.Rachel didn't.She was watching.Last time she saw him fight, she was bleeding out. Half-conscious. Moments from death.This time, she was awake.And she could see him.The first man tried to stand.Roe placed a hand on his shoulder.The man stopped moving."Leave."The second thug grabbed a stool, and in the scramble, it clipped Sofia.She fell.Roe didn't see how.He only saw her on the floor.The air shifted.He grabbed the man by the throat and lifted him clean off the ground.The room went still.Rachel saw it.That same look from the alley.The other thug rushed forward.Roe didn't turn fully.Just his eyes.The man stopped mid-step.Sat down.Scooted back.Sofia pushed herself up. "Daddy, I'm okay. I'm strong. Like you."Roe blinked.The tension snapped.He lowered the man just enough to breathe."Leave. And don't let me catch you around here again."He let go.They ran.Silence lingered.Roe helped the old woman sit and offered her tea.Then he went back behind the counter.Rachel exhaled."What was that?""That's just Roe," an older gentleman said. "Wild card. Ain't that right, James?""Yeah, yeah," James replied, then slammed a tile down. "DOMINO!"Laughter rippled through the café.Normal returned.Rachel stepped back toward the counter.Roe glanced up, catching her staring."What?""Nothing."Then softer:"Anyway, I actually have another question for you.""The answer's still no.""You don't even know what I was gonna ask!""It's Thursday. Thursday is 'Recruit Roe to the Government' day."He mimicked her voice almost perfectly."'Roe, you should join my sector, we could really use someone like you, you'd make a difference, c'mon, it'll be fun.'"Rachel stared at him."Okay, first rude. Second, yes."She leaned closer."You could help people. A lot of people."Roe set the towel down."I am helping people. That's why I run this place."He gestured around the café."When I put something into the world, I see what it changes.""But you could protect hundreds. Not dozens.""And I've seen what your 'helping hundreds' looks like."His voice stayed even."Same system that tells farmers what they can keep. Same system that fines a man for selling bread cheaper than the city list.""Same system that shows up after the damage is done."Rachel didn't interrupt."It's not power I distrust. It's the kind of people who enjoy giving orders more than helping."He tapped her badge lightly."You're not one of those people. You actually care.""So you do respect what I do.""I respect you. What you do with that badge is your business. I just can't follow someone else's script."Then, deadpan:"If I joined your squad, Captain Femi would have an aneurysm."Somewhere across the city, Femi sneezed violently.Rachel snorted. "You're impossible.""And you're persistent."Sofia popped between them."MISS RACHEL. LET ME TELL YOU THE REAL HISTORY. The one Daddy tells me."Roe rubbed his face. "Oh Spirits, we're doing the sermon.""We are doing THE EPIC."Rachel grinned. "Please. Continue."Sofia closed her eyes, breathing deeply, as if calling up old memories.Her voice became soft, almost sacred."Before the world had shape… There were Four Great Faces and one body drifting in the dark."Rachel stilled.The café around them went quiet."They argued with each other over whose ideas were correct,But they always had each other.And then one day, one of them decided to show them what they meant.That face drifted off into the land and manifested each of their ideas.""One dreamed of elemental forces and stars…And birthed the Akilosi, who shape elements like breath.One dreamed of roots and growth…And from that dream rose the Verdani, who walk as forests do.One dreamed of shadows and instinct…And thus came the Ninakai, wild souled and many shaped.And one dreamed of stillness and truth…And from that silence came the Dharmikas, who listen to the world beneath the world.""And with the body no longer having its head…It drifted off and became the land itself.The faces had no connection to each other.So they couldn't talk or share how their creations grew.Eventually, they became saddened…And drifted off into sleep."Her voice lowered."But when the faces slept…"She glanced at Rachel, eyes wide."Their nightmares slipped out."The café felt colder for a heartbeat."Monsters are pieces of forgotten fear.They get stronger when people forget who they are."Rachel swallowed.Roe rested a hand on Sofia's head."Well told."Sofia beamed.Rachel stood."I'll see you tonight.""Yeah. Tonight."The bell chimed as she walked out.And the warmth of Ember's Light followed her into the street.