Chapter 12

The following day, Nireh woke up early and went to the market. There he bumped into Rena.

Rena: “Nireh... you guys are back as well.”

Nireh: “Yeah. We arrived yesterday.”

Rena: “How was the mission with Roy?”

Nireh: “As you expect... if you know him enough.”

Rena: “Yeah... I know what you mean. Why don't you tell me everything at dinner?”

Nireh: “You mean like on a date?”

Rena: “Sure. Meet you at the Rustic Restaurant?”

Nireh: “The one in the south?”

Rena: “Of course. That's the best one. See you there at seven.”

Nireh: “Okay. See you later.”

Nireh: *That was smoother than I expected.*

He spent the next few hours at home.

Nireh: *Dammit. I don't know what to wear. Why is this making me so nervous?*

Norkai: “Where are you going?”

Nireh: “On a date.”

Norkai: “What? With a girl?”

Nireh: “I know... I'm as surprised as you are.”

Norkai: “I don't think so. Who is she?”

Nireh: “You remember Roy's classmate? It's her.”

Norkai: “I see. Well... good luck I guess.”

Nireh: “Thanks. I'm getting pretty nervous.”

Norkai: “Just keep it simple... and try not to embarrass yourself.”

Nireh: “Got it. What do you think? Do I look good?”

Norkai: “I think so.”

Nireh: “Okay. I'm leaving. I don't want to be late.”

Norkai: “Have fun.”

Nireh: “Thanks. See you later.”

They both arrived around the same time.

Rena: “Well... someone is looking good tonight.”

Nireh: “Thank you. You too... that's a very nice dress.”

Nireh: *Why do I feel so weird?*

Rena: “So, what are we eating?”

Nireh: “I don't know. I'm not that hungry.”

Rena: “Suit yourself. I'll get some nice steak.”

After some time had passed.

Rena: “Are you nervous, Nireh?”

Nireh: “Yeah... a little bit.”

Rena: “Hahaha. Just try to relax. Tell me how it went with Roy.”

Nireh: “Well... we had to deliver a package but he decided to not tell me his full plan. I guess he doesn't trust me enough.”

Rena: “He's had trust issues for as long as I've known him. Don't take it too personally.”

Nireh: “I know... it's just frustrating.”

Rena: “What about you? Tell me about yourself.”

Nireh: “Hmm... I don't know what to say. I'm a pretty normal guy.”

Rena: “I see. What about your hobbies? What do you wanna do when you're older?”

Nireh: “I haven't decided yet. And I'm not the biggest fan of hobbies. I do like spending time at the old watchtower, though.”

Rena: “I understand.”

Rena: *I guess he's still quite young.*

Waiter: “Here's your dinner ma'am. Do you want anything else?”

Rena: “Thank you. I'm fine for now.”

Nireh: “That looks very good.”

Rena: “You sure you don't want some?”

Nireh: “Yeah... I'm sure. I'll stick to beverages for now.”

Rena: “Okay.”

Nireh: “Enjoy your meal.”

Rena: “Thanks.”

The rest of the night was pleasant, with them discussing all sorts of things.

Rena: “It's getting late... I think we should go.”

Nireh: “Sure. Do you want me to walk you home?”

Rena: “No, thanks. You're very sweet for asking.”

Nireh: “Then I'll see you later. It was a very nice dinner.”

Rena: “It really was. See you later, Nireh.”

On his way home, Nireh finally began to relax. He had a great time and was happy with how the evening went. The next few days were quieter than he expected. Since they hadn't made any new plans, he was waiting for her to say something. 
Then one evening, Norkai came home with news.

Norkai: “Nireh... have you talked with Rena recently?”

Nireh: “Not since the date. Why?”

Norkai: “Well... Xera told me she saw her on a date with someone else.”

Nireh: “What? Is she sure it was her?”

Norkai: “Yeah... sorry. Do you wanna talk about it?”

Nireh: “No... I'm fine. I just need some air.”

He gets his coat and leaves the house.

Nireh: *Why did she do this? I thought we were good together. Did I say something wrong? I feel so stupid. I can't believe I trusted her.*

After one hour of aimlessly walking around, he saw her.

Nireh: “Rena? What are you doing here?”

Rena: “Nireh, how nice to see you. I was going home. What about you?”

Nireh: “I was just... walking around.”

Rena: “Is everything okay?”

Nireh: “Yeah... can I ask you something?”

Rena: “Sure.”

Nireh: “Did you go out with another guy?”

Rena: “What? Nireh... have you been following me?”

Nireh: “No. A friend told me she saw you with someone else.”

Rena: “I see. Look... Nireh... we went out one time. It's not that big of a deal. People see other people all the time.”

Nireh: “I understand. It's just that... I thought we were getting along well.”

Rena: “We were. And still are. But... I don't think we are a good fit for each other. You know what I mean? Honestly... I don't even think you like me that much.”

Nireh: “That's not true. I do like you.”

Rena: “You sure? Because that's not what I saw. What I saw... was a good friend. Nothing more. There was no spark, Nireh. I'm sorry.”

Nireh: “It's fine. I'll be alright. I'm gonna go now... it's getting late.”

Rena: “Nireh... please... don't be like that.”

And he left without looking back. The following days, he spent mostly alone at the watchtower. 
On his way to the training ground, Norkai ran into Xera.

Norkai: “Can you believe Rena didn't like Nireh?”

Xera: “Yeah.”

Xera: *How did Nireh get a date before I did?*

Norkai: “I mean... what more does she want? Nireh is a great guy.”

Xera: “I know. But you know how boys are.”

Norkai: “What do you mean by that?”

Xera: “I mean you guys are too oblivious sometimes.”

Norkai: “That's not true. Girls are too complicated... everyone knows that.”

Xera: “No, we're not.”

Norkai: “Oh yeah? Then why are you picking on me for every reason you can find?”

Xera: “Forget it. Some day... you will understand.”

Norkai: “I am even more confused now.”

Xera: “Yeah... I know the feeling.”

Norkai: “Fine. Don't tell me. Nobody understands you anyway.”

Xera: “What's too hard to understand, jackass? That I like you?”

Norkai: “You're kidding.”

Norkai: *Is this one of her games?*

Xera: “No... I'm not.”

Xera: *How can he be so blind?*

Norkai: “How am I supposed to know that? You didn't give me any clues.”

Xera: “Right. Me picking on you constantly... didn't ring any bell?”

Norkai: “I just thought you were very competitive. How should I know what you really want?”

Xera: “Yeah... because we are so complicated.”

Norkai: “I'm glad you see it too.”

Xera: “You're annoying me. Are you gonna ask me out or not?”

Norkai froze. All his confidence flew out the window and he turned red like a lobster.

Xera: “Hello? Are you going to faint?”

Norkai: “What? Of course not... you just surprised me.”

Xera: “Pick me up at seven. Don't be late.”

Norkai: “Okay... should I dress nicely?”

Xera: “What do you think?”

Norkai: “Of course... I should. I just wanted to be sure.”

Xera: “Good. See you later.”

Norkai: “See you.”

Norkai: *What just happened? Am I really going on a date with Xera? This is insane.* Meanwhile at the watchtower.

Nireh: *Why is life so complicated? I really wish things were easier.*

Raindrop: “Hello. Did you miss me?”

Nireh: “Not really.”

Nireh: *Great... exactly what I needed.*

Raindrop: “What happened now?”

Nireh: “Nothing.”

Raindrop: “Tell me. I wanna know.”

Nireh: “I think... I don't like my life very much.”

Raindrop: “Hahaha. Welcome to the club.”

Nireh: “That's not making me feel better.”

Raindrop: “Sorry. Continue.”

Nireh: “How does someone know what they want?”

Raindrop: “That's a tough question.”

Nireh: “I know... any ideas?”

Raindrop: “I think people who don't know what they want... need to find out what they want.”

Nireh: “Okay. And? What's your point?”

Raindrop: “Why don't you just try new things?”

Nireh: “No, thanks. Anything else?”

Raindrop: “Get a hobby?”

Nireh: “No.”

Raindrop: “Just do something... you don't hate very much.”

Nireh: “How is that going to help?”

Raindrop: “I don't know... compared to nothing... it's something.”

Nireh: “Hmm... so you're saying that my indecisiveness is the real problem?”

Raindrop: “It might be. How should I know?”

Nireh: “Interesting. This is actually helpful. I will think about it. Thank you, Raindrop.”

Raindrop: “My pleasure. What are you going to do now?”

Nireh: “Test some things.”

Nireh: *I think this is what Roy was trying to tell me. If I don't start choosing... life will take those decisions for me.*

Raindrop: “Like what?”

Nireh: “You'll see. Are you busy now?”

Raindrop: “No. Why?”

Nireh: “Then come with me. I want to see a beautiful lake that I saw a few days ago.”

Raindrop: “Haha. Now we're talking. Lead the way.”

Nireh: “The thing is... it's a few days walk to get there.”

Raindrop: “No problem. I'll get us there fast.”

She then places her hand on his forehead.

Nireh: “What are you doing?”

Raindrop: “Done. I know where it is.”

She turns around and opens a portal with her hand.

Nireh: “I didn't know you could do that.”

Raindrop: “Haha. All fairies can use portals.”

Nireh: “Are you sure it is safe?”

Raindrop: “Of course silly. You wanna come or not?”

A bit hesitant, he walks through the portal. In the next second he finds himself exactly at the spot where he was with Roy.

Nireh: “That's amazing. I wish I could do things like that.”

Raindrop: “Haha. Maybe someday you will.”

Nireh: “Look at this lake. This view. Isn't it perfect?”

Raindrop: “It really is.”

Nireh: “You know... I think I know what I want. I want moments like these to never end.”

Raindrop: “We all do.”

As Nireh was soaking in the moment with his eyes closed, the fairy touched his shoulder and he collapsed. In a few hours, he wakes up to the sun setting over the lake, creating a mesmerizing view.

Raindrop: “Are you okay?”

Nireh: “Yeah... actually... I feel better than ever. What happened?”

Raindrop: “You'll see in a minute.”

As he got up, Nireh began to experience some strange sensations.

Nireh: “What is happening? What are those lights?”

Raindrop: “They are Auras.”

Nireh: “Auras? Interesting. How come I can see them now?”

Then suddenly, a powerful feeling makes his presence known.

Nireh: “What is happening to me? What is this feeling?”

Raindrop: “It's your layer 3 power.”

Nireh: “What? My layer 3 power? What did you do, Raindrop?”

He shouts while mildly panicking.

Raindrop: “I granted your wish. You wanted power... and I gave it to you.”

Nireh: “That's not true. I didn't ask for this.”

Raindrop: “Well... to me it seemed you did.”

Nireh: “And how come you can give this power?”

Raindrop: “Most Legends have their layer 3 power granted by fairies.”

Nireh: “What do you mean?”

Raindrop: “Time is cruel for a human life... but a fairy can accelerate the process.”

Nireh: “So every Legend is only a Legend because a fairy helped them?”

Raindrop: “Almost. There are some old Legends who achieved it on their own. But it took them a lifetime to reach that layer.”

Nireh: “I don't believe you. This means every Legend knows a fairy?”

Raindrop: “Hahaha. No silly. We can choose whoever we want. Just a few of us reveal ourselves.”

Nireh: “Why didn't the past Legends say anything about fairies?”

Raindrop: “Why do you think? So they won't be considered crazy. Like I said... most

Legends have no idea how they got to the layer 3.”

All this information made Nireh's pulse accelerate like crazy. Then... something happened.

Nireh: “What is this silence?”

Raindrop: “Look around.”

Nireh: “Nothing is happening? Everything... just stopped?”

The sun froze over the lake, the wind stopped, the animals and insects fell silent... only he and Raindrop could move.

Raindrop: “It's your layer 3 power Nireh.”

Nireh: “What do you mean? My layer 3 power... can stop time?”

Nireh: *I must be dreaming. This is not happening.*

Raindrop: “It would seem so.”

Nireh: “Did you choose this power for me?”

Raindrop: “Hahaha. No. The layer 3 power... is something uniquely chosen by your being.”

Nireh: “My being?”

Raindrop: “Yeah... it's a reflection of yourself. You have many of those... all people do.”

Nireh: “So it was random?”

Raindrop: “Not really. Consider it... the most visible one.”

Nireh: “But how do I control it?”

Raindrop: “It's not hard. You need to... just do it.”

Nireh: “Just do it?”

In the next second, everything went back to normal. Wind could be felt, the sun was slowly going down, and the lake's noise could be heard again.

Raindrop: “There you go.”

Nireh: “I guess it's not that hard after all.”

Raindrop: “You'll get used to it. But be careful... don't take this power for granted.”

Nireh: “What do you mean?”

Raindrop: “The Universe has a tendency... to balance things.”

Nireh: “Now you're scaring me.”

Raindrop: “Hahaha. You'll be fine.”

Nireh: “I hope so. What now?”

Raindrop: “I can take you home if you want. Or we can stay here longer. Your choice.”

Nireh: “I think I should go back... Norkai will start to worry if I don't show up.”

Raindrop: “Very well. I'll open a portal for you.”

Again she opens a portal with her hand.

Nireh: “Aren't you coming?”

Raindrop: “I think you had enough of me for today.”

Nireh: “Haha... yeah. Raindrop... thanks.”

Raindrop: “Don't mention it. Now go, before the portal closes.”

He was in his bedroom now. Feeling tired after such an unexpected day, he laid down on the bed for a second and fell asleep immediately.