True beauty lies in versatility

“Sunset is upon us, and our steeds grow weary. Think you that we should stop soon?”
“Yeah, let’s find an area of the road that’s safe to sleep by and stop.”

The main road ran through a sort of valley of trees, the areas on either side being forested to varying degrees. Thankfully, visibility along the road is good enough during the day, but at night it’s hard to see a thing, making the road and it’s surroundings incredibly dangerous for those unprepared.

After a few more minutes of riding, Ann pointed out a less densely wooded area off the road to our left, and we decided to pull over. Enough space to safely start a fire and lay out beds. Exactly what we were looking for.

“I’ll gather some kindling so we can start a fire, feel free to sit and rest with the horses for a while.”
“Master Shiidou, I must insist that you allow me t-”
“Stop. Remember, we’re not master and servant right now. We’re travelling partners. I’ll need you to use magic to light the fire, so it’s only fair I get the wood, right?”

Ann looks a little disgruntled at my response, clearly still not fond of me trying to shake up our dynamic, but she knows I’m one of the only people around more stubborn than she is.
“...as you wish. I shall tend to the horses in the meantime.”

Even when I’m the one doing the work, that girl refuses to let herself rest. But the horses do need to be fed so there’s no point arguing with her.
It isn’t long before I have enough kindling together for Ann to start a fire, and after a little while I’m able to start adding more wood until it’s large enough to use.

“Kinda weird, isn’t it?”
“I’m unsure as to what you mean. Something you find strange?”
As Ann and I sit, roasting sausages over the fire, I’m reminded of something that had been on my mind for a while.

“Light magic can start fires. Dark magic can cause earthquakes. A lot of the magic we use is taken straight from other elements, but no-one except darkness and light users can do that. Everyone else is stuck to their element.”
“Yes, in that respect, the elements you and I wield are certainly the outliers. Nominally, they are of light and dark, but it would be more accurate to say they are of creation and destruction, or perhaps order and distortion.”
“I guess, but ain’t fire pretty destructive?”
“Indeed, it has the capacity to be so. But it is also creative. It’s true beauty lies in versatility.”
“I don’t follow.”

Ann heaves a dramatic sigh, but I’m pretty sure it’s for show, since she fails to hide a slight smirk. She gets to her feet, looks up into the clear sky, and aims her hand. A stream of magic flies from her hand, and detonates some 70 metres above us, a rainbow of colour bursting from inside like the fireworks we had back on Earth.

“Fire is neither a force of destruction nor creation. It is a tool, its potential lay entirely with it's wielder.”
I suppose I see her point. Fire certainly isn’t just ‘the thing that burns forests down,’ afterall.

“I getcha. I suppose fire is also used to make tools and materials too. Not to mention food.”
I scarf down the sausages I had been roasting, without an ounce of the grace expected from a lord.
"How glad am, I to hear my words resonated with you, Shiidou.”
“Although I don’t know if scaring the forest wildlife shitless was the best way to prove it.”
“Ah-”
The proud look on Ann’s face is immediately replaced with shock at her carelessness.

“Oh, how foolish of me. To disturb the animals in their home like that, I mustn’t allow my pride to cloud my judgement so.”
“It’s cool, the horses are still sleeping so I doubt you disturbed the peace too bad. Besides, I like watching you show off for me, it’s cute.”
Even with the only light around us being the slowly dimming fire, I can see every inch of Ann’s face go red.

“I-I-I’m afraid you’re mistaken, ma- Shiidou, I-I-I had no such intentions, I was merely… demonstrating my point! Yes, it was a demonstration, nothing more!”

I fail to hide my chuckle, and I see Ann’s flustered expression turn into a pout. So good at staying graceful and composed, but just the slightest bit of teasing and she crumbles. I hope she realises how adorable she is.
“S-s-since I’ve finished eating, I must hurry to sleep. The longer we delay, the slower we’ll arrive at our destination.”
“Too right you are. You did good today, get a good rest.”

Even though she’s clearly trying to divert my attention from flirting, she does raise a good point. 8 hours of sleep overall is pushing it, especially with the dire straits we’re in, so we can’t afford to stay up late bantering and push our arrival back even further.

“Wake me when you need me, Shiidou. Even asleep, I shall be at your beck and call.”
“I will. Sleep well, Ann.”
I watch as my companion finds her way into sleeping bag, and slowly drifts off to sleep.

That girl. I appreciate her loyalty, and she’s never once disappointed me, but I wish she’d be less hard on herself. She refuses to even let herself sleep in peace. I’m sure she’d work herself to death for me if I let her.

Even up her sleeping face, I see that she’s unable to properly rest. Shifting around in her sleep, her beautiful face a picture of stress. Were it up to me, I simply wouldn’t wake her, letting her sleep as long as she needs, and god knows she needs it.

Unimaginably kind, hard working, and loyal to a fault. She’s a person too good for this world, and I’m undeserving of the luck that brought the two of us together.

But I can’t help myself from thinking: she was never like this before she died. The girl I knew back on Earth was brash, snarky, and out for herself above anyone else. The reason we got along so well was, if I’m honest with myself, our equally un-virtuous personalities. I must wonder how such a massive personality shift is possible, although I suppose she may just regret her previously selfish attitude and want to use her second life as a clean slate.

As the embers of the flame we built slowly die, and our surroundings become too dark to see, I feel the slightest tinge of sadness that I can no longer gaze at the beauty of my ever-loyal companion and closest friend.

***

“I don’t wanna die! I don’t wanna die!”
“You’re not gonna die, ok? We’ve got an ambulance coming, just hold on a little longer.”
“It hurts so much…”
“I know, I know it hurts, just hold on. Please, just hold on.”
“I-I don’t think I’m gonna-”

She trails off, the blood loss nearly rendering her unconscious

“You’re gonna make it, ok, stay with me. Just stay with me. You’re gonna be ok.”
“I…love…you.”

Her eyes droop shut as blood continues to pour from her wounds. My hand on her wrist feels her pulse start to slow.

“Wake up. Please, wake up. Don’t die on me. Not here. Not now. I love you so much. Please, just wake up.”

She never wakes up to hear me return her feelings.

***

“AHH, FUCK!”
I sit bolt upright, and clutch my now-throbbing head. Headrush. Wonderful way to start the day.
I open my eyes, and I’m met with Ann’s worried face, so close to my own that her long black hair droops into my face. She’s standing over my bed, and is visibly distraught.

“Shiidou! Shiidou, are you okay?”
“Wh- Ann. I’m sorry, did I worry you?”
“Your sleep was agitated and restless, and you spoke words I failed to understand. I sought to wake you, but you awoke on your own. What ever is the matter?”
“...it’s nothing, or at least nothing you need to worry about. Just a bad dream, I guess.”

Ann doesn’t look convinced, and her concern shows through on her face, but she seems to decide not to push me on it, and steps away from where I’m sleeping so I can get up properly.

‘Bad dream.’ That’s one way to put it. It’s the scene that’s haunted me for some seventeen years now. The painful death of my dearly beloved, in a pool of her own blood, in the middle of that one bastard road.

But still, I don’t know why my brain decides to remind me of her death like that. Especially considering she’s standing alive and well in front of me.

I shoot her a soft smile, which she returns.

Yeah. Why am I still sad about losing her? She’s right here with me.