Magic is in the Air

The Small Shining Knight radiated his light to the rest of the world. The final challenge wasn't a matter of strength, but of will. The world's hope hadn't faded away; it resided within each of its citizens, they only needed to remember how to reach it.

And they succeeded, thanks to the Small Shining Knight, the smallest and weakest in the realm, who never gave up and reached the end of his perilous journey. If the Small Shining Knight could do it, anyone could.

And that was the message he conveyed to the world. With Vanat's help and the support of his other companions, he spread hope back into the world. It wasn't an easy journey; they encountered spectral cats and renegade knights. They even had to confront their characters' pasts, and Vanat even lost his right arm (a nod to Aria's minor injury).

Ren was content. He knew he had never drawn so well before; both visually and narratively, this was the best work he had ever created.

He let Aria and Leo read and reread it before sending it in, but it was already halfway through the year, and the deadline was approaching. When everyone was satisfied, Ren submitted the work and waited expectantly for the results. And it wasn't so bad. Magic had returned to his life.

He talked to Niko every day, discussing the story and life. Whenever he walked down the street, he saw fantastical things: cyclists turning into centaurs, yokai hiding in alleys, wizards transformed into birds.

And that wasn't all, his love life was amazing. He went out with Aria every weekend. They went to parks, exhibitions, and cinemas. She had even come to his house again to properly meet Maya when she took a break, and the three of them had a great time.

Not only that, but Maya got along well with Aria, and vice versa. Ren was grateful that at least one of their family connections worked, and he cherished those moments together, even if his mother embarrassed him from time to time.

The fact was: magic existed.

He arranged a small party at his house on the day the results were due. Maya managed to take a break and he invited Erika, Leo, and of course, Aria to wait together.

He even baked the cake himself, the best one he had ever made, and they were waiting for their friends when he had an idea.

"Mom, I'm going to step out for a bit and be right back!"

He left home and headed to a store. The sky was gray, but it didn't bother him. Nothing could ruin his day.

He wanted to buy a cookie, maybe get one for Aria as well; it would be a nice way to close a chapter in his mind. However, when he reached the store, it was closed.

Other places were too far away, and he gave up on the cookie, thinking that the world was trying to bring him down. But he was determined to face these challenges; he had learned that obstacles didn't mean the end.

So, he returned home, and soon all his friends arrived and they enjoyed the party.

"So, are you ready?" Leo asked.

"For the results? Yes, I believe in our story," Ren replied.

"Not just that. If you lose, are you going to give up on this forever? That was our deal, or have you changed your mind?"

Ren hadn't thought about the original agreement for a while. If he won the contest, he would dedicate himself to pursuing art as a career; if he lost, he would give up on it forever. But that was during a time when magic had died for him. Now, things had changed. Right?

But indeed, what if he lost? Ren had never come first in any competition, and despite his current happiness, he needed a job for the future, one that would support him, not a dream that would starve him.

It wasn't just confidence he had in recent times; he was also in denial. He didn't want to even think about the possibility of losing; he didn't think he could handle that thought after everything he had been through. And that's exactly what was happening now.

Anxiety started creeping in, and once again, he saw the dark future that awaited him at the beginning of the year. That's when he felt Aria's gentle hand on his shoulder.

"I believe in you," she said with that smile that only she could give.

Then he saw a light in the midst of the darkness. A beacon indicating a safe harbor in the middle of a storm. Sure, his professional life was a cause for concern, but magic existed, and it was right there beside him.

"Let's stop with this depressing moment and celebrate. I'm not wasting this cake," Erika said, trying to uplift the mood.

So, they continued with the party, but with every passing moment, Ren grew tenser. He kept checking his phone to see if the results had been announced. Aria, noticing this, stayed by his side, holding his hand and trying to calm him.

By now, Aria's hand was fully healed, and she had played with Ren since then, but she decided not to participate in any competitions.

For some reason, spraining her hand had set her free and led her to have a very serious conversation with her mother about her expectations. While her mother remained difficult to talk to, Aria tried to make her understand why she was wrong and what Aria wanted for her life.

So, the end of the semester was perfect for Aria. Even without seeing magical creatures roaming the streets like Ren did, she was in the same state of contentment and felt her life couldn't get any better.

Back at the party, Maya glanced at her watch, also showing her eagerness for her son's results.

"Isn't it time for the results?"

Indeed, it was time; the result deadline had arrived. Ren opened his phone, his heart racing as it did on his first date with Aria. He refreshed the page that was already open and then he saw it. The results had been announced.