RE:FLAME

[p_magno]

jhon from accounting

and nice chapter

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[p_magno]

Jessica couldn't sleep.

Even lying on a comfortable-looking bed with soft blankets and plump pillows, sleep eluded her. Maybe she knew why, but what difference would that make?

She turned to the other side, changing position. That didn't help either. She turned again. Still uncomfortable. In the end, she just lay flat on her back, glancing at the window near the bed. That window hadn't been in this room when she'd first woken up here. Before dinner, she'd walked back downstairs to ask Violet about it, and Violet had told her she'd forgotten about it when she cast an illusion on the room previously.

Jessica stared at the window for a long moment before finally shifting her gaze to the ceiling, lost in her own thoughts.

"I screwed up today, huh?" She muttered calmly, clearly directing the question to the silent consciousness inside her mind.


<< Yes. >>

Jessica closed her eyes, remembering what she'd said at dinner, remembering Jack's expressionless face and Violet's sad expression. She couldn't help but squeeze her eyes tight. 'Oh, gosh. I'm such a fool.'


<< You are. >>

'A big idiot.' She insulted herself again.


<< A very mighty one. >>

'I didn't even think straight before saying it. I'm so stupid.'


<< You don't always think straight... and you've always been stupid. >>

'I'm so—' Jessica paused mid-sentence, a frown showing on her face. 'Wait... were you just replying with my own words?'


<< Sigh... You were clearly saying everything I might have said. So why wouldn't I assist you from the sidelines with some exaggeration? >>

Hearing the system's reply, Jessica couldn't help but smile. If it had been earlier today, she would have replied with righteous fury burning bright. But currently, she couldn't reply, not that she lacked the time or strength to bicker. She had plenty of time for that. But she couldn't. She couldn't do anything else but smile.

Soon she began laughing lightly. Surprisingly, through their shared consciousness, the system also laughed. She could hear the voice of a young girl laughing in her mind. So the system was actually toying with her. She finally realized and couldn't help but muse at it. She continued laughing, laughing out her frustration until there wasn't any left.

After the laughter slowly receded, boredom crept in.

Seeing this, Jessica bolted up from her bed like lightning. She walked to the large mirror near the wardrobe and stopped abruptly, like a car hitting the brakes. She stared at herself.

As always, her figure was... flawless. Perfect skin that seemed to glow with inner light. Features so perfectly balanced they could have been carved by a divine sculptor. She was literally the definition of a jade beauty given flesh.

She tested her smile in the mirror. It was beautiful. She checked her teeth. Perfect in every way. There was nothing wrong with her. Everything was perfect, except...

Her gaze drifted down to one place that hadn't seemed to change in either of her lives.

She stared at her chest for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then she couldn't help but sigh dramatically.

"At least one thing never changed."

She gave herself hope as she continued staring at the mirror. She began making different funny faces out of boredom, and when her multiple expressions seemed to continue for a few minutes longer than expected, the system finally spoke.


<< At this rate, you might just learn a new ability to change your expressions at will. >>


<< Just go to sleep. >>

Jessica sighed as she read the system's words.

'I'm not sleepy,' she replied, but the system's constant pestering eventually made her lie back down on the bed.

"Sigh... I wonder how Violet is? I just hope my words didn't make her too sad." Jessica could only think of that as she closed her eyes. "Good night," she finally said, and soon after, sleep claimed her.

For a moment, she thought she was back in the star where she'd danced with her prince charming. But that dream only lasted a few minutes—at least, that was what she thought, until she felt a bucket of water pour over her like a running tide.


Splash!!

She immediately jumped to her feet with incredible grace, blue flames erupting from her hands, clearly ready to attack the attacker.

But that action only lasted a heartbeat as she recognized the figure before her: a young woman with jet-black hair, sharp features, deep purple eyes, and an expression of pure contentment. She held a bucket in one hand, her other hand on her waist, foot tapping the floor while trying to form a serious face despite the amused 'All Consuming Hell Smug' threatening to break through.

"Are you going to sleep through your first day of work?! Get up and go take a shower! You're running late."

Jessica stared with wide eyes at Violet. It was at this moment she knew with full certainty that she had been absolutely wrong to think her words might have changed Violet's behavior. In the end, Violet remained Violet.

Jessica even had a premonition that this vile being in front of her, clearly enjoying her suffering, had just become—


Vile Being Pro Max.

And Jessica was her leveling material.


*****



Jessica walked calmly out of the house's exit door, the morning breeze brushing her skin in a cool wave. She inhaled deeply, a smile on her face. She wore a dark green t-shirt with brown knickers, making her look more like a geographer than an Awakened. Her gaze passed through the settlement street, which wasn't bustling with people currently as it was still early morning.

Finally, her eyes landed on a figure in the distance, walking to wherever place she was going. A young woman who strangely looked like someone Jessica knew. She squinted to see who it was.

'Wait... isn't that Violet?' Her eyes widened in realization. 'When did she walk out of the house?' She had clearly, intentionally left without her.

"T-THIS!" Jessica's righteous fury ignited. She could already imagine the smug expression on Violet's face.

"Hey! WAIT FOR ME!"

She sprinted forward, desperate to catch up with the already-distant Violet.

'You VILE BEING!!!'


After what felt like a twelve-hundred-meter marathon, Jessica finally reached Violet's side. She was breathing hard, her lungs burning.

Violet turned. A slight, sinister smile was clearly plastered on her face.

"What took you so long?" The smugness in her tone was unmistakable.

Jessica gritted her teeth. Her righteous fury burned brighter than ever.

'Not only did you wake me up so early I thought it was still NIGHTTIME, you also INTENTIONALLY left me behind?! You VILE BEING! You MONARCH OF EVIL!'

She screamed internally for a full minute before forcing herself to calm down.

'Good thoughts... pure thoughts...' She inhaled. Exhaled. Repeated the mantra inwardly as she followed Violet.


*****



They walked in silence for a while. Then an itch began forming in Jessica's mind, a question that had been nagging her since she first manipulated her flames.

'Can I shape my flames the way Violet shapes her shadows?'

The question wouldn't leave her alone. Finally, she decided to voice it.

"Uhm... Violet."

Violet turned, one eyebrow raised. She'd already noticed the innocent tone, the one Jessica used when she wanted something.

Jessica didn't beat around the bush.

"Could you teach me how to manipulate flames? Like how you manipulate your shadow ability?"

Violet studied her for a moment, then looked forward.

"It isn't anything special." She lifted her right hand, the one still wrapped in bandages. "Just imagine what shape you want it to take."

Shadows began coiling around her hand, dark and fluid. They condensed, solidified, took form, until a short sword made of pure shadow rested in her palm.

A moment later, it dissolved. The shadows receded.

Violet glanced at Jessica with a smile.

"You try."

Jessica nodded, taking a deep breath.

'Imagine...' She repeated to herself, raising her right hand. Blue flames began wrapping around her palm. She focused, imagining her flames taking the solid shape of a short sword, just like Violet's shadow blade.

As she deepened her concentration, she felt a drain of energy from her magic core, and then her blue flames began condensing into the solid shape of a short sword. Just like Violet's own.

Jessica's eyes widened in surprise as she held the handle of the flame sword. 'I did it.' Her heart raced with joy as she stared at the weapon. She glanced at Violet, who was also smiling.

"Good job," Violet said.

Jessica smiled and nodded. She willed the flame sword to dissolve. The sword dematerialized at her command, leaving her hand empty.

Just then, another idea of a weapon came to her mind. She instantly decided to try it as they walked.

Jessica stretched out her left hand, pointing only two fingers. She lifted her other hand, doing the same pose. Then she placed her right pointed finger against her left, upon impact, there was a faint spark of flame.

She smiled as she moved to the next step.
She imagined herself holding a bow in her left hand, her right hand drawing the string back, arrow nocked and ready.

A massive swirl of blue flames erupted, coalescing into a large, blazing arrow, followed by a bow of equal grandeur.

Her smile widened. She pulled the string back further—


Knock!

"Ow!!"

A hard blow landed squarely on her head. Her flame arrow dissolved instantly. She rubbed the sore spot in slow motion, turning to face Violet.

Violet stared at her with barely contained rage.

"Brat!! We are walking in the STREET. Where exactly were you planning to shoot that arrow?!"


Jessica paused for a moment. Realization dawned. 'We are really in the street.' She glanced around and noticed intense stares directed at her from several directions.

A sheepish smile formed on her already reddened face. "Sorry... I totally forgot." She apologized to the small crowd of onlookers.

Without waiting any longer, Jessica instantly walked faster than she had ever walked before. She began mentally recalling the direction to the workshop, she clearly didn't want to remain here any longer.

Violet watched her speed-walk away, a slow smile forming on her lips. She shook her head and resumed her normal pace.

Then she paused.

"Brat!! You're going the wrong way!"

"Ooh... Sorry!!"

Violet sighed deeply, one hand rising to massage her forehead. A slight wave of headache was already creeping in.

****



Jessica stood before the entrance of the workshop. The sign hung above the door, carved wood painted in elegant script:

'Violet Workshop'

Jessica smiled as she read it. 'First day at my first job in this world.' She mused. 'I wonder how it'll be?'

They walked inside, moving through the main hall. The workshop was busy, just like last time. People moved with purpose in every direction, carrying equipment, swords, incomplete armor pieces, all kinds of objects that could be forged.

Violet and Jessica walked past them until they reached the end of the main hall.

Upon reaching the far wall, without turning toward the direction that led to the manager's office, Violet pivoted left into a passageway. Jessica followed closely behind.

As they walked deeper, Jessica began feeling a faint heat. She smiled. 'So this is the forge area.' As she thought that, she began hearing the clanging sounds of smithing, confirming they were close.

Soon they arrived at a thick iron door, as thick and strong as the one in the training center. Jessica couldn't help but frown. 'Why would they use a door like this for the forge room? It isn't a training area.' She was confused by the level of protection. It wasn't like they'd be tanking nuclear bombs or anything... right?

Violet turned to her, an 'All Consuming Hell Smug' plastered on her face as she spoke. "It's a bit hectic and loud inside, so you'd best be careful."

Jessica immediately felt a sense of déjà vu.


'Flaming Hell!! Don't tell me I'm doomed here too?!'



******


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[Despacitoleo]

"Are you going to sleep through your first day of work?! Get up and go take a shower! You're running late."

Click to shrink...

smelly fire girl failure lol