What have I done?
Panic swept through the magic room like a tidal wave, mingling with the smell of smoke and the sound of screams.
My heart sank as I realized the magnitude of what I had unleashed. I had wanted to prove myself, to show my mastery over the elements, but now, all I felt was guilt and remorse.
As chaos erupted around me, I knew that I would carry the weight of this moment with me for quite a long time. For in my quest for power, I had unleashed a force beyond my control, leaving destruction in its wake. And now, I could only watch helplessly as the flames consumed everything in their path.
The flames. They held me captive. They had me frozen in the midst of the ensuing chaos. They had my heart sinking into the depths of sorrow. The flames, born of my own magic gone awry, danced voraciously across the classroom.
Smoke choked the air, thick and suffocating, as desks and books became engulfed in a raging inferno. The screams of my classmates pierced the cacophony of destruction, their terror mirroring my own.
I never meant for this to happen. My magic, a gift I had come to cherish, had spiraled out of control in a moment of panic and uncertainty, just like this morning, at home. Only that this was worse.
My magic was out of control. I couldn’t even call it back. I couldn’t even quench it. I was actually scared of trying to quench it. What if the water became too much?
I watched in horror as people scrambled to escape, their faces contorted with fear as they ran from the flames I had unleashed. Some stumbled over overturned chairs, others pushed and shoved in their desperation to reach safety. I felt a profound sense of helplessness wash over me-how could I have let this happen?
Even Mr. Robert, our normally composed teacher, who had asked me to try for the second time, looked powerless as he tried in vain to contain the fire with his own magic. His brow furrowed in concentration, sweat beading on his forehead, but the flames resisted his efforts, consuming everything in their path with relentless fury.
Tears blurred my vision as I realized the magnitude of the disaster I had caused. The heat from the fire pressed in on me, adding to the suffocating weight of guilt and despair that threatened to crush me. I wanted to scream, to undo what I had done, but there was no turning back the clock.
In the distance, I heard the shouts of adults, other teachers, even students. I was sure classes were being suspended now.
Those sounds only intensified my sense of dread-how would I explain this to Principal Lethon, to my guardians, to anyone who would listen? How could they ever forgive me for the terror I had inflicted upon their famous school? The fire had blown past the windows!
Just then, I felt a hard tug on my arm.
I turned aside, and seeing Raul, gasped. But ended up coughing.
“What the hell, Dora! Are you planning to Jill yourself?” He asked, pulling me toward the exit door. It was then that I noticed that I was the only one in the burnt and burning classroom. When did Mr. Robert leave?
As Raul dragged me out of the burning classroom, my mind spun with a whirlwind of confusion and guilt. His grip was firm yet gentle, guiding me through the disaster as smoke billowed around us, obscuring my vision and choking my lungs. Each cough felt like a stab of remorse, a physical manifestation of the havoc my magic had wrought.
I couldn’t understand why Raul, who had been distant and aloof for the past two days, was now my rescuer. He had ignored me, avoided my gaze, and now here he was, saving me from the consequences of my own recklessness. The irony was bitter, almost unbearable.
As we stumbled into the cool air outside, Raul released his hold on me, his expression a mixture of concern and frustration. “Breathe,” he urged softly, his voice cutting through the haze of panic that engulfed me. “Take deep breaths, Dora. You’re safe now.”
I nodded weakly, trying to obey his instructions as I leaned against a nearby wall, gasping for air. Tears streamed down my cheeks, a blend of relief and guilt flooding my senses. “I’m sorry,” I managed to choke out between coughs, my voice hoarse and raw. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
Raul knelt beside me, his gaze steady as he placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “I know,” he replied quietly, his tone softening with empathy. “None of us expected this. But right now, what’s important is that you’re okay.”
His words were a lifeline in the storm of my emotions. I had feared judgment, condemnation, but instead, Raul offered understanding and solace. It was a balm to my wounded soul, a reminder that even in the midst of disaster, there could be compassion and forgiveness. Had I judged him wrongly? Was he perhaps different from his family?
“We’ll figure this out,” He murmured reassuringly, after beats of silence, his eyes reflecting determination.
When he put it that way, I was worried. Would the Queen use this as an opportunity to inflict harm on me?
However, I nodded again, finding strength in his words. Perhaps I could survive this. Perhaps I could still stay here. Perhaps my family can save me from this.
“You have that line on your forehead…”
I furrowed my eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“The worry line.”
I gazed at Raul’s serious face, and then chuckled softly. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
He crinkled his nose as if making faces of unbelief, and rested beside me on the wall. “I think you worry a lot. I’m not sure what you went through in the land of the humans, or why you came back…but just know…that everything will work out fine in the end.”
I laughed this time around, guilt fading to the background. “Is that your watchword?”
Raul smiled, a wide smile that caused crinkles at the edge of his beautiful eyes. “Actually, it is.”