New Power: Story of Skill and Magic

Chapter 24: Burning Shadows

"Hold on! Just a little further."

Exhausted and barely able to walk, I supported my friend, helping him move forward. The scene around us was like a nightmare—red flames consuming buildings, black smoke choking the air, and a chaotic sea of panicked people running aimlessly. Falling debris made everything worse.

"You go ahead, Nao. Hah... hah... leave me here," my friend wheezed, his stamina failing as he tried to persuade me to leave him behind.

"What are you saying!? How could I leave you!? Just stay quiet and let me help you!" I tightened my grip on him, determined to keep going.

Ignoring his protests, I kept walking, desperately searching for an escape route from the sea of flame. The fire engulfed most of the building, and staying here meant certain death—either by suffocation or being burned alive.

After trudging forward for what felt like an eternity, we found a section where the fire was less intense. The smoke was thinner, allowing us a brief moment of relief to catch our breath.

But our respite was short-lived. From above, the screeching of metal echoed, and the roof pieces began to fall one by one.

"Watch out! We need to move quickly!!" Panic erupted around us, spreading like wildfire. People ran with all their might, ignoring those who stumbled or fell, focused solely on their own survival.

Gripping my friend tightly, I tried to pick up our pace. Fear clawed at my mind, growing with every step. Our breathing became ragged and uncontrolled. My friend's face had turned pale, his body trembling as he reached his limit.

Then the worst happened. A massive chunk of debris crashed down ahead, blocking our path. Shards of glass littered the floor, making every step perilous without shoes.

"Watch out!!" My friend suddenly shoved me aside.

Caught off guard, I lost my balance and fell. My ears buzzed loudly, and my vision spun. The unexpected push left me disoriented, but thankfully, I hadn't landed face-first.

A sharp, stinging sensation in my hand jolted me out of my daze. I glanced down, noticing shards of glass embedded in my palm. The pain only registered after I saw the jagged pieces. A dull ache spread across my hand, but it wasn't enough to stop me. Gritting my teeth, I shoved the discomfort aside. There were far more urgent matters.

Shakily, I got to my feet and turned my attention back to my friend. "Oi! Are you alri—?"

The words froze on my tongue. My breath stuck as I took in the horrifying scene before me. Half of his body was pinned beneath a massive piece of debris, blood pooling around him in dark, expanding streaks. 

For a moment, my mind went blank. The world around me seemed to collapse, leaving only the sight of my friend in that terrifying state.

"Na-Nao..." His weak, rasping voice snapped me out of my stupor. His hand trembled as he tried to wave me off, his face pale and sweat-soaked.

I dropped to my knees and scrambled closer, ignoring the sharp debris scraping against my skin. 

"What happened?! You—you're bleeding!" My voice trembled, cracking under the weight of fear and despair. My hands instinctively reached out to him, trembling, desperate to do something, anything.

"Go..." he managed to whisper, his voice faint and uneven. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, staining his chin and pooling beneath him.

"What about you?" I choked out, my voice quivering as tears blurred my vision. "I can't just leave you like this!" My chest felt heavy, as though someone had plunged a weight into my heart, making every breath unbearable.

"I'm... fine." His lips curved into the smallest, faintest of smiles, but his body betrayed him. A fit of violent coughing overtook him, and he struggled to keep his breathing steady. "Cough... cough... just go."

Desperation overwhelmed me. I crouched down beside him, scanning the debris around us for any way to free him. But my mind was a swirling mess, paralyzed by the sheer weight of the situation. Every logical thought I tried to summon drowned in the chaos of fear and helplessness.

"What do you mean 'fine'?!" my tears dropped, my voice rising as frustration bubbled over. Tears spilled freely down my cheeks, and I didn't bother to wipe them away. "Let me help you! I—I'll move this! I can move this!" I reached for the debris, my shaking hands grasping at the jagged edges.

"Stop. You already use your power twice this day." His voice was weak but firm enough to halt me in my tracks. "If you want to help..." He coughed again, blood speckling his lips. "... call for help. Doesn't that make more sense to you?"

The faint smile he gave me sent a fresh wave of tears down my face. His words were calm, even in this horrifying moment, and they pierced through my panic like a blade. 

He was right. There was no way I could free him alone without my power. The best thing I could do was find someone who could. But the thought of leaving him behind, even for a second, felt like betrayal. My chest ached as I wrestled with the decision.

"Okay," I finally whispered, the word heavy with reluctance. My tears dripped onto the dusty ground as I turned away. "Wait here! I'll get help for you!"

I ran. I ran like my life depended on it because he did. Every step was frantic, every thought focused on finding someone—anyone—who could save him. 

My legs burned as I stumbled over debris, my knees scraping against the jagged edges of fallen glass and stone. Each fall left me more battered, but I forced myself to rise again. There was no time to stop. No time to think. I pushed forward, tears blurring my vision, my breathing ragged.

Finally, I spotted an unobstructed exit.

"Hey!! Help!!"

I screamed with everything I had, my voice raw and strained as I sprinted toward the exit. Each shout felt like it was tearing through my throat, but I couldn't afford to stop. Time was slipping away, and my friend's life hung in the balance.

"Help!!"

As I burst through the door, the chaotic scene outside unfolded before me. Flames continued to consume the building, their roar mingling with the shouts of firefighters and the distant cries of evacuees. 

I scanned the area, desperate for someone who could help. My gaze landed on a group of firefighters battling the inferno, hoses blasting torrents of water at the relentless flames. Not far from them, an evacuation tent stood, filled with medics tending to the injured.

Without a second thought, I ran toward the firefighters, my legs trembling with exhaustion. One of them noticed me stumbling toward him and immediately rushed to meet me halfway.

"Help..." I gasped, struggling for breath. "My friend... he's still inside..." My words felt inadequate as smoke burned my lungs, making it hard to think or speak.

The firefighter placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "We'll look for him immediately," he said firmly. "But you need to go to the medical tent first." 

I couldn't leave it at that. My friend needed help now, and I had to guide them. 

"No!" I protested, shaking my head. "I need to go with you—I can show you where he is, and-"

*Bang*

Before I could finish, a sharp, deafening bang shattered the chaotic noise around us. The sudden sound froze me in place. I instinctively turned toward it, my heart pounding with adrenaline.

What I saw was almost incomprehensible. A figure stood nearby, their face hidden in smoke and shadow, holding a gun aimed at me. For a moment, I felt a strange numbness, then a dull sensation spread in my chest. Confused, I glanced downward and saw the stark crimson of my own blood blooming across my shirt.

Time seemed to slow. The realization hit me like a freight train, and with it came the pain—a searing, all-encompassing agony that stole my breath.

"Hey! What are you doing?!" the firefighter shouted, his voice laced with fury and disbelief. He moved toward the gunman without hesitation, but I couldn't follow what happened next.

My vision blurred, the edges darkening as the world around me tilted and swayed. My legs gave out beneath me, and I collapsed to the ground. The firefighter's shouts grew faint, drowned out by the rushing sound in my ears.

I tried to stay conscious, to hold on, but the strength was draining from my body. My thoughts became disjointed, my mind spiraling back to one name, one face.

Evan...

"I'm sorry..." I whispered though I wasn't sure if the words ever left my lips.

Then, everything went black.

***

Wednesday, January 10, 18 NE.

"Ah!" I gasped as I jolted upright, my breath uneven and my heart racing as if I had just run a marathon. Light from the window filled the room, bringing me back to reality. Slowly, I scanned my surroundings and realized I was in my room.

"That dream again..." I muttered, running a hand through my damp hair. "Why now, Evan? Why I seeing it after hearing your message?"

This wasn't the first time. The nightmare had plagued me repeatedly, forcing me to relive that harrowing moment. It wasn't just a dream—it was a reminder of my failure, one that refused to leave me even after all this time. Yet, instead of breaking me down, it left me feeling hollow, as if something essential was missing.

I let out a shaky sigh and sat on the edge of my bed, trying to calm the storm in my chest. Glancing to the side, my eyes landed on the Mana Crystal and the recording Evan had left behind. They sat quietly, as though waiting for me to take action.

"I understand, Evan. You gave me a mission, but I don't even know where to start." My voice sounded fragile, even to my own ears.

Staring at the crystal, I clenched my fists, struggling against the waves of guilt and doubt that threatened to drown me. The guilt in my chest subsided, but Evan had trusted me to carry out his wishes, and the weight of that responsibility felt insurmountable at times.

After several minutes of gathering myself, I finally stood up, forcing my body to move despite the lingering fatigue. "Enough," I muttered to myself. "I need to focus on the present."

Though I had just woken up, my clothes clung to me, damp with sweat, leaving me feeling drained rather than rested. I headed downstairs to wash up and change, deciding that immersing myself in the day's routine was the only way to silence my restless mind.

By the time I reached the kitchen to prepare breakfast, Alysha and Violet had joined me. Sitting together with them helped to lighten the heavy atmosphere that had settled over me. For a brief moment, I allowed myself to feel the comfort of their presence, determined not to let my burden show.

"Good morning," Alysha greeted cheerfully, but her sharp eyes scanned my expression. She always noticed when something was off, but thankfully, she didn't push me about it today.

"Morning," I replied, masking my emotions with a casual tone.

As Violet shyly joined us at the table, her mere presence served as a gentle reminder of the promise I'd made to Evan. That promise—my responsibility—was the one thing keeping me from succumbing entirely to the memories of the past.

We finished breakfast and readied ourselves for the day ahead. Though the nightmare still lingered at the edges of my mind, I resolved to push forward, one step at a time.

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