Game with the Fire?

Tiala was carrying a stack of books in her arms that blocked her view. She didn't want to be late for class again and ran quickly through the stairwell of the west wing without paying attention to the floor. Her feet were pulled out from under her. Her books flew into the air. Tiala fell onto the hard, wet floor and her books followed her. One hit her on the head, causing her to faint briefly. When she woke up, Tiala looked into bright orange-brown eyes and a friendly face that she had never seen before.
"Well, someone didn't see the sign there?" asked the mischievous, shining eyes of a handsome young man.
Tiala looked around, looked angrily at the face and snorted back: "Well, someone forgot to dry the floor?"
Then she stood up, straightened her dress and snatched the boy's books. She pointed her index finger at the floor, turned it briefly in a circle and a small flame dried the wet tiles so that Tiala could run away without further danger.

At the center of this subplot are Tiala Musandi and Sandile Kangelu, who get to know each other at the Academy of Fire Magic.

While Tiala pursues her studies and Sandile does his work, her paths keep crossing. But after her first encounter, a possible friendship is extremely unlikely. Although it might not be Sandile, he develops an interest in Tiala early on and always tries to be near her. But Tiala considers him to be an insignificant, intrusive and annoying fool who takes her precious study time because she is about the greatest examination of her life.

by Blue Fairy 74

Tiala is a 20 -year -old Layikani who studies at the academy in the 5th year. She is ambitious, helpful and is involved in one of the five student connection in her free time. She has a special talent for pyromancy and thermokinesis and works on her thesis before she used a Spark animal and becomes a Layijin.

by Blue Fairy 74

Sandile is the 28 -year -old assistant of the master court and has one of the most ungrateful tasks in the academy, since he could also be called a boy for everything. He always has a cozy smile on his lips, but also preserves a dark secret, because nobody knows how to get the assistant at the academy.

At first, everything seems to be going as usual at the academy, but Tiala, who has a friendly relationship with two of the teachers, gradually learns from them that a conflict is brewing outside her world over the magical power of Elaqitan and the World Tree, which leads to the "Frozen Time".

After the end of the "Frozen Time", Tiala becomes a Layijin. In the months that follow, she keeps having strange dreams at night, which force Tiala to pack up and secretly leave the academy.

"Where do we want to go so late when I can ask the young lady?".
Tiala was startled when she heard the man's voice behind her. She stood there motionless, as if she could escape his gaze, even though the light of the labyrinth was shining directly on her. She turned around and saw a tall, dark figure whose voice sounded very familiar to her.
"No, you mustn't!" Tiala answered sarcastically. It was that damned assistant to the master court. What was his name again? Sandi, Sandal, Sindale? Something like that. "It's none of your damn business!"
"It seems, you want to get out of here!".
With each word, Sandile came a little closer and pointed at the walls. "I have explored the entire labyrinth here meter by meter for the last two years and believe me, it won't be that easy. But what if I help you?"
Now he stood right in front of her and looked into her face, which was seething with rage. Tiala tried to read his challenging, sparkling eyes, like a fire, and thought. Maybe he could prove useful after all.

After leaving the academy, both of them have to find their way on the fire continent and slowly a friendship develops between them. Tiala tells Sandile about her dreams that forced her to leave. Sandile encourages her to pursue them and so their path leads them to the border of the continent.

In the vastness of the merciless landscape of Layida they find a half-dead human boy, whom they take in. The further they travel, the more feelings Tiala develops for Sandile, as she realizes that he is not the fool she initially thought he was.

As the story progresses, the three meet strangers from other continents, all of whom are connected by similar dreams and fate. Little by little, everyone must make decisions that will change the course of the story or lead everyone to ruin. During a dramatic incident on the journey, Tiala admits that she loves Sandile and they kiss, with Tiala noticing unusual vibrations for the first time. Increasingly, some of the strangers are extremely suspicious of the budding love, as it could lead to the failure of their plans. Faced with these challenges, Sandile confesses to Tiala that he is keeping a dark secret.

Sandile and Tiala stood away from the camp under an old gnarled oak tree and looked at the wide green landscape. He kissed the side of her forehead, whose firemarks pulsed orange. The deeper their connection became, the more she felt drawn to him mentally and physically, which her firemarks clearly showed. At the same time, however, she also felt increasingly strong vibrations that were not normal and she quickly released herself from his arm.
"What is?" Sandile wanted to know, who had often noticed that she felt discomfort after his kisses.
"I don't know," stammered Tiala. "I have the feeling that something is against this connection."
"Do you mean the talk of the others? Don't worry about it. I'll leave the group."
Tiala flinched at these words and stared at him. Tears welled up in her eyes, which she desperately tried to suppress. Nevertheless, a tear rolled down her cheek. Sandile wiped it away with his finger, took her head tenderly between his hands and looked Tiala firmly in the eyes.

"Look at me, Tiala!" and as he said this, a yellow sparkle appeared in his irises, his dark brown skin appeared in a golden light tone and his face was framed by dark brown curls. Tiala blinked, but when she opened her eyes, she saw Sandile's friendly smile again.
"You are brave and strong and you will do everything to ensure that your plan does not fail. You gave me the greatest gift of all, but I am not part of your plan. I wish I was. Do you understand why I have to leave the group?" Sandile kissed Tiala passionately one last time and left her standing there.
She was thunderstruck. The breath of an icy breeze enveloped her like the morning frost on the grass on a cold sunny day. She tried to interpret the increasing vibrations and what Sandile had shown her and she recognized what it was - what he was. She could not, no, she was not allowed to, love someone like that and she sealed her heart with a spell.

---

In response to the unofficial challenge of
Kiyomo and Mochimanoban

12in12 - February: Love