The village square was alive with excitement, the crowd gathered in anticipation for the night’s main event. Caden stood backstage, his heart pounding in his chest. He peeked through the curtain at the villagers, their faces illuminated by the flickering glow of the lanterns. He could hear snippets of conversation, voices buzzing with curiosity about the performance.
Lira stood beside him, her hand resting on his shoulder. “It’s going to be fine, Caden. Just remember what we practiced.”
“I know,” he muttered, more to himself than to her. “I just… it feels like everything’s riding on this.”
She squeezed his shoulder, her voice soft but firm. “You’ve worked so hard. You’ll be amazing.”
Caden looked at her, gratitude swelling in his chest. He wasn’t sure what he would have done without her support over the past few days. “Thanks, Lira. I don’t know if I’d have the guts to do this without you and Finn.”
Lira grinned. “You’d find the guts eventually. We just helped speed things up.”
Suddenly, Finn popped his head around the corner, a wide grin on his face. “You two ready? The crowd’s getting restless!”
Caden took a deep breath, nodding. “Yeah… let’s do this.”
“Great! The stage is yours!” Finn winked and gave him a thumbs-up before disappearing into the crowd.
As they prepared to walk onstage, Caden felt his nerves spike again. His hands twitched, and for a moment, the fire inside him flickered uncontrollably. He closed his eyes, trying to steady his breathing. 
“Focus,” Lira whispered. “You’re in control.”
The words grounded him. He focused on the warmth inside, letting it flow through him like a steady current. His hands stopped shaking, and the fire inside calmed.
The host of the evening stepped up onto the stage and spoke into a booming voice, “Ladies and gentlemen, for our final performance of the night, please welcome Caden and his troupe!”
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause as Caden and Lira stepped onto the stage. The warm light from the lanterns bathed them in a soft glow, and Caden could feel the eyes of the village on him. His stomach churned, but as he looked at Lira beside him, her calm confidence gave him strength.
“Ready?” she whispered.
Caden nodded. “Let’s give them a show they’ll never forget.”
The music started—a rhythmic, energetic beat that pulsed through the air, filling the square with an electric tension. Caden stepped forward, raising his arms. The flames appeared in his palms, small at first, dancing with the rhythm of the music. He could hear the murmurs of the crowd, a mixture of awe and surprise.
He glanced at Lira, who smiled encouragingly as she began her part of the routine. Together, they moved in sync, weaving around each other in perfect harmony. The flames grew as Caden spun, throwing the fire into the air, where it arced gracefully before returning to his hands.
The crowd gasped, and Caden felt a surge of confidence.
“Keep going!” Lira urged, her voice barely audible over the music.
Caden nodded, his movements becoming more fluid, more daring. He tossed the fire higher this time, letting it linger before catching it. Lira moved in, her own graceful dance complementing his. The choreography flowed seamlessly, each step building in intensity.
But then, out of the corner of his eye, Caden saw a shadow moving through the crowd. Darren. His heart skipped a beat. Darren stood at the edge of the stage, arms crossed, a sneer on his face.
Caden faltered for a split second. His control slipped, and the flame in his hand flared too large. It licked at the air, dangerously close to the stage’s wooden beams. The crowd gasped again, this time in fear.
“Caden!” Lira whispered urgently. “Focus!”
He forced himself to breathe, pulling the flame back under control. His heart pounded, and sweat beaded on his forehead. But the damage was done—he could hear murmurs of unease spreading through the crowd. Darren’s sneer widened.
Lira stepped closer, her voice steady. “Ignore him. You’re better than this.”
Caden nodded, swallowing hard. He couldn’t let Darren win. Not now.
With renewed focus, he poured his energy into the flames, shrinking them to a manageable size. He met Lira’s eyes, and she nodded encouragingly. Together, they launched into the next part of the routine.
This time, Caden pushed himself harder, moving faster, the fire responding to his commands with precision. He threw the flames higher, creating intricate patterns in the air. The crowd’s unease began to fade, replaced by cheers and applause.
Lira spun gracefully beside him, her movements as fluid as the flames themselves. They danced together, their choreography growing more complex, more daring. The crowd was back on their side now, their cheers growing louder with every move.
As the music reached its crescendo, Caden knew it was time for the final trick. The one they had practiced over and over, but that still made his heart race with nerves.
He turned to Lira. “Ready?”
She smiled. “Always.”
With a deep breath, Caden summoned the largest flame yet, holding it above his head. Lira spun beneath it, her movements quick and graceful. The flame spiraled higher, forming a brilliant, glowing sphere above them.
The crowd gasped in awe, their eyes wide with wonder.
Caden could feel the strain, the fire pushing against his control. But he gritted his teeth and held firm. He had to make this work.
“Now!” Lira called.
With one final burst of energy, Caden released the flame. It exploded in the air above them, showering the square in a cascade of sparks. The crowd erupted into thunderous applause, cheering and shouting their approval.
Caden stood breathless, his chest heaving, as he looked at Lira. She was smiling, her eyes shining with excitement and pride.
“We did it,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the roar of the crowd.
Caden grinned, his heart swelling with triumph. “We really did.”
As they took their final bow, Caden glanced at the edge of the crowd. Darren was gone.
And for the first time, Caden didn’t care. He had faced his fears—and won.