The cool evening breeze swept through the village square as the applause slowly faded, leaving behind a lingering hum of excitement. Caden stepped off the stage, his legs trembling from the adrenaline that still coursed through his veins. He could barely believe it—he had done it. They had done it.
Lira walked beside him, her energy just as vibrant. “That was incredible! Did you see their faces?” Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and her voice was practically buzzing with pride.
Caden nodded, smiling, though his mind was already racing back to that moment when he’d almost lost control. “Yeah, but... I almost messed up,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. His eyes darted toward where Darren had been standing, even though the sneering figure had disappeared.
Lira stopped walking and turned to face him, her smile softening. “Hey. You didn’t mess up. You recovered, Caden. That’s what matters.”
He sighed, shaking his head. “I just... I keep thinking about what could have happened. If I hadn’t pulled the flames back, I could’ve burned the whole stage down.”
“But you didn’t,” she said firmly, stepping closer. Her eyes searched his face, and for a moment, the noise of the village seemed to fade. “You controlled it. You’re stronger than you think.”
Caden looked at her, seeing the unwavering confidence in her gaze. He wanted to believe her, to believe that he was more than just the boy who constantly wrestled with the fire inside. “Thanks, Lira. I just... I don’t want to keep doubting myself like this.”
Lira placed a hand on his arm. “Then don’t. You’re learning. You’re growing. Tonight proved that.”
He nodded, though the knot in his chest didn’t completely unravel. “I guess.”
Before Lira could respond, Finn came running up, his face flushed with excitement. “You two! That was insane! The best performance of the night by far!”
Caden chuckled at Finn’s enthusiasm. “Thanks, Finn. I’m just glad no one got hurt.”
“Are you kidding? People loved it!” Finn’s eyes gleamed. “Even the mayor couldn’t stop clapping. You’re going to be a legend in this village.”
Caden shook his head, trying to brush off the praise. “I don’t know about that…”
“No, he’s right,” Lira chimed in. “People will be talking about this for a long time.”
As they stood there, basking in the afterglow of their performance, Caden couldn’t help but feel a small sense of relief. Maybe, just maybe, he was starting to get the hang of this.
But his moment of peace was short-lived.
“Caden,” a familiar voice called from behind him, low and sharp. He stiffened immediately.
Darren.
Turning slowly, Caden found Darren leaning against one of the wooden beams at the edge of the square. His arms were crossed, and his eyes gleamed with something far from admiration. Lira tensed beside Caden, her hand dropping from his arm.
“You’ve got a lot of nerve,” Darren said, pushing himself off the beam and walking toward them. His tone was dripping with disdain. “Putting on a show like that. Think you’re a big shot now, don’t you?”
Caden clenched his fists, willing himself to stay calm. “It’s not about being a big shot, Darren. We were just performing like everyone else.”
Darren scoffed, his lip curling into a sneer. “Right. Just like everyone else. Except you’re not like everyone else, are you?” His voice dropped, venom lacing his words. “You’re the Duke’s youngest son—yet you’re out here playing with fire like a common street performer.”
Lira stepped forward, her eyes flashing with anger. “Back off, Darren. We did nothing wrong.”
Darren barely spared her a glance, his attention locked on Caden. “I don’t care about your little friend here. I’m talking to you, Caden. Do you really think your family would be proud of this?” He gestured toward the stage with a mocking wave. “Proud of you risking everything for a few cheers from peasants?”
Caden’s jaw tightened, and his heart raced. The fire inside him flickered, dangerous and wild, threatening to rise up. He took a deep breath, trying to control it. He couldn’t let Darren get under his skin—not again.
“I don’t care what you think,” Caden said, his voice steady but strained. “This isn’t about my family. It’s about me learning to control my magic.”
Darren laughed, a cold, hollow sound. “Control? You almost burned the whole place down. Don’t kid yourself, Caden. You’re a danger to everyone around you.”
Lira stepped closer to Caden, her voice low and fierce. “He’s not a danger. He’s working hard to master his abilities, something you wouldn’t understand.”
Darren’s eyes narrowed. “You think you’re protecting him? You think he’s some kind of hero?” He leaned in closer to Caden, his voice a harsh whisper. “The truth is, you’ll never be anything more than a walking disaster.”
Caden’s blood boiled. The flames inside him surged, and for a moment, he almost let them loose. But Lira’s hand brushed against his, grounding him. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply. Control. He needed control.
When he opened his eyes, Darren was still standing there, waiting for a reaction. But Caden wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
“I’m done with this,” Caden said, his voice calm but firm. “You can say whatever you want, Darren. But I know who I am. And I’m not going to let you drag me down.”
Darren’s sneer faltered for a split second, but he quickly recovered, scoffing again. “Fine. Keep pretending you’ve got it all figured out. But don’t say I didn’t warn you when you end up hurting someone.”
Without another word, Darren turned on his heel and stalked off into the night.
Caden let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. His whole body felt tense, like a coiled spring. Lira gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
“You did good,” she whispered. “You didn’t let him get to you.”
Caden nodded, though his heart still pounded in his chest. “Yeah… but he’s not wrong. I almost lost control tonight.”
“But you didn’t,” Lira reminded him softly. “That’s what matters. You’re stronger than you think, Caden.”
He met her gaze, the warmth in her eyes easing the storm inside him. “Thanks, Lira. I just hope I can keep proving that to myself.”
“You will,” she said with a smile. “And we’ll be here to help you.”
Caden smiled back, feeling a small flicker of hope in his chest. Maybe he wasn’t as lost as he thought. Maybe, with Lira and Finn by his side, he could really master this power.
And maybe, just maybe, he could prove Darren—and his own doubts—wrong.