Something was different in Niah's apartment tonight after her Parents vanished in the air, you could feel it the second you walked in.
The air was thick with a kind of magic, golden specks of light just hanging there, floating like lazy fireflies. It was the kind of glow that made you wonder if the universe was holding its breath. And there was a smell, a mix of old jasmine and that sharp, electric tang right before a thunderstorm. It wasn't wild or out of control; it felt like the room itself was waiting for something important to happen.
Right in the middle of it all stood Niah, eyes shut tight, her hand hovering over this old silver pendant she hadn't seen in ages. It used to belong to her mom. Was it just a memory? Something to hold onto? She didn't really know. But tonight, when her fingers brushed against the cool metal, something inside her cracked open, like a door she'd forgotten was there.
She traced her thumb over a tiny, strange symbol etched into the pendant. As her thoughts finally quieted down, she felt this gentle warmth start to spread through her chest. This time, she didn't fight it. She just let herself focus, and the light answered her call.
The pendant started to glow, but it wasn't just light, it was memories, too. Hers, sure, but also someone else's, all tangled up together.
She barely whispered, "Show me…" and the pendant actually listened. Golden threads of light spilled out, curling around her fingers and winding up her arms. They didn't burn; they felt like a hug she'd been missing for years.
She gasped as images flashed behind her eyelids of Esme, striding through towers covered in ivy and white stone, her voice strong, her whole presence shining.
But Niah didn't let go. For once, she didn't shut it down or run away. She breathed into the feeling, let it fill her up. She claimed it. The glow pulsed one last time, then faded, leaving only a gentle warmth in its place.
That's when she heard a soft knock at the door, not that it mattered anyways. Zaire was already inside, like the barrier between them had thinned just enough for him to slip through without a sound.
He stopped in the doorway, eyes wide, taking in the shimmering air and the last traces of light still fading from her hands.
Niah blinked, finally opening her eyes. "Zaire…"
He stepped in, slow and careful, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You used it."
"I didn't mean to," she said, her breath catching. "But I couldn't stop it either."
Zaire glanced around, soaking in the magic still humming between the walls. "No," he said, his voice soft but sure. "You didn't stop it. You chose it."
Niah hesitated, then nodded, the truth settling over her like a blanket.
His smile grew, and you could almost see the pride blooming in his chest. "They'd be proud of you."
She tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "They?"
He didn't answer, not really. Instead, he stepped closer and said, "You're brave, Niah."
And in that golden, peaceful hush, with the memory of her parents' love still lingering in the air, Niah realized, maybe for the first time in forever, that she could be brave, too.
* * *