PYROKINESIS

Secrets Between Shelves

The library was unusually quiet that afternoon.

Rows of tall wooden shelves stretched toward the ceiling, filled with books that smelled faintly of old paper and dust. Sunlight filtered through the large windows, painting golden patterns on the tables.

Pyra, Lena, and Aria sat at a table hidden between two tall shelves.

Aria leaned forward impatiently.

“Okay… someone better start talking,” she whispered. “Because the cafeteria just turned into a disaster movie and I need answers.”

Lena glanced around carefully to make sure no one was listening.

Then she took a deep breath.

“Well… Pyra is a princess.”

Aria blinked.

Silence.

Then suddenly—

“WHAT?!”

Her voice echoed through the library.

Students turned their heads.

Pyra immediately grabbed Aria’s arm.

“Shhhh!!”

Aria clapped both hands over her mouth.

“Oh my gosh—sorry—sorry!”

She leaned closer and whispered loudly.

“A PRINCESS?!”

Pyra groaned.

“Yes… but keep your voice down before the entire school hears you.”

Aria stared at her like she had just discovered aliens.

“This is insane.”

Lena then pulled out the folded magazine she had brought.

She slid it across the table.

“Look.”

Aria slowly opened it.

Inside was the old article.

“Princess Pyra of the Ember Kingdom.”

Her eyes widened.

Then she saw the baby photo.

A small baby with bright crimson hair.

Aria slowly looked up at Pyra.

Then back at the photo.

Then at Pyra again.

“Wait…”

She pointed at Pyra’s head.

“So THIS is your real hair?”

Pyra nodded.

“Yeah.”

Aria leaned back.

“You LIED to everyone?!”

Pyra shrugged.

“If I told people it was natural, it would spread.”

She tapped the magazine.

“And if anything about me reaches the public… trust me, Lord Fedrah’s men will be here.”

Lena nodded seriously.

“And they wouldn’t hesitate to burn this entire school to the ground just to kill Pyra.”

Aria slowly leaned back in her chair.

She rubbed her temples.

“This is… way too big for me.”

Lena suddenly leaned across the table and grabbed her shoulder.

“Hold it right there, girl.”

Aria blinked.

“Because,” Lena said with a grin, “you just became part of us.”

Aria stared at both of them.

Then sighed.

“Well… guess I’m in a fantasy movie now.”

Just then—

The library door opened.

Nathaniel walked in.

Lena quickly pushed the magazine toward Aria.

Aria immediately slipped it under her notebook.

Nathaniel walked toward them.

“Pyra.”

Pyra looked up.

“Yeah?”

Nathaniel rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

“Listen… I wanted to say sorry again.”

Aria and Lena quietly watched.

Nathaniel continued.

“Madeline is… kind of a trickster.”

Lena snorted softly.

“Kind of?” she whispered.

Nathaniel sighed.

“She planned that whole thing because she didn’t want me hanging out with you.”

He looked at Pyra sincerely.

“So… can we still be friends?”

Pyra raised an eyebrow.

“Even though you don’t want to talk to me,” Nathaniel continued quickly, “I just want to clear things out. It’s been bothering me.”

Pyra studied him for a moment.

Then she smiled a little.

“Yeah.”

Nathaniel blinked.

“We’re friends.”

She stretched out her hand.

Nathaniel smiled in relief and shook it.

“Thanks.”

But before leaving, Nathaniel gave Pyra a long thoughtful look.

Then he turned and walked out of the library.

The moment the door closed—

Aria suddenly slammed her hand on the table.

“OH MY GOD.”

Pyra jumped.

“What?!”

Aria pointed toward the door.

“He definitely likes you.”

Pyra rolled her eyes.

“Yeah… like that’s a problem.”

Lena leaned forward mischievously.

“It’s not a problem.”

She smirked.

“But maybe you like him too.”

Pyra scoffed.

“Please.”

Lena tilted her head.

“Or maybe you're just too afraid to admit it.”

Aria nodded enthusiastically.

“Exactly!”

“So you don’t get dumped,” Lena finished.

Pyra choked.

“I am NOT afraid of getting dumped!”

Lena and Aria looked at each other.

Then burst out laughing.

“Whatever,” Pyra muttered.

The three girls stood up and began walking out of the library.

Aria crossed her arms playfully.

“I didn’t know you were bad with guys.”

Pyra frowned.

“I’m not bad.”

“They are.”

Aria raised an eyebrow.

“Oh really?”

“How do you know?”

Pyra shrugged confidently.

“I’ve seen it in movies.”

Aria blinked.

“…Movies?”

Pyra nodded proudly.

“About a zillion times.”

“Simulations are the best.”

Aria stopped walking.

“Wait.”

She looked at Lena.

“Did she just say simulations… from movies?”

Lena leaned closer to Aria and whispered dramatically.

“She has relationship issues.”

Pyra gasped.

“I do NOT!”

Aria grinned.

“Then why not try this one? Nathaniel seems decent.”

Pyra waved it off.

“Wait wait wait.”

She pointed at both of them.

“Why are we talking about me?”

“What about you guys?”

She looked at Lena.

“Lena?”

Lena shrugged casually.

“Well… there’s this guy.”

Aria leaned in immediately.

“OOOH.”

Lena rolled her eyes.

“Relax. He’s just… someone I know.”

Then she turned to Aria.

“What about you?”

Aria laughed.

“Well I’m officially looking for another one.”

She nudged Pyra.

“Thanks to this girl who helped me realize who Derek really was before he dumped me.”

Lena turned to Pyra curiously.

“Actually… how DID you know Derek would do that?”

Pyra smirked proudly.

“You underestimate movies.”

Aria groaned.

“Here we go.”

Pyra raised a finger like a professor giving a lecture.

“Movies provide millions of simulations on how characters like Derek behave.”

She shrugged.

“I just predicted the outcome.”

Lena laughed.

“So you double-crossed him.”

Pyra nodded proudly.

“Exactly.”

Aria shook her head laughing.

“You're unbelievable.”

The three girls burst out laughing as they walked down the hallway together.

For the first time in days—

Things felt normal again.

But somewhere far away…

In the shadows of another world…

Lord Fedrah’s eyes were slowly turning toward Earth.