For the World We Cry

As she stared into the crystal, Freyja could see it. Life without magic. It didn't look so different as Alfean life. She would still defend her country, but there would only be the messy way to do it. Which country would she chose? At her core, Freyja could feel the crystal tapping her source of magic, pulling every bit of it into it rather than going for the top layer of power; she supposed that was to let her keep summoning her element. Would she go back to Earth? The First World? Would she just be another human? After all she'd been through, she was quite sure she could manage a normal job. Maybe become a doctor; she'd always had great test scores. Or she could stay in the OtherWorld. Become a Specialist, like Brandon. Follow orders. Or don't, but hide behind Farah's authority when disobedience gets she in trouble. The First World scenario seemed more appealing, except that it was lacking one aspect of the disagreeable option. Farah. 

Freyja's magic was depleted enough that she had to push to keep her element alive anytime her thoughts strayed. She and Bloom were granted a break when another Blood Witch called Sebastian away. The gingers turned to the Headmistress when given a free moment. 

The Irishman returned with news. "Your friends are making quite the rescue attempt."

"Did you expect them to just wait around and do nothing?" Bloom asked a bit breathlessly. 

"Of course not. But I wonder if they'd make the same effort if they knew how relieved you are to be giving it up." 

"You think, if I had a choice, I wouldn't-"

"Don't be ashamed, girls," Sebastian scolded, though Freyja had barely said two words to him. 

"I think you're misunderstanding the statement," the older redhead finally cut in. "If we had a choice, we'd be stopping you with the power you're taking. That's why you have our loved ones, right?" 

"And you're misunderstanding mine," Sebastian responded. "Nobody gets to have a normal life when the Dragon Flame is involved, and a normal life is all your mum ever wanted for you." He stood before them, aware he was giving information away. 

"Are you taunting me? You're getting-" 

Freyja took her arm. But who's mother? She met his gaze again and he met hers. "How would you know what... one of our mothers would want?" 

The man looked at the older teen with an almost pained expression. "Stalling for time?" he asked mockingly. 

Freyja stepped closer to him. He reacted instinctively, aware of what she could do with her bare hands. Luckily, he didn't have time or even the instinct to choke Farah. But Freyja wasn't threatening him. "We are doing what you want. Now, you've been mocking everyone you meet with the promise that you know about them! Time to follow through. Make losing easier, asshole." 

He smiled sympathetically. "It's not... a happy story." 

Who's?

"It'd be more of a surprise if it were."

Sebastian nodded. That was fair. "Your mum had the Dragon Flame," he admitted, stepping away. "And so, her children would all also have it."

"I thought that only existed a thousand years ago." 

He pretended to wince. "Only technically." He stepped back to them, emphasizing with his finger. "It was just in stasis for a thousand years. Because you were in stasis for a thousand years." He winked and whispered, "So, technically, you were always legal with your girlfriend." 

Freyja's eyes bugged, and it felt like her heart stopped. It pumped the blood through her vein, each side of the muscle contracting sending a different temperature through her whole body. She couldn't tell if it was fire or ice at times, but her world was flipped. Now, she was usually a smart girl so implications and connections were probably made in her subconscious, but she didn't have time to think them.