In the few days following Riarshi's defeat of the Tryout Demon, the government and the POH held Aginem in a state of constant high alert, placing twice as many Heroes on patrol around the busiest cities.

The funerals for the Bronze Hero and the three students killed in the attack had been held the following day while Riarshi was still unconscious in the hospital. Most of the students who witnessed their deaths were in attendance, along with groups of fellow Heroes paying their respects to the fallen.

The crippling grief shown by the families of the deceased was a violent wake up call for the students who stood in line to observe the open caskets.

Oran's two young children cried for their father endlessly. His wife, now a widow, had a tough time keeping them under control during the viewing while trying to keep her own emotions in check. He was the breadwinner of the family. Now, she would have to raise her children on her own, with the little income she had. She only had one desire now, and that was the alcohol cabinet at home.

The mother of the blue-haired girl was racked with choking sobs. The only thing preventing her from collapsing were the arms of her other daughter, whose wet, red, and swollen face was contorted horribly. She too was a student in the Tryout, and she and her sister had an argument before the later's death. The words she spoke to her now colorless sister replayed in her head.

"Dammit, Mollie, just leave me alone!"

Those were the last words she ever spoke to her sister. And she couldn't take them back. The girl dropped her mother and fell to the ground, wailing and gagging violently.

The students, looking on in horror, quickly realized what they had signed up for was indeed real. They glanced at the caskets. One possible ending was right in front of them - cold, gray, and laying with hands crossed over motionless chests.

They were now aware that death was a certain possibility when working as a Magic Hero.

***

By Sunday, it appeared the public had returned to what most considered normal. People went about their daily lives as though nothing had happened. 

Riarshi reluctantly joined this trend and woke up early the next morning to do some greatly needed grocery shopping before his mysterious meet up with Tabito and Hara.

There was something different about walking through the busy Westray marketplace that Sunday morning. With each person he passed and each vendor he spoke to, Riarshi felt as though their eyes were glued onto his newly acquired scar. 

Walking the aisles, he spotted a few people whispering and pointing discretely and several others turning their heads once they made eye contact with him. This brought about a sense of self consciousness he'd never felt before. Tossing his hood over his head, Riarshi tried hiding his face, but the pink scar was still easily noticeable. 

After ten minutes of nervously picking his produce while keeping his face pointed toward the ground, Riarshi walked up to the stand he always visited when in search of good cuts of meat - Mrs. Adaile's.

And there she was, running the small wooden stand by herself. Her wiry gray hair was tied in a tight bun at the back of her head. Her soft blue eyes floated weightlessly as she analyzed a hunk of meat with her glowing hand.

I wonder if she'll recognize me with this damned scar, Riashi thought.

Once it was his turn, Riarshi stepped up to the stand and greeted Adaile with a thin-lipped smile. His stomach fluttered.

"Hello, young man," greeted Adaile, looking up from her cutting board. Her blue eyes glittered behind a pair of thin spectacles. She sounded as normal as ever. "Back again so soon?"

Taken back by her instant recognition and careless tone, Riarshi shyly chuckled, scratched the back of his head, and nodded.

"And looking as handsome as ever," she added with a beaming smile.

Riarshi turned his head to the side in an attempt to hide his scar. He had accepted that he would have this mark for the rest of his life, but what he didn't want was obvious pity.

"I really appreciate your daily compliment, Adaile, really," Riarshi mumbled, still turned away, "but you don't have to... I know-"

"Oh, but child-" she interrupted, "-scars are the body's way of telling us we survived something painful. And by that scar... I can tell you've been through a lot, young man." Her voice was sweet and maternal, melting the cold shame rising in Riarshi's heart. "Never be ashamed of scars, Riarshi, for they show us just how strong we truly are."

Riarshi turned back to face Adaile. He grazed his hand along his scarred cheek, feeling the slight bump from the raised, pink skin. It was true; the scar was there, but he was alive and breathing. Fate had given him a second chance at life, and he was now a Magic Hero Intern. His dream was slowly becoming a reality despite the hardships he faced.

He survived not only the demon at the tryout, but himself, too. He stifled a chuckle, feeling a sense of foolishness for being embarrassed over something so superficial.

"Yeah, you're right. Thank you, Adaile." Riarshi's face flushed slightly.

"So, are you sure you still don't have a girlfriend, young man?" Adaile asked with a mischievous smile and wide eyes. "I do say, the scar makes you look even more manly and macho than ever." She swooned with an exaggerated sigh and placed her tiny, wrinkled hands over her chest.

Riarshi smiled and shook his head, "No ma'am," he snorted. "Same answer as before. No one in my life like that."

"Oh?" she said smugly. "Then who is that beautiful young lady behind you?" She pointed over Riarshi's shoulder. "She's been looking at you for quite some time now."

"Huh?" Riarshi spun around, and to his surprise, a sapphire-eyed girl was staring at him from just three feet away. The late morning sun reflected off her midnight black hair and her eyes glittered like two stars in the night sky.

She was no doubt - night and day at the same time. And always had been.

"Hi, Riarshi," said Hara.

Beads of sweat formed at Riarshi's brow. He spun back around toward the stand. "OH, no, no. Adaile... We're not-"

"We're friends, ma'am," Hara interrupted with a small smile.

Riarshi spun back around once more. "Hey, how did y-"

Before he could finish his sentence, Hara sprung. She wrapped her arms around his body and enveloped him firmly, filling Riarshi's heart and cheeks with that same warmth his body so longingly craved.

She began to cry, gripping the folds of his sweatshirt with her trembling hands and burying her face into his chest.

"You're such an idiot," she hiccuped between sniffles. "You know that?"

He didn't reply.

Her embrace gripped tighter and tighter with each word she spoke. "Thank the gods... thank the gods," she whispered. "I thought it was my fault... I couldn't eat... I couldn't sleep... I-I-"

Riarshi, unsure of what to do, stared down at Hara's shivering body. He was so taken back from her unexpected hug, all he could do was enjoy the growing warmth of her tight embrace - a warmth he felt when she wrapped her arms around him when he carried her home - the same warmth he felt when she rejoiced carelessly at the Tryout.

It was a feeling he enjoyed, one that he craved, and it felt as though the growing heat was melting something cold, deep inside of his chest.

But he wasn't the only one who needed this warmth - the comfort of knowing someone cared. At this moment, Riarshi remembered. Hara had been fighting her own crippling darkness for years. The pain and torture of a father who didn't show any sign of love or affection was unbearable to imagine. This was her darkness, and he'd been ever thankful for the few bursts of warmth he received in the last three months. But right here... right now...

Hara needed this sensation more than he did.

Just as he was about to wrap his arms around to pull her in tight... to share this feeling that warmed his insides and fluttered wonderfully over his skin... Riarshi heard a scream in the distance and the slapping of rapidly approaching feet on the ground.

"Riarshi!"

Suddenly, an even tighter and stronger embrace constricted around Riarshi's torso, crushing his ribs and bringing a sharp pain to his still injured arm and scar.

Riarshi yelped as he stumbled back and regained his balance. He could barely look up at his assaulter when he saw two orange eyes staring back at him through pools of tears.

"I'm so happy for you, man, you did it I felt so guilty that I got in and you didn't I thought you lost your magic I thought it was my fault!" Tabito yelled all in one word.

"T-Tabito... you're hurting my arm," Riarshi grunted.

Tabito instantly released his death grip. "S-sorry."

Riarshi gingerly shook his throbbing arm. "It's alright, man," he winced.

He paused and looked at his two friends. Tabito was staring right at him with shimmering eyes, while Hara's were staring off to the side, her cheeks deeply flushed. No point in continuing his and Hara's embrace now.

"Thank you, I appreciate it," said Riarshi with a grin. "But how did you guys know about this place? And why are you here now? I thought we were gonna meet at Merino's."

Tabito wiped his eyes with his sleeve and beamed. He pointed his thumb over his shoulder. "Well, we're still planning on doing that. But these two said they wanted to meet you and celebrate our new internships, too. They knew exactly where you'd be."

Over Tabito's shoulder a man and a little girl stood by a wooden jewelry stand. The man was tall and thin, with yellow-orange hair and small bags of wrinkles laying under his electric blue eyes. The tiny girl hidden behind his leg had bright orange hair and a pair of familiar orange eyes.

"Oh, my gods," mouthed Riarshi. She was the little girl he saved from the demon in the alleyway three months ago. That meant...

"I'd like you to meet my dad and sister," said Tabito with a presenting wave, "although we all know you've already met her, at least."

The man walked up to Riarshi and extended his hand. He was much taller than him, even standing a few inches above Tabito.

"It's very nice to meet you, Riarshi," the man began,  "My name is Nico Clarke. I've heard so many wonderful things about you." His voice was smooth and peaceful, and his eyes carried a distinct feeling of calm as they looked directly into Riarshi's. "Thank you, Riarshi, for saving both my daughter and my son. I can never repay you for your bravery."

Riarshi's cheeks and ears burned red. He returned the handshake with his scarred right hand.

The man's calm, blue eyes briefly glanced at the scarred side of Riarshi's hand and face. Riarshi noticed, but surprisingly didn't mind. 

"I'm sorry you had to sacrifice so much," he said shamefully.

"Riarshi Thomas," Riarshi replied. "And I'd do it all again if I had to, sir."

A large, warm smile crept across the man's face. "Of course, as I would expect."

Riarshi bent down and looked at the small girl shyly hiding behind her father's leg.

"Hello, Tabbie," Riarshi said in the friendliest voice he could muster, "long time no see."

The girl didn't move, remaining hidden behind Nico's leg, clutching tightly onto her father's shirt with her tiny hands.

Riarshi's heart sank. The memory of her flinching at his demonic glare flooded his mind. The long scar riding up his face didn't help him look any less scary to a small child. He felt deflated, and was about to stand up, when...

The small girl suddenly sprinted out from behind her father and flung her tiny arms around Riarshi's neck, squeezing him with all of her might.

"Riarshi!" she yelled out with her tiny lungs.

Like brother, like sister, Riarshi thought with a chuckle, relieved of the gnawing tension in his chest.

Riarshi stood tall and generously returned her hug. Her tiny, flower printed dress fluttered in the wind.

Cupping her hand around her mouth, Tabbie leaned in toward his ear. "I've kept our secret," she whispered, "I haven't told them about your magic."

Riarshi had completely forgotten. Tabbie had seen him use his power and heard the conversation between him and the demon in the alleyway. This meant that for the last three months, she'd been fully aware of his demonic nature. Despite knowing the truth, she still hugged him that day and proclaimed that he was her hero... and was once again doing the same.

He nodded and silently thanked her with a light pat on the head.

"Mhmm!" she hummed with a child-like git.

Riarshi carefully lowered her down until her tiny feet clicked on the ground. She grabbed his hand with both of hers and danced on her tip-toes.

"Riarshi, Riarshi!" she cried with delight, "We all want to go to the Spiritfield Square to celebrate you guys passing! We can listen to music, go to shops, and eat at Merino's. Dad even said we could grab ice cream. Even big sis Hara wanted to come and said we should invite you!"

Riarshi shifted his gaze toward Hara, who stood just a few feet away from the orange-haired crew. Her cheeks glowed pink, but she smiled and nodded back at him.

Riarshi smiled. "Sure, I'll go," he said cheerfully.

"Yay! Riarshi's coming with us!" Tabbie cheered, throwing her hands up in the air as she skipped in circles around the group.

Everyone shared a laugh together for a few seconds before someone poked Riarshi on the shoulder.

He turned to see a woman holding the hand of a little girl who was not much older than Tabbie.

"Excuse me, sir," the woman said cautiously, "did that little girl just call you Riarshi?"

"Y-yeah. That's me," he stammered. He then stared at the woman. Something about her looked familiar.

"It's him mommy!" the girl yelled while pointing her finger and jumping up and down. "He's the Hero who beat that demon on TV!"

"Quiet and stop pointing!" the mother hissed, giving the girl's arm a light shake. "I'm sorry, hun," she said sweetly to Riarshi, "ever since she saw on the news that a Hero Student defeated a demon she's been going on and on about wanting to become a Hero. She said that she saw you in the Marketplace in the past and wanted to get a picture with you. Do you mind?"

Not believing what he was hearing, Riarshi stood dumbfounded or a moment. "Wait for real? But I'm... No, I'm just..."

"You've already inspired future generations, hun. No matter if you're a Hero yet or not," she smiled warmly. "Thank you for being someone my daughter can look up to for the future. It's... something I unfortunately can no longer do," she added with remorse. 

Riarshi finally recognized the mother. His expression turned serious. "I should be thanking you, Octavia. You inspired me to act that day."

Octavia, surprised from the recognition, offered him a slight quirk of her lips. She looked down at her daughter. "I guess what that old man commish says is true, then. You don't need magic to be someone's hero."

"Did someone say Riarshi?" another voice called out from the marketplace crowd.

"It is him! I thought it was him!" yelled another.

Before Riarshi's boggled brain could interpret what was happening, a swarm of shoppers - young and old - surrounded him, asking and begging for pictures and handshakes.

A roar of voices drowned out his thoughts.

"Woah, hey! I'm not a Hero yet! Oh, oh hello. Wait, who? Ha, oh stop it." he stammered shyly as the growing crowd of shoppers fought their way to the Tryout Hero.

Tabbie stood strong by Riarshi's side and tried to fight them all off, strictly ordering them to back away and announcing that he was hers and her future husband.

Hara, Tabito, and Nico all laughed from a distance, reveling in Riarshi's reddening embarrassment.

Adaile joined in this admirable chuckle from her small stall. Nico eyed the old lady and walked up to her.

The crowd around Riarshi continued to grow.

"Hello, Adaile," he greeted with his usual calm voice.

"Good morning, Nico," she returned with a beaming smile. Her eyes watched over the large crowd swarming around Riarshi. His face was flushed red as one by one, he shook hands and took pictures, posing awkwardly.

"The boy doesn't differ from his parents very much, does he?" Adaile said admiringly, fixing her glasses.

The corner of Nico's lips rose into a grin as he, too, watched the adoring crowd. Riarshi's all-familiar eyes glistened in the sunlight.

"No," Nico smiled, "he doesn't."