A flame rose, but it did not burn ordinary gold. It bloomedblue.Cobalt at the base, climbing into a paler ice-blue at the rim, with tiny bright sparks lifting off the surface like fireflies.
“Wow.” Aki stepped back.
Then, the cherry blossom dust caught the heat and threw it back as glittering specks of pale violet.
Aki gasped at once. “That’s fucking amazing.”
Natsumi lowered her match to Yuki's surface.
Yuki's flame appeared asrose-gold.Pink at the base, climbing into a deep blush at the rim and sparking with flecks of true gold that lifted, danced, and disappeared.
Next, the plum blossom dust caught and threw warmth around Yuki's face in shimmering drifts of soft red.
“Twin flames.” I held out my hands. “Cobalt and rose. Ice and warmth.”
Sparks rose on both sides. And between them a slow drifting cloud of colored ash mingled in the air.
Hiro whispered, "Holy fuck. That’s impressive."
My other helpers rushed over to make drinks for the others. Once they were done, we all picked up our flaming glasses.
“Now for this one.” I watched the two flames swaying and twisting on my drink. “You donotwant to drink through the flame.”
Aki frowned. “I want to drink through mine.”
“Don’t. You must blow them out. These could cause damage.” I swallowed. “Alright. Let’s all blow ours out together. One. Two. Three.”
A collective breath pulled through the room. Then, air rushed forward.
Flames bent, shuddered, and vanished.
A softwhoofrippled across the glasses as cobalt died into smoke and rose-gold collapsed into glowing embers before fading completely. For a heartbeat, nothing remained but thin ribbons of heat curling upward, twisting together, dissolving into the air.
We drank together and it was a harmony of flavor on my tongue sweet, burning floral yumminess mixed with cherry and plum. So lush and intoxicating all at once, just how I saw the twins.
Everyone paused for a few seconds taking in the drink’s details.
Aki loudly laughed. “I knew our drink would be the best of the evening.”
Yuki tilted his glass. “Even beating the Dragon’s.”
Kenji sneered.
The twins cleared their throats.
I smirked. “I would say that everyone’s drink is the best. No one’s drink is better than the other—”
“Except the Lollipop which dominates all.” Hiro gestured to one of my helpers. “I would like one of those by the way.”
She bobbed her head and hurried off.
“I will say this. . .” Toma clutched his chest. “That drink might have been the strongest. I just saw my ancestors and they were judging me.”
Kaede snorted. “I saw your ancestors too and you are right. They were definitely judging you.”
Laughter rose and the Claws began to brag about their drinks.
Behind it all, the violin shifted and the melody lifted into even more playful notes.
