- 10 Years Ago -

Running up the hills just outside of the village of Vallioon, little Aurora followed young Mhanoric up to their favorite place to play. Despite Aurora's mother warning them of playing in the hills, they knew that if they stay within earshot of her mother's call, then they would be able to play on their hill. The hill that they had chosen felt isolated from the rest of the valley and had it's own air of distance. As the children reached the top of their hill, they fell over and relaxed for a moment. They were able to see the whole, large sky that made the town look so small. Mhanoric and Aurora sat up and looked down at their village.
"It looks so tiny from up here!" Aurora laughed.
"It is that small, though." Mhanoric noted.
"You didn't think it was so small when you first came here! I remember when you first came here and you said that it was bigger than your first home!" Aurora pointed out.
"Well I am bigger now so it's changed as well."
"Not true! You haven't changed a bit! You are still as puny as you were before!"
"Then how can you explain why I am taller than you?" Mhanoric scoffed.
"Fine, so you have changed a bit, yet you're still a jerk."
"You're rude for calling me a jerk! And I call you my friend!" Mhanoric barked at Aurora. This hurt her, and she soon began to cry. He made an effort to console her:
"Hey, hey, stop your crying! Their's no need for that! Don't! Quit it!" He grabbed her by the shoulders and gently tried to get her attention.
"It's... Just... Not fair! How is it that I have to deal with your rudeness and anger... While I get called out evil! It's not fair... Not at all! You are my best friend, Mhanoric, yet... Do you not think so to me?" She sobbed. Mhanoric was taken back by it: he knew that before he had done harsh things to her and treated her in not the best of ways, yet he had never really thought it as mean. He, too, began to cry.
"I'm sorry Aurora, I... I just have never realized that it hurt you." He hugged her.
"Mhanoric, I am sorry to of called you awful things... Just..." She wiped away her tears.
"What?" He looked up at her.
"Please promise... To always be my friend forever."
Mhanoric stood up.
"I know what to do." He helped her up and they stood across from one another. A steel blue flame lit up from from his palm, as if from magic. Aurora looked at him, unsure, yet she still trusted him.
"Give me your hand and put it in with mine." He smiled. She hesitantly put her hands on top of his, and only felt the warmth of his hands and not the flame. Mhanoric closed his eyes.
"Aurora, I promise that I will always be their for you as we will be friends forever. Will you promise the same?" He looked up at her, his dark eyes reflecting the odd flame.
"Yes, I promise that I will be your friend forever."
"Then from now until our deaths, I shall share my p-"
"AURORA! MHANORIC! IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO COME HOME NOW~!"
Upon hearing the call, the flame sputtered out.
"Wait, what else were you saying?!" She looked up at him eagerly.
"Come on, let's hurry home!" He began to run back home.
"Wait, hold on!" And she too headed home, unaware of what he had left to say.