Before I could process what was happening, one of them lunged at her.

  Instinct took over—I grabbed Selena’s wrist and yanked her back just in time. She stumbled but recovered fast, her expression shifting from surprise to irritation.

  "Tch, I should’ve known." She clicked her tongue, rolling her shoulders.

  "Ash, run!"

  "Not happening." I stepped forward, lowering my stance.

  She grinned. "I'm liking you more and more."

  The first guy charged. He was fast, Selena ducked, letting him overshoot, then lashed out with a swift kick to his shin. He staggered. I used that moment, ramming my shoulder into him and sending him crashing onto the rooftop.

  The second one wasn’t as sloppy. He grabbed Selena’s arm before she could react.

  "Let go of me!" She twisted, struggling to break free, but his grip was firm.

  My body moved on its own. Heat surged through my veins. Mana pooled in my fingertips before I even knew what I was doing. A sharp pulse of energy shot out from my palm, cracking against the guy’s chest. He let go with a curse, stumbling back. Falling off into an alley with Selena still tight.

  “Got you.” I smiled as I grabbed her wrist and pulled her onto the roof

  landing beside me, her breath a little uneven, but her eyes bright with excitement.

  "That was so cool," she smirked, barely fazed by the situation.

  "Less talking, more running," I shot back, but before I could even think about escaping, more figures appeared below. Not an option.

  Selena glanced at me, a wild grin creeping onto her face. "Guess we’re fighting then?"

  I exhaled. "Guess we are."

  We sat on the roof, tired with a small hill of figures behind us, “That was pretty fun. 30 out of 100.” I smiled, still catching my breath.

  “Yeah, they never stop, still you're amazing!” she shot up, putting her hand in front of her. “You like shablam! Then the dude fell! What was that?” She pulled me up, getting a bit too close.

  I pushed her away slowly. “It's nothing special, you'll learn it someday.” I pushed her shoulder playfully. “Being cool isn't easy, you know.”

  “Hey! I wanna be cool too, I wanna show it off to my dad, too! Please teach me?” she shot me her puppy eyes.

  “Nope.”

  “Fine. Anyway, Ash, does your family know you're here?” She had a grin grow across her face.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  “No, but why does that mat-?” I freeze. I completely forgot that my family would have been in the room by now.’

  “Well, you should get going,” She pants on my shoulder. I started hurrying there. “Make sure you go to the cavern tomorrow, I'll be there!” I waved, showing that I would be there, jumping from roof to roof. I was lost in thought, trying to come up with a reason as to why I was gone.

  Before I knew it, I had arrived at the inn, I snuck in through the window to an empty room. I walked to my bed, and as my back fell onto the bed, the door opened, with my mother and sister looking worried. “Ash?” She looked at me like I wasn't supposed to be there.

  “Yeah, that's me.” I got back up, looking at her, acting like I was tired and was about to sleep.

  “I just checked here and you weren't there.” She walked towards patting me down as if making sure it was me. Once she had gotten to my feet, she had noticed there was dirt on them as if I had been outside barefoot. She looked up at me, winking with a sly grin going across her face. “Looks like I didn't check hard enough, Mom?”She got up smiling, with her hand itching her neck.

  “It's fine, let's just rest for the night. I'll go get your father. Could you put Ash to sleep?” Mother let out a sigh of relief and closed the door behind her.

  “No prob!” she saluted as Mom left the door. We sat in awkward silence.

  “It's Time to sleep, cmon, I'll tell you a story.” She sat on the bed, covering herself and lifting it to make space for me to lie next to her. I hesitated, knowing that I wasn't the 7-year-old I seemed to be, but still something told me to go as if this embrace would linger in my mind perpetually. I gave in to this urge after all, what could be more embarrassing than getting my diaper changed?

  “Took you long enough.” We tucked each other in, getting comfortable.

  “Once upon a time, there were two stars born from the same spark, always shining side by side. They lit up the sky together, inseparable.

  One fateful night, a storm tore through the heavens, scattering clouds and shaking the sky. ‘Hold on!’ one star cried, but the storm was relentless. A great wind tore them apart, casting one star far across the sky.

  Though separated, they continued to shine, their light reaching for one another across the distance. One star burned so brightly that it became a giant, lighting up our days, tirelessly searching for its kin each night. Yet, little did she know that her kin had drifted further away, becoming a quiet shimmer in the night, guiding us on our path but losing its own in the process. Sacrificing itself to let its kin shine bright

  And though the storm had divided them, they never stopped shining. Their bond was eternal, a connection that defied even the vastness of the sky.” By the time the story ended, I had drifted off to sleep, slowly followed by Thira beneath a small, shimmering star that peeked through the window.

  “Is everyone ready for the tour?!” Thira practically shouted as we left our room, meeting Mom and Dad, who seemed to be speaking quietly about something themselves.

  They both turned as they noticed us. “Kids, we just heard that the duke and his daughter will be visiting the cavern today as well so be on your best behavior, especially you, Ash!” he suddenly turned towards me as if I had a history of causing trouble.

  “Wha-” I was cut off before I could even reason for myself by a woman with blonde, messy hair wearing a gray blouse and black pants.

  “Hey~ guys!” she waved while running to us before tripping and landing face-first, making all of us wince at her pain. “I'm okay!” she said as if it were a normal occurrence.

  “My god, it's been so long since I've last seen you!” She went to my mother and gave her a hug, which was returned by my mother as well. “Nice to see you too, Mav.” She itched the back of her neck, nodding as a greeting. “Oh, and who are these two little angels!” she returned to being loud and hugged me and Eyra, feeling more like a bear hug.

  "Owwww," my sister whined, glaring at the girl.

  She let us escape by introducing herself, “Sorry, I get like that sometimes. Anyway, my name’s Zinnia, Zinnia Brasslock. I'm an up-and-coming inventor, so if you ever want toys, feel free to come to me!”

  “I'm Thira and I'm 11.” Thira lifted her brown dress slightly as a way to avoid any more physical greetings from her.

  “I'm Ash, I'm 7.” I wave slightly at her, trying to distance myself as well.

  what length should the chapters be cut into?