A few weeks had passed since the Soul Calling, and the Academy was abuzz with activity. Aurora had been trying to focus on her studies, but she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled over her ever since the Faedell Taking. She knew that she had a part to play in the upcoming ritual, but she wasn't sure if she was ready for it.

One day, she found herself in Professor Verni's Alchemy class. She was trying to pay attention to the lecture, but her mind kept wandering. She was lost in thought when she heard a loud sound coming from Ygriv's desk. She turned around and saw Ygriv frantically trying to remove his gloves, his face contorted in pain.

"What's going on?" she asked, as she rushed over to him.

"My gloves," Ygriv said, his voice shaking. "They're dissolving."

Aurora looked at Ygriv's gloves, which were indeed falling apart. She didn't understand what was happening, but she knew that they had to act quickly.

"Take them off," she said, as she helped him remove the gloves.

As soon as they were off, Ygriv's hands started to glow. Aurora and Tulipa watched in amazement as his hands turned a bright gold color. They couldn't believe what they were seeing.

"What's happening?" Tulipa asked, her voice shaking.

"I don't know," Aurora said, as she watched Ygriv's hands with a mixture of awe and fear.

Suddenly, Ygriv touched a flask by mistake, and the glass bottle turned to gold. Everyone in the class was astonished, and Ygriv ran away from the room, afraid of what had just happened.

Aurora knew that she had to talk to him, to try and understand what was going on. She followed him outside the classroom, and found him sitting on a bench, his head buried in his hands.

"Ygriv," she said, as she sat down beside him. "What's going on?"

Ygriv looked up at her, his eyes filled with fear.

"I was so afraid this would happen," he said, his voice shaking. "That’s why I never take off my gloves."

Aurora put her hand on Ygriv's shoulder, trying to comfort him.

"It's going to be okay," she said. "We'll figure this out together."

Ygriv looked at her, his expression serious.

"But you don't understand," he said. "I have the Golden Touch."

Aurora felt a sense of shock wash over her. She had heard of the Golden Touch before, but she had never met anyone who had it.

"The Golden Touch?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But that's impossible. No Orlean alive has ever possessed that ability."

"I know," Ygriv said, his voice shaking. "But it's happening to me. And I don't know what to do."

Aurora thought for a moment, trying to come up with a solution.

"We have to tell someone," she said. "We can't keep this a secret."

Ygriv shook his head, his expression fearful.

"I can't," he said. "If anyone finds out, they'll take me away. They'll use me for their own purposes."

Aurora looked at Ygriv sympathetically, understanding his concerns.

"We'll figure something out," she said. "But we can't do it alone. We have to tell someone."

Ygriv looked at her, his expression serious.

"I trust you," he said. "But we have to be careful."

Aurora nodded, feeling a sense of determination wash over her.

"We'll be careful," she said. "But we have to do something. We can't let this go on."

Ygriv nodded, and they both stood up.

They decided to seek out Guide Luria and ask for her help. They knew that she was the only one who could help them understand what was happening to Ygriv and how to control it. They made their way to her office, hoping that she would be able to shed some light on the situation.

As they entered Guide Luria's office, they found her sitting at her desk, poring over a stack of papers. She looked up as they approached, her expression serious.

"What brings you here?" she asked, as she gestured for them to sit down.

Ygriv and Aurora exchanged a nervous glance, unsure of how to proceed.

"It's about Ygriv," Aurora said, her voice barely above a whisper. "He has the Golden Touch."

Guide Luria's face registered surprise, but she quickly regained her composure.

"The Golden Touch?" she said, her voice serious. "Are you certain?"

Ygriv nodded, his expression fearful.

"Yes," he said. "And I don't know what to do."

Guide Luria thought for a moment, her expression thoughtful.

"This is a serious matter," she said. "We must keep this a secret, but we also need to find a solution."

She explained to them that the Golden Touch was a rare and powerful ability, one that had not been seen in the Faedell System for centuries. She told them that it was a gift indeed, but also a curse, due to the out-of-control nature of the ability. And that Ygriv needed to learn how to control it before it caused any harm.

Guide Luria suggested that they seek out the help of Professor Verni, who had extensive knowledge in alchemy and magic. They quickly made their way to Verni's lab, hoping that he could shed some light on the situation. Verni was surprised to see them, but he listened intently as they explained the situation. He told them that the Golden Touch was a very different and abnormal ability, one that was difficult to control. He suggested that Ygriv start practicing using his power in a controlled environment, such as the lab, to get a better understanding of how it works. Ygriv was hesitant, but he knew that he had to try.

A few weeks had passed since the Golden Touch incident, and Aurora and her friends decided to take a trip to the beach of Aelhollow. They wanted to take a break from their studies and enjoy the beautiful weather. As they made their way to the beach, they couldn't help but feel excited. The beach was located below Mater's cliff, and it held a special meaning for Aurora now that she knew the nature of her birth.

When they arrived at the beach, they found that it was quite crowded. There were families with young children, groups of teenagers, and even some elderly couples enjoying the sun and the sea. Despite the crowd, they managed to find a good spot near the cliff. The landscape was breathtaking. The grass was green as a freshly cut emerald, and the sand was pale as cream. The sea was a deep blue, and the waves were gentle, lapping against the shore.

They set up their towels and blankets and settled down to enjoy the day. They swam in the sea, played beach volleyball, and even built sandcastles. They had a picnic lunch of sandwiches and fruit, and they spent the afternoon lounging in the sun, reading books and chatting.

As Aurora walked along the beach, she heard Ilja shouting for her. She turned around and saw him running towards her, his face flushed with excitement.

"Aurora!" he shouted. "Wait up!"

Aurora smiled as he caught up to her, his breath coming in short gasps.

"Hey," she said, as she looked at him.

Ilja looked at her, his expression serious.

"I wanted to talk to you," he said. "About what happened in the classroom."

Aurora looked at him, unsure of what to say.

"I know that it was scary," he continued. "But I want you to know that I'm here for you. And I'll do whatever it takes to help you."

Aurora felt a sense of gratitude wash over her. She knew that Ilja was a good friend, and that he would always be there for her.

"Thank you," she said, her voice quiet. "I appreciate it."

Ilja looked at her, his expression serious.

"But I also want you to know," he said. "That I care about you. More than just a friend."

Aurora felt a sense of shock wash over her. She had never thought of Ilja in that way, and she didn't know how to respond.

"I know that you're going through a lot right now," he continued. "And I don't want to add to your stress. But I can't help how I feel."

Aurora looked at him, her expression softening.

"Ilja," she said, her voice gentle. "I don't know what to say."

Ilja looked at her, his expression hopeful.

"You don't have to say anything," he said. "I just wanted you to know how I feel. And that I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

Aurora smiled at him, feeling a sense of warmth wash over her.

"Thank you," she said. "That means a lot to me."

Ilja smiled back at her, his expression hopeful.

As they walked towards the cliff, Aurora couldn't help but feel a sense of confusion. She had never thought of Ilja in that way, and she didn't know if she was ready for a relationship. But she also knew that she couldn't ignore her feelings for him. She had to be honest with herself and with him.

"Ilja," she said, as they reached the base of the cliff. "I want you to know that I care about you too. But I'm not sure if I'm ready for a relationship right now."

Ilja looked at Aurora, his expression understanding.

"I understand," he said. "We have a lot of years ahead of us, though, so don’t worry. I can wait."

Aurora smiled at him, but that smile came with a horrid thought, one that erased it very quickly and easily. She knew about the possible war on the horizon, and she knew that they might not have a lot of years to come. But she couldn't say anything to Ilja, so she faked a smile and looked away.

"Thanks." she said.

As they made their way up the cliff, Aurora thought about her future. She had a difficult decision to make, one that would impact not only her but also her friends and the Faedell System. She knew that she had to be strong and that she had to do what was right, even if it meant sacrificing herself for the greater good.

But for now, she decided to enjoy the moment and the company of her friends. They had a beautiful day ahead of them, and she was determined to make the most of it.

As the day wore on, the sun started to set, casting a golden glow across the beach. The sky was clear and blue, and the clouds were tinged with pink and orange. Aurora and her friends watched in awe as the sun disappeared below the horizon, leaving behind a trail of golden light.

It was a perfect day, and they all felt grateful for the chance to relax and enjoy each other's company. As they packed up their things and made their way back to the Academy, Aurora, Ygriv and Tulipa, stayed behind, watching the moon starting to rise in the sky.

Aurora, Ygriv, and Tulipa sat there, watching the moon rise in the sky. They knew that this day might be one of their last happy memories before the Faedell Taking. They talked about how they would cherish these moments and how they would do everything in their power to make sure that the Faedell System was saved. They talked about the sacrifices that they would have to make, and the pain that their families would feel. But they also talked about the hope that they had, the hope that their sacrifice would not be in vain and that the Faedell System would be saved.

As they sat there, lost in thought, they were joined by Guide Luria. She sat down beside them, her expression serious.

"I'm proud of all of you," she said. "You have a difficult road ahead of you, but I know that you can do it."

Aurora, Ygriv, and Tulipa looked at her, their expressions serious.

"We'll do whatever it takes," Aurora said, her voice resolute.

Guide Luria nodded, a sense of pride evident in her expression.

"I know you will," she said. "And I'll be there to support you every step of the way."

As they sat there, watching the moon rise in the sky, Aurora, Ygriv, and Tulipa knew that they had a difficult road ahead of them. But they also knew that they had each other, and that they would do everything in their power to save Faedell.

The night was quiet, and the silence was only broken by the sound of the waves and the wind. The moon was full, and its light bathed the beach in a soft, silver glow. It was a peaceful night, but Aurora knew that it wouldn't last. They had a difficult decision to make, and they had to be prepared for what was to come. But for now, they allowed themselves to enjoy the moment, to cherish the memories that they were making, and to hold onto the hope that their sacrifice would not be in vain.