It was a superstition Amira had picked up from her mother. Write a letter to loved ones who were gone, and then burn it. The smoke would then carry the message to their spirits.

Late in the evening, following a very long and exciting day, Amira found herself in the quiet of her study. To her left sat a stack of invoices for her recent "remodeling" project at the Azra HQ, but it was hard to make herself focus on it. Instead, her eyes wandered to a framed  photograph of herself, Corrado Conti, and Tyki Mikk taken the day of her 22nd birthday- exactly one year after Tyki had saved her from a gang of murderers and began her path to the place she sat tonight. Corrado had an arm proudly around her shoulder, and was planting a kiss on her cheek. Reaching out, Amira took the photo from it's place and felt a small smile turn up the corners of her mouth as she ran her thumb gently over the gold leaf frame and sighed quietly.

"I did it."

After a moment, she replaced the photo and took a fresh piece of stationary from the box and took up her pen, and began to write.

Dearest Corrado and Tyki,

If the pair of you taught me anything, it was that I must not only persevere, but overshoot the finish line. You taught me to excel the expectation; not for others, but for myself. Tonight, I reached what many might consider the finish line. I joined the ranks of many; like you, Tyki, who have been called Godfather; and in the city that has been my home since you made it so six years ago. In our world, I appear to have reached the top.

But I want you both to know that I'm not finished. I want you to know that my eyes are set beyond this goal. I've come to learn many lessons in the time since I lost you both; but most importantly I've learned that the time we're given is precious, and never guaranteed. So, my goal now becomes to make the best of the time I have- whatever that is. My end is unknown to me, but certain nonetheless, so I have only every day I draw breath to make a difference. In my eyes, you both left this place better than you found it. I can only hope that I will have done the same when I eventually meet my terminus.

Thank you, both, for preparing me for this; each in your own way. I hope that I have made you proud, and that I will continue to do so. I hope that my legacy honors you, and my family, and the others who wait for me beyond the veil of this world. The work we do here is heavy and hard to carry at times; but I am fortunate to have two of the fiercest guardians watching over me.

Guide me still.

Always,
Amira

Amira carried the letter outside to the patio facing the back of the property and took a book of matches from her pocket. She struck the match and watched it flare wildly for a moment, then die down to a simple glow. Holding the letter over that small flame, she watched the letter catch fire and begin to burn; making a quiet observation to herself in the still night that it doesn't always take a blazing inferno to change the state of something. Sometimes, it just takes one small, single light in the dark.