"I don't know if two days is enough time," says Kun dubiously.
"It'll have to be," sighs Dewang. "I'll need all of your help, of course."
"Xufeng can figure it out," says He eagerly. "How much time each?"
"Er, a few minutes?" says Lin, and Jun snorts. "I could have calculated that myself."
"A few minutes, then," says Dewang. "At least enough to speak to them, ask a question or two. I'll need you to write things down. He, breathe."
"Breathe?"
"Your light's turning blue."
He sits up straight and begins gulping air. The pale flame in the centre of his hand flickers.
"Jingyi?" Dewang looks at her pleadingly. She moves closer to He, examines his flame, and begins to help him still it. Her own flame is faintly green, and perfectly leaf-shaped.
Dewang turns back to Kun, holding out his scroll. "Copy the list of names somewhere larger, with space for notes. We'll start as early as possible tomorrow- Jun, careful!"
"Sorry!" Jun curses, claps a hand over his sputtering flame, pulls it off even faster, and curses more loudly.
Dewang grabs his hand and holds it still. "It isn't a real flame. It isn't really hot. See?" He turns Jun's hand over. The palm is completely unburned.
Jun nods and swallows. The flame rises up again, more calmly this time, and Dewang smiles.
Kun's flame is white and almost still, but it seems to dance in his eyes. "You're first with recording," Dewang tells him. "We'll start as soon as it's light enough. The rest of you - please try to keep some kind of order. There isn't much time."
The next morning dawns grey as Dewang steels himself to face all the children. Jun and Jingyi have gotten the first ones into surprisingly good order.
"Bitong and my sister have a system," says Kun proudly. "He threatens, she coaxes. Look at them."
They certainly appear to be a well-practiced team, but Dewang doesn't have much time to observe. He motions for the first of the children, a small, shy boy.
"What is your name?" he asks the boy, then curses himself for his formal tone. How does one talk to children? Let alone these ones? Politely, he decides, and that is the best he can do.
"Don't be shy," he adds, as the boy still seems tongue-tied.
"Li Yu," whispers the boy.
"Li Yu? Let's see what you've learned..."