#rafictor

After changing sides and getting magic lessons with Mateo, there was a phase when Carla was unsure of her relationship to her new mentor. What if his feelings for Rita were still there somewhere? She was not sure if she was ready for that relationship and did not bring any of the Rita affair up out of shame. But then Carla saw how deeply in love with Elena truly was and decided to bring them together at the Coronation Ball. Making Elena jealous by dancing with the Royal Master Wizard, the Queen realized her love and Carla found her calling as a matchmaker, the first time she uses a scheme to help people around her. Seeing Mateo as a sibling lifts her spirit away from the potential muddle of a romantic entanglement when their manipulative past is concerned.

Mateo on the other hand was pleasently surprised by Carala's magical skills during training, but struggled to accept her as his sister with the blossoming relationship beweeen his mother Rafa and her father Victor. A hidden part of him still linked Rita, Carla and romance and fostered a pushed back paranoia that she might trick his heart again after they never talked about the past.

After some time Carla mentions the struggle and admits that she misses the teasing and banter they shared when they had been enemies. They never crossed the mentor student line at training, never getting comfortable enough to tease each other again. But when Carla calls him her brother, Mateo realizes that they have been on the same page all along, neither seeking romance in the other. It fills him with new peace and they shake hands.

The Coronation party is at full swing and Rafa proudly watches her newly promoted son dance with the queen after their talk on the balcony. She even dances with her son, to his embarrassment and Victor and Carla's amusement.

All the dancing reminds her of the Sweethearts Day misadventure when everyone was cursed to sing and dance. It was her first Sweethearts Day without Mateo, which made her miss her dead husband Tulio even more, the magic causing jer to sing a dramatic aria about her grief.

Tulio loved to give her flowers in secret on that day, back when festivals were banned under Shuriki's reign. Music and dancing was his way of communicating when he was not using sign language. Eventually he was murdered by Shuriki for organizing a revolt against the tyrannical Queen and Rafa saw him in prison one last time.

Victor pulls Rafa out of her reminiscing. The former Malvago was once close to Shuriki but turned over a new leaf and has been living under Raga's watchful eye for the last two weeks. They have slowly become unlikely friends and Victor shares that he knows how it is to raise a child on his own. Ash was gone on her quest for power for years and mistreated and abandoned him after her return.

The next day, Rico is the first to see the new hairstyle on his best friend. He has Victor’s tendency for getting into trouble and after releasing the family goats he has to help his mother to catch them again which is much easier for him than for her. Afterwards he goes playing with Marisol until it gets dark and Rafa starts to worry.

Victor and Carla help with the cooking and when the door finally opens, Carla is disappointed that it is only Mateo coming for the weekly Sunday Dinner with his mother. Since her father and his mother married, they have formed a tentative sibling friendship but are constantly bickering and teasing each other. Rafa has to remind them to at least get along during dinner. That is when Rico finally arrives and the family can eat together.

Carla adores her little brother and tells everyone how cute he was that morning in bed when she came to wake him. Rico hates being treated like a baby by her and complains. The bickering reminds Mateo to talk about his own issues. Being born with Elena’s crystal magic and Mateo’s magic, Anita has far too much magic in her to control. She is very emotional and at the same time unsure of herself, resulting in magical outbursts and a strong need for comfort and stability. Mateo feels guilty about it and asks his mother for advise. She had to raise him with magic in a time when those practices were forbidden and knows how hard it can be. Not even Carla teases after the story, having had her own share of Malvago magic and the long lessons with Mateo, Olivia and her father.

Elena was so caught up in her happiness of having her Familia back and rewarding everyone with new positions that Mateo’s offer to dance went over her head and was too much for her in that moment.

The party goes on and as she sees Mateo and Carla dancing, a sudden flash of jealousy makes her march over and drag him away to take Mateo’s offer to dance.

Unconsciously she pulls him outside to stand under the gazebo where their magical bond began four years before.  Mateo is bewildered by Elena’s sudden actions and she warns him about Carla. The last time she danced with Mateo it was in her disguise as Rita to manipulate him and steal the key to his workshop.

Mateo insists that Carla has changed and is suddenly hit with the true source of Elena’s outburst. Jealousy.

Elena admits that she is afraid of losing him. When Mateo reassures her that he will stay by her side, advising her, Elena recognizes her jealousy for what it is. She has fallen in love with her Royal Master Wizard without realizing it. Mateo can hardly believe his eyes as he sees the same love hel felt for years shining back at him.

As they share their first kiss, Elena’s magic triggering the fireworks that were already prepared for the celebration.

Reassured that she feels the same, Mateo offers another dance and they twirl around in the starlight.

Elena offers another official dance in the ballroom, introducing their relationship.

Unbeknownst to the Queen and Royal Master Wizard, Carla had had a bet going with Naomi to get the two realize their obvious devotion to each other by the end of the evening.

Naomi is baffled how Carla managed what she had been trying for four years and Carla smugly replies that she is the only girl that can make Elena aware of potential competition for Mateo. Naomi begrudgingly admits that her sisterly friendship with the Wizard could never have achieved that and is happy that her best friends have finally found each other.