Kieran's previous endeavor was a tiresome and grueling affair, but it bore immediate fruits.
The Flame's corruption had not dissipated or disappeared. Still, its overwhelming influence had been subdued, or more precisely, met with an opposing but equal force to neutralize its nefarious impact.
The mordant voices that had compelled Kieran to crave heinous things were growing distorted and distant, but they warred against that muting force, retaliating out of sheer terrified defiance.
The Flame grieved when it felt its tainting dominion over Kieran's thoughts and actions being challenged by its parallel. Against a pitiful opponent, the Flame was unperturbed and disinterested, but against an adversary of matching might, it felt unique despair.
It could not tolerate suffering a loss. It drove the Flame mad, madder than it was slowly driving Kieran. The thing was a sore, whiny loser that waged reprehensible sedition.
