I moved quickly through the burning keep. My wards flared constantly around me, a golden bubble that kept the flames and heat at bay. Occasionally, a chunk of masonry or a red-hot glowing chandelier crashed to the ground, making me jump, but I no longer trembled. My wounds were finally healed, and the power of Celestial Grace coursed through me. For only the second time, I could run without tiring, my body stronger and lighter than ever.
Borealis followed behind me, flapping lazily to keep pace. Occasionally, he'd put on a burst of speed and streak ahead, smashing through a door or scattering a group of soldiers struggling to escape the spreading inferno, but always returning once he'd cleared the path.
