The room felt like it was closing in on Asher. The air was thick with anticipation, each breath he took carrying the weight of the unknown. The safe house, which had already unnerved him with its strange symbols and eerie atmosphere, now seemed even more oppressive as Luna and Celeste prepared for what they called the "test."
Luna stood in the center of the room, her posture rigid, her face unreadable. Celeste, usually the more cheerful of the two, was now serious, focused on the task ahead. They had moved the furniture aside, leaving a wide-open space in the middle of the room. The walls seemed to hum with a low, almost imperceptible energy, making Asher's skin prickle with unease.
"Come closer," Luna instructed, her voice steady and firm.
Asher hesitated, his heart pounding in his chest. He had no idea what to expect, but the way Luna was speaking sent a chill down his spine. He stepped forward cautiously, his feet dragging as if they weighed a ton. Each step felt like a step closer to something irreversible.
As he reached the center of the room, he noticed that Luna had begun to breathe differently—slow, deep breaths that seemed to draw in more than just air. The atmosphere around her started to change, growing thicker and more charged. Asher swallowed hard, fighting the urge to back away.
Luna extended her hand towards him, her palm facing upward. "This will not be easy, but it's necessary," she said, her tone devoid of any warmth or reassurance. "You must stay focused, no matter what happens."
Asher's pulse quickened. "What exactly are you going to do?" he asked, his voice betraying his fear.
Before Luna could answer, something incredible happened. A flicker of blue light appeared in her palm, small at first, like a spark. Then it grew, swirling and twisting, until it became a flame—deep blue, almost sapphire, and impossibly bright. Asher's eyes widened in horror as the flame grew larger, its heat radiating outwards but not in the way a normal fire would. It was a cold, searing heat that made his soul tremble.
The blue fire was unlike anything Asher had ever seen. It wasn't just fire; it was alive, pulsing with a rhythm that seemed to match Luna's heartbeat. Her eyes, usually sharp and penetrating, began to change, glowing with the same blue fire. It was as if the flame had taken over her entire being.
Asher took a stumbling step backward, his breath caught in his throat. "What…what is that?" he stammered, his voice shaky.
Celeste moved quickly to his side, placing a comforting hand on his arm. "It's called Hellfire," she explained, her voice calm but urgent. "It's not like any fire you've known. It doesn't burn like normal fire; it burns the soul, the essence of a being. If you're just an ordinary human, it will consume you."
Asher's heart was racing, his mind spinning with panic. "Consume me?" he echoed, his voice rising. "You mean it could kill me?"
Celeste nodded, her expression serious. "Yes, it could. But that's why we're doing this. If you're who we think you are, if you're the Abyssborn, the fire won't harm you. Instead, it will merge with you, become a part of you."
Asher's mouth went dry. The words hung in the air, heavy and terrifying. He glanced back at Luna, who was now completely enveloped in the blue fire. She stood there, unmoving, her expression fierce and distant, as if she were somewhere else entirely.
"How do I know if I'm…this Abyssborn?" Asher asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Celeste squeezed his arm gently. "You'll know when you touch the fire," she said softly. "But you have to try, Asher. This is the only way to be sure."
Asher stared at the flame, feeling the icy heat from where he stood. Every instinct screamed at him to run, to get as far away from that unnatural fire as possible. But something else—something deeper, more primal—compelled him to stay. A small, quiet voice in the back of his mind whispered that this was his destiny, that everything in his life had led to this moment.
But that didn't make it any less terrifying.
Taking a deep breath, Asher forced himself to move forward, each step slower than the last. He could feel his legs shaking, his hands trembling uncontrollably as he reached out toward Luna's outstretched hand. The closer he got, the more intense the fire's heat became, though it was a cold, biting heat that seemed to reach into his very soul.
"Just a little closer," Celeste encouraged, her voice gentle but firm. "You're almost there."
Asher's heart was pounding so hard he thought it might burst. He was inches away from Luna's hand now, the blue fire licking at his skin without yet touching it. He could see the flicker of flame reflected in Luna's eyes, which were still glowing with that eerie blue light.
"I…I can't do this," Asher whispered, fear threatening to overwhelm him.
"You have to," Celeste urged, her hand still on his arm. "Trust yourself. You're stronger than you think."
Asher clenched his jaw, forcing down the fear that threatened to paralyze him. With one final, trembling breath, he closed his eyes and reached out, his fingers brushing against Luna's fiery hand.
The moment his skin made contact with hers, everything changed.
A shockwave of cold fire surged through his body, igniting him from the inside out. It was like nothing he had ever experienced—painful and exhilarating, terrifying and powerful all at once. The blue fire wrapped around him, consuming him, and yet he didn't feel the burning pain he had expected. Instead, the fire seemed to merge with him, as if it were seeping into his very soul.
Asher's eyes snapped open in shock. He could see the fire covering his entire body, every inch of him glowing with that same unnatural blue light. He gasped, expecting to feel pain, but there was none—just an intense, overwhelming sensation of power.
Celeste's eyes were wide with shock, her mouth slightly open as she watched the scene unfold. "It's…impossible," she murmured, more to herself than to anyone else. "He's…absorbing it…"
Luna's grip on Asher's hand loosened for a moment, her own eyes widening as she felt the fire being drawn into him. But she didn't pull away. Instead, she held on, her expression shifting from surprise to determination.
The fire continued to flow into Asher, the flames dancing over his skin before sinking into his body, as if he were absorbing them completely. The room was filled with the low hum of energy, the air crackling with power.
And then, slowly, the fire began to die down. The flames grew smaller and smaller until they were just a flicker, then nothing. The blue light in Luna's eyes faded, and the glow around Asher dimmed, until it disappeared entirely.
Asher stood there, panting, his body still tingling with the remnants of the fire. He couldn't believe what had just happened—he had absorbed the Hellfire, something that should have killed him, without even a scratch.
Celeste let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding and then, unable to contain her excitement, jumped up and down in joy. "You did it!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with awe. "You really are the Abyssborn!"
She rushed forward, wrapping both Asher and Luna in a tight embrace, her happiness infectious. But Asher was still in shock, his mind racing to process what had just happened. He felt a mix of emotions—joy, fear, confusion—all swirling inside him like a storm.
"I…I can't believe it," Asher said, his voice trembling. "What just happened? How did I…?"
Before he could finish, his thoughts were interrupted by a wave of exhaustion that washed over him. The adrenaline that had been keeping him on edge began to wear off, leaving him feeling drained and weak. He stumbled slightly, but Luna was there to steady him.
"Take it easy," Luna said, her voice softer now, almost gentle. "You've just gone through something extraordinary. It's going to take some time to understand it all."
Asher nodded numbly, still reeling from the experience. He could barely comprehend what had just happened, let alone what it meant. All he knew was that something inside him had changed, and there was no going back.
Celeste, still buzzing with excitement, turned to Luna. "This is amazing! We've found him, the Abyssborn! Do you know what this means?"
But Luna didn't share her enthusiasm. Instead, she seemed more reserved, almost wary. She glanced down at her hand, the one that had held the fire, and then quickly hid it behind her back, as if ashamed.
Celeste noticed the movement and frowned slightly. "Luna? What's wrong?"
Luna shook her head, avoiding eye contact. "Nothing," she said quietly. "It's nothing."
Asher, still trying to catch his breath, noticed the exchange but was too exhausted to question it. All he could think about was the fire—the cold, searing fire that had become a part of him. It was terrifying and exhilarating all at once, and he had no idea what it meant for his future.
Asher stood there, still feeling the residual heat from the Hellfire, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and fear. He glanced at Luna, who had withdrawn slightly, her posture stiff and her eyes averted. The cold fire had vanished, but the tension in the room was palpable. The gravity of what had just happened weighed heavily on him, even if he couldn't fully comprehend it.
"So…what does this mean?" Asher finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper. His heart still pounded in his chest, and he could feel a slight tremor in his hands.
Celeste stepped back from the embrace, her excitement dimming as she looked between Asher and Luna. She took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts before speaking. "It means you're special, Asher. More special than any of us could have imagined."
"Special?" Asher echoed, frowning. "What does that even mean? Why can I do…that?" He gestured vaguely at the space where the blue fire had been. "Absorb fire? That's not normal. None of this is normal."
Luna, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. Her voice was calm but held a weight of authority. "No, it's not normal. Nothing about you is normal, Asher." She looked him directly in the eye, her gaze intense. "You're not just an ordinary human. The fact that you survived the Hellfire proves that."
Asher swallowed hard, the implications of her words hitting him like a ton of bricks. "So…what am I? What does it mean to be this…Abyssborn?"
Luna hesitated for a moment, then answered. "The Abyssborn is someone born under unique and rare circumstances, someone who carries the essence of both light and darkness within them. It's a title, a role, that comes with immense power…and immense responsibility. We were sent to find you because you're the only one who can help us with what's to come."
"What's to come?" Asher repeated, his voice tinged with anxiety. "What does that mean? And who sent you?"
Celeste stepped in, her tone gentler than Luna's. "We don't know all the details ourselves," she admitted. "But we were told by someone…someone from our world that the Abyssborn would be able to help us restore balance."
"Restore balance?" Asher asked, his confusion growing. "What kind of balance?"
"The balance between realms," Luna said, her tone somber. "The world you know, Earth, is just one of many realms that exist. There's a fragile balance that keeps everything in order, and when that balance is threatened, chaos ensues. We've already seen the signs—strange occurrences, unnatural events. Something dark is brewing, something that could destroy everything."
Asher felt a cold shiver run down his spine. He had never been particularly religious or superstitious, but hearing Luna speak so gravely about other realms and the potential for destruction made his blood run cold. He had always considered himself an ordinary guy, living an ordinary life. But now, he was being told that he was something more, something that held the fate of multiple realms in the balance.
"You're saying…you're saying I have to fix this?" Asher asked, his voice shaky. "That I have to somehow stop this…chaos?"
Luna nodded, her expression unyielding. "Yes. But first, you need to understand who you are and what you're capable of. The fire you just absorbed is only the beginning. There's much more to your power, and you need to learn how to control it if you're going to stand a chance."
Asher stared at Luna, his mind racing. The idea that he had some kind of power, something that could potentially save—or destroy—entire realms, was beyond overwhelming. He felt like he was in a nightmare, one where the rules of reality no longer applied. And yet, the fire that had coursed through his veins, the feeling of that cold, searing heat—it was all too real.
"But…why me?" he finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why am I the one who has to do this?"
Celeste gave him a sympathetic look. "We don't know why you were chosen, Asher. We only know that you were. Maybe it's fate, or destiny, or something else entirely. But the fact remains that you are the Abyssborn, and with that comes a responsibility that only you can bear."
Asher let out a shaky breath, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He had always thought of himself as just a normal guy, with normal problems—school, friends, family. But now, those problems seemed insignificant compared to what he was being asked to do.
Luna watched him closely, her gaze piercing. "I know this is a lot to take in," she said, her voice softening slightly. "But you don't have to face it alone. Celeste and I are here to help you, to guide you. We'll teach you everything we know, and together, we can figure out how to stop what's coming."
Asher looked between the two sisters, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. On one hand, he felt an immense pressure, a crushing responsibility that he didn't feel ready for. On the other hand, there was a small part of him that was curious—curious about what he could do, about the power that seemed to be locked away inside him.
But more than anything, he was afraid. Afraid of what this power could mean, afraid of what he might have to face. He had always been able to rely on his brother, Ambrose, to help him through tough situations, but this was something that Ambrose couldn't help with. This was something that Asher had to face on his own.
"Okay," Asher finally said, his voice trembling slightly. "Okay, I'll…I'll try. But I don't know if I can do this."
Luna stepped closer, her expression softening. "You can," she said firmly. "You have to. There's no other choice."
Celeste nodded in agreement. "We believe in you, Asher. And we'll be with you every step of the way."
Asher took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. He still felt a deep sense of unease, a gnawing fear in the pit of his stomach. But there was also a glimmer of determination, a small spark of resolve that he clung to.
"What do I have to do?" he asked, his voice firmer now.
Luna exchanged a glance with Celeste, then looked back at Asher. "The first step is to understand your power. The fire you absorbed is part of you now, and you need to learn how to control it. Once you can do that, we'll move on to the next step."
"And what's the next step?" Asher asked, dreading the answer.
Luna's expression turned serious again. "We'll need to put you through a series of trials—tests that will push you to your limits. These tests will help you unlock the full extent of your abilities, but they'll also be dangerous. You'll need to be prepared for anything."
Asher swallowed hard, his fear returning in full force. "Dangerous? How dangerous are we talking?"
Celeste's expression softened. "It won't be easy," she admitted. "But we'll be with you. You won't have to face it alone."
Asher nodded, though his heart was still pounding in his chest. He had no idea what these trials would entail, but he knew that whatever it was, it wouldn't be easy. He was stepping into a world he didn't understand, with powers he couldn't fully control. But despite his fear, he knew he had to try. There was no turning back now.
Luna stepped closer to Asher, her gaze intense. "We'll start tomorrow," she said firmly. "Get some rest tonight. You'll need it."
Asher nodded again, feeling a deep sense of dread settling over him. Tomorrow, everything would change. Tomorrow, he would begin a journey that could either save the realms—or destroy them.
As the night wore on, Asher lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. The events of the day replayed in his mind, over and over again, like a broken record. The fire, the revelations, the immense responsibility that had been thrust upon him—it was all too much to process.
But despite his fear, there was one thing that kept him going: the knowledge that he wasn't alone. Luna and Celeste were with him, guiding him, supporting him. And somehow, that gave him the strength to face the unknown.
As sleep finally claimed him, Asher's last thought was of the fire—the cold, searing fire that had become a part of him. He didn't know what the future held, but he knew that he would do whatever it took to protect the realms, to fulfill the destiny that had been placed upon him.
Even if it meant facing the abyss within himself.
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