The immortals sat in silence, contemplating the cryptic words written in the journal. "Dead fire?" Kael echoed, furrowing his brow. "I've never heard of such a thing before."
Neither had the others. Elara, typically the most knowledgeable about strange magics, shook her head. Even Sylvaris, ancient and wise beyond any of them, admitted, "In all my years of guarding this forest, I have never encountered anything like it. It is not of the natural order."
Isolde, visibly tense, turned to the Gloomling, who was sitting nearby, carefully examining the fragile pages of the journal. "Can you keep reading? Maybe the journal explains more."
The Gloomling shook its head slowly, eyes narrowing at the faded ink and the worn-out symbols. "The next pages… they are blurred. Time has not been kind to them. I will need time to decipher what's left," he said, his voice somber.
Elara leaned in to look over the Gloomling's shoulder. "I can help," she offered. "Two heads are better than one when dealing with something this old."
Sylvaris stood up, his tall figure casting a shadow over them all. "It would be wise for the rest of you to rest while they work. This forest has a way of draining one's strength without notice." His voice was gentle, but there was an underlying firmness that made it clear it wasn't a suggestion.
Reluctantly, the immortals agreed. After the tension of the day, it seemed prudent to conserve their energy for what might come next. They spread out, some finding a spot beneath the towering trees, while others gathered around the small fire they had built earlier. The Gloomling and Elara set to work on the journal as the others drifted into a light, uneasy sleep.
The night passed quietly, the only sounds being the crackling of the fire and the occasional whisper of wind through the leaves. Sylvaris kept his silent vigil, eyes ever-watchful, as the moon rose high and bathed the clearing in soft silver light.
Morning came abruptly, not with the usual serene waking, but with a loud, excited scream. "I've got it! We found it!" Elara's voice rang through the camp, jolting everyone awake.
Nyssa was the first to sit up, her senses immediately alert. "What is it?" she asked, rushing over to Elara, who was holding the journal with a triumphant smile.
The others quickly gathered around, groggy but curious. "What did you find?" Thalos asked, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
Elara held the journal up, excitement lighting her face. "We found out what 'dead fire' is—and how to find it."
The group stared at her in surprise. "Dead fire?" Lucius asked, his voice skeptical. "Is it something we can use?"
Elara nodded eagerly. "It's a fire formed from hate and despair. It can be found in the land of the dead."
At those words, the mood darkened. The immortals exchanged uneasy glances, and even Sylvaris looked troubled. "The land of the dead?" Kael muttered. "That's impossible. We cannot reach it, and even if we could, we wouldn't survive."
Nyssa folded her arms, her face unreadable. "And even if we did manage to go there, how would we retrieve the fire?"
Elara held up a finger, her smile widening. "I thought the same thing. At first, it seemed impossible. But then I remembered something—or rather, someone."
Her gaze shifted to Aurelia, who had been quietly listening to the conversation with growing confusion. "Me?" Aurelia asked, bewildered. "I can't create dead fire. I've never even heard of it before today."
Elara stepped closer to her, her eyes gleaming with understanding. "That's where you're wrong. You can create it, Aurelia. You just don't know it yet."
The others stared at Aurelia, equally perplexed. "What are you talking about?" Aurelia asked. "How could I possibly create something like that?"
Elara knelt in front of her, her voice soft but insistent. "You can, because dead fire is not just any fire. It's born from hatred and despair, from deep, painful memories. And we all know you've had your share of those."
Aurelia blinked, clearly taken aback. "You mean… I have to relive bad memories?"
Elara nodded. "You need to reach deep inside and find the most painful, darkest part of yourself. That's where the power of dead fire lies."
Aurelia hesitated, her mind racing. She had long buried her past, the painful memories of loss and betrayal that had shaped her into the person she was today. To conjure those memories now, to let them surface—it was not something she had ever wanted to do.
"I can try," she finally said, her voice quiet. She sat down on the ground, crossing her legs in the lotus position, and closed her eyes. The others watched in silence as she began to concentrate, her breathing deep and steady.
Minutes passed. Aurelia's face remained calm, her expression unreadable. There was no sign of change, no flicker of flame or hint of magic. The forest remained still, the air heavy with anticipation.
Finally, Kael broke the silence. "Is it working?" he asked, glancing at Elara.
Elara frowned, her excitement fading into concern. "I… I don't know. Aurelia, can you feel anything?"
Aurelia opened her eyes and shook her head, her face flushed with frustration. "Nothing. I can't feel anything."
Lucius, ever the skeptic, raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you've experienced something that bad, Aurelia? Maybe you've had an easier life than the rest of us."
Aurelia shot him a sharp look. "I've had my share of pain, Lucius. You don't know half of it."
Elara intervened before the tension could escalate. "Maybe we're rushing this. Aurelia, think about the worst thing that's ever happened to you. Something that's left a scar."
Aurelia closed her eyes again, but this time, her posture slumped slightly. She looked weary, as though the weight of her memories was pressing down on her. "I… I don't know where to start," she admitted quietly.
Nyssa, sitting close by, placed a comforting hand on Aurelia's shoulder. "Maybe it's too soon," she said gently. "We can figure this out together."
But before anyone could say more, Kael's voice cut through the quiet. "Wait. Aurelia, has anything truly horrible ever happened in your life?" His tone was serious, but there was a hint of curiosity.
Aurelia's eyes snapped open, and she looked at him with an intensity that made the others pause. Her lips parted as if to speak, but then she stopped, her gaze drifting downward, as though lost in a memory too painful to voice.
The silence stretched on, the air thick with unspoken tension.