Chapter 51: "Flames of Resolve"
"Thrain, Phoenix-born, you saw it, didn't you?" Hikari's voice echoed in his mind, her tone sharp and urgent.
Thrain's eyes stayed fixed on Erevan, who exuded an unsettling confidence. "Saw what exactly?" he replied, though the unease gnawing at him hinted that he already knew.
"His flames," Akane interjected. "You noticed it, didn't you? That faint, dark hue."
"I did," Thrain admitted, his tone quieter now. "It's subtle, but there's something… wrong about it. Most people wouldn't catch it, but I could feel it. It's not normal."
"It's not just your instinct," Emiri said gravely. "If I've studied the legends right, that's no ordinary flame. It's the dragon's corrupted fire. It doesn't just burn, Thrain, it spreads its will. That flame can consume and control anyone it touches."
Thrain's jaw tightened as his unease deepened. "Are you sure about this?"
