her fears but also the responsi
The days that followed Aelin's first encounter with the Flame were nothing like she had imagined. The once-gentle power that had resided within her chest now surged constantly, a relentless presence that demanded her attention. It wasn't just a part of her anymore—it was a force that shaped her every thought and action, guiding her through every moment of her day.
At first, Kaelor had taught her the basics: how to focus, how to control the flickers of fire that danced inside her. But each day, the lessons grew more intense, and the Flame—the power—demanded more.
Now, Aelin stood before a stone pillar in the center of Firyngrove's main hall, her mind fixed on the task at hand. The air around her shimmered with the heat rising from her body, and the flickers of fire that now swirled within her chest felt alive, eager to be released.
Kaelor stood at a distance, watching her carefully. His face was a mask of concentration, his arms crossed over his chest. Beside him, the ancient flames flickered in silent anticipation.
"Remember what you've learned," Kaelor's voice rang out in the silence. "The fire responds to your will, Aelin, but it is not a simple servant. You are not its master. You must guide it."
Aelin swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. She had felt the power of the Flame grow inside her, but controlling it, directing it—it was different than anything she had ever imagined.
Her hands trembled as she raised them slowly, palms facing the pillar. She could feel the heat building in her chest, could sense the fire within her, waiting, eager for release. She closed her eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply, trying to center herself.
The room was silent except for the soft crackling of the flames around her. She focused on the energy coursing through her, trying to sense its rhythm, its flow. The power was like a wild river inside her, constantly shifting and surging, and she had to learn to navigate it, to become the current.
Aelin extended her hands further, willing the flames to move, to twist and coil around her fingers, to reach out to the pillar. The air crackled with heat as she concentrated, focusing all her energy on the fire. It was a dance, an intricate, delicate movement of the mind and the soul.
The first flicker of flame leapt from her fingertips, a small, tentative spark. It hovered in the air for a moment before it flickered out.
Kaelor's voice cut through the silence. "Focus, Aelin. You can't force it. You must listen."
Aelin clenched her fists, her teeth gritted. She didn't want to listen. She wanted control. She wanted power—power to protect herself, to destroy the enemies that hunted her. The Shattered Order, the shadow that loomed over her life, seemed to press in from every direction, a constant reminder that time was running out.
She took another deep breath, and this time, the Flame inside her responded more readily. The fire in her chest surged forward, licking at her fingers as she outstretched her hand again. A ball of flame took shape, swirling around her palm. It wasn't much—just a small, flickering globe of light—but it was a beginning.
Slowly, carefully, Aelin guided the flame toward the stone pillar. It crackled and burned, illuminating the room with its fiery glow. But as it neared the pillar, the fire wavered, flickered, and then sputtered out, leaving only a faint trace of smoke in the air.
She let out a frustrated sigh, lowering her hands. Her body ached with the effort, and her mind felt overwhelmed by the sheer force of the power she was trying to control. She could still feel it—the fire within her, the heat that surged through her veins, but it was elusive, like a wild stallion she couldn't quite tame.
Kaelor's voice was calm but firm. "This is not a race, Aelin. The Flame will not be rushed. You need to find balance. You cannot wield fire without first understanding it."
Aelin nodded, trying to calm the frantic pulse in her chest. She was used to pushing herself, used to fighting, used to rushing headlong into the unknown without thinking. But this? This was different. This was about control, about patience.
She closed her eyes again, focusing inward, letting the chaos of the world fall away. The heat inside her simmered, a constant presence. The Flame was not just power; it was emotion, it was fear, it was rage. It was everything she had ever felt, every conflict she had ever experienced, every question that had ever haunted her.
Kaelor stepped forward, his presence a steadying force behind her. "You must learn to trust it, Aelin. Trust in the Flame's wisdom. It will not harm you if you do not fear it."
Aelin took another deep breath, and this time, something shifted within her. She let go of her fear—the fear of losing control, of being consumed by the fire. She let it flow, embracing the heat that curled inside her, letting it rise like smoke
and spread through her, until it became part of her very essence. This time, she didn't fight it. She welcomed it, knowing that only by surrendering to the Flame could she hope to wield it effectively.
Her hands tingled, then burned as the fire began to take shape once more, but this time it didn't flicker out. The warmth grew, swirling in an intricate dance around her fingers, its movement as fluid as the wind. Aelin exhaled slowly, focusing all her attention on the ball of flame forming in her palm.
She opened her eyes, gazing at the fire that now floated effortlessly in front of her. It was no longer a wild, uncontrolled force—it was contained, held in the balance between her mind and the power of the Flame. She felt connected to it, as if they were two sides of the same coin. She wasn't just controlling it; she was becoming one with it.
"Good," Kaelor's voice broke through her concentration, soft yet filled with approval. "Now, send it forward. Direct it toward the pillar."
Aelin nodded, her focus sharp as she extended her hand toward the stone pillar. The ball of flame followed, gliding smoothly through the air as if guided by an invisible force. She felt a surge of satisfaction as the fire reached the pillar and made contact, leaving behind a trail of glowing red runes etched into the stone. The pillar crackled with the heat of the flame, but it did not crumble. Instead, the fire seemed to merge with the stone, its presence becoming an integral part of the room.
Aelin's heart raced with excitement and pride. For the first time, she felt in control—not just of the fire, but of herself. The fear that had gripped her before, the uncertainty, seemed distant now, like a shadow cast by the fire's brilliance.
She lowered her hand, the flame dissipating into the air as the pillar cooled. Kaelor stepped closer, his eyes keen as he examined the results of her work.
"You've done well," he said, his voice quieter now, but there was a depth to it that suggested something more. "But remember, the Flame is not just about power—it's about balance. You cannot simply use it to destroy. There is a price to fire, Aelin."
Aelin's brow furrowed as she looked up at Kaelor. "What do you mean? The fire did what I wanted. It didn't feel… dangerous."
Kaelor's expression was unreadable as he turned his gaze to the smoldering pillar. "The fire will always obey, but it demands respect. If you use it recklessly, it will burn away everything—everything—including yourself. You saw how the fire burned the pillar, but what you didn't see was how it left a mark on the room, on the very walls of Firyngrove."
Aelin's pulse quickened. "I didn't mean to—"
"I know," Kaelor interrupted, holding up a hand to silence her. "But you need to understand the consequences. Every action has a reaction. Every time you wield the Flame, it changes something. It takes something from you."
Aelin stared at him, trying to understand. "So, I can't just use it whenever I want?"
"Not without considering the cost," Kaelor replied firmly. "The Flame is a powerful ally, but it is also a harsh master. You must be prepared to sacrifice, to pay the price for the power you wield."
Aelin's heart sank as she realized the gravity of what Kaelor was saying. She had always known there was a cost to power, but she hadn't truly understood it until now. The Flame wasn't just a tool—it was a living, breathing force, one that would exact its price for every use.
Kaelor's expression softened as he saw the doubt in her eyes. "It's not a price that will always be easy to see, Aelin. The Flame can take a toll on your body, on your mind, and on your soul. It feeds on emotion—on your fear, your anger, your joy, and your pain. The more you feed it, the more it will consume."
Aelin took a slow breath, trying to process his words. The fire inside her felt so alive, so eager to burn. She had only just begun to tap into its potential, and already, it was asking more of her than she had anticipated.
"Then how do I control it?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "How do I keep from losing myself?"
Kaelor regarded her quietly for a long moment before responding. "You must learn restraint. You must learn to listen to the Flame, to hear it. It is not just a fire—it is a force of nature. It is destruction and creation, life and death, all at once. And you must learn to navigate that duality."
Aelin nodded slowly, the weight of his words settling heavily in her chest. She had known the Flame was powerful, but now she understood that its true danger lay not in its strength, but in its unpredictability, its insatiable hunger.
She glanced at the pillar again, now cooling and no longer glowing. The runes that had been scorched into its surface were still visible, faint traces of the fire's passage. Aelin realized that this was just the beginning. The Flame had shown her its power, and now she had to learn how to master it, to wield it with care.
Kaelor's voice pulled her from her thoughts. "You've taken the first step, Aelin. But there is much more for you to learn. The Flame cannot be controlled by sheer force alone. You must learn to understand it, to feel its presence, to move with it rather than against it."
Aelin took a deep breath, feeling the fire within her stir, eager to continue. Despite the weight of Kaelor's words, she couldn't help but feel a spark of determination within herself. She was learning. She had come so far in such a short time, and she knew there was still so much to discover.
But she also knew that the path ahead wouldn't be easy. There would be challenges—physical, emotional, and mental. There would be moments when she would doubt herself, when the temptation to give in to the fire's hunger would be overwhelming.
And the Shattered Order was still out there, watching, waiting. They would not stop until they had what they wanted: the power of the Flame for themselves.
Aelin's fingers clenched into fists as she looked at Kaelor, her resolve hardening. She was ready. She would not let the Flame consume her. She would master it.
Kaelor seemed to read the determination in her eyes, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Good. But remember, Aelin, power is not the end. It is the beginning. And in the end, it is your heart that will determine whether you become the Flame's master—or its victim."
Aelin nodded solemnly, her gaze steady. She wasn't afraid anymore. Not of the Flame. Not of herself. Not of the Shattered Order.
She was ready for whatever came next.