The training continued relentlessly. Days bled into one another as Aelin pushed herself harder than she ever thought possible. Kaelor was unyielding, his lessons grueling, but beneath his stern exterior, Aelin could feel his care for her progress. Each time she thought she had nothing left to give, he found a way to draw more from her.
It was during one of these sessions, as the sun dipped below the horizon, that Aelin first felt the peculiar shift. She was working on summoning fire shields—barriers of pure flame that could repel attacks. Her focus was razor-sharp, her hands raised as twin walls of fire surged before her.
"Stronger!" Kaelor barked, pacing behind her. "Your barrier won't stop a blade of shadow at that strength!"
Gritting her teeth, Aelin poured more energy into the flames. The barriers grew, their heat radiating outward in waves. Sweat dripped from her brow as the fire crackled fiercely.
And then, she felt it.
A shadow, creeping at the edge of her awareness. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but it was there—slithering through her thoughts like smoke. Her concentration faltered for a moment, and the barriers wavered.
"What are you doing?" Kaelor snapped. "Focus, Aelin!"
"I felt something," she said, her voice tight.
Kaelor's gaze sharpened. "What do you mean, 'something'?"
"It's hard to explain," she said, lowering her hands and letting the flames dissipate. "It was like… a presence. Dark, cold. Watching me."
Kaelor's expression darkened. He stepped closer, his golden eyes searching hers. "Describe it. Exactly."
Aelin hesitated, trying to put the sensation into words. "It felt like smoke, like a shadow curling around me. But it wasn't just outside—it was inside, too. Like it was trying to seep into my mind."
Kaelor's jaw tightened. He turned away, pacing the length of the clearing. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and grim. "The Shattered Order is closer than I thought."
"What?" Aelin said, her heart skipping.
Kaelor stopped, facing her. "The Order isn't just a collection of rogue mages. They wield a force older than the Flame itself—a power born of darkness and corruption. If you felt its presence, it means they're reaching for you. They've sensed your connection to the Flame."
Aelin's stomach churned. "Reaching for me? Why?"
"Because you're a threat," Kaelor said simply. "The Flame is one of the few forces capable of countering their magic. They'll do everything they can to extinguish it—and you."
The weight of his words settled heavily on her chest. She had always known the Shattered Order was dangerous, but this made it personal. They weren't just a distant threat—they were coming for her.
"What do we do?" she asked, her voice trembling despite her efforts to sound strong.
Kaelor's gaze softened slightly. "We prepare. You've made progress, Aelin, but you're not ready to face them yet. Not alone."
"Then teach me," she said, her resolve hardening. "I don't care how hard it is—I need to be ready."
Kaelor nodded, a flicker of approval in his eyes. "We'll start now."
Kaelor led her deeper into the forest, where the trees grew denser and the air felt heavier. The sunlight barely penetrated the canopy, casting the ground in deep, shifting shadows.
They stopped in a small clearing, where Kaelor turned to face her. "The Flame is your greatest weapon, but it's also your greatest vulnerability. If the Order's magic touches you, it will try to corrupt the Flame, twisting it into something dark and destructive. You need to learn how to protect yourself—not just physically, but mentally."
"How?" Aelin asked, her voice steady despite the nervous knot in her stomach.
"Through a trial," Kaelor said, his tone grave. "I'll create a shadow construct—an illusion born of my magic. It will test your strength, your focus, and your will. If you can defeat it, you'll prove that you can withstand the Order's influence."
"And if I fail?"
Kaelor's expression darkened. "Then you'll know what it feels like to lose yourself to the shadows. But I won't let it come to that."
Aelin swallowed hard, nodding. "I'm ready."
Kaelor raised his hands, and the air around them grew colder. Shadows began to gather at the edges of the clearing, swirling like smoke. They coalesced into a figure—a humanoid shape with glowing red eyes and tendrils of darkness trailing from its form.
The construct moved toward her, silent and menacing. Aelin's pulse quickened, but she forced herself to focus. She summoned a flame dagger in each hand, the heat steadying her nerves.
The shadow construct lunged, faster than she expected. She barely managed to dodge, the tendrils brushing her arm and sending a chilling sensation through her body.
"Focus!" Kaelor called from the edge of the clearing. "It's testing you—don't let it into your mind!"
Aelin gritted her teeth, slashing at the construct with her daggers. The flames struck true, cutting through the shadowy form, but it reformed almost instantly, the tendrils growing thicker and darker.
The construct struck again, this time wrapping a tendril around her wrist. Aelin cried out as cold seeped into her veins, dulling the warmth of the Flame. For a moment, she felt the same presence she had sensed earlier—a cold, consuming darkness that whispered to her, promising power and freedom.
"No," she growled, shaking her head. She forced the Flame to surge within her, burning brighter and hotter. The tendril recoiled, and the construct stumbled back, its form flickering.
Aelin pressed the advantage, channeling her fire into a single, focused blast. The flames roared forward, consuming the shadowy figure in an inferno. When the fire died down, the construct was gone.
She fell to her knees, panting and trembling. The warmth of the Flame pulsed weakly inside her, but it was still there.
Kaelor approached, his expression unreadable. "You did well."
Aelin looked up at him, her eyes burning with determination. "It wasn't enough. I barely held it off."
Kaelor crouched beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You held it off, Aelin. That's more than most could do. The shadows are insidious, but you proved that your will is stronger. That's the first step."
She nodded, her resolve hardening. "What's the next step?"
Kaelor's gaze was steady. "We make you stronger. Because this was only the beginning."
The night was deep when Kaelor finally allowed Aelin to rest. The battle against the shadow construct had drained her, and the weight of her progress pressed heavily on her mind. She lay on the soft earth outside their makeshift camp, the quiet hum of the forest a stark contrast to the chaos she had faced earlier.
Sleep came in restless fits, her dreams a swirl of fire and darkness. She stood in a vast, endless void where the shadows whispered to her, their voices seductive and chilling.
"Aelin," they murmured, their tones smooth as silk. "Why fight when we can grant you power? Freedom?"
The darkness shifted, forming a figure with glowing red eyes. It reached for her, and for a moment, she hesitated, the Flame inside her flickering weakly.
"No," she whispered, clenching her fists. "You won't have me."
The Flame surged within her, and the shadows recoiled, their whispers turning to screams. Aelin awoke with a start, her body drenched in sweat and her heart racing. The campfire had burned low, casting faint shadows across Kaelor's sleeping form.
The presence of the dream lingered, but Aelin pushed it aside. She couldn't afford to dwell on fear. She rose quietly, stepping away from the camp and into the forest.
The trees loomed around her, their silhouettes stark against the faint moonlight. She walked until she found a small clearing, where she knelt on the cool grass. Closing her eyes, she reached inward, seeking the Flame.
It came to her slowly, a hesitant warmth that mirrored her uncertainty.
I can't let them win, she thought. I can't let them take this from me.
She summoned a small flicker of fire in her palm, its glow steady and calming. For a moment, she simply stared at it, letting its warmth soothe her frayed nerves.
---
Kaelor's Warning
"You're restless."
The voice startled her, and the flame in her hand flickered out. She turned to see Kaelor standing at the edge of the clearing, his arms crossed and his golden eyes sharp.
"I couldn't sleep," she admitted, rising to her feet.
Kaelor stepped closer, his expression unreadable. "The shadows are still in your mind, aren't they?"
Aelin hesitated, then nodded. "They keep whispering to me. Even in my dreams."
Kaelor sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "That's their nature. The shadows feed on doubt and fear. They'll try to wear you down, to make you question yourself. You have to fight them, Aelin. Every moment, you have to fight."
"I am fighting," she said, her voice firm. "But it's like they're always there, waiting for me to slip."
Kaelor studied her for a long moment before nodding. "That means they see you as a threat. And they should."
"What do you mean?"
"You're stronger than you realize," he said, his tone softening. "The Flame isn't just a tool—it's a reflection of your spirit. As long as you believe in yourself, they can't touch you. But the moment you let doubt take hold…"
He didn't finish the sentence, but Aelin understood. She swallowed hard, nodding.
"I won't let them win," she said, her voice steady.
Kaelor's lips curved into a faint smile. "Good. Then let's make sure you're ready for what comes next."
The next morning, Kaelor led Aelin to a secluded part of the forest. The trees here were ancient, their gnarled roots twisting across the ground like veins. A faint mist hung in the air, giving the place an otherworldly feel.
"This is the Ember's Glade," Kaelor said, his voice reverent. "It's a place of power, where the Flame is strongest. Here, you'll face your next trial."
Aelin's stomach tightened. "What kind of trial?"
Kaelor gestured to the center of the glade, where a large, circular stone sat surrounded by runes etched into the earth. "The Flame will test you. It will push you to your limits, forcing you to confront your fears and weaknesses. Only by overcoming them can you unlock your full potential."
Aelin stepped closer to the stone, her heart pounding. The runes glowed faintly, pulsing with a golden light that seemed to resonate with the Flame inside her.
"What do I have to do?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Sit on the stone and focus on the Flame," Kaelor said. "Let it guide you. But be warned—this trial is not without risk. If you falter, the shadows could take hold."
Aelin clenched her fists, her resolve hardening. "I won't falter."
Kaelor nodded, his expression grave. "Then begin."
Aelin stepped onto the stone, the runes flaring brighter as she sat cross-legged in the center. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and reaching for the Flame.
It responded immediately, a surge of warmth that enveloped her like a protective cloak.
But then the warmth shifted, growing hotter, more intense. The air around her seemed to crackle with energy, and she felt herself being pulled inward, deeper into the Flame's core.
When she opened her eyes, she was no longer in the glade. She stood in a vast, fiery landscape, where rivers of molten lava flowed and the sky burned with an orange glow.
"This is your trial," a voice boomed, deep and resonant.
Aelin turned to see a towering figure made of fire and ash. Its eyes burned with golden light, and its voice echoed like a thunderclap.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"I am the Flame," the figure said. "I am the power within you, the force you seek to command. But power is not given freely—it must be earned."
"What do I have to do?"
The Flame raised a hand, and the fiery landscape shifted. Shadowy figures emerged from the molten rivers, their forms twisting and writhing as they advanced toward her.
"Prove your strength," the Flame said. "Defeat the shadows, and claim your place as my wielder."
Aelin's heart raced as the shadowy figures closed in. She summoned her fire daggers, their light blazing against the encroaching darkness.
The battle was fierce and unrelenting. The shadows moved with unnatural speed, their attacks precise and merciless. But Aelin fought back with everything she had, her flames burning brighter with each strike.
The Flame watched in silence as she battled, its presence a constant reminder of the power she sought to claim.