The forest grew denser as they traveled, the sunlight struggling to break through the thick canopy of branches overhead. The air was heavy with the scent of moss and damp earth, but there was something else—something sharper, more metallic—that made Aelin's senses prickle with unease.
Kael noticed it too. His hand hovered near his sword as they moved, his golden eyes scanning their surroundings. "This doesn't feel right," he muttered.
Aelin nodded, her grip tightening on her weapon. The Flame inside her thrummed with energy, restless and alive, as though it could sense the same danger she did.
They pressed on in silence, their footsteps muffled by the soft forest floor. The sound of birdsong had vanished, leaving only the faint rustle of leaves and the occasional crack of a twig underfoot.
Then, they found it.
The clearing was eerily quiet, the ground littered with broken branches and scorched earth. At its center stood a massive stone monolith, its surface etched with ancient runes that glowed faintly in the dim light. Around it were scattered remnants of what had once been a camp—tents torn to shreds, supplies scattered and burned.
Kael knelt beside a charred piece of fabric, his brow furrowing. "This wasn't a random attack. Someone—or something—came here with a purpose."
Aelin approached the monolith cautiously, her eyes tracing the runes. They were similar to the ones she had seen in the Temple of Embers, their shapes twisting and shifting as if alive. Her fingers itched to touch the stone, but she held back, wary of what it might awaken.
"What is this place?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kael stood, his expression grim. "A relic. One of many scattered across the land. They're tied to the Flame, though no one knows exactly how."
Aelin frowned, her gaze fixed on the monolith. "Why would someone attack a place like this?"
Kael hesitated before answering. "Because relics like this hold power. The kind of power people are willing to kill for."
Aelin's stomach churned. She didn't need Kael to explain further—she knew all too well what power could do to people.
As she stepped closer to the monolith, the Flame inside her stirred, its whispers growing louder. The runes seemed to pulse in time with her heartbeat, their glow intensifying.
"Aelin," Kael said sharply, his hand on her arm. "Be careful."
But it was too late.
The moment her fingers brushed the surface of the stone, the world shifted.
Aelin was no longer in the clearing. She stood in a vast, barren landscape, the sky above her a swirling mass of fire and smoke. The air was thick with heat, each breath searing her lungs.
Before her stood a figure—a woman cloaked in flames, her face obscured but her presence overwhelming.
"You carry the Flame," the woman said, her voice echoing like a thousand voices speaking as one.
Aelin squared her shoulders, forcing herself to meet the woman's gaze. "I didn't ask for it."
The woman tilted her head, the flames around her flickering like laughter. "The Flame does not wait for permission. It chooses, and it chose you."
"Why?" Aelin demanded, her voice rising. "Why me? Why not someone else?"
The woman stepped closer, her fiery form casting long shadows across the barren ground. "Because you are strong enough to bear it. Because you are willing to defy it."
Aelin frowned, her heart pounding. "What does that mean?"
The woman didn't answer. Instead, she raised her hand, and the landscape around them shifted. Aelin gasped as images appeared—scenes from her past, moments she had buried deep within herself.
She saw her parents, their faces lit by the flickering glow of a hearth. She saw the moment they were taken from her, their screams echoing in her ears. She saw herself, alone and afraid, struggling to survive in a world that seemed determined to break her.
But then the images changed.
She saw herself wielding the Flame, her eyes blazing with its power. She saw entire cities consumed by fire, their people screaming as they burned. She saw the shadow-creature from the forest, and behind it—a figure cloaked in darkness, its eyes glowing with the same molten gold as her own.
Aelin's breath caught in her throat. "What is this?"
"The path before you," the woman said, her voice softer now. "The choices you must make."
Aelin shook her head, her fists clenched at her sides. "No. I won't let that happen. I won't become that."
The woman's flames dimmed slightly, her expression almost… sad. "The Flame is neither good nor evil, Aelin. It is a force, and it will shape you as you shape it. But know this: every choice you make carries a cost."
Before Aelin could respond, the world around her shattered like glass.
She was back in the clearing, her hand still pressed against the monolith. Kael was shaking her, his voice urgent.
"Aelin! Let go!"
She gasped, jerking her hand away from the stone as though it had burned her. Her knees buckled, and Kael caught her before she hit the ground.
"What happened?" he demanded, his voice tight with worry.
Aelin stared at the monolith, her heart racing. "I saw… I saw everything. My past. My future. What I could become."
Kael's grip on her arm tightened. "And?"
Aelin met his gaze, her eyes burning with determination. "I won't let it break me."
Kael nodded, his expression serious. "Good. Because whatever's coming, we're going to face it together."
Aelin looked back at the monolith, its runes now dull and lifeless. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew one thing for certain.
The Flame was her burden to bear. And she would bear it, no matter the cost.
The forest's oppressive silence lingered as Aelin and Kael left the clearing, the monolith and its cryptic visions behind them. Aelin couldn't shake the image of the cloaked figure from her mind—its eyes, molten and unrelenting, burned into her memory.
Kael stayed close, his presence steadying as they moved. His occasional glances toward her spoke of unasked questions, but he held his tongue. He must have sensed that whatever Aelin had seen was too raw to share yet.
Finally, after what felt like hours of walking, they reached a small ridge overlooking a narrow valley. A river wound through its center, the water glistening like molten silver in the dim light of the overcast sky.
Kael stopped, scanning the area below. "This might be a good place to set up camp. We'll need rest if we're going to keep heading north."
Aelin nodded absently, her gaze fixed on the horizon. The Flame inside her was quieter now, though its whispers still lingered in the back of her mind, like embers waiting to ignite.
They descended the ridge carefully, their boots crunching on loose gravel. The riverbank was cool and damp, the sound of running water soothing after the tension of the day. Kael knelt to refill their canteens while Aelin stood guard, her eyes scanning the treeline for any signs of movement.
"You've been quiet," Kael said after a moment, his tone casual but probing.
Aelin hesitated, her grip tightening on the hilt of her sword. "I've had a lot to think about."
Kael looked up at her, his golden eyes searching. "The vision?"
Aelin nodded, her throat tight. "It showed me things—things I don't want to believe. But it also made something clear."
"And what's that?"
"That this power… the Flame… it's not just something I can fight. It's something I have to understand. If I don't, it will destroy me."
Kael's expression softened, and he stood, stepping closer. "You're not alone in this, Aelin. Whatever you saw, whatever you're facing—you don't have to face it by yourself."
Aelin met his gaze, her heart pounding. The weight of the Flame, the weight of her choices, felt less crushing under his steady assurance. She gave a small nod, her voice quiet. "Thank you."
They worked together to set up camp, Kael gathering firewood while Aelin prepared a simple meal from their dwindling supplies. The fire they built crackled softly, its warmth a welcome comfort against the cool evening air.
As they ate in silence, Aelin found her thoughts drifting back to the vision. The figure cloaked in darkness, the cities engulfed in flames, the sense of inevitability that had pressed down on her like a weight.
Kael broke the silence. "You ever hear the stories about the first Flamebearer?"
Aelin raised an eyebrow. "You mean the one who supposedly created the relics and then vanished?"
Kael nodded, his gaze distant. "Some say he didn't vanish. They say he became one with the Flame, that his soul still lingers in it, guiding those who come after."
Aelin frowned. "If that's true, he's doing a terrible job. The Flame doesn't feel like it's guiding me—it feels like it's testing me. Breaking me."
Kael smiled faintly. "Maybe that's the point. Sometimes the greatest guidance comes through struggle. It forces us to grow, to become more than we thought we could be."
Aelin stared into the fire, the flames dancing and twisting. She wanted to believe Kael's words, but the vision of destruction still haunted her.
"Do you think it's possible to shape the Flame?" she asked suddenly.
Kael tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
"To use it for something other than destruction. To make it a force for good."
Kael considered her question, his expression thoughtful. "I think the Flame reflects the wielder. If you want to shape it, you have to start by shaping yourself."
Aelin nodded slowly, his words settling deep within her.
Their conversation was interrupted by a distant sound—a low, guttural growl that sent a chill down Aelin's spine.
Kael was on his feet instantly, his sword drawn. Aelin followed suit, her senses sharpening as she scanned the darkness beyond the firelight.
The growl came again, closer this time.
Aelin's heart raced. "What is it?"
Kael's jaw tightened. "Something big. And not friendly."
The shadows at the edge of the firelight shifted, and a massive shape emerged. It was unlike anything Aelin had ever seen—a hulking beast with scales as dark as obsidian and eyes that glowed a sickly green. Its maw was filled with jagged teeth, and its claws dug into the earth as it advanced.
Kael stepped in front of Aelin, his sword raised. "Stay behind me."
Aelin scowled, stepping up beside him. "Not a chance."
The beast roared, the sound reverberating through the valley, and charged.
Aelin and Kael moved as one, their swords flashing in the firelight. The beast was fast despite its size, its claws swiping through the air with deadly precision. Aelin ducked under one strike, her blade slicing into its side, but the creature barely flinched.
Kael leaped forward, his sword aiming for the beast's neck, but it twisted away at the last moment, its tail lashing out and catching him in the side. He hit the ground hard, his sword skidding out of reach.
"Kael!" Aelin shouted, her fury igniting.
The Flame surged within her, and this time, she didn't fight it. She let it flow through her, her body glowing with its golden light. Her sword blazed with fire as she lunged at the beast, her strikes faster and more powerful than before.
The beast howled as her blade pierced its hide, flames consuming the wound. It thrashed, trying to dislodge her, but Aelin held her ground, her movements relentless.
Finally, with a final, earth-shaking roar, the beast collapsed, its body crumpling into ash and smoke.
Aelin stood over the remains, her chest heaving, the fire in her veins slowly fading.
Kael groaned from where he lay, and Aelin hurried to his side.
"You okay?" she asked, helping him sit up.
Kael winced but managed a grin. "Nothing broken. Thanks to you."
Aelin rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small smile tugging at her lips. "Next time, don't try to play the hero."
Kael chuckled. "I'll try, but no promises."
As the adrenaline faded, Aelin felt the weight of the fight settle over her. The Flame was still there, simmering beneath the surface, but for the first time, she felt like she had wielded it instead of the other way around.
She glanced at Kael, who was watching her with an unreadable expression.
"What?" she asked.
Kael shook his head, his smile soft. "Nothing. Just… you're stronger than you think, Aelin."
Aelin's smile faltered, but she nodded. For now, that would have to be enough.