The next few days passed in a blur of restless nights and secretive research. Eren spent every free moment pouring over the ancient text that Professor Caelith had given him. The book, Essence of Flame: A Treatise on Elemental Fire Magic, was dense and riddled with diagrams, runes, and passages written in languages Eren could barely recognize.
But slowly, he began to piece together its meaning.
The book explained that fire was not just an element—it was a manifestation of intent, tied to the emotions and willpower of its wielder. The stronger the bond between mage and flame, the more potent and precise the magic could become. But it came with a warning: unchecked emotions could cause the fire to spiral out of control, turning it from a tool into a force of destruction.
Eren couldn't help but feel the parallels to his own situation. The fragment of the Ashen Key, hidden beneath his bed, seemed to pulse faintly whenever his emotions ran high, as if it were responding to his fear, his frustration, his anger.
"Control the flame," he muttered to himself late one night, staring at the open book. "Don't let it control you."
The following morning, Eren found himself back at the practice grounds, the text tucked under his arm. The grounds were empty, save for a few students practicing duels at the far end. He made his way to a secluded corner and set the book down on a nearby bench.
He pulled out his wand, gripping it tightly as he focused on the spell described in the book.
"Ignis Spiralis," he whispered, flicking his wand in a spiral motion.
A small flame sparked at the tip of his wand, swirling into a delicate spiral of fire. For a brief moment, it hovered in the air, its shape perfect. But then the flame flickered, growing erratic as Eren's focus wavered.
"Stay—stay together," he muttered, trying to will the flame back into form.
But it was no use. The spiral unraveled, the fire fizzling out in a puff of smoke.
Eren groaned, rubbing his temples.
"Impressive effort, but your wrist is too stiff," came a familiar voice.
He turned to see Kaia approaching, her arms crossed and a bemused expression on her face.
"What are you doing out here?" she asked, tilting her head. "You've been sneaking off a lot lately."
Eren hesitated, his heart pounding. He had been dreading this conversation, but Kaia's sharp eyes told him there was no escaping it now.
"I've been… working on something," he admitted, gesturing vaguely to the book.
Kaia stepped closer, her gaze flicking to the open page. "Elemental fire magic? Eren, this is advanced stuff. Why are you—"
Her eyes widened as she caught sight of the flame symbol on the cover. "Wait. Is this about the Ashen Key?"
Eren stiffened. "How do you know about that?"
Kaia gave him a pointed look. "I'm not blind, Eren. I've seen the pendant you've been wearing. And I know you've been hiding something ever since we found that book in the library."
Eren sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Okay, fine. Yes, it's about the Ashen Key. But it's… complicated."
Kaia's expression softened slightly. "Then explain it to me. I want to help."
For a moment, Eren considered brushing her off again, but the sincerity in her voice stopped him.
So he told her everything—the hidden chamber, the fragment of the key, the voice's warnings, and Professor Caelith's advice.
When he finished, Kaia was silent, her brow furrowed in thought.
"That's… a lot," she said finally. "But it explains so much. No wonder you've been so distracted lately."
"I didn't want to drag you into it," Eren said quietly. "It's dangerous."
Kaia rolled her eyes. "Please. We've faced danger before. Besides, you're clearly in over your head. You need someone to keep you grounded."
Eren couldn't help but smile at that. "Thanks, Kaia."
She grinned. "Don't mention it. Now, let's see what we're working with."
With Kaia's help, Eren's practice sessions became more focused. She had a knack for spotting his mistakes and pushing him to refine his technique, even when he grew frustrated.
"Loosen your grip," she said one afternoon, watching as Eren attempted the spiral flame spell for the twentieth time. "You're trying to control it too much. Fire needs room to breathe."
Eren took a deep breath and adjusted his grip, letting the flame flow more freely. This time, the spiral held its shape, glowing steadily in the air.
"Better," Kaia said, nodding in approval.
Eren grinned, the success giving him a spark of confidence.
But their progress wasn't without setbacks. One evening, as Eren attempted a more complex spell, the flame flared too brightly, sending a wave of heat that singed the edges of Kaia's cloak.
"Sorry!" Eren said quickly, extinguishing the fire.
Kaia brushed off the ash with a shrug. "We'll call that one a learning experience."
Despite the challenges, Eren could feel himself growing stronger. The more he practiced, the more attuned he became to the flame's energy—and to the fragment of the Ashen Key.
But with every step forward, the weight of the voice's warnings lingered in the back of his mind.
Fire can illuminate, but it can also consume.
Eren didn't know which path lay ahead for him. But one thing was certain: he wasn't facing it alone.