The chamber darkened as soon as the Flamekeeper raised his hand. The glow of the cavern dimmed, the Ember Sigil floated from Seraphina's palm, and the air grew still—too still.
"You must enter the Flame of Reflection," the Flamekeeper said. "There, you will face the truth of your heart."
A circular pool of golden fire ignited in the center of the room. It didn't burn with heat—it shimmered like light caught in a dream.
Cassian squeezed Seraphina's hand. "You don't have to go alone."
She gave him a soft look. "This part… I do."
Without another word, Seraphina stepped into the flame.
The moment her foot touched the fire, her vision blurred. The chamber, the Flamekeeper, even Cassian—all vanished.
She stood in a vast mirror-like world, the sky a swirling tapestry of gold and ash. Reflections hovered in the air—of herself, of her past, of memories she'd locked away.
A soft voice echoed around her. Her own voice.
"Why do you fear the fire?"
She turned—and saw a version of herself, cloaked in white, eyes glowing like the Sigil.
Seraphina's breath caught. "I don't fear it. I fear what it might turn me into."
"Then face it."
Suddenly, her surroundings shifted.
She stood in the ruins of the capital city. Flames licked the sky. People screamed. Malrec stood atop a tower, laughing.
And in the center of it all stood Seraphina—older, colder, her eyes burning, her hand raised as fire consumed everything around her.
"No," she whispered. "That's not me."
The flame-vision Seraphina turned, smirking. "But it could be. Power without heart. Fire without control. That's what you are, isn't it?"
"No!" she cried, clenching her fists. "I'm not like him!"
The vision shattered like glass, leaving her alone again.
Then—another image appeared.
Her mother.
Standing in the throne room, holding baby Seraphina, humming a lullaby.
Tears welled in her eyes.
The mother's voice echoed: "You were born of light, not ruin. You are the bearer, not the destroyer."
Suddenly, the visions faded, and she was in the golden pool again—kneeling, breathless.
The Flamekeeper stood before her. "And what did you see?"
Seraphina stood, slowly. "My fear. My doubt. And the truth. I choose to carry the flame, not be ruled by it."
The Ember Sigil returned to her hand—this time glowing brilliantly, but not wild. The fire had accepted her.
Cassian ran to her as she stepped out, eyes wide. "You did it."
"I think I'm ready," she whispered.
The Flamekeeper nodded. "Then the Everflame is yours."
But before anyone could speak again, a deafening boom echoed through the cavern. The ground shook.
From above—horns blared. Shadows moved across the flame-lit stone.
Cassian's expression turned grim. "That's not thunder."
The Flamekeeper narrowed his eyes. "Malrec has begun his siege."
Seraphina turned toward the sound, her hand glowing with fire. "Then we end this."
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