Chapter 14: Reflections of Fire
The Silvergrove was nothing like I remembered.
When I was younger, it had been a place of whispered legends—where the trees were silver-touched by moonlight and the winds never blew quite the same. It always felt alive. But tonight, it felt like it was waiting.
I stepped quietly through the mossy path. The moon hung low, lighting my way with soft blue fire.
And then—I saw her.
She stood under a withered tree. A girl. Maybe my age. Maybe older. Long crimson robes clung to her like the night itself. Her hair shimmered white-gold under the moon, tied in the same style as mine—long ponytail, two loose bangs kissing her cheeks.
She looked like a mirror… distorted by fire.
"You came," she said.
Her voice was like flint. Rough, but sharp. She tilted her head. "Luna, right?"
"How do you know my name?" I asked, standing still.
"I've known it since the moment you were chosen."
Chosen.
The word hit me like cold water.
"Who are you?"
She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Call me Solena."
"Are you… like me?" I asked, chest tightening.
She stepped closer, eyes glowing faintly orange. "No, Luna. You're like me."
---
The silence between us stretched.
"There are more of us," she continued. "Scattered across kingdoms. Each one with fire inside. Chosen by the Flamekeeper."
"The Flamekeeper?" I echoed, heart pounding.
Solena nodded. "An ancient force that exists beyond time. It chose us to become its vessels."
I swallowed hard. "Why?"
"To burn away the darkness," she said. "Or to let it consume us."
That part… didn't sound like a choice.
"I didn't ask for any of this," I murmured.
She laughed, a short, bitter sound. "None of us did. But here we are."
---
She turned her back to me, walking to the edge of the grove where a pool of water shimmered like glass. She knelt beside it and motioned me over.
I hesitated.
But something in the air—some heat in my chest—pulled me forward.
When I looked into the water, I gasped.
My reflection wasn't mine.
The girl staring back at me had my eyes, my shape—but her hair was on fire. Her skin cracked with embers glowing beneath. She looked like a goddess carved from molten stone.
"That's your soul," Solena said. "Beautiful… and terrifying."
I stared. "Is this what I'm becoming?"
"No," she whispered. "It's what you are."
---
I backed away. My hands were shaking.
"This can't be real. I'm just… Luna."
"You're not just anything," she said, standing. "You carry a power that hasn't walked this world in centuries. The same as mine. But unlike me… your fire still listens."
"What does that mean?"
She stared at me for a long time. Then finally said, "It means you have a choice."
Solena stepped closer, her eyes now filled with something ancient… something hollow.
"Don't waste it like I did."
---
Before I could ask more, the wind howled.
The trees trembled.
And Solena vanished into flames—like a candle blown out by fate.
---
I stood there, alone again.
The reflection in the pool had changed. My face… my eyes… still mine.
But behind them—something was watching.
Not with fear.
With expectation.
---
To be continued..