Flaming Hall – Throne of Ashes
Flames flickered in the dark room as the council meeting continued. The air was tense.
Azreal leaned forward. "Furthermore… the God's Mark has awakened."
Malphas narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"
Azreal's voice was calm but heavy. "Aria can now produce flames."
Gasps echoed through the hall.
Malphas sat up straighter. "She can use flames now?"
Xaltheon crossed his arms. "This is getting out of hand."
Veymar raised a brow. "So the God's Mark gave her control over fire, huh?"
Selmora twirled a dagger between her fingers. "That's new… So what do we do about her?"
Azreal replied, "I'm training her. She needs control. If not… she could burn down the entire palace."
Dragos slammed his fist down. "Why train her?! What if she was sent to destroy us? You're being too soft, Lord Azreal."
Xaltheon nodded. "Agreed."
Azreal didn't flinch. "We won't know her purpose until we see it for ourselves. Until then, I'll teach her to control her flames."
Veymar sat back. "Then we need a name for this evolved form. These new infernals… What do we call them?"
Orvath stepped forward, a smirk on his lips. "I've got a name."
Azreal looked at him. "Let's hear it."
Orvath said, "Cinderborn."
Malphas muttered, "Not bad."
Azreal nodded. "Then it's settled. From today, they shall be known as the Cinderborn."
Everyone agreed with a low murmur.
Orvath gave a slight bow. "Thank you."
Azreal stood. "That's all for today."
Orvath faded into the shadows. One by one, the council members vanished, their flames extinguishing behind them.
Selmora approached a charred body on the floor. With a snap of her fingers, a portal opened. She kicked the corpse in.
"Your choir's waiting," she said coldly, stepping through the gate as it disappeared.
Azreal turned to Laisa. "I'll visit you later."
"I'll be expecting you, Lord Azreal." Laisa vanished into flame.
Azreal stood alone now. The room silent. With a soft flare of fire, he too disappeared.
---
Royal Palace – Kitchen
Nena and the maids were finishing up, Aria among them. The table was full of food.
Aria wiped her forehead. "Finally done. But… why so many dishes?"
Nena laughed. "Because even the guards and maids eat the same meals as Azreal. He says you can't fight well if you're starving."
Aria blinked. "Really? Most royals make their staff eat separately."
Nena smiled. "Azreal's different. He always says one thing."
They looked at each other and said in unison, "Burn bright."
Aria grinned. "He told me that too."
Nena chuckled. "He tells everyone. But it stays with you, doesn't it?"
Aria nodded, eyes soft. "Yeah… it really does."
---
Azreal's Room
Aria lay on the bed, eyes fixed on a red-and-blue painting. She smiled. "I can't wait to show Azreal my masterpiece."
Suddenly, the door burst open.
Azreal stepped in. "Too fast for you?"
Aria jumped. "You scared me!"
Azreal chuckled. "Were you expecting me to take my sweet time?"
"N-No… just… forget it," she mumbled.
He sat beside her. "Did you get your Soul Anchor from Hulk?"
She lit up. "Yeah! Thank you!"
She ran over to the painting and held it up proudly.
Azreal examined it. "This is your Soul Anchor?"
"Not quite," she said. "The painting isn't the anchor… the colors are. I loved painting when I was alive."
Azreal studied the hues. "All red and blue… but there's purple too?"
Aria sat beside him. "Purple's the blend of red and blue. I did it on purpose."
Azreal smirked. "A fusion of both flames… fitting. I'll hang it in the palace hall."
"Really?!" Aria beamed and hugged him. "Thank you!"
"Oh, and food's ready!" she remembered, grabbing his hand. "Let's eat!"
---
Dining Hall
As they walked down the hall, Aria smiled. "Nena and I cooked everything!"
Azreal nodded. "So that's why Nena said she was keeping you busy. But still, your cooking won't top hers."
Aria puffed up. "Excuse you?! I was a certified chef when I was alive!"
She held up a blank sheet like a badge.
Azreal chuckled. "You left your certificate behind when you died. Here, only taste talks."
"Is that so?" she huffed, plating food for him.
As she stood there, pouting, Nena walked over. "What's wrong?"
Aria pointed at Azreal like a tattling child. "He said my cooking isn't as good as yours!"
Nena looked at Azreal, half-amused. "Really? She worked so hard on it."
Azreal shrugged. "No one beats you in the kitchen, Nena. Everyone knows that."
"Then I challenge her!" Aria declared dramatically. "Cooking contest! Tomorrow!"
"Huh?" Azreal blinked.
Nena chuckled. "You want to lose that bad?"
"I won't lose!" Aria grinned.
Azreal laughed. "Then it's settled. Tomorrow—Hell's Culinary Battle. Grand Chef versus Duchess of Disaster."
The room burst into laughter.
Aria huffed and stormed off. Nena nudged Azreal. "Go after her."
"Why?"
"She's gonna need it," Nena smirked.
---
Azreal's Room – Later
Azreal entered to see Aria sulking on the bed.
"Still mad?" he asked.
"I don't want to talk to you," she mumbled, turning away.
"But you just did."
She blinked and frowned. "Ugh…"
Azreal sat on the floor, picking up a canvas and her colors. He began to paint.
Aria peeked over, curious. "What's he drawing… something ugly, probably."
She edged closer… and gasped.
It was a painting of her. Pink flames formed cat ears and tails around her, glowing gently.
Azreal looked up. "Done."
"Nope!" she said, grabbing it. She added tiny kittens around her in the painting.
"There. Now it's perfect."
Azreal tilted his head. "Kittens?"
"It makes it cute!"
"If you say so, Miss Artiste."
She looked at it with sparkling eyes.
Azreal stood. "I promised Laisa I'd visit. Wanna come? You might learn how to enhance your flames."
Aria thought for a moment. "Nah… I have a match to prepare for."
"Really? The 'Duchess of disaster' needs prep time?" he teased. "Nena doesn't."
Aria clenched her fists. "I'll show you."
"Then let's go," he said, snapping his fingers. A gate opened before them.
"Shall we?"
They stepped through together.
---
Chamber of Scarlet Flames
A gate flared open. Azreal and Aria stepped out into a field of scarlet flames and crimson flowers.
Aria stared. "Is this really… Hell?"
They approached a grand building. Inside, maids in pink uniforms bustled about.
"Why are their uniforms different?" Aria asked.
"Laisa's style," Azreal replied.
Just then, Laisa appeared. Elegant and graceful.
"Welcome, Lord Azreal."
Azreal smiled. "You're improving."
He gestured to Aria. "Laisa, meet Aria. Aria, this is Laisa."
The two girls locked eyes. Sparks flew.
"Nice to meet you… what was your name again? Ant?" Laisa said coolly.
Aria flinched. "It's Aria, Lulu."
"Laisa," she corrected, grabbing Azreal's arm. "Come on, Lord Azreal. Let's go in."
They walked off together.
Aria stood there, fists clenched. "That Lulu… Who does she think she is?!"
A maid approached. "Lord Azreal says you can come in now."
Aria followed, eyes burning. "That Lulu… I'll get her for sure."