The air was thick with the remnants of the vision, the weight of it pressing down on Amina's chest as though the very atmosphere had become her burden to carry. Her breath was shallow, her heart racing in time with the rhythmic pulse of the flame above. The figure stood before her, a shadow cloaked in fire, its eyes burning into hers with an unrelenting intensity.
The choice is yours, it had said.
But the question still lingered in the air, unanswered: What would she choose?
Amina's mind raced, trying to piece together what she had seen—the future, the past, the failures, the fears. It was all so clear now. The flame was not just a source of power; it was a mirror, showing her the darkest parts of herself, the places she had hidden away and buried deep inside. It had torn her soul open, exposing everything she had tried to avoid.
Her gaze shifted to Valec, standing beside her. He was watching her closely, his expression unreadable, but she could see the uncertainty in his eyes. She could feel the weight of his expectations, the silent plea for her to make the right choice.
But what was the right choice?
Could she control the First Flame, or would it consume her, as it had consumed so many others before her? She had seen the visions—the destruction, the decay, the fall of everything she had fought to protect. She could feel the pull of the flame, a seductive call that whispered of power and rebirth. But at what cost?
"Amina..." Valec's voice was a soft, hesitant whisper, breaking through the chaos in her mind. "We don't have much time."
She nodded, though she wasn't sure what he meant. Time? What was time in this place, where the very fabric of reality seemed to twist and warp with every passing moment?
The figure in the flames took a step forward, its form flickering like a shadow caught in the wind. The flame will test you, Amina. It will burn away your weaknesses, your doubts, and your fears. But to pass the trial, you must be willing to face what you fear most. The fire does not lie. It will show you the truth of your soul, and you will either embrace it or be consumed by it.
Amina's knees buckled slightly as the weight of the words hit her. She had already seen the darkness that lay within her, the parts of herself she had tried to deny. But could she truly face them? Could she accept the truth of who she was, the mistakes she had made, and the future that awaited her if she failed?
The figure extended its hand, palm up, towards her. Step into the fire, Amina. Face the trial. Let the flame show you the path.
Without thinking, Amina stepped forward, her breath steadying as the fire's heat intensified. The flames rose higher, swirling around her like a vortex of energy. She could feel the fire licking at her skin, its heat unbearable, but she did not pull away.
Instead, she embraced it.
The moment her skin touched the fire, a searing pain shot through her entire body. It was as if every cell in her being was burning alive, the fire digging deep into her soul, stripping her bare of everything she had known. Her vision blurred, and the world around her seemed to shift and warp, as though she were being torn apart.
The flames consumed her, and in that moment, she was no longer Amina. She was a part of the fire itself—endless, boundless, and eternal. She was everything and nothing at once, lost in the swirling currents of power that raged within her.
And then, the visions came.
She saw herself—weak, afraid, running from the truth. She saw the faces of those she had failed, the people she had betrayed, the friends she had abandoned. She saw Valec, standing beside her, looking at her with disappointment, a look that pierced her heart like a dagger. She saw the world burning, consumed by darkness, and herself standing in the center, powerless to stop it.
The pain intensified, the flames growing hotter, faster, until she thought she would be consumed entirely. Her thoughts became fragmented, disjointed, as though she were losing herself within the fire.
But then—she heard a voice.
Amina.
It was familiar. Soft. Warm. It cut through the chaos like a lifeline, and for a moment, the flames paused.
It was her mother's voice.
You are stronger than this, my daughter. You are not the mistakes of your past. You are not the fear that holds you back. You are the flame that burns through the darkness.
Amina's heart surged. She could feel the truth of the words deep within her, a warmth rising in her chest as the fire began to recede. She wasn't just the past. She wasn't just the failures, the regrets, the mistakes. She was more than that. She was the flame—both the destruction and the rebirth.
The fire around her softened, no longer burning with the intensity that had threatened to consume her. Instead, it was a gentle warmth, like the embers of a dying fire, comforting and alive.
The figure in the flames smiled, its features softening as the fire faded into a calm glow. You have passed the trial, Amina. You have faced the darkness within you and emerged stronger for it. The flame will now bow to your will.
Amina exhaled, her body trembling as she stepped back, her chest heaving. She was no longer the same. The flames had revealed the truth, and she had embraced it. She was not bound by her past. She was free.
But there was still one question that burned in her mind, a question she hadn't asked before.
"What happens now?" she asked, her voice steady but filled with uncertainty. "What is the next step?"
The figure in the flames turned away, its form beginning to dissolve into the air. The flame will guide you, Amina. The path is not easy, and it will not be without sacrifice. But the flame will be your strength, your guide, your weapon. Use it wisely, for the world will soon call upon it.
With that, the figure vanished completely, leaving Amina standing alone in the quiet aftermath of the trial. The flames had settled, leaving only the soft, golden light of the embers that had once burned so fiercely.
And as she turned to face Valec, she knew one thing for certain.
The real battle was only just beginning.