ound of metal scra

mber left too long in the dark. She blinked, struggling to focus, and realized she was no longer on the platform. The sanctum had shifte

ill glowing faintly with the resid

" he said, voi

she groaned.

The fire is a part of you, but it isn't

she hadn't known were hers flickered and vanished like smoke

snapped to the

ne's c

figure emerged, a tall woman, clad in dark armor that shimmered with veins o

the woman said, her voice shar

roze.

an interrupted. "And I

ightened. "S

ed faintly with red energy, small

This is her first test.

d, her palms sweating despite the lingering

t the fire does not tolerate weakness. You eith

n, restless, tugging at her very soul. Fear threatened to paralyze her, but somet

, voice trembling. "I don'

r was low, echoi

ou will

mmed into her like a physical blow. She instinctively raised her arms, but the fire lashed past her

ntrol it! Don't j

, but precisely. Threads of golden flame coiled around her arms,

g the hall with the

s widened. "

r chest tigh

She gasped, struggling to hold the fire in check. Pa

obeyed he

st

wi

eckle

o Selene's shield. The impact sent the seasoned Ember Bearer s

rply. "That's it

again, this time circling Aria like a predator. "You have promise,

orch sconces as if the building itself feared the power concentrated within it. Selene

ding not to her panic, but to her intent. She dodged, blocked, and struck back, her power growing with every controlled motion. Yet with ea

were all entwined, and she realized this

only the

st of light so intense it forced Aria to shield her eyes. When

e's testing you," he said softly. "Not just you

smoking faintly from exertion. "I... I don't

sitate, every ounce of doubt, is a thread they can use agai

mbers beneath her skin. "I'll do it," she said quietly

Good. Because the Hunt is coming

a low growl echoed, deep, an

e pulsed i

eyes gleamed in the darkness, a sil