torm

f shrieking shadow. From the blackened earth rose creatures made of smoke and

did n

d, and the sword - now pulsing in r

e m

ouldn't light a candle - but

through the air. His blade met it with a cry of burning

hey kep

. Ten.

darker. Snow

and heat. Each strike of the sword tore through shadow, but he was tiring. The Hollow F

ver learned what

rik entere

back like a tide. Alec stood panting, knees bent

a vulture. "Stronger than I expected. But raw flame i

ised hi

ls circled Alec's feet

nding

tr

locked. The flame inside him screamed

stepped

heir of power. You are its prison. Your bloodline was forge

ult. The visions. Virellia

w Flame was not a g

wered inside him - n

other's

n magic... and sometimes, the

c exh

d le

topped fighting the

around hi

from

rom acc

asn't even magic. It was will - ancient

is moment, did no

shed to

shattered. Th

umbled back

o a pair of burning wings behind him, vast and radiant. His eyes glowed li

and Alec stepped through t

struc

taff sh

fell to

. are you?"

sword burning bright,

the last of

e first of s

d shadow, leaving only the scent of sc

ot

ot

ed. And wor

lsing in waves from within him, the remnants of th

came th

weather -

c col

he in-between place - the

was diffe

oes: ruins of empires long fallen, towers of light buried in sand, ba

true h

oman of the vision, her silver hair fl

irst seal," she said. "And

ard. "What is the H

nd, and the world r

it did not consume - it created. Islands f

r, but a force. It birthed creation and memory, will and wonder. But when mo

at Alec now

Those like him use stolen fragments of the Flame. But you... yo

oughts reel

n carry the fire without corrupting it. Mag

eyes s

t a vessel. You

h that choic

vision

t, the sword beside him - now cold, forged in

zon - not stars, but cities burning. Malrik had

ar was

only ju

his chest, now glowing with intertwined li

y had

usted him to fi

w he