IKEMBA CORPORATION.
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[No.]
A loud shout rang out—but it wasn't Rose.
[You plan on using the Heart of Flames as a conduit for casting an extremely dangerous and complicated spell—one you have no mastery over—to go against the natural order of things?!]
Arunma, in her materialized form, was furious. Rose simply watched in silence, her thoughts distant.
Resurrection spells were a type of magic that required at least the expertise of a Sage to even attempt.
"I know it's difficult," Joshua began, "but the Heart of Flames will serve as a substitute for my lack of mastery. Besides, defying the natural order is what magic is about—to an extent, at least."
[Look, child, take it from someone who has lived a long life. Magic has its own rules. Abusing it comes at a price,] Arunma warned.
"I know. But I'm telling you—I want to take that risk. I'm the one risking it, not you."
[You insolent child!]
Arunma's ethereal form suddenly burst into flames. Her anger was palpable—Joshua's refusal to see reason, all for a girl he liked, had pushed her past the edge.
The temperature in the room dropped drastically.
"Enough. It's alright," Rose said, calming the tension.
"Mhmm," she murmured. "Asking if you love this girl is unnecessary—it's obvious. But make no mistake, I'm not doing this for you. I need information from you. Isn't that right, Arunma?"
"....."
[I suppose... finding that person is more important now,] Arunma replied after a moment of silence.
She turned to Joshua.
[Child, you do know the Law of Exchange, don't you?]
"I'm a Magi. Of course I know. That's why I need the Heart of Flames' special ability," Joshua replied confidently.
Arunma gave a begrudging smile, sighing as she muttered under her breath, What a brat...
"So, how does this person look?" Rose asked. "It would be burdensome to wait for them to come to us. We'll have to go to them."
"You help me first," Joshua shot back. "Then we can have a proper conversation."
"Hmph." Rose snorted.
"Tonight, then?" she asked.
"Yeah," Joshua affirmed.
Hope this goes well... for all our sakes, Arunma muttered.
---
Later that night...
"This is the site... well, it's erm—quite destructive," Rose commented dryly, glancing around the ruined bridge.
She had come despite the mountain of work she left behind, trusting her secretary to handle the chaos.
"Well, we're here. Get it done," she urged Joshua.
"Okay. Here it is..."
He formed a series of intricate hand signs. A glowing magic circle emerged on the damaged bridge.
"Now I need the Heart of Flames... as the eye of the circle."
By now, Joshua was already sweating. Maintaining the circle alone was draining him fast.
"Please hurry up, Aunt—I can't hold this much longer!" he grunted, as if bearing the weight of a mountain.
Rose stepped closer, inspecting the circle's fluctuating energy. She placed a foot inside.
"This might not work," she warned.
"Just do it! I can hold it up!"
Without hesitation, Rose walked through the circle and stood at its center.
It's easier than I—... mhmm. Wait.
She felt something strange. Her body suddenly grew heavy, her energy draining fast. The discomfort was sharp, but she only frowned, holding steady.
As moments passed, the sensation intensified. Rose began to grunt in pain.
"What... is happening? Joshua, I feel—ugh!"
"It's the Heart of Flames," Joshua panted. "Its special ability is... immortality. The Law of Exchange is kicking in. It's taking more than I calculated. You won't die—but it's draining your life force. That's why it hurts."
Blood trickled from Joshua's mouth. He struggled to maintain control. Explaining and focusing at the same time was nearly impossible.
Ugh...
The circle's energy fluctuated wildly. Joshua's knowledge was simply not enough. The spell was flawed. The balance—off. The design—unstable.
Despite being a magic prodigy, two days of study wasn't enough to master resurrection magic.
[Hold on, Rose... this better be worth it, or I will rip you apart, child.]
Even Arunma, bound to the Heart of Flames, was being overwhelmed.
BOOM!
A brilliant flash. A massive surge of energy exploded from the circle.
All across Lagos, lights flickered—and then died. A blackout swept through the city, more severe than usual.