POV: Lyra 🔥đźŽđźŚ•
The village transformed at nightfall.
Lanterns burned with gold flame, casting wild shadows against the cliffside. The bridges between homes shimmered with trails of floating ash, and villagers donned masks carved to resemble beasts — stags, wolves, birds with fire for eyes. At the center of the cliff platform, a huge bonfire had been built from twisted branches soaked in glowing resin.
"They call this the Flame-Star Festival," Lyra whispered to Jax, who was trying on a mask shaped like a sneezing badger. "They celebrate the night the flame-star appeared and 'blessed' their ancestors."
"Festivals are meant to be fun," Jax muttered. "Not… culty."
Still, Ariya had agreed they'd stay for the ceremony. The villagers had been kind — distant, but respectful. And the elder had insisted the festival was safe… mostly.
Kael stood beside Ariya near the edge of the circle. His arms were crossed, his eyes never leaving her. Ariya tried to smile at something Lyra said, but her skin was pale and her stance tight — like the fire in her veins was growing louder.
"She's burning up again," Lyra whispered to Jax. "The wound?"
"Yeah," Jax said quietly. "I saw her lean against the railing earlier. She almost collapsed."
"She won't stop until something breaks," Lyra murmured.
"Or someone catches her," he added, glancing at Kael.
The drums began — low and steady. Villagers danced in circles, throwing sparks from their sleeves, tracing fire sigils into the night. Children tossed glowing petals into the sky, which flared and vanished like comets.
It was beautiful.
Until the mountain roared.
The sound shook the ground.
At first, Lyra thought it was thunder.
Then the flames in the bonfire twisted. Long, tendril-like shapes rose from the center, pulsing with red light — and then they stepped out.
Shadow-creatures. Dozens of them. Their bodies were smoke, shaped like wolves and serpents and birds with glowing ember-eyes. Their edges flickered like broken illusions.
The villagers screamed and scattered.
"Illusion beasts!" Lyra shouted, drawing her daggers.
Kael was already pulling Ariya back, shielding her with his body.
"Where did they come from?" Jax yelled.
"They're not mine!" Jax's voice cracked. "I swear they're not mine!"
Ariya shoved Kael away. Her hand was glowing, the ring pulsing, her mark blazing.
"They're feeding off something," she said through gritted teeth. "Something calling them."
She raised her hands — and flame surged from her fingers.
Too fast.
Too hard.
The blast sent several beasts flying, but the heat also cracked the stone beneath her feet. Villagers ducked and screamed. A child fell near the edge of the cliff.
Lyra dove, snatching the boy just in time.
"Ariya!" Kael shouted. "Control it!"
But Ariya didn't respond.
The flames around her eyes were too bright. Her wound too deep. Her body trembling with power that didn't want to be held anymore.
"She's going to burn herself out," Jax murmured.
Kael didn't hesitate. He ran toward her and grabbed her wrist.
"Ariya. Look at me."
Her breath hitched. Her gaze locked with his — not angry, not fierce, just scared.
He held her tightly. "You're not alone."
Slowly, the fire dimmed.
The illusion beasts hissed, then faded — like puppets whose strings had been cut.
The elder stepped forward, looking shaken but alive.
"You carry a spark greater than you understand, girl," she said. "Be careful. The flame-star watches all."
Ariya said nothing.
But later, in the quiet of their room, Lyra saw her staring at her burned hands.
Shaking.
Far above, beyond mountain clouds, a whisper curled through the wind:
"She's almost ready," Ruvan murmured in his citadel.