Chapter 18: The Flame of Emberlyn
The world came back to me in fragments—flickers of light, the sound of voices, and the sharp, metallic tang of blood in the air. My side throbbed with a dull ache, but the pain was distant, muted, as if I were floating somewhere outside my body.
"Aurora." Sey's voice cut through the haze, urgent and low. "Stay with me. You're going to be okay."
I blinked, my vision slowly clearing to reveal his face hovering above me. His golden eyes were dark with worry, his jaw clenched tight as he pressed a cloth to my wound. The warmth of his hand against my skin sent a strange, tingling sensation through me, one that had nothing to do with the injury.
"I'm fine," I murmured, though my voice sounded weak even to my own ears. "What happened?"
"You were hit," Sey said, his tone tight with barely restrained anger. "One of the Shadow Stalkers threw a dagger. If I hadn't—" He broke off, his grip tightening on the cloth. "It doesn't matter. You're alive. That's what matters."
I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my side, forcing me back down. Sey's hand moved to my shoulder, gently but firmly holding me in place.
"Don't move," he said, his voice softer now. "You lost a lot of blood. You need to rest."
I wanted to argue, to tell him I was strong enough to keep going. But the look in his eyes stopped me. There was something raw and unguarded in his expression, something that made my chest tighten in a way I couldn't explain.
"The map," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Where is it?"
Sey hesitated, then reached into his satchel and pulled out the glowing parchment. The lines on its surface shimmered faintly, the golden light pulsing in time with my heartbeat.
"It's still active," he said, his gaze flicking to the map and then back to me. "It's leading us to something. Something important."
"The Seven Flames," I said, the words slipping out before I could stop them. The map had shown me glimpses of them in my visions—seven ancient flames, each imbued with a unique power. Together, they could either save our kingdoms or destroy them.
Sey's eyes widened, and for a moment, he looked almost… impressed. "You know about them?"
"The map showed me," I said, my voice growing stronger as the memories came flooding back. "It's why we're here, isn't it? To find the flames."
Sey nodded, his expression grim. "The first flame is close. But we can't go anywhere until you're strong enough to move."
"I'm fine," I insisted, pushing myself up despite the pain. Sey's hand lingered on my shoulder, his touch sending a jolt of warmth through me. "We don't have time to waste. If the Shadow Stalkers are after us, we need to find the flame before they do."
Sey studied me for a long moment, his gaze searching. Then, reluctantly, he nodded. "Alright. But if you start to feel weak, you tell me. No heroics."
I managed a small smile. "No promises."
---
The map led us deeper into the Whispering Woods, its golden light cutting through the oppressive darkness. Sey walked beside me, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, his eyes constantly scanning the shadows. Arl and the remaining soldiers followed close behind, their weapons drawn and their expressions tense.
The forest grew denser as we went, the trees twisting into grotesque shapes and the air growing colder with each step. The map's light grew brighter, its glow intensifying until it was almost blinding.
"We're close," Sey said, his voice low. "The flame is just ahead."
We emerged into a small clearing, the ground covered in a thick layer of moss and the air humming with an otherworldly energy. At the center of the clearing stood a stone pedestal, its surface carved with intricate runes. And resting atop it was a flame—a single, flickering ember that burned with a light so pure it seemed to defy the darkness around it.
"The Flame of Emberlyn," Sey said, his voice filled with awe. "The first of the Seven Flames."
I stepped forward, drawn to the flame like a moth to a candle. Its light was warm and inviting, and as I reached out to touch it, I felt a surge of power ripple through me.
"Be careful," Sey warned, his hand brushing against my arm. "The flames are powerful, but they're also dangerous. They can burn as easily as they can heal."
I nodded, my fingers hovering just above the flame. "What do we do with it?"
"The map will guide us," Sey said, pulling the parchment from his satchel. As he unrolled it, the lines on its surface shifted, forming a new pattern—a path that led to the next flame.
But before we could celebrate our discovery, a low, mocking laugh echoed through the clearing. We turned as one, our weapons drawn, to see a figure step out of the shadows.
It was a woman, her face obscured by a hood, but her voice was unmistakable—cold and sharp, like the edge of a blade. "Well done," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "You found the flame. But did you really think it would be that easy?"
Sey stepped in front of me, his sword raised. "Who are you?"
The woman lowered her hood, revealing a face marked with the same glowing tattoos as the Shadow Stalkers. "I'm the one who's been hired to stop you. And trust me, I don't fail."
Before we could react, she raised her hand, and the ground beneath us erupted in a burst of dark energy. The force of it sent us flying, the Flame of Emberlyn slipping from my grasp as I hit the ground hard.
"Aurora!" Sey shouted, his voice filled with panic.
I tried to respond, but the world was spinning, the darkness closing in once more. The last thing I saw was the woman's smirk as she reached for the flame, her fingers closing around its light.
And then, everything went black.