Page 36 of Embers to Flames

Eyes of the oracle, open wide,

Across the stars, through the astral tide,

Unravel the secrets, let them unfold,

Show the visions that the future holds.

In this sacred space, I now invoke,

The power to see beyond the smoke,

Let the prophecy come forth and shine,

Guiding light of the divine.

As the high lords speak the ancient words, I find my breath becoming suddenly shallow and my heart races. I close my eyes, focusing on the sensations that wash over me. The power of the elements. The weight of their history.

Smoke begins to fill the room. Smoke so thick it clings to me. Sudden flashes of crimson red firelight begin shooting out of the pit and swirl around the room. My vision is hazy, and I lose sight of Theo.

“Theo!”I scream his name. No response. I can feel the hot salty tears as they stream down my cheeks. I’m not sure if it’s the smoke, or my fear.

I struggle to breathe. I cough in an attempt to clear my chest of the shadows that creep through every orifice. The flames surround me, enveloping me in their heat. Surrounded, I stand at the heart of a firestorm that dances to an ancient rhythm. The fire is alive, a writhing serpent of orange and gold that licks at my skin, but doesn’t burn, a paradox of danger and beauty. With arms outstretched, I summon the essence of the blaze, feeling the heat surge through my veins as theyweightlessly lift me into the air, a power both exhilarating and terrifying.

Around me, the world is a tapestry of light and shadow, every detail etched in the fierce glow of the fire’s embrace. I am the master of this flame, the keeper of its secrets, and in this moment, I am infinite.

I am not scared of the fire. I am the fire.

Theo steps into the inferno, his steely gaze fixed upon me. The flames seem to welcome him with open arms, parting to make way for his entrance instead of scorching him.

“I will walk through the flames and let them consume me, if it means I can hold you once more,” he declares, his voice unwavering as the fire roars around him.

He reaches out, and as our hands touch, a surge of energy passes between us, a fusion of fire and flesh. Together we stand, two beings intertwined by love and flame. Theo’s lips meet mine.

He breathes life into me as he whispers, “Close your eyes, Rosanhi. Close them, and it will all fade away.”

I surrender to his words, allowing the cacophony of the inferno to fade into silence. The heat that once consumed my thoughts now recedes, replaced by a cool serenity that flows from Theo’s touch. In his arms, the chaos of the world is tamed, the fire’s fury quelled by the strength of our bond. I take one last look into Theo’s deep golden eyes.

“Please, my sweet, just close your eyes.” Theo begs.

I obey, my eyelids fluttering shut. The air cools, the flames die down, the breeze fades away. Theo’s voice guides me through the abyss that I can feel myself falling into. He is a warm and steady presence in the darkness.

The transformation begins as a whisper, a subtle shift that stirs within the depths of my soul. My skin tingles, each cell alight with the magic of change. The world around me blurs, hues merging into a kaleidoscope of colors I’ve never seen before. My senses sharpen, the rustling leaves now a chorus, the earth’s fragrance a heady perfume. Bones lengthen, muscles weave into new forms of strength and grace. And then, the most peculiar sensation of all—my ears, reshaping, reaching for the sky. It’s a dance of nature and magic, a rebirth into an existence where every breath is a song, and every step is a poem. With each passing moment, I am more alive than I have ever been.

I am becoming an Elf.

Chapter Sixteen

As dawn’s light filters through the canopy of my bed, I awaken to a world reborn. My limbs stretch with a grace I’ve never known, and a rush of sensations flood my senses. The forest’s heartbeat thrums in my ears, a melody of life that resonates deep within my core.

I am no longer the person I once was. I am an Elf, a creature of magic. My fingers trace the new-found points of my ears, a symbol of my transformation. With each breath, I feel the pulse of the earth, the whisper of the wind, and the warmth of the sun as if they are part of my very being.

“Rosanhi?” Theo’s voice feels—distant—hesitant, filled with curiosity.“Are you awake?”

I turn to look at him—but he isn’t there.

“Theo?” I say, bewildered that I am hearing him, but not seeing him.

“Come downstairs as soon as you are ready, my sweet. We’ll all be waiting for you.”

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