CHAPTER SIX: WHAT BURNS WILL BE SEEN
1178 Words
Morning came too quickly.
Lina didn’t sleep.
Not really.
She lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying everything over and over until her thoughts blurred into something restless and sharp.
The bond.
The power.
Him.
Kael.
Even thinking his name felt strange.
Too familiar for someone she had just met.
Too… close.
She didn’t like that.
Not one bit.
A knock came at the door.
This time—
She expected it.
“Come in,” Lina said flatly.
The door opened, and Kael stepped in like he owned the room.
Which, unfortunately, he probably did.
He looked exactly the same.
Composed. Controlled. Unbothered.
Like yesterday hadn’t happened at all.
Must be nice.
“You didn’t sleep,” he said.
Not a question.
Lina sat up slowly.
“And you don’t knock properly,” she replied.
His gaze flickered briefly to the door.
Then back to her.
“I did.”
“You didn’t wait.”
“I didn’t need to.”
Lina exhaled through her nose.
“This is going to be a long experience.”
“Yes,” he said simply. “It will.”
At least he was honest.
He stepped further into the room.
“Get up,” he said.
Lina blinked.
“…Excuse me?”
“Your control is nonexistent,” he continued. “We are correcting that.”
She stared at him.
“You’re not my instructor.”
“No,” he agreed. “I am your necessity.”
That again.
Always with the control.
Lina swung her legs off the bed, standing slowly.
“Let’s get something clear,” she said. “You don’t give me orders.”
A pause.
Then—
“Fine,” Kael said calmly.
Lina blinked.
That was… too easy.
“Then consider this a consequence,” he added.
There it was.
She knew it.
“If you don’t learn control,” he continued, “you will lose it again.”
Her chest tightened slightly.
Annoying.
Because he wasn’t wrong.
“I’ll figure it out,” she said.
“Alone?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“No.”
The word landed like a wall.
Solid.
Unmoving.
Lina’s jaw clenched.
“You don’t get to decide that.”
“I already did.”
Silence.
Tense.
Familiar.
Lina stepped closer.
Bad idea.
But she did it anyway.
“And what exactly are you going to do if I refuse?” she asked.
Kael looked down at her.
Not amused.
Not irritated.
Just… certain.
“You won’t.”
That was it.
That calm confidence.
Like he already knew the outcome.
Like her resistance didn’t matter.
Something in her snapped.
“You don’t know me,” she said sharply.
“No,” he agreed.
A pause.
Then—
“But I know the bond.”
That stopped her.
Just for a second.
And he saw it.
Of course he did.
“The next time it flares,” Kael continued, “you will not be able to stop it.”
Lina’s hands clenched.
“And you think I’ll just run to you?”
“I know you will.”
Not arrogance.
Certainty.
And somehow—
That made it worse.
“Move,” he said, turning toward the door.
Lina didn’t.
“I’m not—”
The mark on her chest pulsed.
Hard.
Sudden.
Pain shot through her body like lightning.
Lina gasped, her knees buckling slightly.
“What—”
“Now,” Kael said sharply.
The world shifted.
Heat surged through her veins, faster than before.
Stronger.
Uncontrolled.
Her breath hitched as light flickered beneath her skin.
“No— not again—”
“Move, Lina.”
This time—
She didn’t argue.
They moved quickly through the Citadel.
Faster than before.
Lina barely registered where they were going, her focus consumed by the growing heat inside her.
It was worse now.
Less contained.
Like something was pushing outward—
Trying to break free.
“Where are we going?” she forced out.
“Somewhere you won’t destroy anything important,” Kael replied.
Comforting.
Really.
They reached an open training ground.
Wide. Empty. Surrounded by high walls etched with glowing symbols.
Containment.
Good.
Because whatever was happening—
It wasn’t small.
“Stay here,” Kael said.
Lina stumbled forward, dropping to her knees as another wave of heat crashed through her.
“I can’t—”
“You can,” he cut in.
“Focus.”
“On what?!” she snapped, her voice breaking.
“On me.”
She looked up at him.
Really looked this time.
And something about him—
The stillness.
The control.
The complete absence of panic—
It anchored her.
Just slightly.
“Your power reacts to emotion,” he said. “Fear. Anger. Resistance.”
Lina laughed weakly.
“So basically everything I feel right now?”
“Yes.”
Great.
Fantastic.
“Then what do I do?” she demanded.
“Stop fighting it.”
Lina stared at him like he’d lost his mind.
“That’s your advice?”
“Yes.”
“That’s terrible advice.”
“Do it.”
The heat surged again.
Stronger.
Brighter.
Lina cried out as light burst from her chest—
Flames.
Real flames this time.
They spiraled around her, wild and unstable.
The air distorted.
The ground beneath her cracked slightly.
“Oh, this is bad—”
“Lina.”
His voice cut through everything.
Sharp.
Commanding.
Unavoidable.
“Look at me.”
She did.
Because somehow—
She couldn’t not.
His eyes held hers.
Gold.
Steady.
Unshaken.
“Breathe,” he said.
“I am breathing!”
“Not like that.”
He stepped closer.
Into the flames.
Unaffected.
Of course.
Because why would anything be simple?
“Feel it,” he said. “Don’t resist it.”
“I hate this,” Lina muttered.
“Not relevant.”
The flames surged higher.
Then—
Without warning—
Kael grabbed her again.
This time—
Both hands.
Firm.
Grounding.
And instantly—
The fire stilled.
Not gone.
But controlled.
Contained.
Lina’s breathing slowed.
Her body relaxed slightly.
The chaos inside her—
Quieted.
Again.
She stared at him.
Something in her expression shifting.
Not trust.
Not yet.
But recognition.
“You weren’t guessing,” she said quietly.
“No,” Kael replied.
A pause.
Then—
“What happens if you’re not here?” Lina asked.
Kael didn’t answer immediately.
Which was never a good sign.
“…Then you learn faster,” he said finally.
That was not reassuring.
At all.
High above the training grounds—
Someone watched.
Hidden.
Silent.
Eyes fixed on Lina.
Not curious.
Not impressed.
Calculating.
Cold.
“So it’s true,” a voice murmured.
“The Flamebearer has awakened.”
A pause.
Then—
“Send word.”
The shadows shifted.
Dark.
Alive.
“The Dragon King has found his weakness.”
Back below—
Lina exhaled slowly.
“…This is going to get worse, isn’t it?”
Kael released her.
Stepping back.
Distance again.
“Yes,” he said.
At least he didn’t lie.
- Writer
