The flames crackled around us, casting eerie shadows that flickered like living things. My doppelgänger—the fire given form—watched me with an unnerving mix of amusement and expectation, like a predator toying with its prey.
"You're hesitating," it mused, stepping forward. The ground beneath its feet didn’t burn—it thrived. The fire curled around it like an extension of itself, while I—despite the heat pulsing inside me—felt the weight of my own uncertainty.
I gritted my teeth. "I’m not afraid of you."
It smirked. "You should be."
The flames lashed outward, moving without warning. Instinct kicked in—I threw my arms up, willing the fire within me to respond. It did—but not fast enough. Heat scorched my skin as I staggered back, barely deflecting the worst of the attack.
"Pathetic," the
