The Red Soul

Chapter Fourteen

A storm of fire, ashes, and smoke covered the entire garden, with Myris as its centre. She could not see where the others were- if they were safe. She could not even care anymore. The flames sucked up her energy. They licked at her emotions, emptied her. She no longer had the strength to move, to cry. Breathing seemed more difficult than ever. Every little piece of her had gone up in the flames.

She could not cry. Her tears evaporated as soon as they fell. But her body spasm despite the non-existing tears, the intensity with which the magic left her body being too much for her. It hurt her. Yet, the physical pain was nothing compared to the damage inside her. Nothing compared to the pain from the realization that she lost control again.

Perhaps it was for the best if the flames swallowed her.

Yet, they did not. They circled around her but did not come close to her. The heat running through her veins was painful, but it was not enough for her to lose consciousness. She was aware of how the smoke filled the sky; aware how the fire covered the earth. She was aware of the screams…

They called her. Fyrian's voice tried to break right through the fire along with Viera's. It was weak, but she could hear it. Words of encouragement entered her ears, calling for her to continue.

But it was not only them. It was as if someone embraced her, someone who was in the fire, in the red light that raged around her. The sparks that arose were like the eyes of a stranger and a friend at the same time. They stared at her, glistening, and she stared back. She raised her hand, a plea to take her and end it, but then they disappeared. Sudden bursts of fire shot at her, and she put her hands around her head in fear, but they did not hit her. No, they seemed to revolve around her.

The red light stroked her and floated around her in a dance of dreams, nightmares and memories. She did not understand. It did not hurt her. Instead, it felt comforting. It held her with an invisible line, refused to let her go; refused to give her up. Yet, that umpteenth refusal was exactly what she needed.

Still, she was surrounded by the flames, that which had destroyed everything, which had destroyed her. Elyos’ words echoed through her mind. She was a worthless person, could not even control her own magic. So, why would she even try? The pain, the flames, the magic, it was all part of her. She had always known that. She had just never accepted it.

Would it be too late to try?

With a scream, she gave in, letting the magic go its way. It was a cry full of despair and pain she had experienced these years. Fuel to the fire. It was as if a new wave hit her in a sudden outburst, stronger and faster than the others.

But it was also the last one.

She could feel her magic diminish. Almost everything had left her body, leaving her empty. Only a wall of fire remained.

Holding out her hand to the wall of burning heat, to the place where the others were separated from her, she took a deep breath. They were still calling her name. And as Myris now properly could hear their voices, could see their worried faces, she no longer wanted to be separated from them.

Adrenaline rushed through her whole body when she clenched her fist and closed her eyes. It almost automatically as if her body knew what to do. As if she had done it before. Just as she had let go of her magic for the first time, she now called back the flames.

The sky slowly turned blue again, while the flames went out. The waterfall and trees returned. Myris wanted to laugh, cry and yell that she did it, that she controlled her magic for the first time in her life, but her voice dropped when she saw that everything had not returned the way she had hoped.

Her joy turned to horror when she saw the garden. Dying embers were in the places where flowers were supposed to be. Black trees continued to smoke, and ashes laid around her like a grey blanket. It was a mess, a mess she had caused. But that was not what she cared about. Anxiously, she peered through the clouds of smoke, looking for the others.

Between the grey fog, green light shone as a dome of the magic dimmed and retreated to Cearen with the others standing around him. All of them were unharmed due to the male’s shield.

Myris stared at the others, panting heavily. The magic had left her body, but so had her energy. She was so tired she could fall any second, but she remained standing, probably with a feral look in her eyes.

Viera stepped forward, unconcerned about the garden that was no longer there. Her white hair was shining among the grey surrounding. Yet, her smile was even brighter.

Air was squeezed out of Myris’ lungs when Viera ran at her with a laugh and fell with her between the ashes. Myris wanted to apologize, ask for forgiveness for the chaos she had created. But then she saw pride in Viera's eyes and everything fell into place.

She could not believe that she had done it; that she had succeeded. She had finally controlled the flames that had always controlled her. Together they burst out laughing, hugging each other. It was as if they both had gone mad.

Myris lay down on her back and looked at the castle towering over her. However, out of nowhere, she was picked up and turned around by Fyrian, who then kissed her intimately. Relieved, she kissed him back and leaned her head against his chest.

Then she noticed the black marks she left where she touched him, Black marks, and burns. Suddenly she realized how hot she was and gasped.

Startled, she looked at him and Viera. The latter had also new blisters in the places where they had touched. Immediately she tried to free herself from Fyrian's grip, but he held her tight.

“It's okay. You must be tired. Something like that takes an insane amount of energy.” He was right, she was exhausted, but the heat was getting worse again. Fyrian's warmth did not help, made it way worse, but she probably had to hurt him as well. She made another attempt to separate from him, but she lost more energy than she thought. Yet, she did not give up.

Fyrian sniffed disapprovingly. “Why can't you lie quietly in my arms for once?”

Myris heard Viera chuckle at the question but did not answer. Her throat was burning, it seemed to be scorched. She looked around frantically, her eyes stopping by the lake.

Fyrian's eyes opened wide as soon as he realized what was going on. He immediately turned to Elyos, who was busy writing on a roll of parchment.

The man looked up when he felt the stare. Something shifted in his eyes as he looked at them. “What are you waiting for? Throw her in the water!”

Fyrian did not need to be told that a second time, and he sprinted towards the lake. But instead of throwing Myris in, as Elyos said, he ran into the lake with her in his arms. A hissing sound came from the water, followed by small clouds of vapour. He lowered her completely underwater.

When her head was lifted out of the water again, she wanted to return immediately under the cool surface. All that came out of her throat was a raspy sound, but he understood and went on. He let her go under for a short while. But not only did he cool her with the water.

The water glowed orange as Fyrian's eyes lit up. Then Myris felt a cold stream of air around her, which wrapped around her and cooled her. Slowly but surely, goosebumps appeared on her arms. Yet it was not enough.

Myris heard a splash right next to her and drops splashing on her face. A soggy Viera came to her, followed by Cearen who handed Fyrian a cup.

She wanted to take it, but her arm would not lift. They felt very heavy. But as if he had expected that, Fyrian looked at Viera, who kept Myris upright with him. She opened her mouth longingly, and he brought the cup to her lips. He immediately poured the serum into Myris' mouth.

The pain in her throat went out and after a few coughs, she tried to say his name. Her voice was hoarse, but it worked.

As the wind raged on, Fyrian returned the cup to Cearen The silent boy also made his eyes glow and Myris felt the pain slowly disappear. Gratefully she looked at them.

Meanwhile, Fyrian took Myris completely from Viera, who had her hands free again. Blue light mixed with the orange and green. Myris watched with wide eyes as Viera's eyes light up and the water started to move. Small waves washed over Myris and small streams of water passed over her forehead with the wind making it even colder. Then the water was raised in the air and separated, leaving hundreds of droplets to float in the surrounding air.

Myris looked at the drops that surrounded her. She saw herself in it, but differently. Something inside her had changed, and that change was radiated through her eyes. Blinking, she leaned further to see herself better. Her irises… they were no longer grey-blue, they were red. Red, like the flames she had swallowed, red like the magic that had unleashed in her. The colour of roses, fire and blood at the same time, changing with every movement.

Then the drops fell on her like rain, taking the last bit of heat with her. Then she fell limp in Fyrian’s arms.