Page 196 of Axis of Fire

“Some worlds are... complicated,” Airis said, tension creeping into his posture. “Manipulative. Cruel. Obsessed with spectacle. We don’t know where every world truly stands.”

His jaw tightened.

“But they know Istarus will protect them regardless, so they allow themselves far more than they should.”

“As much as I hate agreeing with him, this asshole’s telling the truth,” Aars said with a nod, floating closer to Airis. “After Mataarus’s trial, you’ll be even more broken than you are now. And after that?”

He grimaced.

“More trials.”

“Ones you won’t be allowed to fail.”

I exhaled slowly.

Then stepped into position and silently summoned my fire.

The flame settled into my open palm.

Part pain.

Part strength.

If those two parts of me could finally stop fighting each other...

Maybe I could become the person everyone expected me to be.

Feeling the connection between myself and the fire, I released it.

And for once...

It listened.

No resistance.

No struggle.

With a flick of my wrist, I sent the flame toward the nearest target.

It struck dead center.

“That was excellent,” Airis said.

I gathered my energy again.

A deep breath.

A connection to the flame.

The second target ignited instantly.

Then the third.

Then the fourth.

I didn’t understand.

I was stunned by how willingly the fire responded to me.