Sahara's fire wouldn't answer him.
He stood before Sahara's door, pouring everything he had into his flames, but the shadow-chains merely absorbed the heat like hungry mouths. Each attempt left him weaker, his jasper stone dimming with every failed burst of power.
"Come on," he whispered desperately, pressing his palms against the cold metal links. "She's right there. She's right there."
Through the gaps in the chains, Sahara's outline was barely visible now — a faint shimmer of gold against the darkness of her room. Her voice, when it came, was so weak he almost missed it.
"Little brother... stop... you're feeding it..."
"What?" Saguna stepped back, horrified. "I'm feeding what?"
"The chains... they're not just blocking you... they're converting your fire... using it to drain me faster..."
