The Trial of the Flame had not happened in Rivendale for around ninety years. It was very old, dangerous, and generally only used for one purpose: to find any lies in a future Luna's feelings. If the bond holding her was not pure, the fire would reveal it. If her plans were evil, the fire would burn her until her death.
If she was innocent, the flames would bow down.
Lyra had barely slept the night before. With the escaped prisoner, Xylan's warning, the rumors of a cursed Luna, and the growing pain of their connection, she felt empty. But when the council called her and said she had to do the Trial to "earn trust again," she did not argue. She could not risk it. Rivendale was disappearing from her, and worry spread faster than the truth.
If facing fire would calm them, then she would walk straight into it.
Now she was in the center of the special cave under the council hall, a large room older than Rivendale itself. The walls had images of the Moon Goddess, ancient spells drawn in circles that glowed a little in the faint blue light. In the middle was the fire pit: a stone circle filled with black mountain ash.
Her parents were at the edge, their faces showing worry. Sebastian was there too, tense, jaw tight, with anger just below the surface. He had not spoken to her since the council meeting where he showed her mark to everyone. Not to apologize. Not to show anger. Nothing. Today, he looked like a man waiting for a decision he really hoped would go his way.
The High Elder stepped forward. "Lyra of Rivendale," he said loudly, his voice echoing off the cave walls, "you are accused of having a strange bond that is hurting the balance of our group. To regain trust, you will do the Trial of the Flame. These fires show what is real. If your heart is pure, they will not harm you. If your soul is connected to dishonesty… the flames will cleanse it."
Clearing her throat, Lyra raised her head. "I agree to the trial."
Her mother reached for her, but Lyra moved forward before she could be stopped.
The Elder nodded. "Go in when you're ready."
Lyra took a breath, slow, steady, and stepped into the circle.
The ash moved under her feet, making quiet cracking sounds. The pit vibrated, magic awakening like something old stirring after being asleep for too long. The markings on the ground lit up one by one, filling the room with a golden light. A low humming sound grew louder, shaking her skin.
Then the flames shot up.
They rose from the ash in circles, red, gold, and white, wrapping around her like living things. Heat hit her immediately, but instead of burning, it surrounded her like a strong hug.
Lyra closed her eyes, keeping her breath steady as the flames grew higher.
"Show me what is not clean," the Elder said.
The fire gave its reply.
She couldn't see clearly.
Pictures began to form in the fire, changing into images that pulsed like a heart. At first, she expected to see Sebastian, the person she was supposed to be with. She thought the fire would test how they fit together, check her loyalty, and show her flaws.
But the fire did not show her him.
Instead, Zack showed up.
Not fully there, moving, flickering, like a memory that wasn't complete. He was in the center of the flames, his shoulders tense, his eyes dark, like he was made of smoke and fire. He really surprised her. She felt his heartbeat through their bond. She felt his breath. She felt his guilt and anger and confusion that still stuck around.
The flames shifted.
They went toward him.
They went toward her.
She gasped. No. No, no, no…
This was not good. She couldn't let the council see this happen. She couldn't let anyone realize the fire saw the bond she was trying so hard to end.
She tried to push the image away, tried to only think about Sebastian, but the flames would not let her. Zack's image became brighter. The fire wrapped around her like a hug, glowing gold instead of red. It didn't burn her skin. It didn't hurt her. It felt,
Comfortable.
Like it knew her.
Like it was okay with her.
No. Like it understood her.
The flames shot up loudly, making her blind with bright light. Lyra gasped and almost fell, but she stayed standing. The fire circled her again, then slowly turned back into ash.
The cavern became quiet.
When Lyra opened her eyes, everyone was staring at her.
Sebastian's face changed, showing shock, disbelief, and anger. "You didn't get burned."
The High Elder moved closer, with amazement in his voice. "The flames have said she is pure."
A soft sound spread through the room. Some felt relief. Some felt confusion. Some felt fear.
The Elder raised a hand. "Let it be known, Lyra's spirit is still pure. Whatever bond she has does not change who she is."
Lyra breathed out shakily, her knees feeling weak. She forced herself to stand up straight, even though the warmth of the fire was still under her skin.
But then the Elder said:
"The flames have given a warning."
Lyra became tense. A warning?
"What is the warning?" Sebastian asked.
The Elder paused for a moment. "The fire showed… fighting. Two groups. A bond that is not yet settled. It says that her future is dangerous, tied to what happens to another person."
The room became loud. Questions. Fear. Doubt.
Sebastian pushed through the crowd, looking even more angry. "Lyra." His voice was sharp. "Look at me."
She didn't want to. But she looked at him.
"What did you see?" he asked quietly. "In the flames. Tell me what you saw."
Her heart pounded quickly. She wished to tell a lie. She wished to shout out loud. She wished the truth would leave to stop the pain.
But saying Zack's name would destroy everything completely.
So she did not say anything at all.
Sebastian caught her arm, holding tightly to it. "Lyra, what did you see when you looked in the flames?"
She moved her arm away from him. "Nothing that you need to be aware of."
His eyes widened, then narrowed as his anger grew like a coming storm. "You are keeping something secret from me."
Lyra moved one step backwards. "It's my own test, Sebastian. My own truth. It's not yours to know."
She walked away from him before he forced her to answer another question, before he could destroy the calm feeling within her.
People started talking more behind her back. They were placing blame, wondering why, and were very curious.
But this is the only thing that Lyra completely understood:
The fire was aware of who Zack truly was.
And what that meant was now set in stone forever.