The air hummed with the scent of burnt cedar as Kael pressed his palm against the charred oak, feeling the ember pulse beneath his skin. The village had called it a miracle—how he could summon fire without match or flame—but…
Clara’s hands trembled as she slid the sheet pan into the oven, the scent of caramelized onions and rosemary curling into the air like a secret. The bakery hummed with the clatter of dishes and the low murmur of customers,…
The air in Lirien stank of ash and iron. Kaela knelt at the edge of the clearing, her fingers digging into the soil as she willed the fire to die. It didn’t. The flames roared, licking the sky with tongues…
The air reeked of smoke and iron as Kael dragged the anvil across the forge floor, its weight grating against the stone like a dying beast. Sweat dripped from his brow, mingling with soot to streak his cheeks. The hammer…
The village of Elmhollow burned as Kaela sprinted through the smoke, her boots crunching over shattered glass and charred timber. The air reeked of ash and sulfur, a stench that clung to her skin like a second layer. Behind her,…
## The Chromatic Bloom Rain hammered the corrugated steel roof, a relentless percussion against Elara’s world. A damp chill clung to her skin despite the unnatural heat blooming from the firestarter paper clutched in her hand. The paper didn’t burn…