Bloodlines of Archaea I. Afira

Chapter Queen of Fire



“Move,” they said, spears against our back. She had put chains around our wrists and bags over our heads. We walked for hours, not allowed to say anything, or move to do anything other than walk. My nose became itchy, but there was nothing I could do. After a while, we seemed to have arrived in what I guessed was some sort of throne room, as they had slammed the doors behind us shut.

“Prove to us you are who you say you are,” they said, uncovering our heads. The brightness of the room stung my eyes. Eventually, they adjusted to the new environment. Unsure of what to do, I glanced at Akuma who stood beside me. He gave me a look of confidence and lifted his hands.

“Hands at your side,” the soldiers said, moving their spears closer to Akuma’s back.

I thought for a moment, then said, “as Queen of the Island of Skyfire, I hold in my blood power of the gods.”

“And what would that be?” They asked.

“Fire,” I whispered. “I hold, in my hands a power which grows by the second, as I become stronger, even just standing here.” They were silent for a moment, seeming to become more wary of my words.

“What proof do you have of this power of the gods?” They asked, after a long pause.

I concentrated on the time I hurt Akuma, how I felt after hurting him with a power I had no control over. I thought of my village and every person who lived there, who depended on me, with this power. I thought of Ember, and how she saw something in me, which made me somehow worthy of this power. I begged the magic which flowed in my veins, to please show the world what I was capable of. Slowly, I felt the power from inside my blood, drain into my hands, I could feel it. I began to glow, emanating the light of the gods, my hands growing hotter, and hotter, eventually boiling. I looked down, then, holding my hands up high, for everyone to see, a flash of light exploded from my hands, erupting in flame. A strange feeling it was, to hold a flame in my hands. It was the first time in a century when someone held a flame in their hands. The soldiers gasped, as did I, at the mesmerizing light which I held above my head for the world to see.

Akuma stared. I looked down, as the flame continued to grow, becoming hotter, and hotter, still. I cried out, afraid it was going to burn me, it never did, but I fell to the ground, where I was quickly picked up.

“You have proven yourself,” the warriors said, still in awe. “We will grant you a place to stay, and food to eat, at our inn, for you have earned our respect.”

“I thank you,” I said, bowing to the soldiers.

Akuma and I walked out of the room, I, limping unsteadily. Neither of us said a word to the other until we were well away from the hut and into the forest, where we followed the pathway to a village.

“How’d you do it?” Akuma finally asked, seemingly unable to contain his questions.

“I don’t know. I guess I just concentrated. I felt like I needed to prove to someone that I was worthy of these powers.” I said, truthfully, but avoiding telling him about my memory.


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