The ceremony of receiving the Blessing of the Fire is fairly simple. Flame priests can perform and guide those who want to receive it anytime, as long as they are of sound mind and understand the consequences. Anyone can request it at the Temple, and they are guided by the priests before performing the ceremony. Aelius went outside and found a flame priest that can help Sola understand what she is about to receive.
“Don’t tell them I am the Sun Heir, do you understand?” Aelius whispered to the priest on their way to the room where Sola and Selene were staying. “Tell them the truth and I will burn all of you to the ground” he growled.
The priest nodded at his request, knowing full well that the prince will deliver on his threat.
The Flame priest was dressed in white robes with a cowl and veil covering their face. The only decoration they have in the huge Mark of the Sun on the back of their robes. The priest handed Sola a white gown and a long white veil.
“Sister,” the priest said, its voice calm “Wear this. This is a sign of rebirth and commitment to be cleansed by the very Essence of the Sun.”
Sola took the garments and glanced at Selene for reassurance. Selene offered her a smile.
“This young man here,” the priest gestured towards Aelius, “has informed me that you wish to receive the Blessing of Fire. Are you aware of the consequences if the blessing failed?”
“Yes, Cyrus has already explained it to me more times than I can count” she chuckled. “But I am determined to receive it”
The flame priest smiled at her response, though they can’t see it due to the veil. “Good. Did he explain the benefits when the blessing is a success?”
“No,” Sola said, “he never said any benefits”. She shot a glare at Aelius for hiding such important information.
Aelius shrugged. “I didn't want any of you doing it, to be honest” he reasoned. He pointed at the flame priest. “This one was present when I received the blessing. By the end of it, I was clinging to life by a thread.”
The flame priest swallowed a gasp at the blatant lie the prince had said. Aside from Aelius’s late brother, and the King, the prince was unscathed when he presented himself to the Essence of the Sun. By the end of the ceremony, he was actually quite bored.
The priest just nodded its head and said. “It’s understandable that someone who has already received the blessing will bar anyone from receiving it again. The process is quite traumatic. Nonetheless, the benefits outweigh the cons, if you remove death from the equation. Dress up now, I’ll explain the benefits on our way to the Solarium”
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The group slowly went to the Solarium. Sola was dressed from head to toe in white, the long veil hiding her face. Devotees and other priests saw their little group and bowed down to Sola, giving both their respect and farewell, in case the blessing resulted in death.
“The Essene of the Sun,” the flame priest said, “Provides the world life and light. Without it, the world will be cold and dark. Receiving its blessing means that you are now welcomed by the Sun to embrace it and feel its presence. Your power will increase tenfold; you can invoke the sun’s name to heal anyone from their ailments or burn cities to the ground. Those are the benefits,” the priest concluded
They walked in silence after that, with Aelius at the tail, glancing at their surroundings every now and then, barring anyone who would try to talk to him or to his companions.
“We’re near” he whispered to Selene.
“How did you know?”
“The temperature changed” he replied.
Selene noticed that the winds normally inside the temple has died down, replaced by the scorching heat. She had to mumble a few cooling spells to keep herself refreshed against the onslaught of the sun.
The flame priest stopped in front of a golden door, its handle gleaming red. “We are here,” it said. “Behind this door is the Sun itself. Dear sister, are you ready to receive its blessing? Once you are inside, there is no turning back”
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Before Sola could answer she heard a shout. “Wait! Wait!” a shrill feminine voice called out. The group turned to where the voice came from and saw that it was Kai running towards them, with Mikael running behind her.
“Wait!” she cried. “I have to talk to her first”
The priest nodded and gestured them to the side to give them some privacy.
Kai grasped Sola’s hands. “I’m sorry,” she started. “I’m sorry for getting angry earlier. It’s just hard to understand your decisions sometimes, and when you decided to risk your life something snapped in me. You’re my best friend and I couldn’t allow anything to happen to you”
“I’m sorry for getting angry as well. I know that I can sometimes be rash, but I really want to do this.” Sola held Kai’s hands tighter.
“I know” Kai sniffled. “And if I hear you shout I’ll drag you back outside. Just don’t die okay?” she said as tears slowly fell from her eyes.
“I’ll try” Sola replied with a chuckle, her eyes moist with tears threatening to flow. She hugged Kai with all her might and held her for a few moments.
Selene and the boys were watching the scene. She nudged her brother. “What took you so long?” she asked.
Mikael gave her a glare, “I’ve only ever handled that fire witch and you before on your tantrums, but never her” he reasoned. “I didn’t realize Saphiros were crybabies.” He sighed, exhausted. “I couldn’t get a word in edgewise during our talk since she kept on crying and making gasping sounds. It took me a long while to get her to calm down enough for her to listen to reason.”
Selene only patted her brother’s back for a job well done. It was not easy getting a Saphiro to calm down while they are crying, but her brother did it anyway. “Good job. And thank you” she said.
The flame priest interrupted Kai and Sola’s embrace with a cough. “It is time,” it said. “Dear sister, may the Sun embrace you with all its power, and grant you its blessing. Glory to the Sun, Glory to the Fire, Glory to the Everlasting Flame”
Sola took a deep breath and stepped inside the Solarium, while the others watched in fear.
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Sola entered the Solarium alone and was greeted by a blinding light and unbearable heat. Sweat broke out on her brows, as she neared the source of the flames.
In the middle stood a gigantic ball of flames, floating like a little sun, with solar flares bursting every now and then. Determined to receive the blessing Sola opened her arms to welcome the Sun.
Flames started to lick her robes and veil, eating them away. Her lovely skin slowly began to blotch red, pain radiating from it. She looked at her body and watched in horror as blisters began to appear in painful spurts. Her clothes and skin melted and fused together, charred at the edges. She took a deep breath and endured the increasing pain.
Pieces of her skin started to peel as the fire surrounded her, cooking her flesh. Fat and blood bubbled and boiled on the surface and a smell of burning meat surrounded her. Her feet and legs, burning and sizzling from the fire’s embrace, buckled, no longer able to support her weight. She kneeled on the bronze floor, using her hands to help her fall, as her hair started to burn as well. The palms of her hands had started to fuse with the floor, cooking it. She tried to breathe but found it difficult. She bit her lips to keep herself from shouting in pain, but her lips slowly tore from her face - the flames making her meat tender. But despite the maddening pain Sola kept her mouth shut. Smoke began to form on her every pore, until she finally burst into flames, becoming one with the sun.
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Outside the group stared as the Solarium burned, the golden door heating from the inside, turning it into glowing red. The flame priest gathered the other priest and kneeled down and prayed to the Sun. Selene was holding her breath until she smelled the smell of cooking flesh. She looked at her brother with horrified eyes but Mikael was busy staring at the door, waiting for Sola’s scream so they can release her. Kai was at the corner, far away from the door, cradling herself as she watched the entrance of the Solarium.
“What’s happening inside?” Selene asked Aelius, who was standing beside her, watching the ritual as well.
“She’s being burned alive” he simply whispered.
Whispered prayers from the priests can be heard from every corner, making the atmosphere eerie and strange. Shadows danced as they waited with bated breath.
Until they heard a scream.
Selene will never forget Sola’s pained screams echoing around her. Aelius and Mikael started to rush towards the door when it was suddenly blocked by the priest. “You cannot disturb the ritual,” it said in a low voice.
“She’s dying there, get her out now!” Mikael screamed as Sola’s song of pain danced in their ears, making their heart bleed.
Aelius stared down at the priest, “Get her out now!” he cried, but the priest stood still, his gaze daring him to interfere.
Kai started to cry inconsolably, while Selene tried to calm her down. “You said they take her out if she screams!” she shouted at Aelius. “She’s screaming in pain right now! Get her out!”
Selene walked up to Aelius, her eyes pleading. “Please,” she said as tears flowed freely from her gray eyes, “Please...” she cried, as she pulled Aelius’s shirt, clawing it with desperation.
Aelius can only give her a sad look, as the priests held Mikael and force him to kneel down when he tried to force himself to the door. Selene’s soft whimper and Kai’s anguished cries were too much for his heart to ignore. He was about to order the priests to stand aside so he can go inside when suddenly the screaming stopped.
Silence enveloped the whole area as they looked at the door. But only smoke came out on the edges, bringing the smell of charred flesh.