Selene and her brother must have had horrified faces since Aelius started to backtrack. "No one is forced to take the blessing" he explained. "It's voluntary, and the priests explain the risks to anyone wanting to be blessed by the fire" he reassured the two. "Guys, come on, again no one is forced to do this."

"Do what?" Sola suddenly popped, with Kai at her side.

"He's explaining how one gets to be blessed by the fire from the Essence of the Sun" Selene quickly explained. "Apparently you first have to burn to a crisp before receiving it."

"We're not that barbaric" Aelius countered. "Healers are at the door waiting. They'll sense if someone is near death. So far only 10 people have died this year" Aelius said proudly.

"10 people?!" The group was shocked. In Lunaria, nobody dies when receiving the Kiss from Luna – those undeserving only get sick for a couple of days.

"Again, nobody forced those people" Aelius explained again. "And they only died since they fought the healers hard when they tried to drag them out of the Solarium. Again, healers are outside waiting and sensing if the person trying to be blessed can take it or will die"

"You okay there Sol- I mean, Seraphina?" Mikael asked her, noticing that she was unusually quiet.

"Seraphina?" Kai asked in a small voice, her eyes wide with worry. "Are you okay? You seem to be in deep thought"

There was a few seconds of silence, then Sola whispered. "I'll do it"

"Do want Seraphina?" Kai asked her friend as she tenderly grasped her arm.

"I'll do the Blessing of the Fire"

There was an unpalpable tension between the group, its silence slithering to their shocked minds and faces.

"Are you out of your mind?!" Kai suddenly shouted, her voice echoing in the dome, disturbing the devotees and priests inside the temple.

Aelius noticed the number of eyes staring at the group, and Mikael noticed them as well. "Is there a private place we can talk?" Mikael whispered to Aelius.

"Amaris, gather the others and follow me immediately" Aelius whispered back with urgency.

Mikael grabbed the girls and follow Aelius to a corner of the temple, where a hallway was present. Aelius checked a couple of rooms in there, opening and closing several doors before finding what he was looking for.

"In here" Aelius waved at the group. The room was spacious, with a couple of chairs and couches for visitors.

"They usually use this room as a receiving area for high-status guests" Aelius explains. "Tea can be made over there," he said as he gestured towards a table at the back.

Selene made a beeline there and started to make tea for everyone, while the others sat on the chairs. Sola was in the middle, surrounded by the others.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"Can you please explain why you're doing this, Seraphina?" Selene asked as she served the tea to others.

Sola took a deep breath to compose herself and gave everyone a steely gaze. "Because I want to" she simply said.

"Did you knock your head in the pavement earlier?" Kai asked, annoyed by her friend's answer. "Didn't you hear what Cyrus said? You'll be burned alive! 10 people died!"

"I'll be fine" Sola replied flippantly. "I am an Ardeat, I am born from fire. Receiving the Blessing of the Fire seems fitting for me." She explained.

"Are you sure about this?" Aelius asked, concerned. "The Essence of the Sun is strong, even too strong for some Ardeats who tried to receive it. Think carefully about this"

"I. Am. Sure." Sola replied pointedly. "Please believe me. When have I ever failed on what I tried?"

The group was silent, debating on whether they'll allow their friend to burn herself.

"No. I won't allow it." Kai said, shaking her head in disappointment. "We're going back to Lunaria if you keep spouting nonsense"

"I'm with Mirella" Selene softly said. "We can't risk it"

Kai looked at Mikael, her usually mocking eyes, were big and pleading. Mikael sighed, "I think we should let her do it" Someone smacked his head as soon as he answered.

"Are you fucking stupid?!" Selene shouted at her brother.

"Oh, so now you agree with her when she wants to kill herself? You're despicable" Kai said to Mikael with malice. She was shaking with rage so much that she just stood up and started pacing the room.

"I'm dragging you back to Lunaria" Kai said coldly.

"Enough! I want to do this. And who do you think you are to decide whether I'll be doing this or not?!" Sola exploded. "I control my own life, so I decide, so you can't stop me"

Angry tears started to form in Kai's eyes, making her look even more in despair. "Fine! Die for all I care!" Kai shouted as she stormed out of the room.

"I'll calm her down" Mikael offered, as he got up from his seat and tried to follow Kai.

Sola was still drinking her team calmly, but the shaking of her hands and her watery eyes indicate that the words of her dear friend hit her deep.

"Seraphina," Selene slowly said. "Don't take her words to heart, you know that she's just angry at your decision."

"I know. I just wished she supported me on this." Sola said with a controlled voice.

"She always supports you, no matter how stupid your decision is" she replied with a smile, "But not when your life is at stake" Selene calmly explained. "Please try to understand where she is coming from"

Sola nodded, unhappily. "I know you don't approve as well, but I think you also know that there is no stopping me, right? She gave Selene a weak smile. "I want to do this. I have to do this."

"Why? You're already an Ardeat, one of the fiercest and most fiery ones in Lunaria. So why?" Selene asked.

"Because I'm here, in the Land of the Sun," she explained. "The birthplace of flame, my ancestral home. My ancestors before me all took the blessing before the Reckoning happened. I'm here, at the same place they took the blessing. The strings of fate weaved this location to our travel so I can receive what is mine"

Selene stared at Sola with newfound respect. Never has her friend so eloquently explained her desires. She usually just says surface-level reasons, but this is the first time she requested something from the heart.

Selene took her friend's hands and enveloped them in hers. "I do not approve of this," she said, inhaling deeply, "but I trust your decision and will support it. If it makes you happy, then I'm happy"

Sola hugged her friend tight, whispering thanks. Selene pulled back "But if I hear you scream in agony I'm dragging you out there"

"You can't drag her actually" Aelius suddenly said, making the girls jump in surprise. They'd forgotten that he was still in the room. "Only those who already received the blessing can withstand the heat."

Selene's eyes mirror the panic that starting to bubble in her heart.

"But, if Seraphina starts to shout that she has had enough, I'll alert the priests to drag her out and direct her to the Healing Well" Aelius provided.

Selene looked at Sola, "Shout if it's too much okay?" Sola nodded at her. "I'll take care of Kai, don't worry"

Sola gave Selene a smile and then turned towards Aelius.

"So Cyrus, where are these priests who will tell me about the risks and guide me? I'm ready"