Flames of Ashes

Chapter One. Flame Day

"Fear burns like fire. Uncertainty flows like a river~Athika."
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Flame Day. A day millions of seventeen-year-olds all around the world convene at the capital city, Caramat, at the Golden Temple to know their fate, their future.

The Golden Temple was a structure that seemed to defy reality. Its walls glimmered with a radiant golden hue, reflecting the dappled sunlight that filtered through the surrounding canopy.

As I approached, a soft hum filled the air, a melodic resonance that whispered untold secrets and forgotten magic to everyone else but me.

The temple's aura was palpable, drawing curious souls like moths to a flame. Curious souls like mine. Each step toward the entrance was met with a surge of anticipation as if the air itself crackled with the promise of mystical revelation. The temple wasn't just a temple, it was filled with the presence of the gods and it was alive. Very much alive.

Every inch and corner of this temple had been engraved into my brain so that I could act as a vivid map of the temple. I knew this temple more than I knew my own home.

The temple had always been windy so I pulled my hair back in two braids. I wore a cream ankle-length gown with Belle sleeves and two slits on opposite sides of my thighs both at the front and back of the gown, offering glimpses of the brown leather pants underneath. Accentuating my waist was a striking black belt adorned with a prominent golden emblem at its center.

But the wind blew in my direction, fear, excitement, and uncertainty. Each step pulsated like a victor's. Athika must have blessed me with her courage because my fate glared at me. This was a chance to set things right.

Unlike me, my peers were closing their eyes and taking deep breaths, all lined up in 20 columns standing in front of the 13 councilmen, who formed an arc in front of the two colossal pillars of marble that rose skyward, intricately carved with ancient symbols and runes at the temple's entrance, with their leader, Meridan, in the middle. The councilmen were all bald, wearing white robes and golden jewelry on their ears, waist, and ankles.

I inhaled when I realized I had failed my mother.
"Put your head down" Mother had instructed.

"Do not get into any trouble" She had warned me.

Because, the moment my high-heeled boots left the last staircase, all eyes turned to me and it was either because of my ethereal beauty or because they were confused about why I was there. My bet was on the latter, although the former didn't seem too far stretched.

Their eyes were boring holes into me as I walked to the back of the last column.

My eyes scanned my surroundings and I was surprised to see certain people here. Especially the ones with multi-colored hair- the people of Persidia.

Rumors about an internal strife between the Emperor and the king of Persidia were spreading and at some point trading between the other kingdoms and Persidia, except for Northernburg, had stopped.

I honestly didn't care, but I had hoped the presence of these people was enough to keep their attention away from me. Alas, their stares were hateful and filled with contempt. I could probably guess what they were thinking, even I thought the same thing:
"Her fate should be to meet Davikon"

But nothing compared to the most prominent hate my whole body pealed from, Meridan.

We all waited for everyone else to arrive because Flame Day wasn't just one day, Flame Day could take 3 months to be over, because of the numbers. Millions of people from all around the United Kingdom of Elpeca, traveled to the Capital City to know their fates. In a day they could attend to about 50 to 150 people.