Collaterals

An Ugly Gash

The only difference this temple held from the one in the Palace of Divine Flame, was that the ceiling was higher. Other than that, it remained much the same, with the circular holes carved into the ceiling so that the rays of the sun drew geometric tapestries on the ground. Although day had claimed the skies outside, the sun had not yet risen high enough for its rays to beat the Aradian heat onto the stone floors. And so the shapes were faint on the ground, and the light barely a gentle glow. Zarqa sat in the center of the room, as she had back when Leila first met her, legs crossed beneath her with her hair over her shoulder. Leila moved about the room, hands crossed behind her back, neck craned slightly as she looked through the ornate wooden cabinets lining the wall.

Books, a great many books were placed atop the shelves, interrupted by what seamed to be containers, with metal exteriors that were intricately crafted into woven flowers that held miniatures gemstones in their center. Leila reached for one of them, hoping to view what was inside.

"Don't touch those," Zarqa snapped.

Leila looked behind her shoulder to where her sister sat, only the girl's eyes were shut in concentration. Her gaze still settled on Zarqa, Leila reached for the container once more.

"Leila!"

She really could see everything. Leila dropped her hands, "What's in them anyway?"

"Dragon's Ashes," Zarqa said nonchalantly. "At least, that is what I've heard."

Leila frowned as she looked past the container and to the books. Seams her siblings hear a great many things. She squinted at the language that lined the book's spine. Leila picked one up, scrolling through the pages in an attempt to read.

Zarqa sighed, opening her eyes, "It is written in Devik, Leila."

"Devik?"

"The language of the diviners."

Leila looked up from the book, "I thought they were not allowed to learn how to read."

Zarqa nodded, summoning a flame before letting it dance between her fingers, "They aren't. The only written language they learn is Evik. They do not read any other, and they do not teach it to anyone who is not a Diviner. Not if they wish to keep their life. Now let me focus."

Leila shut the book as Zarka closed her eyes, pushing it back onto the shelf. She leaned onto a bare wall, crossing her arms and watching Zarqa settle back into her pose. "I thought fire was directed through the limbs."

Zarqa straightened as she spoke, stretching her neck from one side to the other, "In the initially level, surely. But it begins at the core. Here," Zarqa put a hand atop her abdomen, as though she could feel the fire, " a strong Fire Bearer can make it so that the fire they summon can take form beyond that of simple flame."

Leila watched as Zarqa took several long, deep breaths. In front of her, like stars just beginning to shine atop a darkening sky, were dots of flame, shining into a vibrant orange. They stippled into existence, one after the other until they took the form of a bunny. Leila pushed off the wall, hands falling to her sides as she took a step forward in wonder. As though it had sensed her movement, the bunny of fire suddenly looked at her. Leila gasped as the bunny gave a hop, animated almost into life as it jumped to her. She kneeled down, putting her hand out as it came closer. It was but a step away when it disappeared, and Leila looked up at her sister in disappointment.

Zarqa had deadpanned, "It is still made of fire, Leila. It'd burn you all the same."

"Oh," Leila straightened, thumb feeling the burned skin of her three middle fingers, burned since childhood. "Of course."