"You want to play with fire? Okay darling, I'll gladly be the one who lights the match." In a world where magic intertwines with everyday life, Reese Lysander, the youngest apprentice of the renowned Swordmaster Natasha Valoris, enters the prestigious Aetherium Academy as a student being tasked with assisting the academy's student council president, Valentine Rosedale, in a secret investigation. Beneath the academy's polished surface lies a tangled web of dark magic, hidden agendas, and the unsettling mystery surrounding the death of a former professor. From the moment she steps foot onto its grounds, challenges arise-it becomes clear her life here will be far from simple. Hindrance started to be directed towards her from the start, most notably from Valentine's rival faction, the Crimson claws. Prepared for the tests ahead, Reese is ready to face both rivals and, perhaps, make a few unexpected allies or find love along the way. Who knows how deep the roots of all these are laid? Will Reese bring a new wave of change, or will she herself become the wave that reshapes everything? --- *Disclaimer: 'Essence of an Ignited Spirit' is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and dialogues in this story are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The author of this story, [Atirdabed], holds all rights to the content herein. No part of this story may be used in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the author. * Also the picture used in the cover is not owned by me. I simply downloaded it from Pinterest. Hence all the credits go to the rightful owner.