The sky above Elaris Academy was far too quiet for a storm that big.
Clouds churned without sound, dark and heavy — like a secret held for too long. The wind whispered old names through the silverleaf trees lining the marble path.
She walked alone. Lyra Vaelwind.Sixteen years old. No memory of where she came from. And yet — a crimson flame pulsed in her chest, soft and alive, like something ancient dreaming in her blood. Her boots met the first step leading to the academy's grand gate. Each one shimmered faintly, carved with violet runes etched deep into blackstone. She paused. There it was. The seal of Elaris — a rose encircling a single flame.
It looked innocent. Beautiful, even. But something inside her stirred. With every step, her heartbeat grew heavier. Her breath shallowed. Her skin chilled. The wind stopped.And then
"You don't belong here."
She turned sharply, heart skipping. No one. Just empty air and whispering trees. The voice had been close. Right behind her. But the garden beyond the gate was frozen in time. Her fingers trembled as they reached for the seal. Something inside her screamed don't She touched it anyway.The world exploded.
A burst of soundless light erupted from the gate, slamming her off her feet.Her back crashed against the stone path, pain blooming down her spine.She gasped. Couldn't breathe.
The seal flared crimson. The rose petals turned black, crumbling into ash mid-air.Her chest burned.She screamed.Right over her heart, something invisible branded her — a flame-shaped sigil, searing into her skin like molten metal.But there was no blood.Only fire.
And somewhere far away, deep within the academy — a hundred candles flickered to life all at once.
The gates creaked open slowly.No hands. No guards. No welcome.Just silence… laced with invitation.Lyra lay there, gasping, staring up at the dark sky. The wind stirred again, brushing her hair across her face like fingers.And the voice returned. "You've returned… but why now?"
This time, she didn't turn.Because now she understood — the voice wasn't outside her.It was inside.And it remembered what she had forgotten.
She rose, body trembling, edges of her clothes scorched. Her vision blurred, but she moved forward — one step past the blackened seal, into the garden beyond.The temperature dropped instantly. Cold like winter breath on bare skin. The trees leaned toward her, as if recognizing her flame. And far away, through a moonlit corridor, a silver-haired girl lifted her head sharply. Eyes wide.
"She's back," whispered Serin Avaleia.
Her hand curled into a fist."She shouldn't be alive."
The hallways of Elaris whispered as Lyra passed — not in sound, but in feeling.Ancient paintings turned their eyes. Floating crystal lights flickered like nervous candles. Even the marble underfoot pulsed with each step — as if the academy itself was holding its breath.Lyra stumbled forward, dazed from the gate's blast.
No one greeted her.No guide.No warmth.
Only walls soaked in secrets.She didn't know where she was going — only that the fire in her chest grew heavier the deeper she walked.It wasn't burning her. It was watching her.
The infirmary doors swung open on their own.Inside, cloaked in frost and moonlight — stood Serin Avaleia.She didn't move.Just stood by the window, arms crossed, silver hair falling over one shoulder. Her fingers trembled slightly — not from fear, but from restraint.Lyra knew her instantly.
Even if the name didn't return to her lips, something in her soul responded.Like a wound.Like the echo of a scream once shared in silence."You're awake," Serin said coolly. "Too bad."
Lyra struggled to sit up."W-Where… am I?" "Somewhere safe. For now."
Serin stepped closer. "Though many are asking why you're alive at all."
Lyra blinked. "Alive…?" Serin stopped beside the bed, her voice sharp but trembling, like a frozen lake under strain."You died, Lyra." "You died… and left the rest of us to burn."
The words struck like lightning.Lyra flinched. "I… I don't remember—".."Of course you don't." Serin laughed bitterly. "That's what cursed fire does. It eats memory. Devours guilt."
Then she did something unexpected — she pulled down the collar of her uniform.Lyra gasped.A deep burn mark — crimson, cracked, shaped like a flame — marred Serin's skin just above the heart.Identical to the one now etched into Lyra's chest."You did this to me." "On the night the Tower of Souls fell." "You said you'd protect me."Her voice cracked.Only for a moment.Then the mask returned."But instead… you disappeared." "Into fire. Into nothing."Lyra's throat tightened. "I'm sorry… I swear, I didn't know"
"Don't say sorry."
Serin's voice turned to ice. "Not until you remember what it means."
She turned away, pausing at the door."They're watching you now, Lyra." "The Headmistress. The Council." "And them."
"The other nine." Lyra's blood froze. "What… other nine?" But Serin didn't answer.She opened the door, then added: "If you still carry the flame… you'll draw them in again." "Just like before." And then she was gone.
Lyra sat in silence, arms wrapped around herself.The flame-sigil pulsed beneath her shirt — warm. Terrifying.Nine others.She didn't know who they were.Didn't know what she had done.But something inside whispered a name she didn't recall ever saying: "Serin…"
The name hurt.Like truth wrapped in thorns.The academy bell rang once.Midnight.And far away — in distant corners of the campus — nine girls stirred in their sleep.As if something ancient had awoken.
The infirmary mirror shimmered faintly as Lyra stood before it, lifting her shirt just enough to see the mark.The Flame Sigil.Crimson. Alive. Breathing with her. Each heartbeat pulsed through it like blood through an old scar. "They're watching you now…"
Serin's words echoed.And then — so did something else.A voice. Not hers.
Not human.Ancient. Female. Elemental."Ten flames. One vow. If even one betrays the fire… the world will burn again." Lyra gasped.The mark glowed brighter. The room dimmed.
A knock at the infirmary door.When she opened it, no one was there.Only a single object lay at her feet — a black envelope, sealed with crimson wax in the shape of a rose. She picked it up.Inside, on parchment older than time, were three words: "Awaken the Circle."
And beneath them — a list.Ten names.Nine of them blurred.But one stood clear: Lyra Vaelwind. Flameheart.
The Betrayer.Her legs weakened.The letter slipped from her fingers. "Betrayer…?"
Suddenly, the window burst open — wind howling in.A figure landed silently.Cloaked in red. Silver hair braided down one side.
Eyes like flame over ice.She looked straight at Lyra. "So… you really are alive."
Lyra backed up. "Who are you?"The girl smiled — bitter. Hollow. "You don't remember me either. Of course."She pulled down her collar.Another flame-shaped sigil. Same as Lyra's. "Vel Ardent. Ember Knight of the Circle." "And once… your fiancée."
The words hit like a memory that didn't exist.But her body remembered.Breath caught. Skin burned. Vel's eyes darkened.
"You promised me a world where we'd never be used again." "You lied." She stepped closer. Her fingers brushed Lyra's mark. "Now the Council wants your head." "And the others… they'll come too. Some to kill you…"
She leaned in. "…some to love you again."
Lyra couldn't speak. Vel spun a silver dagger in her hand. "You've got three nights, Flameheart." "Three nights to reunite the Circle." "Or the Vow will collapse." She moved to the window, then paused. "You may have forgotten us, Lyra." "But none of us forgot you."
And she vanished.
Lyra stood frozen. The envelope still clenched in her fist.The Crimson Vow.Ten chosen flames.One already broken.
And she — the girl with no memory — was the spark that could ignite the end.She looked out toward the moonlit sky.Dark clouds circled like beasts.
Somewhere, nine girls were waking.Some with love. Some with rage. Some… with bloodlust. And all of them were coming back to her.