Tesrivian Calendar, Year 1326, January.
Day 7.
The last day of the Bright Festival, one clock hour away from the final departure of the stars.
Trolian Royal City is teeming with people, the light of the Holy Fire still strong, yet hinting at weakness.
The night sky remains splendid, stars shining, moonlight like water, with thin clouds and mist.
But in an hour, this scene will disappear.
What awaits them next are those long, dark days.
The crowd is silent, everyone greedily enjoying these final monts, urgently hoping they can last a little longer.
Occasional cries break out from the crowd, cries from unfortunate souls who are overco with emotion.
These seven days passed too quickly, the year too arduous, living in constant fear is their norm, the fire illuminating the heavens just a fleeting mont.
The church bells ring, and everyone bows their heads in silent prayer, hoping this year’s months and days will be fewer, the next Bright Festival arriving sooner, and that the great Holy Fire will protect them through these days of darkness, and that more can pass the next Fire Trial, hopefully including themselves or their children.
No one, however, notices over a hundred teors streaking across the night sky, falling into the Upper City.
——
Holy Fire Sacrificial Ground.
Almost all the high-ranking personnel are gathered here. They received the news half an hour ago, the Starry Sky City expedition team has triumphed and is returning to the Royal City with the Holy Fire Seed.
When the fire light touches down, revealing the figures of four Special Level Combatants and over a hundred First Level Combatants, a huge cheer resounds across the sky.
The King personally steps forward, shaking Jelaba’s hand.
"Heroes of Trolian, welco back."
Under countless gazes, Jelaba solemnly places the red box containing the Holy Fire Seed into the King’s hands.
"Your Majesty, we succeeded. Please proceed with the Holy Fire Fusion Ceremony as soon as possible."
The King nods gently, unveiling the red box, revealing the seed etched with fla patterns.
Everyone watches it intently.
This is what they expended endless energy to obtain, it will save all of Trolian, bringing new life to countless people.
First Defense Chief Dalin croaks, "Is this the Holy Fire Seed?"
"Yes." First Elder Ando replies softly, "I can sense its extraordinariness, endless power surging within it, it seems to resonate with the Holy Fire."
First Commander Herman suddenly becos a bit worried.
"Can the Holy Fire fuse with it? Will any accidents occur?"
"No." The Leader of the Silver Oath replies, "Lord redith has long prophesied this, the structure of the Holy Fire itself can accommodate multiple Holy Fire Seeds, the Fire Priests of the Silver Oath have studied the Holy Fire for years and already confird it."
"Indeed." Ando says hoarsely, "If that wasn’t the case, would His Majesty have formulated the Holy Fire plan? He’s our King."
Everyone gazes reverently at the man wearing the Fire Crown.
The King gently picks up the Holy Fire Seed, sensing its power.
Firelight spreads across him, covering him in a golden light.
"I can feel it."
The King’s voice cos from within the light.
"It’s pulsing, it’s being awakened, the fire is spent, but can be reignited."
The King ascends into the Holy Fire, engulfed by the surging flas.
Everyone falls silent, watching the fiercely burning Holy Fire intently.
No one knows how much ti passes before a strong golden light rises from the base of the Holy Fire, quickly blooming.
The intense light engulfs the entire area in an instant; even with hands shielding their eyes, they cannot block out the vast expanse of gold before them.
A more formidable presence rises from the Holy Fire, the crowd almost sees an endless world filled with light, subrged in the radiance, bewildered.
Much ti passes before this illusion gradually fades, the golden light too returns to normal.
When they open their eyes, a new Holy Fire, surging with vitality, fills their vision.
Its presence is so familiar yet so strange, its strength and vigor impart an irresistible feeling of activity, its warmth devoid of any threats in its stability.
Only then does everyone realize that the previous Holy Fire harbored an uneasy vast presence.
But now, that unease has completely dissipated, replaced by boundless brilliance and flawless strength, providing imnse reassurance, making one wish to sleep within the embrace of the fire.
A thought rises in everyone’s hearts.
The Holy Fire has beco stronger.
We shall step into a new epoch from here!
——
——
No one could have imagined, the Holy Fire Seed fused so perfectly into the Holy Fire without any obstruction, without any turbulence, so smoothly as if it originally belonged within the Holy Fire.
The Holy Fire has completely eliminated all hidden dangers, no longer at risk of collapsing, no longer prone to terrifying disturbances.
The strength of the Holy Fire has seen a significant increase, the largest leap in nearly a hundred years.
What’s more important, the structure of the Holy Fire has expanded significantly, able to accommodate more Fire Kindling, with a higher upper limit.
This is sothing Trolian has not achieved in the past eighteen hundred years.
After accumulating power for these eighteen hundred years, the Holy Fire has finally stepped onto a new stage.
Now, the Royal City can once again add Fire Kindling to the Holy Fire, further increasing its strength.
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