Volume 2 Chapter 11 - Ashes in the Wind
The sky above the capital was clear that morning, yet the air carried an odd heaviness — the kind that came before a storm, or worse.
Cindy stood on the guild's upper balcony, her eyes fixed on the western horizon.
The distant dunes shimmered faintly beneath the sun.
.. but every so often, a flicker of red light pulsed just beyond sight, like the heartbeat of a flame buried in sand.
Puff leaned against the railing beside her, munching on a sweet roll. "You're thinking about it again," he said between bites.
Cindy's eyes didn't leave the horizon. "The wind's been strange since yesterday. It carries heat — not natural warmth, but something sharp. Angry."
Puff's ears twitched. "You think it's the Fire Spirit?"
Before Cindy could answer, a knock sounded behind them. The door opened, revealing Eleanor, the guild clerk, her usually calm expression replaced by worry.
"Cindy, Puff — Guildmaster Reynard wants to see you right away. It's urgent."
Cindy exchanged a glance with Puff. "Let's go."
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The Guildmaster's Office
The air inside was tense. Scrolls and reports lay scattered across Reynard's desk, their edges singed with faint heat. The Guildmaster himself stood by the window, his usual calm demeanor shadowed by concern.
When Cindy and Puff entered, he turned immediately. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to send for you this soon," he said. "But it's begun."
He gestured to a burned map pinned to the wall. Several red marks dotted the western desert regions.
"These are the locations of the last three caravans sent from the capital to the border towns. None returned. Scouts found what was left of them..." His eyes hardened. "Nothing but ash and glass. Even the sand itself melted."
Puff's small hands clenched into fists. "That's... not normal fire."
Reynard nodded grimly. "Exactly. This kind of devastation can only come from one thing — a Spirit's interference, or worse, corruption."
Cindy's expression grew serious. "The Order of Embers."
"Most likely," the Guildmaster said. "We don't have proof yet, but there are sightings of robed figures near the ruins of Crimson Dune Fortress — the old stronghold built on top of a dormant volcano."
Puff groaned. "A volcano. Of course."
Reynard turned to Cindy. "I'm assigning you two to lead an investigation team. Your affinity with the Spirits may help you locate the source before the damage spreads. If this is another awakening..."
Cindy nodded. "Then it could be the Fire Spirit trying to break free."
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Preparing for the Journey
They spent the afternoon gathering supplies — water, desert cloaks, mana potions.
The guildsmith even reinforced Cindy's armor with heat-resistant runes, a precaution against fire magic.
Puff inspected his new gear with a grin. "Finally, something that won't catch fire the moment I sneeze lightning."
Cindy smiled faintly as she packed. "You don't sneeze lightning, Puff."
He wiggled his fingers playfully, sparks flickering between them. "Not yet."
Outside, the wind was dry, carrying faint traces of dust. Cindy closed her eyes, focusing on its whispers.
The voices of her lesser Sylphs stirred faintly within — anxious, almost restless.
"The flame wakes... it burns below..."
She opened her eyes. "It's spreading faster than I thought."
Puff looked at her, concern flickering behind his humor. "Then we'd better move fast, huh?"
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Departure
At dawn the next day, they rode out of the capital gates. The rising sun cast long shadows behind them as the road turned from cobblestone to dirt, then to endless dunes.
The heat increased steadily with each passing hour, and by midday, even the air shimmered from the temperature.
Cindy lifted her hand, summoning a gentle Wind's Embrace to keep them cool. The faint breeze wrapped around them, soft and refreshing despite the heat.
Puff sighed in relief. "You're a lifesaver."
Cindy smiled faintly. "Perk of being friends with the wind."
The desert stretched endlessly before them, but she could already sense it — a pull deep within her chest.
A familiar energy, burning wild and untamed.
And somewhere beyond the dunes, the faint echo of a roar.
[Warning: Elemental Disturbance Detected – Fire Resonance Rising]
Cindy stopped her mount, eyes narrowing toward the horizon where faint embers drifted in the air.
Puff's fur bristled. "You hear that too?"
Cindy nodded slowly. "Yes. The Fire Spirit... it's calling."
The wind shifted — hot, sharp, and angry.
Far in the distance, a red glow flickered beneath the sands, like a heartbeat ready to burst into flame.