Chapter 108: Embers

Grace woke up to warmth on both sides.

Alia’s face pressed into her neck, breath tickling her skin. Zephyr had wrapped around her from behind like some kind of octopus, one leg thrown over Grace’s hip.

[…. When did they get in my bed?]

Right. It was last night’s “celebration” for surviving another month of training. She remembered kisses, wandering hands, that thing Alia did with her tongue—

“FUCK! Right there! Don’t stop!”

Grace blinked.

The screaming from the common room answered Grace’s next question. Yes, Diana was already at it.

Grace extracted herself from the tangle of limbs. Careful not to wake them. Alia mumbled something and grabbed for her, but Grace slipped away.

Heavenly coffee first. Then whatever chaos awaited outside.

She opened her bedroom door.

And immediately regretted it.

Diana had three Love Sisters arranged on various pieces of furniture. One bent over the kitchen table. Another spread on the couch. The third riding Diana’s face while that golden light construct worked on the first girl.

“Morning, Grace!” The one on the couch called out between moans. “Want to join?”

Two months ago, Grace would’ve fainted. Hell, three months ago she would’ve run away screaming.

Now?

“Maybe after coffee,” Grace said. She stepped around them to reach the kitchen.

Her Love attribute hit 70 last week. The change was… significant. Not just how casual she’d become about sex. But how her body reacted to everything. The constant low burn of want. The way she noticed every curve, every smile, every hint of skin.

Diana pulled her mouth away just long enough to smirk.

“There’s fresh bread too. Figured you’d need energy for training.”

“Thanks.”

Grace poured coffee and grabbed bread. The table girl’s hand shot out, trying to grab her ass. Grace dodged.

“You’re no fun,” the girl pouted.

“I’m plenty fun! Just… not before breakfast.”

—

The training arena was empty when Grace arrived. Thank Eternia. No orgies here.

She stretched, working out kinks from being a human pillow all night. Her body felt good, to be honest. Strong. Different from the scrawny turnip farmer who’d died… what, six months ago?

[Two Primal Demons dead. Two ancient Pillars purified. And I can actually hold my own in a fight now.]

Sort of.

“Ready to get your ass kicked?”

Seraph’s voice boomed across the arena. Typical entrance.

“Ready to try not to.”

They started with basic drills. Grace’s movements flowed better now. Less thinking, more instinct. When she summoned her Blade of Eternia, the light sword materialized larger. More solid than before.

“Better,” Seraph admitted after their first bout. “You almost look like you know what you’re doing.”

“High praise.”

“Don’t let it go to your head.” Seraph reset her stance. “Again.”

They sparred for another hour. Grace landed two hits (though Seraph probably let that happen to some extent). Had to be some kind of record. Her muscles burned but it felt good. Satisfying.

Proof she was getting stronger.

“That’s enough for today.” Seraph finally called it. “Venus wants you in an hour. Something about sensitivity training.”

“Sensitivity?”

“No idea. She just said make sure you show up.”

Grace found Venus in one of the smaller training rooms. Windows open despite the cool morning. The Love Sister leader wore even less than usual—just strips of pink silk that covered nothing important.

“Grace! Perfect timing.” Venus glided over, her hips swaying with each step. “How are you feeling about heat?”

“What? Uh. Fine? Why?”

“Just curious.” Venus circled her slowly, like a predator. “Some of our Bravery Sisters have been reporting strange things in the south. Unusual heat waves near Mount Ignata.”

“The volcano region?”

“Mmm. Nothing confirmed yet, but…” Venus paused. Her fingers trailed along Grace’s arm. “I thought we should make sure you’re prepared for all kinds of stimulation. Including temperature play.”

Grace’s brain stopped working.

“Temperature play?”

“Oh yes. Heat and cold can be very effective tools for—”

A knock interrupted whatever Venus was about to demonstrate.

Grace couldn’t be more grateful.

A messenger angel burst in. Her face was flushed and she panted as her eyes locked onto them.

“Lady Venus! Apologies, but we’ve received reports from the southern villages.”

Venus’s playful expression vanished. In an instant, she was all business.

“What kind of reports?”

“Angels returning from missions with burn marks. Strange ones. Much harder to heal away than regular wounds.”

Grace’s stomach dropped.

Burns that resisted angelic healing? That couldn’t be good.

“How many?” Venus demanded.

“Seven so far. All from areas near Mount Ignata.” The messenger shifted nervously. “Archangel Celestia is calling an emergency meeting.”

Venus grabbed a robe. It was only slightly less revealing than her current outfit, though.

“Grace, you’re with me. This concerns you.”

“Why would it—”

“The Flame, darling.” Venus’s expression turned grim. “If these burns are what I think they are… You may be back out on the road sooner than we thought.”

They flew through the Dominion’s halls. Venus somehow made urgency look graceful. Other angels scattered out of their way. Whispers followed them with every step.

“Is it true about the burns?”

“I heard they look like corruption but different—”

“Seven angels already—”

Grace tried not to panic.

The Flame. Another Pillar. Another piece of Eternia’s discarded emotions. If it was actively attacking angels now…

[No. Don’t assume. Get information first.]

But as they reached one of the higher platforms, Grace noticed something.

Something that made her wings falter.

The southern horizon, usually crystal clear, had a reddish tinge. Like the sky itself was bleeding.

“That’s new,” Venus murmured.

“When did—”

“Yesterday it was clear. This morning…” Venus’s jaw tightened. “We need to hurry.”

They flew faster. Grace’s mind raced through what Celestia had told her about the Flame. Aggressive. Overwhelming force. It would probably be the complete opposite of the Tide’s seduction or the Root’s bargaining.

The throne room doors loomed ahead. Grace could hear raised voices inside. The faction leaders already arguing. She straightened her training clothes, wishing she’d had time to change into something more formal.

“Ready?” Venus asked.

“Not really.”

“That’s fine,” Venus pushed open the doors. “Let’s see what fresh disaster awaits.”

The arguing stopped as they entered.

Celestia sat on her throne, her rainbow wings spread wide. Seraph and Mara flanked her, both looking serious. More serious than Grace had ever seen them.

Diana stood near the wall. Even she had abandoned her usual casual attitude.

“Grace.” Celestia’s voice carried across the room. “We need to discuss the situation in the south.”

Grace stepped forward, very aware that everyone was staring at her.

Their only weapon against demons. Their only hope of dealing with the Pillars.

As usual, no pressure or anything.

“I’m listening,” Grace said.

Celestia gestured to a spot in the center of the room. Grace moved there, feeling like she was on trial.

“Show her,” Celestia said to someone behind Grace.

An angel Grace didn’t recognize stepped forward. One of the Bravery Sisters, based on her gold and red outfit. But something was wrong. Her left arm—

“Holy shit,” Grace breathed.

The angel’s arm was covered in burns, but not normal burns. These looked like someone had carved patterns into her skin with fire. Swirling designs that seemed to move when Grace looked at them directly.

“This happened yesterday,” the angel said. Her voice was steady but Grace could see the pain in her eyes. “I was answering prayers near Mount Ignata. The heat came out of nowhere. Like the air itself caught fire.”

“May I?” Mara stepped forward.

The angel nodded. Mara placed her hands over the burns, blue healing light flowing from her palms. The light touched the burns and, instead of fading, they persisted. If anything, they seemed to glow brighter in response to the healing magic, though after Mara stepped away, it did seem like the wound was mildly healed.

“It gets worse,” Seraph added. “Tell her about the villages.”

The burned angel continued.

“Three villages have been evacuated. The heat is spreading outward from the mountain. Crops are dying. Water sources are drying up. And the demons…”

She paused.

“What about the demons?” Grace prompted.

“They’re different. Fire-based, which we expected. But they’re organized. Working together. Building something at the base of the mountain.”

Grace’s mind raced. Organized demons meant intelligence. Intelligence meant—

“A Primal Demon?” she asked.

“We don’t know.” Celestia’s voice was carefully neutral. “Our scouts can’t get close enough to confirm. The heat drives them back.”

“Which is why we need you,” Venus said. She’d moved to stand beside Grace. “You’re our only option for dealing with another Pillar.”

Grace looked around the room. At the burned angel. At the worried faces of the faction leaders. At Diana, who gave her a small nod of encouragement.

“Well… Alright, then. When do I leave?” Grace asked.

“Not immediately,” Celestia said. “We need to prepare. The Flame is different from the Root or the Tide. More volatile. More dangerous.”

“More angry,” Mara added quietly.

Grace remembered what Celestia had told her. The Flame was pure aggression. Eternia’s rage given form. Naturally, that meant that instead of having tentacles to contend with, Grace was concerned she’d have a much more… intense confrontation.

There was a high chance this was going to be complicated.

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