Everyone in the village thought Lyra was just a candle maker‘s daughter. She helped her mom stir wax, tie wicks, and carry boxes to the little shop in their town. But no one knew she had a glowing mark on her wrist and a secret that could change everything.
Only one person knew: her best friend Renzo. He found out last summer when they had gotten lost in the pine forest. Lyra had gotten scared, and suddenly her hand lit up with soft orange flames. A rock nearby cracked in half from the heat.
Renzo blinked and said, “Okay. That was awesome.” Then he promised he’d never tell anyone.
Now they were sitting by the edge of the river, throwing pebbles into the water.
“I still think your fire powers are the coolest thing ever,” Renzo said, tossing a flat stone that skipped five times.
Lyra pulled her sleeve over her wrist. “It’s only cool until someone gets hurt. What if I lose control?”
Renzo smirked. “Then all wear heat-proof armor at all times.”
She rolled her eyes, but laughed. That was the thing about Renzo. He always knew how to make her feel less like a freak.
But today, something felt … wrong.
“Lyra.” Renzo sat up straight. “Someone’s watching us.”
A person in a deep green cloak stood across the river, just beyond the trees. Still. Silent. Staring. Lyra’s wrist started to glow.
She stood fast. “We have to go.”
They ran. Through the tall grass, down the path to town. Lyra’s thoughts raced. The Embermark on her wrist wasn’t just a decoration; it meant she was one of the Emberborn, people who once protected the kingdom with fire. Everyone thought they disappeared a hundred years ago, but Lyra was proof they didn’t.
And now, someone had found her.
That night, after locking the shop, she paced around her room, Renzo sat cross legged on her bed, serious for once.
”So,” he said finally, “You’re not just the candle maker’s kid, huh?”
Lyra sighed, “I didn’t want to drag you into this.”
He stood. “Too late. I’m already in it. And I’m not leaving.
She blinked. “You mean that?”
Renzo nodded. “Look, you’ve got a power that’s ancient and rare. That doesn’t make you dangerous. It makes you special.”
She smiled, her cheeks going warm. “You really think I’m special?”
“Yeah, unless you accidentally roast me like a marshmallow. Then we’ll have problems.”
Outside, a storm brewed. The air felt heavier, like something big was coming.
But with Renzo by her side, Lyra didn’t feel afraid.
She felt ready.
