"I brought her that flame. Then, as it fused with her, the blood vessels throughout her body lit up first, followed by bright red cracks spreading across her skin. Finally, she was burned to ashes before my eyes. Only then did I understand how dangerous the First Fire truly was."
Even Fire-Holding Sisters could not safely hold the flames forever. Nearly every Fire-Holding Sister throughout history had ultimately been burned to ashes by the flames. Even Sister Devlin, perhaps the most gifted nun of the Sixth Epoch, had shown signs of burns on her hands long before she met Shade.
Thus, the fact that this Ms. Brooke's elder sister had been consumed by flames because of the First Fire's intensity was actually the ending destined for her from the moment she set foot upon this path.
Of course, Sister Devlin would most likely not die that way. After all, she had found the Outlander, a Hero of the Flame with a special soul. Having the flames shared not only meant they would grow increasingly vigorous and tame, but also meant someone would share her power with her.
"I'm sorry. Mortal Men Must Die."
That was all Shade could say to comfort her. Ms. Brooke nodded and continued staring blankly at the bonfire:
"I have already reached the Thirteenth Order. I have seen many things and endured much sorrow. Though the elder sister who loved me all my life ultimately died because of the flames I found, I still clung to one final hope:
"When I, too, walk toward death, I thought my sister would be waiting for me there. We would eventually be reunited."
She took a deep breath, then asked Shade:
"Do you know what happened afterward?"
"I do. Although the souls of nuns consumed by the First Fire