A faint smile appeared at the corner of Sister Belen's lips. She expressed her emotions far more readily than Sister Devlin:
"No problem. But this is not a secret method or Mystic Incantation acknowledged by the world. It is merely one application of the First Fire. Flames resonate with one another, and this resonance can be amplified through special methods. That is the basic principle behind sensing the First Fire Secret Method."
She briefly explained the theory. Since this was a technique that only those who possessed the First Fire could use, it did not matter if others overheard it.
Once Shade had more or less finished listening to the theory, she extended a hand toward him:
"Please take my hand. I will guide you through your first sensing."
Her right hand, marked by faint burn scars, reached toward Shade. Sister Belen's hand was slightly larger than Sister Devlin's. Shade hesitated before taking it under the gaze of Miss Violet, who held a teacup and tilted her head as she watched them interact.
Flames appeared between their palms. Following the nun's instructions, Shade closed his eyes and relaxed his mind. The flame in his hand was very steady at first, but then it pulsed. The initial pulse was quite distinct, while each subsequent pulse grew fainter and fainter.
By the time the traces of the flame's pulses had become nearly imperceptible, Shade had already committed the sensation to heart.
"Hero of the Flame, when you close your eyes, can you still see me?"
The question came in a voice carrying a fractured quality. Shade shook his head, and the nun said nothing more. The flames between their clasped hands pulsed once again. But this time, it was not merely a single flame that pulsed. Shade sensed the trembling flame extending