Twelve silver-haired girls in red robes were swiftly chained to the stone pillars around the altar by the priests. Their skin was covered in flame tattoos, marks of faith seared into them with scorching fire since childhood.
The oldest of these slaves was only sixteen, while the youngest had just turned ten. Salliss brushed trembling fingers over the first girl's cheek. The flickering holy fire was reflected in the girl's violet eyes.
"The time has come to bask in the true god's glory, children."
Salliss's voice suddenly became extraordinarily gentle.
"You will become the true god's flames. Your souls will ascend to the Lord of Light's heavenly garden, where there is only light and no darkness, only beauty and no pain!"
But the Obsidian Dagger in her hand suddenly grew scorching hot, its blade glowing dark red.
When the searing dagger pierced the first girl's heart, no blood flowed from the wound. Instead, tiny serpents of flame burst out.
The girl's body rapidly charred and disintegrated, then turned into a streak of golden-red magical energy that instantly poured into the enormous ruby at the center of the altar.
The gem suddenly blazed with brilliant, blood-red light.
High in the clouds, Danyla suddenly felt a sharp ache clutch her chest. The mark between her brows grew hot and bright, and pale golden flames instantly enveloped her.
"This is..."
"Bloodline resonance?!"
"Blood and Fire Share One Source..."
As she chanted, the magical energy of the Temple of R'hllor surged wildly toward Rafa and Danyla.
"Roooar! Roooar!"
As vast amounts of pure magical energy flooded into Rafa, she seemed to have been injected with a stimulant. Her body rapidly shifted from black to red, and she could not help breathing dragonfire down below.
Dragonfire balls dozens of meters across burst against the Temple