Chapter 261 - Be thou my flame
Scarlett paused before the grand obsidian altar inside the Sanctuary of Flames, her eyes fixed on the colossal flame burning with a blinding white-hot intensity at its core. Fierce heat radiated from the flame, creating shimmering waves that distorted the air and cast an unearthly, dancing glow on the obsidian beneath. Statues of the fire goddess encircled the altar, their own fires reflecting the central flame’s brilliance, filling the space with an aura of faint divinity.
At this distance, Scarlett had to actively employ her pyrokinesis to withstand the scorching temperature. She raised a hand, signaling for her companions to stay back as she inched closer to the flame with deliberate steps.
As she halted a few steps away, feeling the violent heat even through her magic, an item description materialised in front of her.
[Sacred Flame (Legendary)]
{This eternal flame embodies the fury and grace of the Fire Goddess, its unending blaze a source of both awe and dread that once bestowed blessings upon the faithful and fiery retribution upon the unworthy}
Scarlett’s gaze lingered on the flame as she considered it closely. From what she remembered, the [Sacred Flame] was a valuable artifact in the game. Most legendary-tier items were, to some extent. Given her affinity for fire, it was probably of particular worth to her. That said, it wasn’t on the same level as Arlene’s [Eternal Flameweaver’s Athame], nor was it the primary reason for her interest in this place. It would have just been an added boon, comparable to her [Tiara of Lost Benediction (Legendary)], but nothing groundbreaking.
At least, that’s what she had originally thought. Now, seeing it in person, her perspective had shifted somewhat.
She could simply take the flame for herself as it was, and it would enhance both her fire resistance and overall pyrokinesis damage. That wasn’t anything to sneeze at, frankly. But thanks to the knowledge she’d inherited from Thainnith’s legacy, a new plan formed in her mind, one that happened to align well with what she had already been doing.
Turning around, Scarlett’s attention fell on the Emberling. The fiery fox was fixated on the [Sacred Flame], but unlike its behaviour with normal fire, it wasn’t bounding towards it recklessly.
Scarlett conjured a small flame to coax it closer. As the Emberling moved to her side, its form seemed to shimmer with a newfound brilliance in the artifact’s presence.
Unlike the fire elementals and the [Lava Hydra], there wouldn’t be any point in having the Emberling try to absorb the [Sacred Flame]. It was neither an elemental nor a true spirit, and despite appearances, it didn’t actually have the power to consume fire. Instead, as an Etherialias and pseudo-spirit, it acted more as a magical conduit for elemental energy, capable of storing the essence of true elemental spirits.
This knowledge, gleaned from the legacy, explained why the Emberling could amplify nearby fires in the Material Realm. It acted as a stabiliser and channel for raw elemental power around it. Scarlett had been slightly uncertain whether this ability extended to elementals before, but her earlier experiments confirmed that it didn’t, or if it did, the effect was minor.