I felt a strange relief flow through me when Astra agreed to give me some time alone with Alexis.

I wasn't sure why I was feeling anxious. I just wanted to thank Alexis for everything she had done for me, even if she didn't remember most of it. Sending Astra away was…a spur of the moment decision. I truthfully didn't know why I felt the need to send Astra away, but something within me felt uncomfortable when I thought about my new friend overhearing my conversation with the older woman. Was any of it a secret? No, not really. Did I think Astra would think less of me for being grateful to Alexis? No that wasn't it either. These feelings were vexing, but I didn't have more time to dwell on them. I had already been staring at the older woman for much too long by this time and her kind smile was turning playful at my staring. I flushed a bit after realizing how rude I had been and furtively looked right and left to ensure no one would overhear me.

"Um…Alexis, I know you don't remember it all, because of course you wouldn't this is like the eighth time we've taken this trial, and I know you're probably busy with cleaning up the city, err I guess not because once Astra and I leave I don't know if you all will still…" I rambled, watching in horror as Alexis just smiled as I stumbled over what I was trying to say. Plus even when I ended up bringing up how she's kinda basically dead already?? I wanted to crawl into a hole and just never speak to another person again.

"It is…surreal that once you two leave we may all just disappear, but if I think about it a different way, without you two, we never would have gotten the chance to save Shironia, even if it's only in a trial. That, I think, has been well worth it considering what must have happened to Shironia. For that, I think everyone in the city, including myself, is incredibly grateful to the two of you girls." She said, her smile growing brighter. I felt my heart thump in my chest, then clench at the knowledge that Alexis only existed in this trial and that I'd never see her again. I felt a deep, complex, sadness well up from within me, spurring on what I had originally wanted to tell Alexis.

"Astra and I were really happy to help! I'm glad we were able to save Shironia, even if it's only a symbolic victory. But you've helped me just as much! When I first met you…I didn't know what I wanted for my life. Everything was just about training and becoming stronger, but I…I didn't have a reason to become strong. Ever since losing my family, I haven't had anything in my life worth fighting for. That first try, you let me shadow you as you ran the guild, though I don't know why you let a new recruit do so. You treated your guild members like your own family, and even treated me like I was family. Then the second try, you showed me how you mentored the younger guild members, nurtured them, despite how busy you were you took the time to meet with them. Then, a few tries ago you told Astra and I everything about your past. You went through so much. You fought, and struggled, and persevered through it all. Then you wandered, lost, just like I was, until you found the mercenaries that would eventually become the guild. You found something to fight for, and keep fighting for. Over the past near month of time together, I've seen how fair, and just, and level headed you are. You helped Astra and I fix our friendship, and you've always shown a mature cool headedness, even through fights. It's been so incredible to watch you, and meet you, and be by your side this whole time…and you don't remember any of it…won't remember any of it. But! Even if you disappear, you won't be gone. Even if all I have left of you is the memories I've made with you during this trial, I'll always remember you. You helped me find a path I truly want to walk down. Helped me identify what I want to grow stronger for…who I want to grow stronger for. They're what you have here. A family of your own making cultivated with love, compassion, and justice at its core. My only regret is that I wasn't alive with you to be a part of this family you've made." I finished, barely breathing during the entire speech making sure I injected every word with the gratefulness I felt for Alexis.

I had laid out everything I felt, and the euphoria I felt from baring my entire self to Alexis was intoxicating. I was flushed now, realizing how much I had rambled and probably sounded crazy, but I knew deep down I didn't believe those feelings. Alexis would never think I sounded crazy. No, she was so much more than that. She was unlike anyone I had ever met before, and the thought of never seeing her again tore my heart to pieces from the inside, but her soft smile growing from my words stitched it back together again.

She stared at me for a few, tense, seconds before smiling widely.

"While you're correct that I don't remember most of what you said, it's clear that you've grown immensely from how you were when this trial started. Being able to help you grow, and find yourself in this wide universe, even after my death, is just another sign that not choosing to end my life all those years ago was correct. I hope that one day you'll be able to make a family of your own, just like I have but…" She said, trailing off as she got a slightly nervous, and flushed, expression on her face.

"Until you do, if you want to, I'd be honored to consider you an honorary member of the White Forest guild and…a member of the Everwood family, if you're willing that is?" She said, losing some of her cool composure considering the nervous look on her face and how the last part sounded like a question. It was clear that she was a bit uncomfortable suggesting what she did, but my heart bloomed with warmth at her words.

"Are you sure? I…I don't know if I can bring justice to the Everwood name, I'm just a middling core formation realm cultivator." I asked, not sure I was worthy of such an honor.

She nodded before bringing me into a warm embrace.

"Of course I'm sure. I may not have known you for long, but I can feel what kind of person you are. You've got a roaring flame within you, that of a welcoming hearth ready to keep you, and your family, warm. I may not be able to be a part of that family myself, but if it will bring you strength, of course I will welcome you into my family with open arms." She said, the warmth of her words outshining the warmth of her embrace. I felt a few tears come unbidden to my eyes as I nodded.

"OK, I accept! I'll do my best to carry on your name with pride, and build a family for my own." I said before slowly releasing the older woman from the hug. She let it go as well and before my resolve could waver, I turned away from Alexis and walked to the portal where Astra was waiting for us to go home. A new name, and firmer resolve now rooted in my heart.

***

I watched Alexis and Rin talk, then hug for a bit before Rin turned from the older woman and walked toward me, a distinct feeling of sadness, but also a firm resolve, radiating from the girl. I thought I could empathize with her feelings. She had come to look up to Alexis a lot during the trial, and knowing she wouldn't exist any longer, except in our memories, must have been weighing on the girl. She made her way over to me and smiled, though it didn't reach her ears.

"Okay, I'm ready to go home!" She said, though I thought it sounded somewhat forced.

Not wanting to poke at a fresh woun,d I smiled back at her and nodded before turning and passing through the portal.

I felt myself being compressed as the colors around me melded into a medley of rainbow hues. It lasted for a few seconds before it all stopped abruptly and I found myself standing only a single step within the ruins. I heard Rin sighing behind me and the trio of inferno scorpion sect members moaned and sobbed on the ground in front of us.

Despite their affiliation, I felt a little bad for them. I'm not sure what they went through in the trial, but based on Erazael's words, they didn't have a particularly good time. I was still furious at all of the inferno scorpion sect, but a lot of my blood lust toward them had waned during the trial. I no longer felt the need to kill the three cultivators.

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I was going to move further into the room, but I was halted by a sudden influx of energy flowing from the mural spanning the entire side of the room and flowing into my core. I was frozen in place and Rin quickly came up to me to make sure I was alright. I couldn't respond to her though, and when she tried to touch me she was warded off by the maelstrom of energy. I watched in amazement as my core was slowly enlarged by the mountainous influx of energy. After a minute of absorption, the flow from the mural slowed to a trickle before ceasing entirely. I was released from the unseen grip that held me in place and nearly collapsed to the floor before Rin moved to grab me.

I heaved from the exertion of my core being forcibly grown multiple sizes in such a short time. How my core hadn't collapsed from the rapid expansion was beyond my understanding, but I inspected my newly enlarged core and estimated I was sitting somewhere around the end of the middle stage of the core formation realm which was a staggering increase in cultivation for such a short time. It was only by sheer luck it hadn't affected my body cultivation by moving past the middle stage. Once the energies subsided, a low, humming, sound emanated from the mural. I looked to the stone edifice and noticed it looked distinctly different from when we had first come to these ruins, at least I thought it was different. The mural depicted an androgynous figure moving through the city's streets before rallying people to join them. The figure then fought against what looked like a facsimile of demons before finding themselves underground, talking to a figure within a cage. Then they were interrupted, the figure in the cage was released and then fought the newcomer. The hero of the mural was then outside again, surrounded by their allies as the caged man fought in the sky.

Finally, the mural ended with the hero walking through a solid black portal. It was obvious that the mural was depicting the events of the final try of the trial, but why? How? I didn't have much time to muse on the thoughts as the humming from the mural reached a fever pitch. The humming ceased and the clearest peal of a bell rang out within the chamber as a bright, white-orange, flame meandered from within the mural. It lazed through the air for a moment before bee-lining toward me. Neither Rin nor I were able to react as it plunged into my core and settled within me. I could feel it melding into my soul, much to Shimmer's chagrin. I could feel its warmth radiating from within me, heating every part of my body with the soothing heat of a hearth.

Following the strange flame, a ghostly gray-blue screen appeared in front of my eyes, just like when we had first been thrown into the trial, though the screen itself was more muted in color.

"Congratulations INHERITOR. You have successfully cleared the TRIAL OF SHIRONIA. The trial has deemed you worthy of inheriting humanity's last hope, and one of its strongest weapons in the fight against the demonic invasion, the Divine Flame. Grow your strength, find the other inheritors, and save the universe from the demonic threat. You are our only hope." It read before disappearing.

Immediately following the dull box, the familiar color of Text's screen popped up in my vision. I hadn't realized how much I had missed the little blue screen but having him back made me feel more secure, though the message that popped up didn't sound like Text normally did. Immediately following the screen appearing, I was once again locked in place, unable to move or speak.

"System update detected: Divine Flame trial information downloaded. Simulation memories collated. Aurion bloodline not detected. Instantiating Divine Elemental utilization system. … 13% Estimated time to completion - 4 seconds. … 34% Estimated time to completion - 2,374 years, 5 months, 7 days, 42 seconds. … 68% Estimated time to completion - 2 seconds. Completed."

"Congratulations! You have been deemed worthy of the inheritance of one of the six Divine Elements - THE DIVINE FLAME - This system was designed to assist those without Aurion bloodlines in utilizing their newfound power. Momentarily, your Divine Element - THE DIVINE FLAME - will be mounted onto your soul safely. Initiating elemental mounting procedure. … 11% Estimated time to completion - 6 seconds. … 25% Estimated time to completion - 5 seconds . ERROR: Critical error encountered. ERROR: Invalid body composition detected. Analyzing possible resolutions. … … Solution detected. Integration with unknown body constitution necessary to prevent death. Constitution analysis initiated. … 89% Estimated time to completion - 1 second. Completed."

"Extreme elemental affinity detected. Necessary infrastructure for possible soul partition. Initiating partition procedure. … 1/6 … 2/6 … 3/6 … 4/6 … 5/6 … 6/6 Completed."

"Soul partition successful. Initiating elemental mounting procedure. … 11% Estimated time to completion - 6 seconds. … 27% Estimated time to completion - 5 seconds … 43% Estimated time to completion - 313 years, 1 month, 1 day, 1 hour, 1 second. … 78% Estimated time to completion - 2 seconds. … 99% Estimated time to completion - 1 seconds. Completed."

"Divine element successfully mounted (1/6).

Congratulations! Now that your Divine Element has been successfully mounted to your soul, you're officially an inheritor of humanity's hope! While you can't have more Divine Elements due to the limitations of your soul and body, you can find other inheritors just like yourself! Working together with the other inheritors will be imperative in your fight against the demons. The knowledge of how to use your new Divine Element has been included in the mounting procedure, though we are required by the accords to explain one facet of your ownership over a Divine Element.

You may designate one suitable individual during your time as the inheritor of your Divine Element to receive the associated blessing of your Divine Element. This blessing provides myriad benefits to the recipient, including limited use of the Divine Element, an intrinsic link to their blesser, an increased efficacy when fighting demons, and some physical changes are possible. Additionally the recipients affinity with the element, and the Divine Flame, may affect the effects of being given the blessing. The eligibility requirements for one of the blessed are not as stringent as those for eligibility to inherit one of the Divine Elements, but are specific to the inheritor and the recipient of the blessing. You will be alerted through your Divine Element when an eligible recipient is nearby. The blessing itself requires only a desire from the inheritor to initiate the process, and the recipient must accept the blessing of their own volition, and truly embody and desire that which the Divine Flame stands for for you, Inheritor.

Congratulations again on inheriting the Divine Element - THE DIVINE FLAME - You're humanity's only hope." The screens read. Rin was looking at me concerned by this point, but now that I was able to move again I held up a hand to let her know I was okay, but needed some time. I hoped the small smile I gave her assuaged her worries somewhat.

That was… a lot of information to take in at once, and did it say something about dying?? One thing was for sure, I did feel a strange, new, power from within me. I knew I could bring it out at the slightest thought and did so, sparking a small white orange flame between my fingers.

"Whoaaaaa." Rin whispered, staring intently at the tiny flame dancing between my fingers. I smirked at the awestruck girl, then remembered she probably deserved some kind of explanation for why I had been frozen in place and jumped two full cultivation stages and then some. Which reminded me of how I had lied to her about talking to Text in the White Forest guild's room. I was starting to feel bad, but feeling bad wasn't going to fix what I had did wrong so I got Rin's attention and, dragging her far enough away from the three, now unconscious enemies, to make sure they wouldn't overhear, explained about the inheritance I had gotten.

I went through how I received it, to how it had helped me, to it showing me to that weird moving rock formation when we left the sect and to how it seemed to be what triggered the trial to begin, and, finally, how it seems to have been updated and given me access to the 'Divine Flame' ability. Though that last thing I think she probably could have figured out. Though the whole 'mounting the Divine Flame onto my soul' part worried me.

After I finished, instead of the look of betrayal I expected from the girl, she was looking back at me with wide eyed astonishment.

"So wait wait wait… you've got this super helpful like thing in your brain that helps you find stuff, gives you advice, and on top of that lets you have this super cool Divine Flame?? That's so cool!" She said, smiling widely. I scoffed, wondering why I had been worried in the first place as the weight from the untold secret lifted off of me.

I didn't have time to go into everything Text could probably do, but enough that Rin would understand what had happened, or at least understand it as much as I did. It felt…nice to tell someone. Even if part of me still rebelled against the idea of doing so.

We decided we had spent long enough waiting and started our journey back to the sect. I remembered to summon Shimmer as we left this time. We made our way down the rocky outcropping and we were about to start running back toward the sect once we reached the bottom of the stairs when a familiar face appeared right in front of us.

"Lady Astra, lady Rin. It is good you are both safe. We have been looking for you two for nearly a month" Situ Yin said.

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