A summons from the king arrived just days after the battle with the dragon, delivered by a royal messenger with an air of urgency. Akari’s parents, the Duke and Duchess of Maylor, received the message with solemn expressions, understanding the gravity of the situation. The king was not someone who issued summons lightly, and to be called to the throne room with all of his advisors present meant that this was more than just a simple meeting.

Akari’s heart raced as she prepared for the journey to the royal palace. She had barely begun to understand the power now coursing through her veins, and the idea of facing the king and his court with so many unanswered questions about her transformation weighed heavily on her. Her parents had been quiet and supportive but clearly concerned about what this meeting would mean for their family—and for Akari herself.

The trip to the capital was somber, and the once-familiar landscape felt different now after the destruction she had caused. As the carriage rolled through the royal palace gates, Akari couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of foreboding. This was no ordinary summons. The king, his advisors, and perhaps the entire court wanted answers, and Akari knew she had to face them head-on.

When they arrived at the grand throne room, Akari and her parents were greeted by the sight of the king’s advisors, all gathered around the ornate hall. The towering columns and rich tapestries of the palace’s grandest room seemed even more imposing today. The king himself sat on his throne, his regal posture betraying no emotion, but his sharp eyes were fixed on Akari as she entered.

The Duke and Duchess of Maylor bowed respectfully, and Akari followed suit, her heart pounding in her chest. She could feel the weight of every gaze in the room upon her. The advisors whispered among themselves as they studied her, likely aware of the rumors that had spread through the kingdom in the days following the dragon's death.

The king raised his hand, silencing the murmurs of the court. “Duke Maylor. Duchess. Akari.” His voice was calm and measured, but there was an undeniable authority in it. “You know why you have been summoned.”

Akari swallowed hard but kept her composure. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

The king’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he spoke again. “Word of the battle with the red dragon has spread across the kingdom. Reports from the academy tell of a great power, one that has not been seen in generations. A power that reshaped the very landscape, that melted a mountain, and created a lake of lava. Is it true?”

Akari felt the tension in the room rise as all eyes turned to her. She took a deep breath, gathering her courage. “Yes, Your Majesty. It’s true.”

The king leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing. “Explain.”

Akari hesitated momentarily, unsure how to put the experience into words. How could she explain the transformation, the fire, the voice that had spoken through her? But she knew she had no choice. She had to be honest, even if she didn’t fully understand it herself.

“When the dragon attacked, I had no choice but to use all my power to stop it. But… when I did, something changed. The fire inside me—it became something more. It wasn’t just magic anymore. It was… divine. I felt a presence, something beyond myself, and the fire became a part of me. I—” She paused, her voice shaking slightly. “I believe I have been blessed by a goddess. A goddess of flame.”

There was a stunned silence in the room. The king’s advisors exchanged incredulous looks, their whispers growing louder. Akari could hear them questioning whether such a thing was even possible, whether Akari was exaggerating or, worse, lying.

But the king raised his hand again, silencing the court. His gaze remained fixed on Akari, his expression unreadable.

“A goddess, you say?” he asked, his tone calm but laced with intrigue. “And this power… it destroyed the dragon?”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Akari replied. “But it also destroyed the forest. It melted the mountain and left a lake of lava. I didn’t mean to cause that much destruction, but the power… it was overwhelming.”

The king sat back on his throne, deep in thought. After a long pause, he spoke again. “If what you say is true, Akari, you are no longer merely a mage. You possess something far greater. Something dangerous.”

Akari’s heart sank. She had known this was coming, but hearing the king say it so plainly made the reality of her situation hit even harder.

The king’s chief advisor, an older man with a sharp, calculating expression, stepped forward. “Your Majesty, with all due respect, if this girl is truly in possession of divine power, then she may pose a threat not only to the kingdom but to the balance of power itself. We cannot allow such a force to go unchecked.”

Akari’s mother stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. “My daughter is no threat to this kingdom. She acted to protect her friends and her people. She has no desire for power.”

The advisor’s eyes narrowed. “That may be true for now, but the power of a deity is not something one can simply control. We must consider the consequences of allowing such power to exist without oversight.”

Akari clenched her fists at her sides, struggling to keep her emotions in check. She wanted to protest, to defend herself, but deep down, she knew the advisor had a point. She didn’t fully understand the power she now held, and if she couldn’t control it, it could be dangerous.

The king raised his hand once more, silencing the growing debate. His gaze shifted between Akari and her parents before settling on Akari. “I will not make any hasty decisions today,” he said slowly, “but I need time to consider this… development.”

He turned to the chief advisor. “For now, we will keep a close watch on Akari’s abilities. She will remain under supervision at the academy. If her power grows or shows any sign of losing control, we will reevaluate the situation.”

Akari’s heart raced, but she nodded. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I only wish to understand this power and learn to control it.”

As Akari and her parents stood before the king, just as they were about to be dismissed, the doors to the throne room swung open with a loud, ominous creak. The air in the room shifted as a figure clad in ornate robes stepped into the hall, his presence immediately commanding attention. It was the High Priest of Bellatrice, the kingdom’s patron goddess—a figure revered and feared by all. His arrival sent ripples of unease through the court.

The High Priest was tall and imposing, with a stern, angular face and eyes that gleamed with fervor. His golden robes, embroidered with symbols of Bellatrice’s divine power, glimmered in the light of the throne room. He carried a ceremonial staff in his hand, its jeweled top glowing faintly with holy energy. The advisors, and even the king himself, regarded the High Priest with a mix of respect and wariness. His authority as the spiritual leader of the kingdom gave him immense influence, and his words carried weight in matters of divine judgment.

The High Priest stopped before the king, his sharp gaze shifting to Akari. His expression was unreadable initially, but his face twisted with barely concealed disgust as he looked her up and down.

“Your Majesty,” the High Priest said, his voice booming with authority, “I have heard troubling news of this girl’s claim to divinity. I came as soon as I could, for this cannot stand. The audacity to claim such divine power—outside the grace of Bellatrice, our true goddess, is nothing less than heresy.”

Akari’s heart sank. She feared something like this would happen, but hearing the word “heresy” spoken before the king filled her with dread. The High Priest’s eyes burned fervently, and she knew he would not be swayed easily.

The king, for his part, remained calm, though his eyes narrowed as he considered the priest’s words. “High Priest, I understand your concern, but Akari has only recently come into this power. She is still learning to understand it.”

The High Priest’s face hardened, and he took a step forward, his staff tapping ominously against the marble floor. “There is no understanding to be had, Your Majesty. This girl claims to possess the power of a goddess—power not granted by Bellatrice. To claim divinity without the blessing of our patron is an insult to the faith and an affront to the natural order. This power she speaks of is not a blessing—it is a curse, one that threatens to destabilize everything Bellatrice has built.”

He turned to Akari, his eyes filled with righteous fury. “To claim you are a goddess is to challenge Bellatrice herself. There can be no forgiveness for such heresy. The only solution is to put an end to this abomination before it spreads. She must be killed.”

Akari’s blood ran cold. The words “she must be killed” echoed in her mind, her breath catching in her throat. Her parents immediately stepped forward, their expressions a mix of shock and anger.

“This is outrageous!” the Duke of Maylor, Akari’s father, shouted, his voice shaking with rage. “Akari is our daughter; she saved countless lives by defeating the dragon. You cannot simply call for her death because you fear what she has become!”

The High Priest glared at him. “This is not about fear. It is about protecting the kingdom and the faith. Bellatrice’s will is absolute. There is no place for a false goddess in her kingdom.”

Sensing the rising tension, the king raised his hand to silence the argument. “Enough,” he commanded, his voice firm but measured. “High Priest, I understand your concerns, but we will not make rash decisions here. Akari’s power is undeniable, but it is also untested. We will continue to monitor her closely. I will not order her death without further investigation.”

The High Priest’s expression darkened, his lips pressed into a thin line. “Your Majesty, you are playing with fire—literally. This girl’s existence is an affront to Bellatrice, and by allowing her to live, you risk invoking the goddess’s wrath. I urge you to reconsider.”

Akari, finding her voice at last, stepped forward. “I never wanted to challenge Bellatrice or her followers,” she said, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her. “I don’t fully understand what’s happening to me, but I only used my power to protect those I care about. I don’t claim to be a threat to anyone’s faith.”

The High Priest’s eyes bore into hers, unyielding. “Your very existence is a threat.”

The king stood from his throne, his gaze sweeping across the room. “This audience is over. Akari will remain under supervision at the academy, and her powers will be closely monitored. We will not make any decisions until we have a better understanding of the situation.”

Though clearly displeased, the High Priest bowed his head slightly, his expression one of reluctant obedience. “As you wish, Your Majesty. But mark my words—this is not the end of this matter.”

With that, the High Priest turned and swept out of the throne room, his presence leaving a chill in the air.

As Akari and her parents were dismissed, the weight of the High Priest’s words hung heavily over them. The threat of death, the charge of heresy—Akari’s life had taken a dangerous turn, and she knew that the path ahead would be fraught with peril, not only from her own powers but from those who would see her destroyed for what she had become.

As Akari and her parents left the throne room, the weight of the High Priest’s accusations pressed down on her. The charge of heresy and the threat of death was all too much. Her mind swirled with fear and doubt, but as they made their way through the grand halls of the palace, something deep within her stirred. A distant memory, hazy but powerful, began to surface.

When her powers first awakened during the battle with the dragon, she hadn’t just felt the surge of fire magic—she had felt the presence of something divine—the goddess. The words spoken during that moment echoed in her mind, the voice not hers but somehow familiar, a voice that carried both power and comfort.

“You are not alone, Akari. You are my chosen vessel of flame. My will shall be known, and through you, the fire of creation and destruction will flow through you. Fear not your power, for it is my gift to you. But remember: with great power comes great responsibility. You are more than human now. You are fire incarnate, and you are destined for greatness.”

Akari stopped walking, her breath catching in her throat as the memory of the goddess’s voice washed over her. The words were clear now as if they had been hidden in the recesses of her mind until this very moment. The goddess had chosen her—blessed her with this power, not as a curse, but as a gift. A gift meant to be used for something greater than herself.

Her hands trembled as she recalled the divine fire coursing through her veins, the overwhelming sense of purpose that had filled her in the heat of battle. The goddess’s words had been a promise, and Akari was beginning to understand that her power was not something to fear but something to embrace.

But with that power came responsibility—a responsibility that now weighed heavily on her shoulders. The goddess had given her the strength to defeat the dragon and protect her friends, but she had also warned of the consequences of wielding such power. Akari couldn’t help but wonder: was she truly ready for what was to come?

Her parents, noticing that she had stopped, turned to face her. Her mother’s eyes were filled with concern, while her father’s expression remained stern.

“Akari?” her mother asked gently. “Are you all right?”

Akari blinked, pulling herself from the depths of her thoughts. “I… I remembered something. The goddess… she spoke to me when I used my powers. She said I was her chosen, and this power was a gift, not a curse.”

Her father frowned, his voice cautious. “What does that mean for you, Akari? For all of us?”

Akari shook her head, still processing the memory. “I’m not sure. But I know one thing—I wasn’t meant to hide this power or run from it. I was given it for a reason. I need to figure out what that reason is.”

Her mother’s hand rested on her shoulder, offering comfort. “We’ll help you, Akari. We'll be with you whatever path this power leads you on.”

Her father nodded, though his eyes were filled with a mixture of pride and concern. “This is no small burden, Akari. If you truly have been chosen by a goddess, you have a role to play in something far greater than we can understand.”

Akari took a deep breath, the weight of the goddess’s words still heavy on her heart. She didn’t fully understand the path before her, but she knew one thing for certain: she couldn’t ignore the power inside her nor deny the will of the goddess who had chosen her.

“I’ll figure this out,” Akari said, her voice steady and resolved. “Whatever the goddess wants from me, I’ll find a way to control this power. I have to.”

As they continued their journey back to the academy, the goddess's words echoed in Akari’s mind, reminding her that her destiny was only beginning to unfold.