Posted January 16, 2022.


CHAPTER 17: THE TEST OF FIRE

On the Matter of the Temple of Agnipureeswarar

The Agnipureeswarar Temple was built most likely in the 10th century, by the Chola kings. It was a center for people to gather around and pray to the god Agni, who had power over the element of fire. This temple was immortalized by Appar, a 7th century poet who wrote several verses praising Agni. It is said to be an important stronghold of fire itself.

– from the Book of Fay


Thirupugalur, India

Chai galloped across the fields. Krithi leaned forward, enjoying the ride that Chai gave her as she flew on, towards the Sri Agni Temple. It was high noon; the sun shined brilliantly down on her. Her thoughts were rather distracted as she thought of what she'd seen in the Test of Air.

She had felt the fairies' restlessness, their will to be finally free, and a twinge of guilt had come over her. The Wizards were, essentially, depriving the fairies of their freedom. She swallowed hard, thinking of how she would feel if she'd been locked up for centuries.

The fairies deserve it, though. They deserve it for locking up my father in Paradise, for hurting him. They need to be put away in Paradise, because they are dangerous.

But that line was beginning to crumble now. After all, they were all people, weren't they? People with emotions and feelings as well. She swallowed, thinking sadly about how the Wizards had almost killed Roxy.

She knew she wouldn't be able to handle it if Roxy died. Sure, Roxy was a fairy, but she was someone she knew in real-life. Someone with emotions and feelings. She swallowed, remembering the time her mother had first told her, about the fairies' and Merlin's existence…

It had been a hot March day, which was normal for Tamil Nadu, the region of India where they lived in. After all, the hot season would be coming very soon, in April. Krithi had just turned fifteen on the equinox. She was sitting in the room she and her mother shared, doing her homework, until her mother had called her.

"Krithi, come here," she called. Obediently, Krithi headed out of the small room to the living-room, gazing around at the tiny space around them.

Although they had never truly discussed it, she knew she and her mother were fairly poor. Her mother had to work long shifts just to get food on the table, and she herself was working at a sweetshop in order to get enough money. Her mother gazed at Krithi, letting out a sigh.

"This is going to be very difficult to tell you," she said, "but I need to trust that you'll believe me. Please, Krithi – promise me you'll understand."

"I believe you," Krithi answered, scratching her head. Why was her mother acting so strange? Her mother let out a sigh, placing her hands on Krithi's. She took in a deep breath.

"Krithi," she said, "it's time I told you about your father."

Krithi was about to protest, saying that she didn't care anything for him – but something in her mother's eyes sternly told her not to say anything. Her mother continued, her voice ragged.

"Your father and I met, fifteen years ago," she said. "He left shortly after I became pregnant with you. All your life, I'm sure you've wondered why. There've probably been some hurt feelings towards him, something like anger. Well, I'm telling you that it wasn't his fault."

"What?" Krithi asked in surprise. What was so important that he had to leave us at that stage? "What are you talking about?"

Again, her mother swallowed. "Your father" – She hesitated, then spoke. "Krithi – your father is a wizard."

It took a moment for that to sink in. Krithi stared at her mother, her jaw nearly dropping to the floor. Finally she blurted out, "Wizards? They don't" –

"Exist?" Krithi's mother finished the sentence for her. "I know how this sounds. But you must believe me. Magic exists in our family now – it is real. I am telling you now that you must accept your destiny."

"My destiny?" Krithi stared at her mother blankly. "What's my destiny?"

Krithi's mother turned around, staring down at her hands. She gazed at Krithi, her eyes wary.

"A thousand years ago, an evil race of creatures known as fairies ruled Earth," she said. "With your father's power, they were locked away in their own realm, never to surface again. Unfortunately, your father was trapped in that realm as well. That is, until sixteen years ago, when he managed to break free from the curse and come back to this world. We both met, and then we had you."

"But then why hasn't he been in my life for the past sixteen years?" Krithi wanted to know. "What happened?"

"He was sucked back into that realm again," Krithi's mother answered solemnly. "The curse was too powerful for even him to evade for long. He has been trapped there for another fifteen years, never to be seen again. That is, until you come along." She pointed at Krithi, who took a step back.

"M-me?" she stammered. "What've I got to do with it?"

"You're his daughter," Krithi's mother answered with infinite patience. "Only you can break him free from his imprisonment."

This is too complicated. First her father had trapped fairies in their own realm, then he'd been sucked into the same trap, then he'd come to Chennai and met her mother, and now he was trapped in stasis again? Krithi opened her mouth to point that out, but instead, all she said was, "How do I do that?"

"You are going to train with his allies." Her mother stood up. "His allies are the Wizards of the White Circle. They themselves have just escaped their own trappings and are now residing in Italy." She stood up. "Pack your bags."

"What?" Krithi stared at her mother as if she'd grown two heads.

"We're headed to Italy," her mother answered. "Come on. Let's get ready."

And that was how Krithi had ended up in Gardenia, Italy, working with the Wizards. Since the Last Fairy on Earth (whom they'd believed to be Bloom at the time) lived there, they'd practiced and trained together in that city, so Krithi could learn the layout. She now knew every building, street, and even sewer-line of Gardenia, probably better than most of its residents.

She swallowed, thinking of how hard she'd had to train in order to work with the Wizards. She'd learned every battle-move, every stroke of the sword, all to free her father. But now she was wondering whether it was all worth it. Whether she even wanted to be that girl she'd been melded into.

Stop it. She had to stop the thoughts of Roxy from coming to her. Roxy was a distraction – not a friend. She slowed Chai to a walk, staring around.

There was a moat around a stone temple, which had a five-tiered stepped roof. The stepped roof, or gopuram tower, was intricately designed, with idols of gods and goddesses atop. She flew across the moat, and then, leaving Chai at the entrance gate, she walked through the sanctum. Heading into the temple, she saw several idols of Brahma, Shiva, Ganesha, Mahalakshmi, and several other deities, including a bronze idol of the fire god, Agni. Fire temple… I'm in the right place. She held the White Circle high above her head, whispering, "Transport me."

Immediately, she was transported to the underground world. She stared around at the underground city before her, which was filled with flaming candles and lights. A door stood across from her, with an upside-down triangle as its rune. She headed straight to it, swallowing hard as she pushed open the door.


Riven sat in the ambulance, his head bowed and eyes half-closed. He stared into the floor, nothing but coldness in his heart.

He had absolutely no desire to go into rehab. It would just be filled with crazy people, people who would force him to change. Sighing, he leaned against the stretcher, his eyes closed.

He thought of Musa, wondering what was going on with her. She was probably having the time of her life on Earth, fighting enemies. Bitterness rose in his throat as he thought of her, how much fun she was probably having with her friends.

Meanwhile, he was stuck in this stupid treatment program. He wished he could get out as quickly as possible, so that he could move on with his life.

"Riven Drivas?" a voice called out to him. Riven gazed up at the tech, the one who was transporting him to the rehab center. "Transportation to Dasha Avatar Hospital?"

"Yes," Riven answered tersely. The tech nodded.

"Okay then." He sat next to Riven. "Let's get going."


The entire chamber was lit with fire. Orange flames licked up the ground, and lava oozed everywhere. The red gemstone was dancing on the fire, and Krithi stared at it in horror. Letting out a deep breath, she launched herself towards the pole.

This time, when she latched onto the pole, it was hot. Sweat poured down her body as she leapt onto the next pole. She took in a deep breath, hoping she'd be able to get through quickly.

Of course, it wasn't as easy as that. For the moment she began to leap, a meteor flew above her head, nearly melting her. She narrowly ducked it, but the stifling heat wasn't the only problem. Impotent rage began to bubble inside of her, and she stared at the world around her, a surge of anger lighting her.

"The fairies are angry," a voice called out to her. "Angry with you and your forefathers for what you did to them. You will soon face the price."

An image of the fairies came to her mind. She could feel the anger within her body, the fury and rage the fairies felt at being trapped for hundreds of years. And quite honestly, she couldn't blame them. She swallowed, guilt rising in her throat.

"You deserve to fail, for what you've done," the voice continued. "Prepare to face your" –

A sudden swoosh awoke Krithi. A fireball was flying towards her, and she dodged out of the way, horrified. It hit the stone wall, where it scorched the side.

Had she been in the way of the fireball, she would've been scorched in flames.

Krithi zoomed towards the crystal frantically, dodging fire and lava. A volcano of anger was erupting inside of her, and images of Roxy and Merlin kept zooming inside of her head. They're not true, they're not true… she told herself frantically, all the while thinking: just get to the crystal!

She grabbed the red crystal and hugged it to her chest. Almost immediately, the bubbling anger faded away, and she felt calm and tranquil. At the same time, the chamber went wild.

Fireballs zoomed everywhere, and she stared, horrified. The entire chamber was vaporizing, burning into flames. If she stayed there any longer, she would become toast.

She leapt back onto the poles, running desperately for her life. The crystal was in her bag, safe and sound, as she shot to the platform. She let out a gasp of relief as she landed.

The crystal connected into the White Circle; it gleamed red once, then became white again. Krithi let out a sigh of relief.

At the same time, the ever-mounting guilt rose into her heart. She shook her head, holding the White Circle to her heart.

Two down, two more to go…


Riven lay on the stretcher, watching as the policemen wheeled him into the hospital. Cold, sterile white walls gleamed back at him, immaculately polished. He glanced around the hospital, taking everything in.

Dasha Avatar Hospital was one of the best hospitals in the city; he'd been lucky to even get a place there. Still, he was certain that he wouldn't enjoy it. He glared forward as the policeman turned him into the wing.

"This is the wing for short-term behavioral health, detox, and rehab," he said. "How long you stay here depends on how much you accept treatment."

Behavioral health. Riven had never heard that term before. Whatever it was, he was certain he wouldn't like it. He crossed his arms as the policeman wheeled him into a specific unit. He stared around, taking it all in at once.

There was a counter with nurses behind it; all of them looked up as Riven was wheeled into the unit. The policemen unbuckled the stretcher, then lowered it so Riven could climb down. Riven stared around, trying to make out his surroundings.

He was surprised at how everyone was wearing normal clothes. From what he'd seen on screens, people from mental hospitals were always wearing gowns or scrubs. A patient walked up to him as he climbed off the stretcher. "Nice to meet you," he said.

"Callum, give him some space," a tech scolded. She walked up to Riven, pointing a device at him. "This should test your blood pressure, temperature, and oxygen levels." Writing the vital-signs on a sheet of paper, she handed it to the nurse. A male tech arrived and nodded for Riven to follow him. "Come with me."

Reluctantly, Riven followed the tech, who led him to an exam room. He motioned for Riven to sit down.

"This is going to be uncomfortable," he said, "but necessary." He leaned forward. "I need you to take off your clothes."

"What?" Riven stared at him in shock. The tech sighed.

"It's so we can ensure the safety of everyone," he said. "I need to search through your clothes so we can make sure you don't have any contraband. In addition, I need to see if you have any scars from self-harming or anything of the sort."

"I don't self-harm," Riven answered defiantly. "I'm not doing it."

The tech shrugged. "Okay," he said. Riven stared at him in surprise.

"You're not going to pin me down and search me by force?"

"You're not presenting as violent," the tech answered, "so no – we won't force you to strip. But you'll be isolated and watched continuously until you comply. That will delay treatment, which will in-turn delay how long it takes for you to get out."

With a sigh, Riven pulled off his shirt. The tech took it and searched through it, then handed it back to Riven. He did the same for his pants.

"Good,' the tech said, giving him his clothes back. "You're free to go."

Amazed at how quick and painless that was, Riven walked out of the exam room. Callum came up to him, grinning.

"How are you doing?" he asked. Riven glared at him.

"I'm stuck here," he snapped. "How do you think I'm doing?"

Callum shrugged. "Just the same as any of us, I think."

He's right, Riven realized. All of them were undergoing the same treatment, and were to be treated the same. Callum grinned. "Want to play checkers with me?"

Riven didn't want to. But he knew it was better than being alone. He sighed, sitting down and playing checkers with Callum.


Next chapter:

The Winx go to China

Roxy is trained in magic.

Layla meets a dragon.