Evelyn

Evelyn opened her eyes in the darkness of her room which was lit up only by the candle near her headrest. As she gazed out of the window she realised that it was sundown and the hustle and bustle of customers had begun to reach her ears. She immediately got out of bed and readied herself, it was time to meet Damian.

Since they were inside she didn't have to dress heavily and the inn was always well-insulated for the customers' comfort. Evelyn only took her night dress and wrapped herself with a large shawl to hide any parts that might otherwise become visible. As she began her descent downstairs she began thinking about how best to recruit Damian into the crew, after all bringing in such a skilled thief would not only increase the gang's clout but would also lead to an increase in her standing within the group. She had toiled for over 7 years helping the gang in all their activities, from smuggling to robbery and even kidnapping, but she had refrained from indulging in murder and torture.

Evelyn had made it clear to the leader that in return for their protection of the inn she would be willing to do much but the act of killing another was simply out of the question. The leader to had assented her request for he made a killing out of it all, he had acquired a base for himself and his crew to conduct their activities hidden from the rest of the rabble. Over the years the gang had crowned themselves as rulers of the underbelly of White Harbour so much so that they even paid a cut to the Manderlys to not investigate their affairs.

Evelyn found Damian sitting on of the tables of the inn eating multiple fish dishes with ale to go with them. Certainly, his table boasted of his bountiful harvest from this morning, when he saw her approaching him he merely kicked the chair opposite him with enough force that she may seat herself. As he continued gorging himself with the food he raised his head to look Evelyn dead in the eye, a signal for her to begin the conversation. Evelyn was again mesmerised by his differently coloured eyes, their radiance was unmatched in any men she had encountered before.

"Enjoying the food ?", as she questioned him he nodded in between the gulps of ale he took.

"As expected my mother's food is certainly the best around here, you wouldn't find any better than this in White Harbour. I hope you enjoyed your stay so far as well.", Damian nodded at the pleasantries.

"What do you want?", he stopped eating as he was now interested in the topic Evelyn wished to discuss.

"You can eat I'm in no hurry we can talk after you're done eating"

"No, you can start with the topic now, I will finish the food in my room if need be", Damian asserted.

"Sure, Damian I want you to join the Fishhook Gang, it is a group I belong to and we rule the smuggling business within White Harbour. I believe that it would be easy for you to join the gang and rise through its ranks with ease due to your skills. It is a good opportunity for you to make a living and have a lavish life ahead of you. You could even end up expan.."

"No.", Damian said that one word as he raised his moved his eyes away from the ale he was admiring and looked straight into Evelyn's eyes. The aura around Damian changed, Evelyn could feel it, if she was talking to a man before now she felt that she was looking at a beast that was displeased. Evelyn could feel the temperature rising around her as she began to sweat buckets within mere moments of Damian's abject rejection.

"Is that the sum of your ambition, Evelyn, to lead a gang in White Harbour? When I met you I felt that you would at least be ambitious what with the way you approached me certainly made it seem so. I seemed to have been mistaken, had I known that this would be the case I would not have followed you all along", each word from Damian hit Evelyn like a boulder crashing into her psyche but she had been demeaned before so she quickly gathered herself.

"You certainly presume a lot of people don't you Damian, it's very easy for someone who doesn't know me to pass statements from their judgemental throne. I have been at this since I was ten years of age, every corner of this inn is built on the sweat of my toil and my mother's. From being peasants working as fisherwomen at the ports to owning the most successful inn within White Harbour. If I so choose today I can call the guards of the city and they can chop you off and throw you into the sea for none to bat an eye. I have made something of myself here, what have you done barbarian?", Evelyn said with pride and conviction for her achievements while also laying bare her disgust for Damian.

"Ho, you certainly have a fire within you I won't deny that, but girl don't presume to understand who I am.", as Damian said that Evelyn began to feel the tearing of her body that she had only just recovered from after this morning. This time the force was much greater as she couldn't even think before she felt the massive headache as if someone were banging her head against the wall. Then she barely raised her head and looked into Damian's eyes again.

As Evelyn looked into Damian's eyes, she felt a strange sensation, as if she were being pulled into another realm. Suddenly, her surroundings blurred, and she found herself in the midst of a chaotic inferno. The fire roared and danced, consuming everything in its path. The devastation was unimaginable, as landscapes crumbled, and cities turned to ashes before her eyes. The flames seemed to carry an elemental force that was both terrifying and awe-inspiring.

In the midst of this apocalyptic firestorm, a figure began to emerge. From the heart of the blaze, Damian rose, his body enveloped in flames, yet unscathed. His presence was commanding, and he seemed to embody the very essence of fire itself. His eyes, still locked with Evelyn's, held power and domination.

Without fear, Damian ascended a grand staircase that materialized before him, leading to a magnificent golden throne. Each step he took resonated with power and purpose. Evelyn followed him with her gaze, captivated by the sight before her. Damian's ascent seemed like a divine ritual as if he were being anointed as the embodiment of Agni, the Fire Emperor.

Finally, Damian reached the summit of the Golden Throne, and as he seated himself upon it, the flames intensified, yet their warmth felt comforting rather than threatening to Damian. Evelyn could sense that this transformation was not just about wielding power but embracing a profound responsibility to protect and guide.

As Damian settled into the throne, the flames subsided, revealing a majestic figure adorned in regal attire that reflected his newfound status as Agni, the Fire Emperor. He looked out across the ravaged world with compassion and determination, as if the weight of the world now rested upon his shoulders.

In that moment, Evelyn understood that Damian's destiny was far greater than she had ever imagined. He was not the man she expected him to be, but a symbol of hope and renewal, destined to harness the force of fire for the betterment of the world.

The scene left Evelyn in awe, her heart pounding with a mix of emotions—fascination, admiration, and a newfound understanding of Damian's purpose. As she returned to the present, she realized that the man before her was not Damian, but Agni, the Fire Emperor—a force to be reckoned with. Her soul screamed that very name into her.

"You are a piece of me Evelyn I have already known about you and it was disappointing to know that my own soul piece would choose to restrict herself so", as Damian said that for the first time, Evelyn could discern the disappointment in his gaze. Yet the surreal experience continued to linger within her mind.

"What was that, who are you truly and what do you mean by soul piece", she began frantically questioning him.

"I will answer all your questions but for that we must move to a secluded place first", as Damian signalled Evelyn too looked around and seeing the crowd giving them glances she knew she had to find privacy for the duo.

She rose from her seat and gestured to Damian, "Come with me"