III: Dark Flame

Francis slowly approaches the torch as he read the inscription beneath the flame itself. "Those who wield the blood of Sol / Shall bear this flame darker than coal / Those whose blood is not pure / Will forfeit their life for sure."

Gale grabs the wolf pulling him away. "It means anyone who's not a descendant of the Sol Empire will perish touching the flame."

"How is this related to Project Eternal?"

"The flame itself is said to be eternal and cannot be extinguished."

Francis looks for more information on the project finding notes. "Not entirely. These documents state the hydrokinetics can quench the flame."

"Their kind are extinct."

The wolf then turned to her. "That's it. Project Eternal was a genocide against the hydrokinetics!" He then noticed the others. "It's them!"

Gale launched an arrow from behind her back in retaliation.

Blaze catches the arrow. "This is a warning. Leave and there will be no harm."

Francis drew his blade. "We have no intention on hurting anyone. We just came for the flame."

The feline then charges at him only to be set off course by an arrow barrage.

Gale would turn her attention to Cinder firing at him only to have her shots deflected. "Your weapon can't protect you forever, Marauder!"

Francis then lunged at the prince sword first.

Cinder clashes blades with the wolf engaging in a back and forth with him.

Blaze sneaks up behind Gale attempting to subdue her silently.

Gale would then unsheathe her claws and slash at the Princess before kicking across the room.

Cinder watched in horror. "Sister!"

Francis would strike the bengal tiger with the hilt of his blade before pinning him to the wall with it. "Stand down!"

Blaze struggled to get up as she was dangerously close to the Dark Flame. She had one hand on her torso trying to stop the bleeding as the other was on the base of the torch.

Gale took aim at the feline. "Francis, what would happen if the Princess of this empire were to die?"

Francis turned to the bear. "That will ignite an international incident! We only came for the flame!"

"Let's make sure they can't follow us."

Blaze would then lean up against the torch's base as her hand then made direct contact with the Dark Flame itself.

Gale fired her arrow directly at her only for it to erupt in flames before even making contact. "What!? That should have been a direct hit!"

Cinder eyes the feline. "Sister?"

Blaze's body became engulfed in a dark aura, her eyes now cyan, and red fur highlights. "This power does not belong to you, or anyone!" She unleashed her own claws as she slowly approaches Gale.

"Oh no."

Francis would turn his attention to Blaze as he swings his blade at her.

Blaze blocked the strike with her bare hand before grabbing him and charging him out of the room.

Gale attempted to follow them only to be cut off by someone else.

Marshall stood before her. "What did you and Francis do?"

"Marshall, that thing has him."

"What thing, Gale?"

Cinder stood up before them. "That thing was my sister. She's been empowered by the Dark Flame."

"How bad is that?"

"The Dark Flame is what gave my father his power, and now it's corrupting her."

Gale grabs her bow. "Francis is in danger."

"Worse. The Sol Empire is in danger."