[center][h3][b][i][u][color=#C2B280]T[/color][color=#C8A271]h[/color][color=#CF9263]e[/color] [color=#DD7247]F[/color][color=#E36338]l[/color][color=#EA532A]a[/color][color=#F1431C]m[/color][color=#F8330E]e[/color][/u][/i][/b][/h3]
[i][color=#C2B280]"[/color][color=#C3AF7D]I[/color] [color=#C5A978]a[/color][color=#C6A675]m[/color] [color=#C9A070]t[/color][color=#CA9D6D]h[/color][color=#CB9A6B]e[/color] [color=#CE9565]F[/color][color=#CF9263]l[/color][color=#D08F60]a[/color][color=#D28C5E]m[/color][color=#D3895B]e[/color][color=#D48658];[/color] [color=#D78053]I[/color] [color=#D97A4E]b[/color][color=#DA784B]u[/color][color=#DC7549]r[/color][color=#DD7246]n[/color] [color=#DF6C41]w[/color][color=#E1693E]i[/color][color=#E2663C]t[/color][color=#E36339]h[/color] [color=#E65D34]t[/color][color=#E75B31]i[/color][color=#E8582F]t[/color][color=#E9552C]l[/color][color=#EB5229]e[/color][color=#EC4F27],[/color] [color=#EE4921]b[/color][color=#F0461F]u[/color][color=#F1431C]t[/color] [color=#F33E17]n[/color][color=#F53B14]o[/color] [color=#F7350F]n[/color][color=#F8320D]a[/color][color=#FA2F0A]m[/color][color=#FB2C07]e[/color][color=#FC2905].[/color][color=#FD2602]"[/color][/i][/center][hr]
Its anger, its ferocity, its confliction, and its eventual calm were things that he envied. The Flame was another matter entirely, as the ground around him began to spark even as the beast spoke to him its words of warning. The human's brow creased, he did not know the language it spoke, nor why it had stopped itself from attacking.

The Flame did not care, and so the ground lit with fire, and slowly, so slowly, the grass was devoured as it spread. A look of fear came over the man's face as he watched the fire spread. [b][color=#C2B280]"[/color][color=#C4AD7B]F[/color][color=#C6A877]i[/color][color=#C8A372]r[/color][color=#CA9E6E]e[/color][color=#CC9969],[/color] [color=#D08F61]f[/color][color=#D28A5C]i[/color][color=#D48558]r[/color][color=#D78153]e[/color][color=#D97C4F],[/color] [color=#DD7246]I[/color] [color=#E1683D]b[/color][color=#E36339]e[/color][color=#E55E34]s[/color][color=#E75930]e[/color][color=#E9542C]e[/color][color=#EC5027]c[/color][color=#EE4B23]h[/color] [color=#F2411A]t[/color][color=#F43C16]h[/color][color=#F63711]e[/color][color=#F8320D]e[/color][color=#FA2D08],[/color][color=#FC2804]"[/color][/b] he began once more, [b][color=#C2B280]"[/color][color=#C3AE7C].[/color][color=#C4AB79].[/color][color=#C6A776].[/color][color=#C7A473]c[/color][color=#C9A070]e[/color][color=#CA9D6D]a[/color][color=#CC996A]s[/color][color=#CD9667]e[/color] [color=#D08F60]y[/color][color=#D28B5D]o[/color][color=#D3885A]u[/color][color=#D58457]r[/color] [color=#D87E51]b[/color][color=#D97A4E]u[/color][color=#DB774A]r[/color][color=#DC7347]n[/color][color=#DE7044]i[/color][color=#DF6C41]n[/color][color=#E1693E]g[/color] [color=#E46238]a[/color][color=#E55E35]n[/color][color=#E75B31]d[/color] [color=#EA542B]r[/color][color=#EB5128]e[/color][color=#ED4D25]t[/color][color=#EE4A22]u[/color][color=#F0461F]r[/color][color=#F1431C]n[/color] [color=#F43C15]t[/color][color=#F63812]o[/color] [color=#F9310C]m[/color][color=#FA2E09]e[/color][color=#FC2A06].[/color][color=#FD2703]"[/color][/b] It did not respond.

The flame was uncaring and apathetic. It knew only hunger. He the human looked to the demon, their eyes meeting once more, his own and Middle's. There was indeed fear in his own, but not fear of the beast, fear of himself and what channeled through him. [b][color=#C2B280]"[/color][color=#C4AB7A]I[/color] [color=#CA9E6E]c[/color][color=#CD9868]a[/color][color=#CF9162]n[/color][color=#D28B5D]n[/color][color=#D58457]o[/color][color=#D87E51]t[/color] [color=#DD7145]c[/color][color=#E06A40]o[/color][color=#E3643A]n[/color][color=#E65E34]t[/color][color=#E8572E]r[/color][color=#EB5128]o[/color][color=#EE4A22]l[/color] [color=#F33D17]i[/color][color=#F63711]t[/color][color=#F9300B],[/color][color=#FC2A05]"[/color][/b] he said as if pleading for forgiveness. He then stood, his wounds having almost entirely mended already, and ran.

Heaving breath after breath he took, words expelling from his mouth in a quiet whisper meant only for his own ears. [b][color=#C2B280]"[/color][color=#C3AF7D]I[/color] [color=#C5A978]a[/color][color=#C6A675]m[/color] [color=#C9A070]t[/color][color=#CA9D6D]h[/color][color=#CB9A6B]e[/color] [color=#CE9565]F[/color][color=#CF9263]l[/color][color=#D08F60]a[/color][color=#D28C5E]m[/color][color=#D3895B]e[/color][color=#D48658];[/color] [color=#D78053]I[/color] [color=#D97A4E]b[/color][color=#DA784B]u[/color][color=#DC7549]r[/color][color=#DD7246]n[/color] [color=#DF6C41]w[/color][color=#E1693E]i[/color][color=#E2663C]t[/color][color=#E36339]h[/color] [color=#E65D34]t[/color][color=#E75B31]i[/color][color=#E8582F]t[/color][color=#E9552C]l[/color][color=#EB5229]e[/color][color=#EC4F27],[/color] [color=#EE4921]b[/color][color=#F0461F]u[/color][color=#F1431C]t[/color] [color=#F33E17]n[/color][color=#F53B14]o[/color] [color=#F7350F]n[/color][color=#F8320D]a[/color][color=#FA2F0A]m[/color][color=#FB2C07]e[/color][color=#FC2905],[/color][color=#FD2602]"[/color][/b] he chanted over and over again, attempting to wrest control from the phenomena that emanated around him. He had to get out. At least if he left the city the Flame could not destroy it. If he stayed here only destruction could be done. While he indeed searched, as all Pilgrims did, he did so in Hell in part to minimize damage to his surroundings and those within it, for the Flame did not kindle only in situations of distress, but in those where much essence was to be had.

It was a curse to him, but it was one that he knew he could only accept. He held an understanding, or perhaps a lack of such, for the Flame to such a degree that he could not help but remain in respectful awe of it. Any mortal would feel the same, though it was seldom that the other races were chosen, or entered, into the ceremonies of fire. If he could escape this place, perhaps the Flame would smolder and become a mere cinder once more, waiting to be kindled.

However, perhaps that was not his fate.