Feast of the Winter Solstice (Closed)

[Sunfire Dervish]

"Shon...this is incredible...don't you feel it..."

Diyar hunched down a bit, not sure of what was happening with his companion. Still...there was that feeling; almost like waves were pushing him back, and then pulling just a bit as the next one came to push. The Flame's fire began to grow brighter, as if fueled by some invisible source.

"Shon...it is nearly midnight...don't you see...this day...there is so much power in the air tonight."

Diyar looked left at a large grandfather clock. Sure enough: it was five till midnight. The waves seemed to be getting stronger, and the air crackled with fire.

"This night...it is as your friend said. 'The longest night of the year. The night the world awaits the return of the sun.'" The Flame lowered its head so that it was looking right at Diyar. "Shon..."

Diyar backed away a bit. "Don't..."

"...roj sterk..."

Diyar clenched his fists and ran at the spirit, trying to stop it.

"...agir."

Too late. Diyar exploded in a fireball, dropping to his knees. He opened his mouth, trying to scream, but no sound escaped his throat. His skin was ablaze, slowly charring and turning black. Soon, he lost all feeling. His eyes lost sight; his ears no longer heard. A strong smell of ash and smoke invaded his nose until it was the only sense he had, the only way of knowing he was still alive and still burning.

YOU are that sun, Shon. This night, your power has been realized. The magic here is as ancient as your own; tap into it. Harness it. Use it to control your own powers, and you WILL be more powerful than any of the dervishes before you. Embrace it... The Flame's voice echoed in Diyar's mind. He struggled, unable to move, unable to speak. Do it! DO IT NOW! SHON OF SUNFIRE, SUMMON ME!

Diyar forced his eyes open. Flames surrounded him still. His mouth opened, gasping for air. He struggled to speak.

"Sh-shon...roj...sterk...agir!"

The flames brightened and flared around him. The scraps of his burned clothes changed; he was now in his black robe. The burning was gone; the fire was soft and warm now. He focused his will on the fire to make it stop.

Beyond the crackling of the flames, Diyar could hear the clock gonging away. It was midnight. He focused every bit of his willpower, his strength. His vision began to blur; color began to fade. No...not now...

The flames turned blue. Diyar looked at his hands. The gauntlets he wore slowly melted away, slowly being replaced by black, ash-like skin. The transformation came up his legs as well. Fire peeked out from cracks here and there. His chest, covered in white symbols and etchings, fire erupting from his collar so that it wreathed his head. Fire poured from his eyes, was his eyes, and his hair faded away as well. His head was black now too.

Yes...good...it is complete...

Diyar opened his mouth to speak. His voice came out raspy and crackled like a fire. "What...did you do...to me?"

You did this, Shon of Sunfire. Look at yourself. You ARE the Sunfire Dervish now. Soon, you will be able to control this, just as your father did, and his father before him, and his aunt before him, and her father before her...

"But...I...am you."

No...I am YOU. The fire disappeared, and Diyar looked down at his hands. He was back to normal, even his burnt clothes had been mended and were whole again. He looked around the room. No sign of the Flame. The blizzard had begun to die down outside. A few groans and the occasional yelp could be heard from upstairs from the other guests.

"Ahem...can I help you, sir?"

Diyar spun around, coming face to face with the butler. "Oh...uh..."

"If you required the lavatory, you may find those facilities on the same floor as your room, at the end of the hall, young master."

"Oh...err...no..." Diyar raised an eyebrow, wondering how much the man had seen, had heard.

"...I can assure you, I saw nothing of what happened in here, if that is what you are concerned about. But, please, I must ask that you return to your room for the night."

"Oh...right...ok..." Diyar turned back to the door to leave. He reached the door and stopped, turning suddenly. "Wait...how did you know..."

The room was empty again. Diyar furrowed his brow, then turned back around, finding the stairs and heading back up to his room.

A small laugh began in his head, a joyous one. Shon...you are more powerful than you ever imagined. You were destined to come here this day. You are so much closer now than your father was when he was as young as you.

Diyar closed the door to his room behind him, hopping onto the bed. He didn't respond to the spirit within him. Slowly, sleep prevailed.

That night, he dreamt of a raging firestorm, a whirlwind of flames. At the heart of it, the blackened form of the Flame: the blackened, ashen form of himself.