Crystal

“His fingers brushed the pommel of his sword, the cold steel a reminder of the oaths he had taken. But as the shadows of the forest swallowed him, Dain couldn't shake the question bothering his thoughts, a question that had begun years ago in the ashes of Almswood and grew louder with each mission: How much of this was justice, and how much was phobia masquerading as order?”
― Rea Alexandris, The Forgotten Flame: A Tale of Fire, Forbidden Love, and the Fight for a Kingdom

“She stared at her hand, still warm from the spark. Others had come here, curious or desperate, but the forge had never answered them. Her father had always called it cursed, but now Kaelara wondered if it had simply been waiting--for her.”
― Rea Alexandris, The Forgotten Flame: A Tale of Fire, Forbidden Love, and the Fight for a Kingdom

“The tales passed down through Emberhollow were like brittle threads in an old tapestry, worn thin but still clinging to their vibrant origins. They painted a world where magic had once coursed freely through Aeryndor, as essential as the wind and as life-giving as rain. It had flowed in harmony with the land, nourishing its fields, fueling its innovations, and shaping the very fabric of existence. The villagers whispered of the Flamebearers, legendary smiths whose enchanted forges had given birth to weapons that blazed with unquenchable fire and tools imbued with unyielding strength.”
― Rea Alexandris, The Forgotten Flame: A Tale of Fire, Forbidden Love, and the Fight for a Kingdom

“Ash flopped back against her bed, her phone still clenched in her hand. She didn’t think she could go back to sleep, so she spent the rest of the night fervently sketching, including scenes from the dream. Her kitchen with its wayward utensils scattered through the air, the basement, the man with his ominous warnings, and finally
the field with the words STOP LOOKING drawn in dark hatched lines.”
― Nicole Aisling, Chasing Nightmares