That night, Nicolette sat alone near the campfire, her stethoscope now resting silently on her lap. Kael had posted guards, but she felt eyes watching—unseen, ancient.
Suddenly, the flames flickered blue. A soft voice echoed from within them.
> "Healer… awaken what sleeps within you…"
She stood, startled. "Who's there?"
The flames coiled upward, forming the shape of a woman cloaked in light. Her face was hidden, but her voice was warm and sharp like wind through glass.
> "The realms chose you. Your knowledge is the spark, but your spirit is the fire. Embrace it."
The figure vanished as quickly as it appeared.
Kael rushed over. "Are you alright?"
"I think the fire spoke to me," she whispered, still shaking. "It knew my name."
Kael's jaw tightened. "Then the prophecy is unfolding. You must be taken to the Sanctum of Souls. The ancient ones will help you understand your gift."
Nicolette's heart pounded. Fire talking, glowing stethoscopes, prophecies? This wasn't just survival anymore.
It was destiny.
And it had only just begun.