یArash felt his heart sink. They were not ready. Two years of planning were destroyed in an instant.

"But we haven't reached the age for the ceremony yet. I'm twelve and Azar is only ten."

Lord Keyhan stroked his silver beard. "New documents have been prepared for you. Arash, you are fourteen, and Azar, you are twelve. The High Priest has agreed to this change."

Azar asked with a trembling voice: "And if... if the flame doesn't choose us?"

Lord Keyhan's gaze hardened. "Then, you will be worthless to the House of Verethragna (Varhran), and to me as well."

Without saying another word, he left them and went to his room.

Arash and Azar looked at each other in silence. Arash's mind was quickly processing this sudden change. "We need to get ready. We don't have much time tonight."

Azar nodded, but in her eyes, fear was waving.

That night, in their small room at the end of the mansion, Arash recounted everything he knew about the fire ceremony for Azar.

"Fire reads the heart and soul. All thoughts, fears, desires, strengths, or weaknesses of our existence. You can't hide anything from it."

Azar asked with eyes full of questions: "So how do we prepare ourselves?"

Arash took a deep breath. "Actually, we can't. Fire sees what you are, not what you pretend to be. But..." he paused and stared at the window, "Master Hirbad once said focus and inner peace can help."

Hirbad was an old priest who sometimes taught them. He had once been a powerful Blazed, but now he spent most of his time teaching teenagers.

Arash continued: "Tomorrow, when you enter the fire, don't think about anything. Not the past, not the future. Just be in the moment. Let the fire see your true self."

Azar bit her lower lip. "And if my true self... isn't good?"

Arash took his sister's hand. "You're the best person I know, Azar. You have a pure heart and you're brave. The fire will see this."

Azar smiled, though fear still waved in her eyes. "And what about you? You always think, you always plan. What will the fire see in you?"

Arash fell into thought. This was a question he was asking himself too. "I don't know. I only know that tomorrow our fate will change forever."

That night, both went to sleep late, while their thoughts were full of fear and hope.

The Seventh Day

The morning of the seventh day began with special glory. The sky was clear and blue, and a cool breeze was blowing. Lord Keyhan was waiting for Arash and Azar in formal attire. For the first time, he had prepared luxurious clothes for them - white robes with golden edges that had the Verethragna family emblem sewn on them.

"Today, you are the grandchildren of Lord Arvin," he emphasized. "No one should doubt this."

Arash asked with a frown: "Why hasn't Lord Arvin come himself?"

"He is ill, my son. Very old and weak. That's why he needs heirs."

They went to the great fire temple in Lord Keyhan's carriage. Today, unlike previous days, there was a special crowd around the fire temple. All the nobles, elders, and royal families were present.

Lord Keyvan from the Ruby Ember family, with his son Artin, was standing at the entrance of the fire temple. The young boy had raised his head with special pride, as if he already knew his bright future.

Duchess Aria from the Vermilion Flame family, with her daughter Roshanak, were standing a bit further. Roshanak, a girl with black hair and eyes the color of night, was looking around with a special calmness.

And finally, King Mehran with Prince Tirdad, were sitting in a special place. The young prince, with a proud but anxious look, was staring at the central fire.

Lord Keyhan guided Arash and Azar toward the noble place. On the way, many surprised looks were directed at them.

"Are these the grandchildren of Lord Arvin that we've heard rumors about?" a woman whispered.

"Yes, it is said that old Lord Arvin has found his lost grandchildren," another man answered.

Azar quietly said to her brother: "Everyone is looking at us."

Arash calmly replied: "Let them look. Don't think about anything but the test."

When they reached their place, Lord Keyhan introduced them to the elders. "Lord Arvin's grandchildren, Arash and Azar."

Lord Keyvan looked at them curiously. "It's strange that Lord Arvin had withdrawn from the world, and now suddenly he has heirs."

Lord Keyhan gave an artificial smile. "One cannot deny one's own blood, my lord. These are the children of his banished daughter."

Lord Keyvan raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

The sound of a trumpet was heard and everyone became quiet. High Priest Ardalan, with a long white robe and a staff that had a torch of white fire at its head, came forward.

"In the name of the power of the sacred fire," his voice echoed in the space. "Today, the last day of the selection ceremony, we will witness the fate of the chosen children of our land. Those who have the blood of nobles and kings flowing in their veins, today will pass through the flames to determine their destiny."

The silver gates of the fire temple opened and the first group of teenagers entered. All were wearing white and simple clothes, showing that before the power of fire, everyone is equal.

Prince Tirdad, the sixteen-year-old son of King Mehran from the royal family of Atar, was standing in the first row with a steady posture but a worried look. Next to him, Artin, the son of Lord Keyvan from the "Ruby Ember" family with obvious confidence, and Roshanak, the daughter of Duchess Aria from the "Vermilion Flame" family, were seen with determined eyes.

Arash and Azar were standing at the end of the line. Arash whispered to his sister: "Don't forget what I said. When you enter the fire, don't think about anything. Just be in the moment."

Azar nodded, but her hands were trembling.

The High Priest raised his hand and complete silence prevailed over the area. "Now, the ceremony begins. Let the sacred flame reveal the jewel of your existence."

Prince Tirdad was the first. With firm steps but a beating heart, he went toward the central white fire. He paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and then stepped into the flames.

The fire amazingly embraced him. The flames changed to a bright blue color and swirled around him. The priests quickly opened the ancient books and looked at the signs.

"Blazed!" the High Priest announced loudly, and the crowd rejoiced. The prince came out of the flames with a proud smile. King Mehran stood up in the royal place and applauded, though in his eyes a little disappointment was seen - he had hoped for a higher degree for his son.

It was Artin's turn. He entered the fire with confidence. A moment later, the flames turned emerald green and rose in a complex shape.

The High Priest stared at the scene with wide eyes. "Ignited!" he shouted, and the crowd's cheers rose. Only one Ignited in the entire seven-day ceremony, and that was the son of Lord Keyvan. The Ruby Ember family looked at this result with pride, and Lord Keyvan had puffed out his chest with pride.

"The third Blazed of this year will also be determined," Azar whispered excitedly. "Only two others have been chosen, one on the third day, one yesterday."

It was Roshanak's turn. She went toward the fire with light steps. When she entered the flames, the fire turned into a wavy purple color and twisted.

"Blazed!" was announced, and Duchess Aria rose with joy.

One after another, the teenagers passed through the fire. Most of them reached the Kindled degree - the flames turned bright orange - which was an expected result for the children of nobles. A few were also identified as Ashborn with gray flames, which caused shame for their families.

The last ones were Arash and Azar. Everyone was staring curiously at these two unknown teenagers.

"Azar, granddaughter of Lord Arvin from the Verethragna family!" was announced.

Azar went toward the fire with trembling steps. She paused for a moment and looked at her brother. Arash reassured her with his eyes.

Azar took a deep breath and entered the flames. For a moment, the fire burned normally around her, but suddenly, the flames turned bright blue and swirled around her like a whirlpool.

The High Priest stared at the scene with amazement and then announced: "Blazed!"

The sound of whispers spread through the crowd. The third Blazed of the year, an unknown girl from the Verethragna family? Lord Keyhan nodded with a smile of satisfaction.

And finally, it was Arash's turn.

"Arash, grandson of Lord Arvin from the Verethragna family!"

Arash stepped toward the fire with a strange calmness. His mind was calm, as if he had been prepared for this moment all his life. When he entered the flames, he closed his eyes and surrendered himself to the fire.

At first, absolute silence prevailed over the space. Then, something unexpected happened. The flames turned a color that no one had ever seen - pure white, like sunlight, but with edges of gold and blue. The fire swirled around Arash, embracing him, as if the fire was speaking to him...

Suddenly, a scream pulled Arash out of the dream world.