It wasn’t like normal flames. It gave off no heat, only a soft, ethereal glow like moonlight dancing in smoke form. It crackled with gentle hisses, and every now and then, sparks shaped like petals floated upward into the sky.
"What’s that..." Ruby whispered, her voice barely audible.
Julian had frozen too, his eyes wide in wonder. "Wife... is that fire alive?"
Aria, noticing their reaction, chuckled softly. "It’s called the Soulfire. It only appears during this ceremony. The elders say it listens to love, not words. It glows brighter when there’s sincerity."
Julian glanced at Ruby, then quietly squeezed her hand.
"Look, in our village, new couples usually take part in this ceremony—it’s a way to show sincerity between partners," Aria said, her tone playful but warm.
Just then, a few people nearby called out her name.
"Aria! Who did you bring this time?"
"They’re new here," Aria called back, motioning to Ruby and Julian with a grin. "This is Ruby and her husband Julian. First time visiting."
The group gave friendly smiles and curious glances, some nodding in welcome.
Ruby blinked, feeling a strange wave settle over her chest. She realized... she really hadn’t seen even a fraction of this world. Everything she knew so far was about the palace, her small business, the nearby ghost village but this village felt... different. Magical.
And that fire, she looked again at the soft, glowing white flames, crackling without heat.
"How can we do the ceremony?" Julian asked, his soft mossy eyes shimmering with curiosity.
Aria smiled. "Nothing complicated... You and your wife just have to place your hands together inside that flame."
Ruby’s brows furrowed immediately. "Inside the fire?"
Seeing her hesitation, Aria raised both palms reassuringly. "Don’t worry, it won’t burn. It doesn’t hurt at all. It’s a sacred flame, it only responds to sincerity. It’s not made of heat, it’s made of energy."
Julian looked at Ruby hopefully. His hand reached for hers, warm and steady. "Wife... can we try it?"
Ruby’s gaze drifted back to the flame—it danced without smoke, glowing white like moonlight, its movement strangely slow and mesmerizing. A soft breeze stirred her hair as if the fire was calling to them.
She sighed lightly. "Alright."
They stepped forward together.
As they reached the flame, the villagers around them grew quiet, watching with gentle interest. The base of the white fire rested inside a bowl carved out of dark stone, surrounded by curling red vines and tiny blue lights.
Ruby and Julian stood close.
"Ready?" he whispered.
Together, they raised their joined hands and slowly pushed into the flame.
The moment their skin touched the fire, a wave of cold warmth flooded through them, it was not painful, but it wasn’t exactly comforting either. Ruby gasped softly. It was as if something brushed against their souls, peeking in.
Julian tightened his fingers around hers, and the flame flared up, glowing brighter for a brief moment, like it recognized something.
The crowd murmured with soft approval. Aria beamed.
"Well... seems your bond is real," she said with a wink. "The fire didn’t reject you."
Ruby slowly pulled her hand back, heart beating fast. That... didn’t feel ordinary.
Julian smiled quietly. "That was strange... but kind of beautiful."
Because for a single moment, when her hand was in the fire, she had heard a whisper in her ear, somthing like...
And she wasn’t sure it came from Julian.
When they reached back to their hotel room, Ruby was unusually quiet. The moment they stepped in, she paused near the door, her brows gently pinched and her hand instinctively brushing the back of her shoulder.
Julian noticed right away.
"What happened, wife? You look... strange." He tilted his head, concerned.
Ruby exhaled deeply and opened the door to their room. "I don’t know," she murmured. "Ever since that ceremony... I’ve been feeling weird. Especially on my back, it’s like something’s there, but nothing hurts. Just this... strange energy."
Julian stepped closer, worry flickering in his eyes. "Let me see."
Ruby hesitated, then turned slightly, letting the neckline of her robe fall enough for him to see her upper back. There were no visible marks, but the skin seemed warmer than usual, and her heartbeat was faster.
"There’s nothing," Julian said gently, "but maybe your body’s just reacting to that sacred fire or whatever it was."
"Hmm..." Ruby still didn’t feel right.
Julian took her hand. "I think you should take a shower. Maybe it’ll help you feel more like yourself."
Ruby gave a small nod. "Yeah... maybe you’re right."
But as she stepped into the bathroom, the feeling didn’t fade. In fact, the moment water hit her back, it pulsed.
Like something had been awakened.
However, Ruby chose to ignore the odd sensation lingering on her back. She quietly changed into a light, soft robe. The room was warm with the faint scent of lavender from the soap they’d used earlier. When she stepped out, she found Julian already fast asleep on the bed, one arm loosely sprawled across the blanket, his breathing slow and peaceful.
"He must’ve been tired..." Ruby whispered to herself, a faint smile touching her lips as she turned off the lights.
But as she slipped under the blanket beside him, her heart didn’t calm. Her eyes remained open, staring into the darkness above.
She couldn’t shake the image of the ceremony—the white fire, the strange warmth on her skin when they touched it, and the moment Julian had clasped her hand so tightly like something was binding them.
That light hadn’t been ordinary fire.
The next morning, the golden light filtered gently through the windows as Ruby and Julian finished their breakfast.
Julian kept sneaking looks at Ruby while chewing, still dazed from how magical the night before had felt.
As they stepped out, Aria appeared again with her usual radiant smile. "You should explore more of our village while you’re here," she suggested, brushing a strand of dark hair behind her ear.
Ruby nodded politely, exchanging a few more friendly words with her. "Thank you for everything, Aria. We’ll look around a bit before heading out."
Once they were on the road again, Ruby slowed the car and asked a few locals about Dreadmire Village, the place she originally came for.
—To be continued...🪄