The Dust Flame’s End

The Sahara's edge burned under a relentless sun, the Dust Flame base—a fortified outpost buried in Mali's desert cliffs—shimmering like a mirage of steel and blood. Ruoxi crouched behind a sandstone ridge, her breath dry in the scorching heat, her shoulder scar a faint pulse beneath her lightweight gear. The phoenix tattoo pulsed—heart-driven, balanced, the pact's vow—"choice, sacrifice, heart to bind"—alive after Iceland's fire. Mei's hand gripped hers, the girl's phoenix tattoo blazing, her guardian spark a fierce light. Einar stood close, his faint tattoo sparking, his courage growing under Ruoxi's guidance. The book's golden hum and Wei's phoenix claw relic rested in her pack, anchors for a legacy of guardians, driven by the vision of global sparks.