Praise The Eternal Flame

Nathan's eyes narrowed, his mind racing. "You're Blessed," he repeated, his voice low. "How long have you known?"

"For five years now," Jessica said. "It began as a whisper, a spark within me. I thought it was a gift—a chance to do good. But the world is not kind to the Blessed."

"The GRA," Nathan said, more a statement than a question.

She nodded, her expression darkening. "They came for me, not long after I first discovered my abilities. I escaped their clutches once, but they pursued me relentlessly. I had no choice but to destroy one of their branches, to ensure they wouldn't track me further. Since then, I've lived in shadows, suppressing my flames, erasing my presence."

Nathan felt a pang of something—pity, anger, understanding. He knew what it was like to be hunted, to have something inside you that made you a target. "Why didn't you tell anyone? Why didn't you tell me?"