Germination (Battle Mage Farmer #2)

by Seth Ring

You may not remember me, but I was one of those rescued from Gelvin’s prison when the old national army set fire to the city. You led the Ecclesia through the fires to rescue us even though the warden and guards had already fled. As I watched you carry the wounded out of the burning city, fighting through the enemy to save even one more person, I vowed that day that I would devote myself to living as the Ecclesia did. We are the flame that burns for the people, the flame of hope. I have no one in this world but my brothers and sisters in the Ecclesia, and when I saw you again I knew my chance had come to repay you for the life you gave me. I have a feeling I am not long for this world, but even if that’s true, I know the flame that burns in my heart cannot be extinguished. It will continue to burn long after I am gone, bringing the hope and light and warmth it gave to me to others. All hail the eternal flame. Taking a deep breath, John closed his eyes and placed his forehead on the edge of the table, covering his face with his hands. Feeling a soft hand on his shoulder, he took another breath and straightened up, doing his best to hold it together. It had been a long time since he had thought of the term “eternal flame” as anything but his title, but reading the letter had brought with it a flood of memories.