Seraphina and Rowan hurried through the streets, the hot wind from the volcano growing stronger with each step. The city of Ember was normally vibrant, with its market stalls full of bright fabrics and aromatic spices, but now, an eerie stillness had settled over everything. Shops were shuttered, and the few people still outside wore expressions of fear as they watched the sky darken.

Rowan led the way toward the Council Hall, a grand building at the city's center, with spires designed to mimic the shape of Phoenix wings. The hall had always been a symbol of hope and strength, a place where the city's leaders gathered to make decisions for the people. But today, the air was thick with uncertainty.

When they arrived, two guards stood at the entrance, their eyes scanning the horizon nervously. Seraphina felt a pang of guilt as they approached. These people were looking to the Council for answers, but the Council was looking to her.

"We need to see the Council immediately," Rowan said urgently, his voice firm. The guards hesitated for a moment, but after recognizing Seraphina, they nodded and opened the heavy doors.

Inside, the hall was dimly lit by torches, the flickering flames casting long shadows on the stone walls. The council was already in session, seated at a large circular table. Their faces were grim, and Seraphina could feel the weight of their concern as she and Rowan entered the room.

Ilyana, the eldest of the council, rose from her seat when she saw Seraphina. Her sharp eyes flicked between Seraphina and Rowan, as if trying to read the unspoken tension in the air.

"What has happened?" Ilyana asked, her voice steady, but her expression betraying her worry. "The fire inside you... has it awakened?"

Seraphina swallowed hard and nodded. "Yes. It's more powerful than I thought. The Phoenix—it's inside me. It spoke to me."

The room fell silent. Every eye was on her, waiting for her to continue.

"It told me that I'm its vessel," Seraphina said quietly. "That together, we will rise. I don't fully understand what that means, but the fire—it's alive, and I can't control it."

Ilyana's expression didn't change, but the other council members exchanged uneasy glances. Seraphina could sense their fear. The Phoenix was a symbol of hope, but also of destruction. Its power, if left unchecked, could reduce the city to ash.

One of the council members, a man named Eldric, cleared his throat and leaned forward. "You say the Phoenix spoke to you," he said slowly, his eyes narrowing. "But how can we be certain? How do we know this isn't just... hysteria?"

Seraphina's heart skipped a beat. She opened her mouth to respond, but Ilyana raised a hand to silence Eldric.

"I believe her," Ilyana said firmly. "The signs are all there. The fire inside the mountain is rising, and the Phoenix's power has been passed to her. The question is not whether she speaks the truth, but whether we are ready for what is to come."

Another council member, a woman with silver hair named Calista, spoke up next. "What does the Phoenix want, Ilyana? What purpose does it have in choosing Seraphina as its vessel?"

Ilyana's eyes flickered with uncertainty, but she remained calm. "The Phoenix has always been the guardian of the Valley of Embers. Its power is tied to the balance of fire—creation and destruction. If the mountain has awakened, then something threatens that balance, and the Phoenix has chosen Seraphina to restore it."

Seraphina's chest tightened. Restore balance? How was she supposed to do that when she could barely keep the fire under control?

Eldric wasn't convinced. He leaned forward, his gaze piercing. "We're supposed to entrust the fate of our entire city to a girl who can't even control her own power? What happens when that fire consumes her, and all of us along with it?"

Seraphina flinched at his words, but before she could respond, Ilyana spoke again, her voice like steel. "The Phoenix chose her for a reason. It is not for us to question its will, but to support Seraphina in her journey. She will not be alone in this."

Rowan, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward. "Seraphina can do this," he said, his voice strong. "She just needs time. We can help her learn to control the fire."

"Time?" Eldric scoffed, his face darkening. "We don't have time. The volcano is waking, and soon, the whole city will be engulfed in flames if we don't act."

A tense silence followed his words. Seraphina's heart raced. Eldric's fear was valid, but she didn't know how to convince him—or herself—that she could be what the city needed.

"I will train her," Ilyana said finally, her voice calm but firm. "Seraphina's power is great, but with guidance, she can learn to wield it."

Calista nodded in agreement. "If anyone can teach her, it's you, Ilyana. You've seen more of the Phoenix's lore than any of us."

Eldric still looked skeptical, but he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Very well. But if things start to go wrong, we need a contingency plan."

Seraphina's stomach twisted. A contingency plan? That could only mean one thing—they were preparing for the possibility that she would lose control.

"You will have your plan," Ilyana said, her voice cool. "But we will not abandon Seraphina. She is our only hope now."

The council fell into a heavy silence, and Ilyana turned to Seraphina. Her eyes softened as she spoke. "Come with me. We don't have much time."

Seraphina nodded, feeling the weight of the council's decision pressing down on her. She wasn't ready for this, but she had no choice. The fire inside her was rising, and with it, the fate of the entire city rested in her hands.

Chapter Four brings the conflict between Seraphina and the council to the forefront, highlighting the tension between fear and faith in her abilities. Ilyana steps up as a mentor figure, offering to train Seraphina, while Eldric's doubt introduces the threat of failure. The stakes are rising as the volcano continues to awaken, and Seraphina's journey toward mastering the Phoenix's power is only just beginning