In Oakhaven, a single crack in your glass means the end of your life.
Every citizen carries their soul in their hands, a small flame left in a lantern that beats with the rhythm of their heart.
Eira’s light burns with a soft, lemon-yellow glow, marking her as someone safe and perfectly obedient to the village's expectations.
Beyond the village borders, the Great River thrashes against jagged stones, a violent torrent that remains liquid even in the deepest frost.
The locals view the water as a place where there is no light, a place where the lightless are forgotten. Eira finds herself drawn to the spray and the roar, convinced the current holds the truth about why her father's flame was snuffed out.
The village fears the river, but they loathe Soren even more. He moves through the streets like a shadow, his presence chilling the air around him.
The elders claim his fire turned black from an evil heart, warning others away from him.
While the other children display lanterns of vibrant scarlet and gold, Soren’s glass holds a dark, violet light that shivers with every step.
Eira watches the strange, cold glow and sees a different story. His fire struggles to burn because the world has spent years trying to kill it, leaving him to guard the embers of a past that Oakhaven would rather bury.