A Fire in the Flesh

“‘This conversation is over,’ Kolis said. Another laugh almost snuck free. He thought this was a conversation? ‘We are going home, and once you’ve calmed down, we will talk then.’”

By framing his argument with Sera as a “conversation,” Kolis belittles her and invalidates her opinions. The choice of words implies an equality of power and a mutual exchange of ideas that Sera’s thoughts reveal to be glaringly absent. Instead, Kolis’s actions—physical violence, compulsion, and emotional manipulation—demonstrate his need to dominate and control. His insistence that they are “going home” reflects how he conflates coercion with care and control with affection.

“There will be no more favorites after me.”

Sera’s whispered promise is a declaration against the systemic abuse that she has witnessed and experienced as she vows to dismantle the cycle of suffering perpetuated by Kolis. The “favorites” were the women he abused over the decades and centuries to distract himself from Sotoria, their title an ironic subversion of their actual position. However, Sera’s statement also shows the immense burden she feels from her position as “Sotoria reborn.” She positions herself as the only force standing between Kolis and his victims, and this responsibility is both a source of strength and a crushing weight.

“I needed to become that blank canvas. The empty vessel. No emotion. No personal needs or wants. Only skin-deep. It was the only way.”

To outmaneuver Kolis and protect Nyktos, Sera must suppress her desires, autonomy, and emotions. She compares herself to objects, a canvas and a vessel, both of which highlight the dehumanization she feels in her position. Both of the objects mentioned also await the mark of a creator, who will mold and shape her as he deems fit. 

“I disobeyed, and someone died.”

Every action or inaction that Sera makes while in captivity by Kolis has dire repercussions. Even when they are well-intentioned, her choices can have fatal consequences for those around her. She didn’t know the Chosen who Callum killed, but a person still died for her regardless. The quote also shows Sera’s struggle with guilt and responsibility as she wonders if she could or should prioritize her survival and mission over the lives of innocent bystanders. The flat, straightforward tone of the quote indicates Sera’s understanding of the direct connection between the two events and her refusal to ignore her own accountability.

“Sotoria’s soul is in you, but you’re not her. And even if Kolis never realizes that, it means you’re not the weapon Eythos believed he created.”

Sera’s entire life has been shaped by others’ perceptions of her, whether as a mortal, a pawn, or a vessel for Sotoria’s soul, developing the theme of Fate Versus Free Will. The revelation that she is not truly Sotoria reborn but her own person emphasizes the tension between being oneself and living under another identity’s shadow. Eythos’s attempt to create a savior that could defeat his brother unexpectedly produced Sera, and her very existence defies the straightforward solutions that the Primals expected, complicating the idea of predestination.

“‘I don’t want to wake up,’ I whispered, my heart cracking. ‘Please, don’t let me wake up. I don’t want to leave you. Please.’”

Sera’s dream with Nyktos, resulting from their bond as heartmates, becomes an escape from her harsh reality. Nyktos is her emotional anchor and a tangible manifestation of safety, love, and hope. While she only has to look forward to continuing to be caged by the alchemical and abusive Kolis, Sera craves the agency and freedom of a space where she can truly be free. In her relationship with Nyktos, Sera sees firsthand The Transformative Power of Love, and her very physical reaction to leaving, her “heart cracking,” underscores the violence of her emotion.

“Nyktos is the one who is incapable of loving anyone […] He had his kardia removed.”

Sera portrays Nyktos as incapable of love due to the removal of his kardia, aiming to manipulate Kolis’s perception of Nyktos and downplay the depth of their bond. However, even though her statement is part of her strategy, it reveals her worst fear: At this point in the story, she believes that Nyktos does not and cannot reciprocate her feelings for him. Sera’s manipulations show that although her motives are good, she is not above the weaponization of trust to achieve her goals.

“‘There are rumors about you, you know. That you are the Shadowlands’ Consort.’ A prickly sensation rippled over my skin as I stared at her. This was the first indication beyond Phanos and Attes that others knew who I was, or what they may be thinking regarding my presence here.”

“‘There are rumors about you, you know. That you are the Shadowlands’ Consort.’ A prickly sensation rippled over my skin as I stared at her. This was the first indication beyond Phanos and Attes that others knew who I was, or what they may be thinking regarding my presence here.”

“I felt everything as I sat in the tepid water. But at the same time, I felt absolutely nothing.”

This quote encapsulates the paradox of trauma. Despite her years of training and mental preparation, the reality of being powerless against Kolis’s physical and supernatural dominance strips her of the sense of control she had hoped to maintain. Sera feels shame, rage, despair, and fear that threaten to overwhelm her, yet she simultaneously experiences a detachment to the point of disassociation as her mind distances itself from the situation to protect her. With moments like these, the narrative creates a connection between the fantasy world of the novel and real-world experiences.

“A storm. A storm to mirror what I felt inside.”

The storm that Sera creates is a direct reflection of her turmoil. It reflects her fury, her frustration, and the oppressive sense of entrapment that she feels under Kolis’s domination and Callum’s taunting. Sera channels her feelings into a physical force, reclaiming some agency in an environment designed to suppress her.

“The essence does not belong to you. It is not yours to use.”

Kolis sees not only Sera but also the embers within her as his possessions. In his eyes, he is the “real” Primal of Life, and anything else that contradicts this must be stamped out. By insisting on his ownership of the embers of life within Sera, he attempts to compensate for his limitations and the fragility of his rule, which is built on stolen power and manipulation.

“Do as you said you would do if you thought someone was being wronged in such a manner. Shove a blade through his heart.”

Kolis’s challenge to Sera is to act on her principles, as she previously stated, or expose herself as a hypocrite. His demand serves multiple purposes: It allows him to control Sera’s actions while placing her in a moral quandary and also sending a message to Keella, who disobeyed him earlier.

“You disobeyed me repeatedly, yet you live. No one else would. So, yes. This is love.”

Kolis’s statement summarizes his warped perception of love, power, and control and his tyrannical interpretation of relationships, particularly concerning dominance and submission. Kolis reveals his profoundly flawed understanding of love by equating it with pure survival. He attempts to reframe his acts of brutality against her as demonstrations of care and restraint, manipulating the narrative to cast himself as merciful rather than abusive, and from his perspective, the fact that he hasn’t killed her must mean that he feels love.

“I just want you to know that I ceased Veses’ punishment when I returned to the Hall.”

Kolis’s need to inform Sera that he stopped Veses’s assault by Kyn is another attempt to paint himself as a merciful figure. His phrasing reveals his desire to be perceived as benevolent despite his consistent cruelty, a form of emotional manipulation and an effort to elicit gratitude from Sera, which he equates with validation of his authority. The timing of this statement, after having subjected Sera to hours of torture, only amplifies its absurdity.

“What had Holland said about love? Basically, that it was as equally awe-inspiring as it was horrifying.”

In A Fire in the Flesh, love is a force that amplifies the qualities of those who wield it. For characters like Nyktos and Sera, it becomes a source of resilience and hope, highlighting the transformative power of love. For others, like Kolis and Veses, it becomes a vehicle for destruction. Kolis’s obsession with Sotoria blinds him to the harm he inflicts, creating a cycle of pain and abuse that he justifies as an expression of his devotion. Veses, meanwhile, is driven by her unrequited feelings and jealousy. Love, in this sense, becomes a source of self-destruction.

“The damn diamond had been above me the whole time.”

The twist of the location of the Star diamond reflects the deception that runs through the novel and the gap between appearance and reality. Kolis’s interactions with Sera are frequently laced with duplicity. He offers illusions of freedom or choice while reinforcing his dominance. The placement of the diamond, an exceptionally powerful magical item, within the structure of her literal cave, mirrors his gaslighting tendencies, as he constantly distorts reality to maintain control over her.

“The Ancients came to believe that mortals and the lands could not coexist. They figured they had to make a choice.”

The Ancients’ descent into apathy reflects the erosion of empathy over time, as seen later in Primals like Kyn and Kolis. As centuries passed, the Ancients’ understanding of mortals transformed into disdain with the disruption of the natural order by mortal innovation. Their extreme solution to eradicate mortals reveals the dangers of absolutism. Rather than seeking coexistence, the Ancients chose annihilation, ignoring the complexity of the relationships between mortals and the land. This shift illustrates how prolonged detachment or unchecked power can dehumanize or devalue mortal existence.

“They were paying me honor and respect—the same I’d seen given to knights in Lasania upon their passing.”

The gods and draken honor what is, in the moment, Sera’s inevitable death using Lasanian rituals in a gesture of respect for her courage and sacrifice. For Sera, who has often felt overshadowed throughout her life, the act of reverence is exceptional, as it acknowledges her importance in the fight against Kolis and her inherent value as an individual. The choice to express their admiration and respect through her home’s rituals makes it particularly meaningful to Sera.

“I knew I was not a part of the cycle of life. I was the cycle. The beginning. Middle. The last breath before the end. Death’s steadfast companion. I was Life.”

Sera’s revelation that she embodies the cycle of life and death cements her as the fulcrum on which the balance of existence rests. To represent all aspects of life is not merely to wield immense power but to carry the responsibility of ensuring balance in a universe teetering on chaos. She is the true cosmic counterpart to Nyktos in his role as Primal of Death in a symbiotic relationship that mirrors the larger balance of the cosmos.

“I will always know you, Ash.”

Sera’s words signal her full return to herself after her transformation and temporary loss of memory. Sera’s identity has been questioned, redefined, and challenged throughout the series. As she evolves from a mortal to a Primal of Life, her journey shifts to a need to understand who she is beyond her roles and expectations. Her recognition of Nyktos represents her anchoring in a shared identity with him, one shaped by love, sacrifice, and trust, and by calling him Ash, she evokes memories of their earlier connection.

“I will always stand at your side, your command my will. I will never let harm come to you. And I will lay waste to Primals, gods, Kings, and men if they even try to hurt you, and I will feel no remorse for doing so.”

Nyktos’s declaration represents absolute submission and loyalty to Sera. As a Primal of Death, he embodies ultimate power and inevitability, yet his vow repositions power as a tool for her protection and will. It also shows the paradoxical nature of love in the series, as it nurtures and protects but can also be the source of devastating wrath.

“I thought I would die without knowing what your love felt like.”

Though she has immense power and is pivotal in the cosmic order, Sera’s deepest longing is to be loved. Her realization that Nyktos loves her in return despite losing his kardia is the culmination of her emotional arc. For Sera, who has grappled with isolation and doubt her entire life, loving and being loved in return validates her existence in a way that no power or destiny could.

“You stopped the Rot, liessa. Here and in the mortal realm.”

The Rot, a manifestation of decay and imbalance caused by Kolis, has been a persistent threat throughout the series, and its end marks the restoration of the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. By becoming the Primal of Life and ending the Rot, Sera has fulfilled most of her character goals when she began the series in A Shadow in the Ember. The use of the title “liessa” indicates a shift in Sera’s position and her new, powerful identity.