Page 57 of Axis of Fire

Utar translates as “piercing light.”

Butuarus — the world of air. — Libra

Butu translates as “breath.”

Mataarus — the world of death. — Scorpio

Mata translates as “death.”

Istarus — the world of magic. — Sagittarius

Ist translates as “mage.”

Rataarus — the world of darkness. — Capricorn

Rata translates as “shadow.”

Tutuarus — the world of the Voice of Knowledge. — Aquarius

Tutu translates as “knowledge.”

Astaarus — the hidden world. — Pisces

Asta translates as “three dimensions.”

— from the journal of Lucirius von Bathsha,

Essential Information for Beings Raised in Vuduarus

Chapter 5

Airis’s words still echoed dully in my head.

She’s dead.

Because of me.

The thought alone froze my body in shock.

I couldn’t move.

Not even a little.

That moment replayed in my mind—

the stream of blood running down Angela’s forehead...

and those snake-like eyes looking at me for the last time.

A wave of heat surged through me, rising rapidly from the tips of my toes.

As if I were drawing the fire straight from the ground beneath me.

My vision blurred with tears.

I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to hold them back.

But the flames gathering at my fingertips were just as eager to break free.