Spending a fractured peek, Kliff saw it, the blue-colored ribbon he'd gifted the girl for her ninth birthday strewn on the ashen floor near a heap of burned flesh and charred clothing that had not been too long ago smiling at him.
The urge to scream. The reflex to vomit. Kliff felt none of it. The ribbon glimmered in the reflection of his lifeless eyes, while the roaring fire inched closer and closer, sending orange tails wisping across his face. Was this the Shadow, casting its judgment upon him? Would he forever remain crouched in this fiery wasteland, haunted by the sin he committed for all eternity?
No...I understand it now, Kliff thought, grimacing to himself. In the past, Autumn's words rang true. He realized that his own fear of fire led him to be reckless, allowing his emotions to taint his magical abilities. And yet, ironically enough, it wasn't his magic that was to be blamed for the disaster he'd birthed, but rather the unique trait inherent in his cursed blood, which Autumn had taught him was exclusive to his kind.
An Ember lived within him, a separate module of power unique from that of Essence. On most occasions, Kliff ignored it, discounted the temptation to surrender to its will and permit his body to act on its primordial existence. If he knew then what he did now, perhaps none of it would have happened. Maybe the Pyre never would have been born, and Aeila would still be with him.
Kliff pressed his forehead into the muddy grass, fangs clenched firmly in his jaws. Emotions and magic were a dangerous mix. But this wasn't magic, and his body felt numb. Closing his eyes, he extended a hand that didn't exist towards it, a billowing flame as red as blood kept alive in the pits of his soul. 
His fingers glided into this distant fire, and what Kliff felt first wasn't a heat that crunched but rather a surge of exhilaration rushing through his veins, filling him with newfound strength. Kliff gazed intently at the Ember snapping behind a curtain of darkness, watching as it expanded before him with every breath he took.
Kliff's eyes shot open, greeted by the mesmerizing spectacle of a murky inferno consuming the grass with its monstrous radiance. The atmosphere teemed with spiraling ashes and the crackling symphony of flames, injecting apprehension and excitement into Kliff's heart. Embracing the Ember was an unquestionably hazardous endeavor, a gamble fraught with potential danger. Nevertheless, as Kliff embraced his nature, he found himself irresistibly drawn to confront the risk.
The oppressive weight of numerous Mud Men gradually lessened as each one succumbed to the scorching flames. In contrast to them, Kliff was designed for endurance. The bubbling Mud Men disintegrated into clumps of sludge on the ground one by one shortly before the voracious fire devoured whatever remained.
Kliff grabbed his Salamander Wand and lifted himself to his feet, scanning the area for the sorcerer who had outmatched him—this duel was far from over. He quickly noticed Jack just a few paces away, his face filled with a mix of fear and confusion as he stared at Kliff, who stood amidst the bloody firestorm. Witnessing a mage in the heart of such a grotesque, roaring blaze would undoubtedly be a terrifying sight for anyone to witness, no less himself.
"You've been holding out on me, Dresden," Jack smirked nervously, shuffling around. Though Kliff would commend his efforts, Jack's trembling voice failed to conceal his inner feelings. When his wand glimmered, however, Kliff knew the boy hadn't lost himself enough to abandon their duel. "Those eyes of yours," he went on with a stammer. "I think I'm starting to see the real you. Perfect! I don't want you pulling your punches!"
Frowning in confusion, Kliff lifted a hand to the side of his face, his skin feeling partially rough under his touch. Not good. If the Ember burns bright enough, my cover's blown. Kliff didn't need another of his secrets traveling from mouth to ear around the academy. He'd need to be careful from this point onward, which wouldn't be much of a herculean task on his part. Not when Kliff intended to finish the duel within the next five minutes.