FLICKERING TORCH
The flames of the magical flickering torches continually dance
wildly on the brink of extinction. Before going to the great Torch Room
in the sky, a guttering
torch will give a last flick.
One
flickering torch, found in Flatheadia Castle, 883 GUE, gave its
last flicker on Curse Day of that year. According to the bickering
torch of the same castle, everyone liked the flickering one more than him.
As
an act of sheer will-power, flickering torches are able to keep
burning, such as was demonstrated with one found in a torch-holder on the outside of the Stone Barrow,
near the White House sometime between circa 966~1000 GUE. This torch
had previously spent its life in dark caves, surrounded by horrible grues. According
to it, the negative energy defined it and forced it to develope its
flicker. After beginning to get in touch with its inner wick,
it accepted that fact that it was afraid of dark caves and fought
against the flicker. One method it used was repeating to itself, "I
will not flicker. I will not flicker," visualizing itself becoming
bright and brighter, "I am a star. I am the sun!" and shunning others
for "shining negative energy" on it. A famous quote sparked by this torch was, "Bravery
is being the torch you are, even when others would impose external
standards on how you should
behave." This flickering torch, along with a cowardly bickering torch
that rested in the sconce on the opposite side of the barrow entrance,
were wielded by Brog when he descended into the grue breeding ground
beneath the White House to recover the legendary Skull of Yoruk which
had been enshrined there. This brave torch retained its flame the
entire trip, adamantly refusing to give its last flick.