“Trial by Fire” by Stefanie Chu is a short story from the anthology collection Caught in the Flames. It follows five teenagers transported from their ordinary lives into the vibrant, perilous world of Yggdrasil, a game where players must save the world by defeating corrupted creatures known as denzens. The group, led by Isca, a middle school girl and skilled gamer, must unlock their elemental powers and overcome dangerous obstacles to find their way back home. While her teammates discover their elemental abilities, Isca struggles to awaken her power over fire. This creates tension within the group, particularly with Yasin, who questions her authority. When Tyrone, Yasin's brother and a skilled fire-wielder, arrives in the game, he further complicates the group dynamic; only one person can wield the element of fire. Haunted by her fear of fire, stemming from a traumatic past, Isca must confront her inner turmoil and accept her role as the team’s leader. The story reaches its climax when she faces a blazing huowing, a corrupted fire denzen, and finds the courage to embrace her fire-wielding ability.