The Wind Shifted As They Left The Ember Forge The Crown Wrapped In Cloth Resting In Kael's Arms Its Heat Still Radiating Through The Fabric Like A Sleeping Star Ready To Awaken The Valley Of Embers Lay Quiet Behind Them But Every Step Forward Felt Heavier As If The Land Itself Knew What Power They Now Carried
Lira Walked Beside Him Her Eyes Still Lit With The Ash Wyrm's Fire But Something Had Changed The Crown's Presence Seemed To Steady The Rage Within Her She No Longer Trembled No Longer Flinched At The Voices That Sometimes Whispered From Within
Veren Traveled In Silence His Face Drawn With Worry The Old Mage Had Seen What The Crown Could Do What It Had Done In The Age Of Ember Kings And Now It Rested In The Hands Of A Boy Barely Past Twenty
We Cannot Delay Veren Said As They Reached The Cliffs Of Athermoor The Seal Weakens The Sky Darkens Again And Ashrial's Breath Returns
Kael Looked Up The Clouds Above Were Turning Crimson Swirling In Vicious Spirals Like Wounds Tearing Through The Heavens Lightning Flashed But It Was Not Natural It Was Gold And Black Magic Colliding In The Atmosphere
We Head To The Skyreach Citadel Kael Said That's Where It Ends
No Veren Said That's Where It Begins
Before Kael Could Respond The Ground Split Open Beneath Them A Rift Of Flame Erupted And From It Rose A Figure Clad In Charred Armor Eyes Burning Like Coals Voice Like A Furnace Given Form
You Carry What Belongs To Me It Said Hand Over The Crown And I Shall Spare Your Bones
Who Are You Kael Demanded
The Flamebound Champion The Figure Replied Servant Of Ashrial Herald Of The Pyreborn Host
Lira Stepped Forward Her Voice Steady Her Fire Meeting His Gaze Then You Will Have To Burn Me First
So Be It
With A Roar The Champion Charged His Blade A Great Slab Of Blackened Metal Struck The Earth Sending Waves Of Heat Crashing Around Them Kael Met Him In Battle Their Blades Clashing In Explosions Of Ember Sparks
Veren Summoned A Shield Of Light Holding Back The Crumbling Edge Of The Cliff Lira Cast A Wall Of Flame But The Champion Walked Through It Laughing
You Think You Know Fire But You Are Still Mortal The Flame Does Not Serve You It Devours You
Kael Grunted Blocking A Crushing Blow I Serve No Flame I Carry It For Those Who Can't
He Called Upon The Ember Crown Its Light Bursting Through The Wrappings Golden Flames Wrapped His Blade His Body His Eyes Burned Like Suns
Their Next Clash Shattered The Cliff The Force Of It Blasted The Champion Back But He Rose Again Laughing Bloodless Unbroken
Then Lira Spoke A Word In The Ancient Tongue And Her Flame Answered It Twisted Into Wings Behind Her Forming A Halo Around Her Head The Ash Wyrm's Essence Now In Full Communion With The Crown's Power
Together Kael And Lira Struck
The Flamebound Champion Screamed As Their Combined Might Tore Through His Armor His Form Shattered Into Ash And Wind Blown Back Into The Rift Which Sealed With A Thunderclap
Silence Fell
Kael Staggered Breathing Hard The Crown Dimmed In His Hands
That Was Only The Beginning Veren Said Again His Voice Hollow
Lira Looked Toward The North Where Skyreach Towered In The Distance The Last Bastion Of Light
Then Let's Finish This