The Skyreach Citadel Stood Like A Phantom Castle Suspended Between Storm And Stone Its Towers Pierced The Clouds And Its Walls Shimmered With Magic Long Forgotten As If The Mountain Itself Had Given Birth To A Fortress Built For Gods Not Mortals
Kael Led The Climb His Muscles Burning With Every Step His Eyes Locked On The Jagged Gates Above Where The Final Trial Waited Behind Him Lira Walked In Silence Her Face Calm But Her Aura Swirling With Flames That Refused To Sleep Veren Followed Last His Staff Radiating A Soft Blue Light That Kept The Shadows At Bay
None Of Them Spoke For Words Felt Hollow In The Presence Of What Awaited
The Path Grew Narrower The Wind More Cruel The Air Buzzed With Energy That Prickled The Skin And Made Their Bones Feel Heavy As If The Mountain Judged Them With Every Breath
We Are Close Veren Said His Voice A Whisper Almost Drowned By The Howling Wind The Magic Here Is Awake It Knows The Crown Is Near
Kael Touched The Satchel Where The Ember Crown Rested Its Heat Pulsed Like A Heartbeat Now Not Sleeping But Watching Hungry
He Thought Of The Journey Behind Them The Forest Of Thorns The Dead City The Ash Wyrm The River Of Souls And The Stormwalker Every Step Had Burned Away Who He Once Was Until Only Purpose Remained
They Reached The Gate At Midday Though The Sun Could Not Penetrate The Clouds Above The Gate Was A Monument Of Black Stone Engraved With Runes That Shifted And Twisted When Looked At Too Long In The Center Stood A Statue Of A Warrior Crowned In Flame His Hand Outstretched As If Asking For Something
The Guardian Kael Said Reading The Ancient Inscription Beneath It Only The Worthy May Pass Only The Flame That Chooses May Open The Path
He Reached Into The Satchel And Removed The Ember Crown It Shimmered In His Hands Alive Breathing Its Flames Wrapping Around His Fingers Like Vines Made Of Fire
He Placed It In The Statues Hand
Nothing Happened
Then Lira Stepped Forward The Tear Of The Storm Still Glowing In Her Palm She Held It Up And The Flames Within The Crown Reacted Flared Rose Toward The Sky
The Gate Shuddered The Runes Began To Glow And With A Sound Like Cracking Thunder It Opened
Beyond Was A Hall Carved From The Mountain Itself Lit By Floating Flames That Burned Without Heat At The End Stood A Throne Of Obsidian And On It Sat A Man Cloaked In Fire His Face Hidden Beneath A Mask Of Shadows His Eyes Two Burning Suns
The Flame King Veren Said Softly
No Kael Replied Not Just That That Is The First Flame The Source Of All Fire In This World
The Figure Stood And Spoke His Voice Echoing Like A Chorus Across The Hall
You Come Bearing The Ember Crown The Key To Rebirth Or Ruin Why Have You Awakened Me
Kael Stepped Forward His Voice Steady We Seek To End The Cycle Of Flame To Seal The Power That Has Brought Only War And Ash
And Yet You Carry It The Flame King Replied Do You Not See The Paradox You Are Both The Cure And The Disease
Lira Walked Beside Kael Her Aura Burning Brighter Than Ever I Have Bound The Ash Wyrm I Carry Its Fire Not As A Weapon But As A Chain I Will Not Let It Consume This World Again
The Flame King Looked At Her Long And Deep Then You Are The Chosen Vessel The One Born To Decide Then Prove It
The Hall Shook The Flames Around Them Screamed And From The Shadows Erupted A Beast A Colossus Of Smoke And Flame With Wings Like A Dragon And A Face Of Endless Fire
The Last Trial Veren Whispered A Manifestation Of The Crown Itself
Kael Drew His Blade Which Now Burned With Golden Flame Lira Stepped Ahead Her Hands Wreathed In Fire Veren Began Chanting Old Words Summoning Shields Of Ice And Light
The Beast Roared And Lunged Fire Pouring From Its Mouth Kael Dived Aside Striking At Its Leg But The Blade Bounced Off Lira Raised Her Hands And Summoned A Wall Of Fire That Met The Beast Head On For A Moment They Were Locked Flame Against Flame Until The Beast Overpowered Her And Sent Her Flying Into A Pillar
Kael Ran To Her Side Blood On Her Lip But Her Eyes Still Fierce
I Am Not Done She Said And Rose Again
They Fought As One Veren's Magic Blinded The Beast While Kael Cut At Its Limbs And Lira Drove Flames Into Its Core But It Was Endless It Kept Rising Rebuilding Its Form Each Time
We Cannot Kill It Kael Said It Is The Fire Itself
Then I Must Absorb It Lira Said Quietly Her Voice Calm
No Kael Said You Will Be Consumed
Or I Will Master It She Replied With A Smile That Held Both Pain And Hope
She Stepped Forward The Ember Crown Now Floating Before Her It Spoke In A Language Of Fire And She Answered In Kind Her Body Rose Her Hair Turned To Flame Her Eyes Became Stars
The Beast Charged And She Met It Head On Her Hands Plunging Into Its Chest She Screamed Not In Pain But In Power As She Pulled Its Fire Into Herself
The Beast Shattered Into A Million Sparks That Vanished Into The Air
Lira Fell To The Ground Silent Still Kael Ran To Her Held Her In His Arms But She Was Alive Her Eyes Open Her Voice Soft
It Is Done
The Flame King Watched In Silence Then Bowed His Head
You Have Passed The Trial You Have Become The Flame And The Shield Take The Throne Not To Rule But To Guard
Lira Stood Slowly The Crown Now Hovering Above Her Head A Halo Of Pure Light The Throne Of Obsidian Shifted And Became A Seat Of Flame Welcoming Her
But She Did Not Sit
She Turned To Kael And Veren I Am The Seal Now I Must Stay Here To Keep The Flame From Rising Again
No Kael Said There Must Be Another Way
This Is The Way She Replied If I Leave It Will Awaken Again The Cycle Will Repeat I Can Bear It I Was Meant To
Kael Looked Into Her Eyes And Saw Peace Not Fear Not Pain Just Truth
He Took Her Hand Pressed His Forehead To Hers Then I Will Return One Day When The World Is Ready To Hold This Fire Without Fear
Until Then She Whispered Guard The Ashes
Kael And Veren Left The Citadel Behind As The Gates Closed The Storms Above Cleared For The First Time In Centuries And Light Fell Upon The Mountains Of Eltherion
Lira Sat Upon The Throne Not As A Queen But As A Flame Eternal
And Thus The First Book Closed
But The Fire Never Truly Sleeps