Chapter 23: Chapter 23: The Ember’s Legacy
The temple interior was vast, its walls lined with glowing runes that pulsed in harmony with the Eternal Flame fragment Azarion carried. Each rune seemed to whisper in an ancient language, filling the air with a subtle hum that both comforted and unnerved him.
Sera stepped cautiously beside him, her eyes darting to the flickering lights overhead. "This place feels... alive."
Azarion nodded, his grip tightening on his blade. "It's not just the Flame. Something else is here."
At the center of the chamber stood a towering brazier, its fire burning a pale gold that danced without a visible source of fuel. Surrounding it were six stone pedestals, each engraved with intricate symbols that glowed faintly in the brazier's light.
Sera approached one of the pedestals, running her fingers over the carvings. "These look like constellations."
Azarion examined another pedestal, noting the same symbols. "They're different from the stars we know."
"Of course they are. This isn't our world," Sera replied, a trace of bitterness in her voice.
Azarion's gaze returned to the brazier. The flame inside seemed to beckon him, its light growing brighter as he approached. As he stepped closer, the shard in his hand vibrated violently, forcing him to his knees.
"Azarion!" Sera rushed to his side, but an invisible barrier stopped her.
"It's... the Flame," Azarion groaned, clutching his chest as heat surged through his body. The shard in his hand glowed blindingly bright, merging with the brazier's fire in a brilliant burst of light.
When the light faded, a figure stood before him, born from the flame. It was an armored being, its form flickering like embers caught in the wind. Its face was obscured by a helm, but its voice rang clear, resonating with power.
"Bearer of the Flame," the figure intoned, "you stand at the threshold of destiny."
Azarion staggered to his feet, his blade still in hand. "Who are you?"
"I am Arakiel, Guardian of the Eternal Flame," the figure replied. "I was created to guide those chosen by its light."
Sera pounded on the invisible barrier. "What do you want with him?"
Arakiel turned its head slightly toward her, but its attention remained fixed on Azarion. "The Flame has chosen you, mortal, to restore balance to a fractured world. But the path ahead is fraught with peril. You must prove yourself worthy."
Azarion tightened his grip on his blade. "I've already faced trials. I've already fought and bled for this. What more do you want?"
"The trials you have endured are but the beginning," Arakiel said. "The Flame is a power beyond comprehension, and its light will either guide or consume you. To wield it fully, you must embrace its legacy."
With a wave of its hand, the pedestals around the brazier began to glow, each one projecting an image into the air. The images depicted scenes of destruction—a great city consumed by fire, a battle between titanic beasts, and a shadowy figure wreathed in darkness.
Sera gasped. "What... what is this?"
"These are echoes of the past," Arakiel explained. "The Flame was not always a force for good. In the wrong hands, it has wrought untold devastation. You must learn from these echoes to avoid repeating their mistakes."
Azarion's jaw tightened as he stared at the images. "How do I do that?"
Arakiel gestured toward the pedestals. "Each constellation represents a trial, a fragment of the Flame's forgotten history. You must relive these moments, understand their meaning, and overcome the challenges within. Only then will you gain the strength to wield the Flame's true power."
Azarion exchanged a wary glance with Sera, who looked helpless behind the barrier. "I'll do it," he said, his voice steady.
"Very well," Arakiel replied. "Choose your first trial."
Azarion approached the pedestals, studying the constellations. Each one seemed to call to him in a different way, but one in particular—a cluster of stars shaped like a roaring beast—drew his attention.
He placed his hand on the pedestal, and the room was immediately consumed by light. When the brilliance faded, Azarion found himself standing in the midst of a battlefield.
The sky was dark, torn apart by streaks of fire as massive creatures clashed above. The ground beneath him shook with each impact, and the air was thick with ash and smoke.
A voice echoed in his mind. "This is the Trial of the Beast. Face the wrath of chaos and prove your resolve."
Azarion barely had time to react as a monstrous roar shook the ground. From the shadows emerged a colossal beast, its body covered in jagged scales and its eyes glowing with primal fury.
"Azarion!" Sera's voice rang out in his head, though her form was nowhere to be seen. "Can you hear me?"
"I can," he replied, dodging the beast's massive claws as they slammed into the earth.
"Whatever trial you're in, you need to focus. That thing looks like it could crush you in one hit!"
Azarion gritted his teeth, raising his blade. The Flame's power coursed through him, igniting his weapon with golden fire. "Then I'll just have to make sure it doesn't."
The beast roared again, charging at him with terrifying speed. Azarion rolled to the side, slashing at its legs, but the creature's scales deflected his blade like armor.
He cursed under his breath. "Its scales are too tough!"
"Look for a weak spot," Sera's voice urged.
Azarion scanned the beast as it turned to face him, noticing faint cracks along its chest where molten light seeped through. Without hesitation, he dashed toward the creature, using the Flame's power to enhance his speed.
The beast swung its massive tail, but Azarion vaulted over it, landing on the creature's back. He drove his blade into the cracks, channeling the Flame's energy into the strike.
The beast let out an earth-shaking roar as golden fire erupted from within, consuming its body in a blinding explosion.
When the light faded, Azarion found himself back in the temple. The pedestal he had chosen now glowed brighter, and the constellation above it shimmered with renewed light.
"You have passed the first trial," Arakiel said, its voice filled with approval. "But many more await."
Azarion turned to Sera, the barrier now gone. She rushed to his side, relief evident on her face. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," he said, though his body ached from the effort.
Arakiel's voice echoed once more. "Each trial will test not only your strength but your spirit. Prepare yourself, Bearer of the Flame, for the path ahead is long and unforgiving."
Azarion took a deep breath, staring at the remaining pedestals. "Let's see how far this path takes me."
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
-- Power
stone