Lyra moved through the fiery mountain deep in thought. She was feeling guilty for what she had done, but at the same time, she was feeling delighted.
The temperature had risen to a whole new level. The crowd at this level had a tinge of red, the dire trees burning vividly.
Her body was burning, the runes on her robe spinning furiously. She moved slowly but certainly.
To her greatest surprise, a building appeared over the horizon. She blinked incredulously. Could someone be living here?
The building was old and made out of special wood. It didn't burn under the immense temperature in the area.
Lyra opened the door. The temperature shifted. It was slightly less hot inside. A figure sat with his back facing the door.
The figure wore a hood with fire emblazoned on it. "The fire mountain is dangerous. Leave," a feminine voice sounded.
Lyra was startled. Who was this figure? Over a table, she could see a picture, framed with the same wood like the house. It still looked intact.
On it, a little girl and a boy. The boy had a bright smile and looked carefree. Her heart shuttered. "It can't be him," she stepped back, staring at the figure.
The figure stood up, turning to face Lyra. She took off her hood, revealing a striking figure. Her eyes were exactly like his own but had a different vibe.
"If you're here for the dragon breath, you have taken the wrong way," she said.
"Do you know a certain Jorah?" Lyra's voice trembled. "How do you know about that name? Who are you?" The figure frowned.
Lyra could feel a voice echoing in her mind. "You can't let it be. You can't just forget about it. This is your chance. Grasp your revenge."
"It has nothing to do with you, but he needs to pay," her voice was emotionless. If one looked at her now, they would be frightened at how different she was.
"You're under the dragon's influence. Don't let it dominate you," the figure said. She was Mia Oren, Jorah's sister.
"Repent for your crime," a harsh voice sounded. Lyra could faintly see Jorah's face, speaking with a smile.
She aimed with her bow. Lightning coursed through. The tip pulsated with energy. With a whooshing sound, the arrow bolted forward.
Mia stepped to the side; the wooden house shattered, a huge hole appearing on the other end. Mia drew a rune. The ground trembled; the earth rose, blocking the avalanche of lightning arrows. The rune Earth rising shone. The earth wall cracked upon impact, sending debris of stones crashing everywhere.
"I don't want to fight; leave," Mia insisted, rushing through the hole. "I too didn't want to plunge my hand in the altar," Lyra dashed forward, giving chase. Her eyes were devoid of life, and the only thing she knew was Jorah was in front of her and needed to die.
She rushed forward. Mia stepped fleeing, drawing another rune. The earthquake. Hands made of earth rose, striking forward like shooting stars. The rune Earth Burial was unleashed.
Lyra's agility was displayed. She stepped forward, avoiding the first hand; it hammered the ground. She jumped on the other hand as it struck the ground, fracturing it upon impact. Running on the earth hand, she bolted upward. Mia waved her hand upward and closed her palms together. The hands shot upward like rockets launched, all striking at the same time, enclosing Lyra in an earthen dome above ground.
A cracking sound could be heard; Mia tilted her head. A sharp pain slashed through her jaw. The trees behind her were severed into two, sending shockwaves all over the area. A white array had spread all over the area behind her. The fiery tree turned white.
"Father always said one must hold true to himself. Jorah never understood that. That's why he died a miserable death. I am different; I wouldn't bow down. I don't feel any urge of vengeance; leave," Mia said seriously. Her jaw was now bleeding, but she didn't care. She could still feel the intense heat coursing her body, but at the same time, a chilling cold.
No matter what, she will stand by her father. Not like her brother; she refused to disgrace him.
Lyra landed gracefully. Listening to Mia's words, she mocked. "Different? There is no such difference. Blood... People related by blood all share the same trait. No matter how you try to be different, no matter how hard you work, it's all in vain. You can't flee. Why not simply stop refusing to accept who you are and embrace reality," she said.
Dragon scale recovered her arm and neck as she succumbed completely to the dragon will. She unleashed her real rune weapon for the first time. Nidgar Snowthunder. Her bow morphed, combining striking snow white with a lightning thunder. Her arrow had changed; apart from the lightning around them, there were now white flocons revolving around. The arrow shot out. The sound was heard first. Lyra was forced back after letting the arrow loose.
The earth opened as the arrow moved. The fire tree in its path uprooted, thrown into jeopardy.
Mia trembled slightly but decided to face it head-on. Stepping out now would be equal to bending her principles.
She waved her hands, drawing a complex tapestry of runes. It had three inner circles and triangular markings.
The rune bloomed to life. The earth cracked around her. Forming a crater. "Quake," her voice sounded. The earth fissures forward.
The arrow and the quake collided. Lyra and Mia were blown backward. A thunderous windstorm blew away the flames all over the area.
A layer of white had covered the entire area, forcing the flames blackout. Lyra stood out from the debris, walking silently towards her target.
Mia was bleeding furiously. Her forehead covered in blood. She held a bitter smile. All of this thanks to her brother. Strangely she didn't hate him. She had always thought he might learn and decided to stick with him, holding a thin flame of hope, but at the moment, the cold winds had extinguished it.
Lyra stared at Mia, raising her bow.