The climb toward the mountain's peak felt like a journey through another world. The wind whispered through the jagged rocks, carrying with it an ancient melody that stirred something deep within Kael. The sky above swirled with dark clouds, casting long shadows over the steep path ahead. Each step felt heavier than the last, as if the mountain itself resisted their presence.
Kael led the way, his sword strapped tightly to his back, his eyes scanning the rocky terrain for any sign of danger. Behind him, Lyra, Borin, Seraphina, and Thorian followed in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. The encounter in the Sacred Grove had left them shaken, the weight of their quest now clearer than ever. The Eternal Flame wasn't just a source of power—it was the key to preventing the release of an ancient evil that had once nearly consumed the world.
But the flame was also heavily guarded, and whatever forces lay ahead would not give it up easily.
Lyra's voice broke the silence as they ascended. "The closer we get, the stronger the magic feels. It's... overwhelming."
Kael glanced back at her. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
She hesitated before answering. "Both. The magic that surrounds the Eternal Flame is ancient, older than anything we've encountered. It's powerful, but it's also dangerous. If we make one wrong move..."
"We won't," Kael said firmly. "We've come too far to turn back now."
The path narrowed as they reached a sheer cliff face, and Kael motioned for the others to stop. Ahead, carved into the rock, was a massive stone door, etched with runes that glowed faintly in the dim light. The door stood impossibly tall, its surface smooth and unyielding, as if it had been untouched by time.
Seraphina stepped forward, her keen eyes examining the runes. "This must be the entrance to the flame's chamber. But there's no handle, no visible way to open it."
"It's locked by magic," Lyra said, moving closer to study the runes. "These symbols... they're part of an ancient binding spell. The Old Ones used them to seal away powerful forces. We need to break the spell if we want to pass."
Thorian knelt beside the door, his hand resting on the stone. "Is there a key?"
Lyra nodded slowly, her fingers tracing the glowing symbols. "Yes. But it's not a physical key. The guardians in the Sacred Grove mentioned something—'unlocking the knowledge of the Old Ones.' This door can only be opened by one who understands the magic that binds it."
Kael frowned. "So, how do we do that?"
Lyra closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I need to channel the energy from the grove, the knowledge I gained from the tree. If I can align that with the runes, I should be able to break the seal."
Borin crossed his arms, watching her with a skeptical expression. "And if you can't?"
Lyra didn't answer, but the look on her face was enough. Failure wasn't an option.
She stepped forward and placed her hands on the door, her palms glowing with a soft, blue light. The runes on the stone began to pulse in response, their glow intensifying as Lyra whispered an incantation under her breath. The air around them seemed to hum with energy, the wind picking up as the magic in the runes fought against Lyra's spell.
Kael watched anxiously, his hand on the hilt of his sword. The pressure in the air was almost suffocating, and he could feel the ancient power within the door resisting them. He had no doubt that if Lyra failed, they wouldn't get a second chance.
The runes flared brighter, and the ground beneath them trembled. Lyra's brow furrowed in concentration, sweat beading on her forehead as she channeled more of her magic into the spell. The light from her hands grew brighter, and for a moment, it seemed as if the door would remain sealed.
Then, with a low rumble, the runes flickered and went dark. The stone door groaned as it shifted, sliding open just enough to reveal a narrow passage beyond.
Lyra staggered back, breathing heavily. "It's open... but I don't know for how long. We need to move quickly."
Without hesitation, Kael led the way through the opening, the others following close behind. The passage was narrow and winding, the air thick with the scent of old magic and dust. Faint blue light from the runes on the walls illuminated their path, casting eerie shadows on the stone.
As they descended deeper into the mountain, the temperature dropped, and the light from the runes grew dimmer. The sound of their footsteps echoed in the stillness, and every creak of the stone seemed to warn them of the dangers that lay ahead.
Finally, the passage opened up into a vast chamber. At its center, atop a stone pedestal, stood the Eternal Flame. It flickered with a bright, white light, its glow both beautiful and terrifying. The flame was suspended in midair, a column of pure energy that seemed to pulse with life.
Kael approached cautiously, his heart pounding in his chest. "This is it. The Eternal Flame."
Lyra's eyes were wide as she stared at the flame. "It's... incredible. The amount of power contained in that flame is beyond anything I've ever felt. It's raw, untamed magic."
Borin grunted, eyeing the flame warily. "So what do we do with it? Just take it?"
Lyra shook her head. "It's not that simple. The flame is bound by a protective spell—one that's tied to the very heart of the mountain. If we take it, we risk unleashing the darkness that it was meant to contain."
Seraphina stepped forward, her voice low. "So how do we stop the darkness without releasing it?"
Before anyone could answer, a deep, rumbling voice echoed through the chamber.
"You do not."
From the shadows at the far end of the room, a figure stepped forward, cloaked in black robes. His face was obscured by a hood, but the air around him crackled with dark energy.
Kael drew his sword, his eyes narrowing. "Who are you?"
The figure smiled, his voice cold and mocking. "I am the one who will claim the Eternal Flame. You've done well to make it this far, but your journey ends here."
Lyra's eyes widened in recognition. "You... you're the one I saw in the visions. The one trying to release the darkness."
The figure laughed softly. "You are too late. The final key has already been turned. The flame will be mine, and with it, I will unleash the power of the Old Ones upon this world."
Kael tightened his grip on his sword. "Not if we stop you."
The figure raised his hand, dark magic swirling around him. "You cannot stop what has already begun."
The chamber trembled as the flame flared brighter, and the darkness that had been sealed within the mountain began to stir.
The final battle had begun.