"How much longer?" Saphira's voice broke through the silence for what felt like the hundredth time.
I fought the urge to groan out loud. "Not much longer," I replied through gritted teeth, trying to keep my patience intact.
We'd been trekking up Mount Wingen for hours, the path steep and unforgiving. My legs burned with every step, and the rocky terrain was slippery beneath our boots. The mountain was named the 'Burning Peak' for a reason. Occasional vents of heat burst up from the ground, and sulfurous smoke wreathed the summit, making every breath a struggle. We'd already passed a few small patches of flame, natural gas igniting in pockets along the slopes, but that didn't seem to deter the elf's relentless complaining.
I counted to ten in my head, keeping my gaze forward. Elowen, ahead of me, moved steadily, each step measured and sure, as if she were immune to the exhaustion clawing at the rest of us.
A few minutes passed, and—
"How much longer now?" Saphira asked again, her tone taking on a sing-song quality that set my teeth on edge.
I whipped my head around to glare at her, temper fraying. "Saphira, you've been asking every ten minutes on the dot for the past hour and a half!"
"Has it really been that long?" she mused, tilting her head as if she wasn't actively trying to drive me insane.
"Yes!" I growled, the word echoing off the craggy rocks around us. "Just—just hold on, okay? We're almost there."
But then Elowen's voice cut through, sharp and alert. "Do you see that?" She pointed up the slope.
We both turned, following her gaze. There, at the crest of the hill, stood a figure. They were dressed in a flowing black hanfu robe, the loose fabric rippling slightly in the hot breeze. A vivid red sash cinched their waist, and their long sleeves billowed slightly as they shifted, turning to look down at us.
"Who…?" I murmured, narrowing my eyes.
The person looked vaguely Chinese, their dark hair tied back in a neat knot at the base of their skull. I couldn't make out any more details from this distance, but the way they stood there, calmly waiting, sent a chill down my spine.
"Who is that?" Saphira whispered, her earlier complaints forgotten.
Before any of us could answer, the figure suddenly burst into flames.
We all froze. One second, the stranger was standing there—solid, real—and the next, they were engulfed in a torrent of fire. I instinctively reached for the hilt of my sword, heart hammering in my chest, but the flames didn't seem to hurt them. Instead, they twisted and roared around their body, and then, with a blinding flash—
They vanished.
"What the—?" I stumbled forward, staring up at the now empty crest. My pulse pounded in my ears.
"Did… did they just—disappear?" Saphira breathed, her eyes wide.
Elowen didn't waste any time. "We have to go!" She broke into a sprint, charging up the hill.
I swore under my breath and followed, my legs screaming in protest as I forced myself to push harder. Saphira, surprisingly, wasn't far behind, her earlier exhaustion replaced with sudden urgency.
We reached the top of the hill in record time, all of us panting and breathless. The spot where the stranger had stood was empty, the ground scorched and blackened. I glanced around wildly, searching for any sign of movement, but the mountaintop was eerily still.
"What the hell was that?" I demanded, half-expecting an answer to materialize out of thin air.
Elowen shook her head, her gaze sweeping the area. "I don't know. But that wasn't an illusion." She crouched down, running her fingers over the charred earth. "This is real. Whoever that was… they weren't a trick."
Saphira crossed her arms, frowning deeply. "I don't like this. People don't just burst into flames and vanish."
"No kidding," I muttered, still scanning the area. But there was nothing. No sign of the figure. No lingering aura or trail to follow. Just the empty mountaintop and the faint smell of smoke.
"We need to keep moving," Elowen said, rising to her feet. She looked out over the slope ahead of us, where the trail wound up toward the summit. "Whoever they were, they're probably heading to the same place we are."
"Great," I grumbled, shoving my frustration down. "Because this mountain wasn't hard enough without phantom fire people popping up out of nowhere."
Saphira snorted, though her eyes were still wary. "Guess we better pick up the pace, huh?"
The climb had been brutal, but as we finally crested the peak of Mount Wingen, all thoughts of exhaustion and aching muscles melted away. The air was thick with the acrid scent of smoke, the ground beneath us scorched and blackened. Every inch of the mountaintop looked like it had been seared by an otherworldly firestorm. Charred rocks crumbled underfoot, glowing faintly as embers drifted up from the cracked earth.
In the center of it all lay a massive burning pit, a gaping maw of flame and ash. The fire burned with an intensity that defied nature, not red or orange, but a deep, searing blue that flickered and danced with mesmerizing, deadly beauty. I found myself momentarily entranced by it, the heat rolling off it in waves that pricked my skin.
"What… what now?" Saphira murmured, breaking the silence.
I shook my head, staring at the inferno. "I don't know."
We exchanged uncertain glances, and then, as if responding to our confusion, the flames erupted. A deafening roar echoed across the mountaintop as the fire surged upward, twisting and spiraling into a massive shape. My heart hammered in my chest as the inferno morphed, taking on the form of a colossal bird—its wings spread wide, as the same man we'd seen earlier walked out of the fire, as it returned to small flames.
"Who among you seeks to undertake the Trial of Flame?" he asked, his voice resonant and deep.
"Damn what an entrance." I muttered. Saphira nodded in agreement.
Elowen straightened, her expression calm despite the tension radiating off her. "I am," she said, her voice strong and steady. "I am the one who is going to take the trial."
The firebird shifted behind the man, its ethereal wings flaring as if in acknowledgment. He nodded slowly. "I see. And you are…?"
"Princess Elowen Ardent Pendragon," she replied, meeting his gaze without flinching. "Daughter of Empress Livia, and second in line to the throne of Ogygia."
The man tilted his head slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Ah, so it has finally come to the day that a Pendragon returns to take the trial." He paused, then continued. "I am Lord Xing Tian, last of the Phoenix Clan, once a guardian and warrior during the Han Dynasty. I have been the keeper of the Fire Trial ever since my clan was lost to the ages."
"The last of your clan?" Elowen's brow furrowed slightly, sympathy flickering in her eyes. "You've been here alone all this time?"
"Yes," he said simply. "But I have had the flames to keep me company. And now," he gestured grandly to the pit of fire behind him, "I am here to test you."
I tensed, stepping forward. "Test her how, exactly?" My voice was sharper than I'd intended, but I didn't care. "What does she have to do?"
Xing Tian's gaze shifted to me, unreadable. "It is quite simple, Vanguard. She must be engulfed by the Eternal Flames and be reborn anew—just like a phoenix."
My heart stopped. "Engulfed by the flames?" I repeated, incredulous. "You can't be serious!"
But the Lord of the Phoenix Clan just nodded calmly. "She must wash herself clean of all impurities, all doubts, all fears. To truly pass the Trial of Flame, one must be willing to shed the old and embrace the new."
"No way," I said, shaking my head. "What happens if—if something goes wrong? What if she—?"
"Adrian," Elowen interrupted softly. I turned to look at her, but she didn't seem afraid. If anything, she looked… determined.
"It's fine," she murmured. "I can do this."
My fists clenched, but I turned back to Xing Tian anyway. "Will she be okay?" I demanded, forcing myself to meet his gaze. "Will she—will she survive this?"
Xing Tian regarded me for a long moment, then inclined his head. "As long as her will is strong, she will not be harmed in any way. The Eternal Flames do not burn those who are true of heart. But if she falters—if she doubts herself, even for an instant—then the fire will consume her."
My stomach twisted painfully. I wanted to argue, to yell that this was insane, that there had to be another way, but Elowen stepped forward before I could say anything else. She took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders.
"I understand," she said softly. Then she looked back at me, her eyes bright and fierce. "Trust me, Adrian."
The words caught in my throat. "Elowen…"
But she just smiled, a small, determined smile, and turned back to face the pit of flames. Xing Tian stepped aside, gesturing to the burning maw that loomed before her.
"Then enter the flames, Princess Elowen Pendragon," he intoned solemnly. "And let the Trial of the Phoenix begin."
Elowen took one step forward, then another. My breath caught in my chest as she approached the edge of the inferno, the heat shimmering around her. For a heartbeat, she hesitated, her silhouette framed against the blinding blue light.
And then, with a deep, steadying breath, she stepped into the fire.
As I stood there, staring at the raging inferno that had swallowed Elowen whole, my patience began to fray. The flames twisted and danced, almost mocking me with their unpredictability, and my mind raced with questions. I couldn't just stand here and wait in silence.
"So… what goes on inside the Eternal Flames, anyway?" I asked, turning to the so-called Phoenix Lord.
Xing Tian glanced at me, his expression unreadable. "It is different for everyone," he said after a moment, voice soft. "The fire delves into your memories. It reveals the truth—truths that may have been hidden, distorted, or buried deep within. Each person must confront what they see and decide how they will act in the face of that truth."
"Confront the truth?" I echoed, a shiver running down my spine. "What if—"
"There is no 'what if,'" he interrupted, shaking his head. "The flames will either cleanse you, or they will destroy you. It all depends on the strength of your will."
I swallowed hard, glancing back at the swirling firestorm. Elowen was strong, stronger than I'd ever realized, but facing your own memories, your own truth... That was a different kind of battle. I couldn't fight for her.
Shaking off my worry, I turned to glance at Saphira. She was leaning casually against a charred rock, looking almost bored as she watched the flames flicker and crackle. I caught a flicker of curiosity in the Phoenix Lord's gaze as he regarded her.
"What is a High Elf doing traveling with two humans?" he asked, his tone light but clearly intrigued.
Saphira shrugged nonchalantly. "I was bored."
A snort of laughter escaped him, and I stared, caught off-guard by the familiarity of it. "Bored, hmm?" he mused. "It's nice to see you again, Saphira. How's your Seer work going?"
Her lips curved into a small smile. "Needed a break from it. I've been traveling for a few months now, exploring… rediscovering, I suppose."
"Rediscovering, huh?" His smile faded slightly, replaced by something more somber. "Even Seers need rest, I suppose."
For a moment, I just watched the two of them, feeling oddly out of place. What history did they share? Who was he to her? But before I could dwell on it, the Phoenix Lord turned back to me, his gaze sharp and assessing. Something about it made my skin prickle, as if he were looking through me—seeing parts of me I'd rather keep hidden.
"You," he said quietly. "You are walking a dark path."
My brow furrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I can sense the influence of the Abyssal Lord, Khaelus, on your soul. His shadow lingers around you."
I stiffened, the words hitting me like a blow to the chest. "Khaelus?" I forced a laugh, but it came out strained. "I'm just—"
"You're just following the wrong god," Saphira cut in, her voice soft but firm. She crossed her arms, tilting her head thoughtfully. "I've suspected something was off, but now I see it clearly. His essence is entwined with yours."
I turned on her, my chest tightening. "And what's so bad about devoting myself to a god? People devote themselves to Ravanna all the time, and no one blinks an eye."
"Because she is the Goddess of Creation," she said quietly. "Khaelus is… not. He's the Harbinger of Ruin. Devoting yourself to him…" She trailed off, shaking her head. "It will only lead you down a dark and lonely path, Adrian."
"A dark and lonely path," I repeated bitterly. "That's what everyone thinks, huh?" My hands clenched into fists, frustration bubbling up inside me. "Everyone just assumes—"
The fire roared.
I whirled around, heart lurching as the flames surged higher, growing in size and intensity. The air vibrated with power, and for a terrifying moment, I thought the fire was going to consume everything—the peak, the mountain, us—
And then, slowly, a figure began to emerge from the heart of the blaze.
"Elowen," I whispered, my voice barely audible. Though I realized something was going through her head as she looked really bothered. "Are you okay?"
She smiled weakly. "I'm fine, just a little shocked with the whole process."
Xing Tian bowed deeply, his expression one of respect. "Well done, Lady Pendragon. You have managed to survive, I do hope you manage to pass all the trials."