The forest thinned as dawn approached, the faintest light on the horizon casting eerie shadows on the path ahead. The group's silence was heavy with exhaustion and unease, each member wrestling with their own thoughts. Seris felt the Flame still burning inside her, but its warmth was now tempered with the chill of her doubts.
Kael broke the silence again, his voice subdued. "If those wraiths were bound to the Nexus, does that mean something stronger controls them?"
The dragon answered without hesitation. "Yes. Wraiths do not act without a master. The Core's defenses are guided by an entity older than the Nexus itself. It awakens when it senses a great threat or imbalance."
"Great," Dain muttered, his tone bitter. "We're dealing with something ancient and angry. Perfect."
As they crested a ridge, the forest gave way to a vast expanse of shimmering grasslands, the morning sun bathing the landscape in golden light. In the distance, a ruined structure loomed—a crumbling fortress with walls overgrown by vines. It stood isolated, its broken towers like jagged teeth against the sky.
The dragon halted, its expression unreadable. "That is where we will train, Seris."
Dain frowned, stepping forward. "Train? In a ruin that looks ready to collapse? You're joking."
The dragon's gaze remained fixed on the fortress. "The Citadel of Embers is no ordinary ruin. It is a relic of the First Flame. Its walls are steeped in ancient fire. If Seris is to learn control, there is no better place."
Seris tightened her grip on the staff, her gaze lingering on the distant structure. "And the dangers? I can feel it from here—something isn't right about that place."
The dragon gave a solemn nod. "The Citadel is alive in its own way. Its defenses have not rested in centuries. To unlock its secrets, we must prove ourselves worthy."
Kael sighed, slinging his bow over his shoulder. "So, another death trap. Wonderful."
The group descended toward the Citadel, the air growing warmer as they approached. As they crossed the threshold of its crumbling gates, Seris felt a pulse resonate through her body, as if the Flame inside her was reacting to the fortress itself.
The courtyard was eerily intact despite the decay surrounding it. Statues of long-forgotten warriors stood in solemn rows, their eyes hollow and their weapons broken. At the center, an altar made of blackened stone glowed faintly, as though embers still burned deep within it.
"Place your staff on the altar," the dragon instructed, its voice echoing in the stillness.
Seris hesitated, then stepped forward. As she laid the staff on the cold surface, the faint glow intensified, spreading out in rippling waves of light. The statues around them began to shift, their stone forms cracking as they came to life.
Dain drew his sword instinctively. "What now?"
"They are the guardians," the dragon said calmly. "They will test your resolve, Seris. This is your first lesson: face them without hesitation. The Flame will guide you."
Seris swallowed hard, her heart racing as the stone warriors advanced. Their movements were deliberate, each step radiating menace. She reached for the Flame within her, summoning its power to her hands. A sphere of fire materialized, hovering just above her palms.
One of the warriors lunged, its massive sword arcing toward her. Seris sidestepped and hurled the fireball, striking the statue square in the chest. The impact cracked its stone armor, but it didn't stop. Another warrior flanked her, its spear thrusting forward. She ducked, narrowly avoiding the blow.
"Focus!" the dragon's voice boomed. "You are not using the Flame to its full potential. Feel its rhythm. Let it flow through you."
Seris gritted her teeth, raising her hands as flames erupted in a wide arc, forcing the warriors to retreat. She could feel the power surging within her, but it was chaotic, untamed. For every moment of control, there was another where it threatened to overwhelm her.
Dain and Kael moved to intervene, but the dragon blocked their path with a sweep of its tail. "This is her trial. Interference will only weaken her."
Seris fought with everything she had, each strike of her fire becoming more precise, more deliberate. The Flame began to respond to her will, its chaotic energy shaping itself into patterns she hadn't known were possible. A whip of fire lashed out, cleaving through a warrior's shield. Another burst shattered a statue into fragments.
Finally, as the last guardian fell, Seris stood alone, the altar's glow subsiding. She was breathing heavily, her body trembling from exertion, but the Flame within her was calm, steady.
"You are beginning to understand," the dragon said, its tone approving. "The Flame is not just a weapon. It is an extension of your will."
Seris looked at her hands, the faint embers still flickering at her fingertips. For the first time, she felt a glimmer of hope—maybe, just maybe, she could master this power.
But as the group prepared to rest, a deep rumble echoed through the Citadel. The altar's glow returned, brighter and more intense, as cracks spread through the ground beneath it. The dragon's eyes narrowed.
"We are not alone," it growled. "The Citadel has awakened something far greater than guardians. Prepare yourselves."
From the depths of the altar, a towering figure began to rise—a creature of molten rock and fire, its eyes blazing with fury. It let out a roar that shook the fortress to its core.
Seris tightened her grip on the staff, the Flame flaring to life once more. This time, she didn't hesitate.
"Let's finish this," she said.
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