Mira stepped into the cave, the darkness swallowing her whole. The air inside was thick, heavy with age and power. Each breath felt like inhaling raw energy, ancient and untamed. The deeper she walked, the colder it became—the heat of the outside world vanishing, replaced by a chill that seeped into her bones.
The walls pulsed faintly, inscribed with glowing runes she didn't recognize. They flickered like dying embers, their magic long faded but not entirely gone. Mira pressed forward, her footsteps echoing through the vast emptiness. The only sound was the distant drip of water, slow and rhythmic, like a heartbeat trapped in time.
Then, the ground trembled.
A low growl rumbled through the cave, deep and guttural, vibrating in her chest. The pressure in the air increased, pressing down on her shoulders like an invisible force. Mira stopped, her instincts screaming at her to turn back.
But she didn't.
She took another step, and suddenly, the space ahead of her lit up. Blue flames flickered to life along the walls, casting eerie shadows that danced wildly. In the center of the cavern, a massive figure stirred.
A beast—no, a legend—lay before her.
It was a colossal tiger, its fur a deep silver, tinged with streaks of shimmering gold. Its piercing blue eyes locked onto hers, glowing with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. Heavy, rusted chains wrapped around its enormous body, binding its limbs, its wings—yes, wings, massive and majestic, folded tightly against its sides.
Mira's breath caught. This… this was no ordinary spirit beast.
The creature shifted slightly, the chains rattling as it lifted its head. Its voice, though deep and echoing through the cave, carried a strange softness—like a whisper from another time.
"…Is that you, Master?"
Mira froze.
Master?
Confusion swirled inside her. The tiger's gaze bore into hers, searching, waiting. But for what?
A sudden, sharp pain pulsed through her chest, and for a brief moment, the world around her blurred. Visions flashed in her mind—memories not her own. A battlefield, flames devouring the sky. A figure standing tall, blue fire burning in her palms. And beside her… this very beast, unchained, roaring with fury and loyalty.
Mira staggered, gripping her chest. What was this?
The tiger's gaze softened, its ears twitching slightly. "No… you are not her," it murmured, voice laced with disappointment. "But… you carry her flame."
Mira's fingers curled into fists, the weight of the moment settling in. Whoever this beast was waiting for… it wasn't her. But it recognized something within her—something deeper than just her magic.
She took a slow, steady breath and stepped closer.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice firm despite the trembling in her hands.
The tiger's eyes darkened, its chains rattling as it tried to move. "I am Fengrion," it answered. "The immortal beast once bound to the War Goddess."
Mira's heart nearly stopped.
War Goddess…?
The pieces were beginning to fall into place.
And she wasn't sure if she was ready for the answers.