š„ Prologue of Ashes
The wind was drier now.
It blew from the east, carrying with it the scent of fire and something olderā¦ ancient. Arav stood on the edge of a ruined monastery, the last remnants of Velmora's holy order behind him, and a new path ahead ā the Path of Ignition.
Zia joined him quietly, her eyes scanning the crimson horizon.
š§āāļø Zia (whispering):
"Once you beginā¦ there's no turning back."
š§āāļø Arav (soft smile):
"I turned back once. Lost everything. Not again."
---
šļø The Flamekeepers' Trial
The Pilgrimage of Flame was no mere journey. It was a rite carved into the bones of the earth ā a series of ancient trials once taken by heroes who wished to wield the Cindering Blade, a weapon said to burn only when touched by truth.
Their first step took them to the Scorched Gate, guarded by flame spirits, entities made entirely of molten will.
š„ Flamekeeper (ethereal):
"You seek the truth in fireā¦ but are you prepared to be consumed by it?"
š§āāļø Arav (firmly):
"If that's the price of protecting this worldā¦ then let it burn me."
With that, he stepped forward ā into the fire.
---
š Trial One: The Furnace of Memory
Arav opened his eyes and found himself in a world made of fire and shadow. Images from his past blazed around him ā Zia dying in his arms, his mother calling out, Kalo turning to darkness.
He tried to moveā¦ but every step was like dragging his soul through broken glass.
š§āāļø Arav (to himself):
"None of it's realā¦ it's memoryā¦ flame trying to break me."
But then, a child appeared ā a younger version of himself, sobbing in a corner.
š§ Child Arav:
"You should've saved herā¦ you let her die."
š§āāļø Arav (kneeling):
"I didn't have the strength then. But I do now."
He embraced the boy ā and the fire vanished.
---
š„ Trial Two: The Ember Path
The second trial was physical.
Arav had to cross a bridge of flaming swords, each blade etched with a lie he had once believed.
ā "You're weak."
ā "You'll fail like your father."
ā "Zia deserves better."
Each step cut his feet. Each lie screamed louder.
But Arav gritted his teeth.
š§āāļø Arav (yelling):
"These lies don't define me! I do!"
The bridge roared, then turned to solid gold beneath him.
He passed.
---
š„ Trial Three: The Flame of Choice
At the summit, a figure waited ā the Flame Warden, wrapped in robes of red smoke and light.
š§ Flame Warden:
"You've survived memory and pain. But to wield the fireā¦ you must choose."
A pedestal rose.
On it ā two flames.
One blue, cool and healing ā it could restore those he had lost.
One red, furious and destructive ā it could protect the world from what was coming.
š§ Flame Warden:
"One grants you peace. The other gives you power."
Arav looked down, breathing hard.
Zia's face flashed in his mind.
Then Kalo's.
Then the Sovereign of Grief.
š§āāļø Arav (resolute):
"Peace isn't earned by escaping painā¦ It's earned by facing it."
He reached forward ā and chose red.
The flame ignited around him.
---
āļø The Cindering Blade
The mountain shook.
From the heart of the altar, a sword emerged ā obsidian-black with veins of red light. As Arav touched it, it hissed, then settled ā a perfect fit.
š„ Voice (echoing from the blade):
"You are not yet worthy. But you are chosen."
The mark of fire burned across Arav's palm.
He collapsed.
---
š A Visitor in the Night
Hours later, as the flames calmed, Zia found him unconscious.
She knelt, brushed hair from his forehead, and whispered:
š§āāļø Zia:
"You're walking through hell to save us, Aravā¦ but don't forget who you are."
He stirred.
š§āāļø Arav (muttering):
"Ziaā¦ it spoke to meā¦ not just the flameā¦ something elseā¦ it's waking up."
She looked eastward ā toward the mountains rumbling.
š§āāļø Zia (tensely):
"Then we don't have much time. The Veil is thinning."
---
š©ø Epilogue: The Flamemarch Begins
Far away, in the kingdom of Drakthar, the Sovereign's remnants whispered to a new disciple ā The Ash Prophet, robed in crimson ash.
š„ Ash Prophet:
"The boy bears the flameā¦ good. Let him burn brightlyā¦ before I snuff him out."
And in his handā¦ a second Eye opened.