The journey to Lithris began at dawn.
The morning sky was painted with streaks of orange and purple, as if the world itself was holding its breath. Amina, Valec, and Kai stood on the edge of a forgotten path that led into the wilderness. The wind blew through the trees, carrying with it the scent of salt and earth, as though the land itself was alive, whispering secrets from long ago.
Amina's mind was clouded, her thoughts torn between anticipation and fear. The flame inside her pulsed gently, its warmth constant but unyielding. It was no longer just a power—it had become a presence, something that was with her every moment, always watching, always waiting.
"We have no idea what we're walking into," Valec said, his voice low as he adjusted his pack. His eyes scanned the treeline, sharp and alert. "Lithris could be nothing more than ruins, or worse, a trap."
Amina didn't respond right away. Instead, she reached out with her senses, trying to connect with the flame. It had always spoken to her in ways she didn't understand, but now it felt different—more insistent, as if it were trying to pull her in a specific direction.
"There's no turning back now," she finally said. "We'll find what we need, one way or another."
Kai, who had been quietly following behind, stepped forward. His face was serious, though there was a flicker of doubt in his eyes. "You still don't understand everything, do you, Amina? What if this—whatever is waiting for us—is more than we can handle? What if the flame does control you in the end?"
The question hung in the air, and for a moment, Amina considered it. What if the flame was the one pulling the strings? What if it wasn't her choice anymore? But then she shook her head. She couldn't afford to second-guess herself—not now.
"I have to believe that I can control it," she said, her voice firm. "We're getting closer to the answers. I can feel it."
Valec didn't respond, but he gave her a nod, though the concern in his eyes remained. There was no more time for doubt. The path ahead was uncertain, but they had already come too far to turn back.
The forest grew denser as they ventured deeper into the wilderness, the trees closing in around them like ancient sentinels. The path twisted and turned, disappearing and reappearing in the thick underbrush. Amina's heart raced with each step—Lithris was close, she could feel it. But as the hours wore on, the air began to grow heavier, and an unnatural silence descended over the forest.
A chill ran down Amina's spine as she realized they had entered a different kind of place—this was no ordinary forest. It was as though the land itself was waiting. Watching.
"You feel it too, don't you?" she asked quietly, her breath shallow.
Valec looked around, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "There's something off about this place."
Kai, always more attuned to the mystical elements of their journey, nodded grimly. "This isn't just any forest. This is a place of forgotten power, a place where the veil between the realms is thin. Lithris is close, but so is something else."
Amina could hear the hesitation in his voice, but before she could respond, the temperature dropped sharply. The once gentle wind turned icy, and a shadow moved in the corner of her vision.
She stopped, heart hammering in her chest. "Did you see that?"
Valec and Kai both tensed, eyes scanning the forest. "It's just the wind," Valec muttered, though there was doubt in his voice.
"I don't think so," Amina said. Her senses flared, and she felt it—a presence, ancient and hungry. It was drawing closer. The flame inside her flickered with a sudden surge of heat, as though it too was reacting to the energy in the air.
A deep, resonating voice echoed from the darkness of the trees. "You seek the heart of Lithris, but you do not understand what it will cost you."
Amina's blood ran cold as the voice reverberated around them. It wasn't human. It wasn't even a voice. It was the land itself, speaking with a thousand forgotten tongues.
"Who are you?" Amina called into the darkness, her voice steady despite the fear twisting in her stomach.
The shadows began to writhe, the trees shifting and bending unnaturally, as though the very fabric of the forest was alive, responding to the call.
"I am a guardian," the voice replied. "A keeper of secrets long buried. You should not have come here. The flame you carry is a curse, and it will undo you."
Amina stepped forward, her resolve hardening. "I won't be undone. I came to find the truth. I need to understand the flame—and stop it from destroying everything."
A low, almost sorrowful laugh echoed through the air. "You think you control it, but the flame controls you. It is a hunger that never ends, an eternal thirst. To understand it is to become it."
Amina's pulse quickened, but she didn't falter. "Then show me. Show me what it truly is."
For a long moment, there was silence, broken only by the faint rustling of leaves in the wind. Then, with a suddenness that made Amina's heart skip, a figure emerged from the shadows—a tall, cloaked figure, its face hidden beneath a hood of blackened fabric.
"You seek the truth, child," the figure said, its voice softer now, almost pitying. "But the truth is not what you think. The flame is not a force that can be tamed, not by you, nor by anyone. It is the catalyst for something much greater, much darker."
Amina's heart raced. "What do you mean? What is the flame?"
The figure tilted its head slightly, as if considering her words. "It is the spark that ignited a war long ago—a war between gods and mortals. The flame was never meant to be controlled. It was meant to consume, to destroy all in its path."
"But if it destroys everything, then why am I connected to it?" Amina demanded. "Why has it chosen me?"
The figure's hooded gaze seemed to pierce into her very soul. "Because you are its final echo. You are both the beginning and the end. You are the last hope and the last curse. And in the end, the flame will either save or destroy you. It is your choice—but be warned. There is no going back."
The figure raised its hand, and a gust of wind stirred the forest, carrying with it the scent of ash and fire. The temperature dropped again, and Amina could feel the presence of something dark, something ancient stirring in the shadows.
"You will face the truth soon enough," the figure whispered, its voice fading as it vanished into the darkness.
Amina stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest. The flame inside her burned hotter than ever before, its power surging beneath her skin. The weight of the figure's words hung heavily in the air. There was no turning back now. The path to Lithris was not just a journey—it was a trial. And only one thing was certain: the flame would either be her salvation or her doom.