The land was no longer the same after encountering the Root. Everything carried the shadow of prophecy, even the air itself seemed to breathe in rhythm with fate. Since they had left the borders of Vanaheim, no one had spoken a word.
Above them, the sky was a grim shade of gray—no sun, no clouds. Charred trees filled the horizon, their trunks blackened, twisting as if screaming in eternal agony. This land was once known as Surtrheim, the stronghold of the Black Flame Bearers —those who betrayed Odin in the first days of treachery.
Astir stepped forward cautiously, her eyes scanning the ashes for traps.
"This place doesn't belong to any kingdom… It wasn't even recorded on the map of the Nine Realms."
Him, watching the ground beneath his feet, replied,
"Because it was burned from history itself. The flames that raged here were forged by the god Surtr himself. Nothing survives a fire that does not distinguish between the righteous and the wicked."
Shao, however, remained silent. Ever since he touched the Core of Vanaheim, he had been hearing faint voices… Sometimes whispers, sometimes prayers in a language he had never learned.
The closer he got to the heart of this ash-covered land, the stronger the pulses in his chest became.
Suddenly, he stopped.
A faint voice slipped into his ear—not from the outside, but from within:
"Fire is not your enemy… but your teacher."
He gasped and abruptly turned south.
Astir asked with concern,
"What is it?"
He answered slowly, as if recalling something forgotten for centuries,
"There is something… beneath the ground."
Him was about to respond, but the earth trembled.
Just for a moment—but it was enough.
A red circle of Nordic runes appeared beneath their feet. It glowed, then pulled them inward, like a piece of paper caught in a fiery whirlwind.
In the blink of an eye, they found themselves inside a grand hall of fire and black glass, where the walls burned and the ceiling dripped molten lava, like the tears of the gods.
Before them stood a faceless man —his body made of fire, his eyes glowing embers.
He spoke in a dual voice,
"At last… the heirs of fire return."
*The circle of fire closed.*
The walls of the hall vanished behind them, leaving only a scorched black ground and a ceiling of flames dancing above their heads—without heat… only pressure.
Pressure that made the bones speak.
The fiery entity spoke, its voice echoing in all directions:
_"The first trial… the Fire of the Body.
The body is not just flesh—it is memory, burden, and fear. The fire will strip you of every weakness that bears your name."_
It did not give them time.
Astir and Him disappeared suddenly, and Shao found himself in an empty land… alone.
He opened his eyes to find himself in *Eirdal*, the village where he had grown up.
But it was covered in blood.
Burned houses. Scattered bodies. The stench of death suffocating the air.
Beneath him, a small child was crying.
It was him… Shao, but at the age of five.
The child screamed:
_"Don't leave me!"_
Then, behind him, two shadows emerged:
His father and mother.
But their faces were covered in ash. No features. Only fire burning within the hollows of their eyes.
They spoke in unison:
_"You are the reason… You let us burn."_
Shao stepped back, his breath quickening.
_"No… I tried… I was just a child!"_
But the vision did not stop.
More bodies appeared—people from *Vanaheim*, from *Niflheim*, from battles… all those he had failed to protect.
They all spoke the same phrase:
_"You are the reason."_
Beneath his feet, the ground began to crack, black flames rising from within.
But then, he remembered a voice… the one he had heard for the first time in Vanaheim:
_"Fire is not your enemy… but your teacher."_
Suddenly, Shao knelt and placed his palm on the burning ground.
_"If you are ashes… then I will carry your ashes in my blood.
If I am the reason… then I will be the end as well.
I am not running from the fire… I was born from it!"_
And at that moment, everything stopped.
The flames extinguished.
The bodies faded.
The voices disappeared.
The fiery entity appeared before him again—this time closer, its ember-like eyes calmer.
It spoke in a deep, quiet tone:
_"You have passed the Fire of the Body… Now remain the trials of the Mind and the Heart."_
A bright light flashed, and Shao found himself back with Him and Astir, inside the hall once more.
Him, bewildered, said:
_"You… disappeared."_
Astir, holding Shao's arm, added:
_"His face… It's as if something broke inside him, then rebuilt itself."_
Shao lifted his gaze and said:
_"I am ready for the second trial."_
A *heavy silence* filled the hall.
Even the flames stopped dancing, as if awaiting a *fateful decision*.
The fiery entity spoke, its voice *less burning, more solemn*:
_"The Fire of the Heart… does not burn the body or the mind, but tests what lies deep within you when no one is watching. Your emotions, your losses, your desires… and what you fear to face."_
It extended its finger toward Shao.
_"You alone will enter. But what you see… will not leave with you."_
Before Shao could utter a word, the flames *swallowed him whole*.
---
He opened his eyes inside a *vast white space*. No walls. No ground. Only a *motionless whiteness without shadow*.
Then, a *soft voice* pierced the stillness:
_"Shao?"_
He turned quickly.
It was *Liara*.
His *little sister*… who had died before his eyes *seven years ago*.
She stood in her simple clothes, the same *blue dress*, her eyes shining with innocence.
She ran to him, embracing him with a longing that *choked all words*.
She spoke in a voice that *tore through his heart*:
_"I missed you… Why didn't you save me?"_
Shao *froze*.
_"I… I couldn't… I tried…"_
But his words *died in his throat*.
Liara looked into his eyes.
_"You chose. You chose to survive. And you left me."_
The space *began to tremble*.
Behind her, his *parents* appeared, smiling—then their expressions *turned to sorrow*.
His father spoke:
_"You saved yourself… but what did you save of your soul?"_
More figures emerged…
*Friends who fell in Valhalla. Comrades from the battlefields. Faces he knew but feared to look at.*
Liara spoke again, her voice *low*:
_"Is your heart pure enough to bear all this? Or are you simply denying the truth?"_
Shao *fell to his knees*, his tears *flowing without shame*.
He spoke in a *shaking voice*:
_"I am not a hero. I am just someone trying… and I don't know if I will succeed. But I swear… I will not betray your memory. And I will not let your deaths be meaningless."_
He reached out toward Liara's *phantom*.
_"Forgive me… or don't. But I will continue… for you."_
And then… the *whiteness exploded* in a *golden flash*.
---
Shao *opened his eyes* again inside the hall.
He was *covered in sweat*… his eyes *red from crying*.
But the *flames around him bowed*.
Yes, *they bowed to him*… as if *acknowledging him*.
The fiery entity spoke, its voice carrying *a hint of respect*:
_"You have passed the three fires… Shao. You are now… the Chosen of Fire."_
*Shao took his first step onto the staircase… and felt it.*
It was not ordinary stone.
It was as if the earth itself *remembered* everyone who had ever walked upon it.
_"Did you feel it?"_
Him whispered, two steps behind, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword as if the place unsettled him.
Shao replied without turning:
_"The staircase is alive… It watches us."_
Astir walked behind them, murmuring defensive incantations, forming *transparent shields of light* around them.
She said,
_"This staircase does not belong to the Fire-Knowers… This is something far older."_
The further they descended, the colder it became.
But it was not a *physical cold* —it was a *coldness in the soul*.
As if the *past* was brushing against their depths, *reminding them of things they did not wish to remember*.
After a long silence, Him spoke:
_"We passed through three fires… So what lies below?"_
Astir responded, her tone tense:
_"We are approaching the heart of the earth… the core that fuels the flames. Perhaps even the essence of the ancient god himself."_
Shao clenched his fist.
_"The closer we get to the origin… the closer we get to the truth."_
---
They arrived at an *underground chamber*, circular in shape, devoid of features.
But at its center lay an *open cavern*, from which *a pulsing red light* emanated—like a *giant heart beating slowly*.
Shao stepped forward, peering inside.
But he did not see *fire*.
He saw… *an eye*.
A *single, colossal eye*, opening slowly within the cavern, staring directly at him.
A voice echoed *inside his mind*, not from his lips, but *within his skull*:
_"You… carry the fire? Then carry the truth."_
Suddenly… the *red light engulfed him*.
He *vanished* before Astir and Him.
Astir screamed:
_"Shao!!"_
But it was *too late*.
---
Shao *opened his eyes* inside a *dimension of pure red*.
A *red sky. A red ground. No features.*
And in the distance… *a shadow moved toward him*.
Same *height*. Same *steps*.
But its *face was not human*.
The shadow spoke:
_"Welcome, bearer of fire. Do you dare face the origin?"_
*Shao emerged from the underground chamber, but he was no longer the same man who had entered.*
His face was *more resolute*, his gaze carrying a *new weight*.
Him stepped closer and asked,
_"Shao, what happened in there?"_
Shao replied in a *low but confident voice*,
_"I faced my shadow… everything I had hidden from myself. It wasn't easy, but it was necessary."_
Astir looked at him cautiously.
_"Do you think the flames only tested you? Or that the Fire Seal only grants you strength?"_
Shao shook his head.
_"The flames give you power, yes, but they also… protect you from yourself."_
At that moment, they heard *heavy footsteps* approaching from the distance.
Everyone *froze*, and the silence became *as sharp as a blade*.
From the darkness, a *group of warriors* emerged, clad in *black armor* adorned with *ancient symbols*, their *eyes gleaming with cold intensity*.
The *leader* of the group spoke in a *rough voice*:
_"You have completed the rites, but fire is not reserved for the chosen alone."_
Shao met their gaze *steadily*.
_"Who are you?"_
The leader *smiled coldly*.
_"The Guardians of the Void. We are the ones who safeguard the balance between light and darkness. And you, in your mortality, have disrupted that balance."_
Him sighed *bitterly*.
_"This isn't over yet..."_
The *tension of battle* filled the air.
The *clash of weapons* rang out as they met *shields*, turning the *underground chamber* into a *merciless battlefield*.
Shao *stepped forward*, his *flaming sword burning with determination*.
Him and Astir stood *beside him*, each *ready to sacrifice their life* for their friend.
Shao *declared loudly*:
_"If you wish to fight fire… then prepare to burn in the darkness."_
He *launched his first attack*, his *blade slicing through the air like a blazing spear*.
The *leader countered swiftly*, and the two exchanged *rapid strikes*, each blow carrying the *weight of a cosmic battle between light and darkness*.
At that moment, *one of the guardians* attempted to *approach Astir*, but she *quickly cast a defensive spell*, unleashing a *blinding blue explosion* that *forced him back*.
Him, on his part, wielded his *weapon with masterful precision*, delivering *deadly blows* to the warriors, his movements *like a dance of death woven by his hands*.
But the *leader* revealed *unexpected abilities* —he did not rely solely on his weapon but *summoned the forces of darkness*, making his *body vanish and reappear in scattered locations*.
Shao *realized* that this battle *would not be easy*, and he *told himself*:
_"The fire in my chest is not just power—it is a promise… A promise to protect everyone I love."_
The *battle intensified*, *sparks of fire* flying in every direction, and with each passing moment, *more of Shao's strength and unwavering resolve* were revealed in his fight against the darkness.
As the sounds of *clashing weapons* and *dancing light* between attack and defense intensified, *Shao felt the weight of responsibility grow heavier on his shoulders*.
He *shouted at the commander*:
_"Why do you guard the void? What price have you paid?"_
The *commander smiled bitterly* and replied:
_"Balance is not maintained by strength alone, but by sacrifice. We are the guardians, but we are not always right."_
Shao *launched a swift attack*, but the commander *dodged skillfully*, then added:
_"You try to halt the advance of light, but light cannot be stopped."_
Astir and Him *fought fiercely* beside him, each displaying *their unique skills*.
In a *critical moment*, when Shao *seemed exhausted*, he *gathered his inner strength* and *remembered the words of the fire* that had ignited in his heart:
_"I am everything you said… and I do not run."_
He *ignited his sword with radiant flames* and *charged forward*, unleashing a *rapid assault* that *felled multiple guardians*.
The *commander shouted*:
_"This is only the beginning… We will return."_
He and his warriors *retreated into the shadows*, leaving the *hall echoing with the remnants of battle*.
Shao *looked at Astir and Him* and said:
_"The real battle has yet to begin."_
---
After the *withdrawal of the Void Guardians*, Shao and his companions *stood in silence*, the weight of the encounter *lingering in the air*.
Astir *examined the battlefield* and said:
_"They were guarding something here… Something important."_
Him *approached the cavern wall* and *noticed an ancient inscription deeply carved into the stone*.
He *read aloud in a low voice*:
_"'The blood of the chosen is the key to balance… but it carries the curse of the ancient flames.'"_
The *three exchanged glances*.
Shao asked:
_"Why was my fire so different?"_
Astir replied:
_"Perhaps because your blood is tied to the ancient fire gods… And their flames are not just destruction, but were born from deep sacrifice."_
Him *looked at Shao* and said:
_"We need to learn more. If the fire you carry is the key to balance, then our fate may be greater than we imagined."_
Suddenly, *the ground trembled slightly*, and they *heard a sound* coming from the *depths of the cavern*.
Shao *spoke firmly*:
_"Time does not wait. We must move forward."_
---
They *descended deeper*, into places *where ordinary feet never tread*, embarking on a *journey to uncover the secrets of Shao's blood and the ancient flames* that *could change the fate of the Nine Realms*.
Shao, Astir, and Him *descended deeper into the cavern*, where *natural light vanished*, replaced by *absolute darkness*.
Shao *advanced cautiously*, gripping his *flaming sword*, the *fire emblem on his chest glowing faintly*.
Him *extended his hand forward*, sensing the air.
_"This ground feels like it's breathing… as if it's alive."_
Astir *responded in a low voice*:
_"This is not just an ordinary cave… This is a gateway to an ancient world."_
Suddenly, *glowing red inscriptions* appeared on the walls.
Shao *stepped closer*, struggling to read the words:
_"'Here lies the Fire of the Ancestors… the fire of sacrifice and destruction.'"_
The *ground trembled*, and *strange sounds* rose from beneath them.
Shao *spoke firmly*:
_"It seems we must be ready for anything."_
Before they could move, *shadow-like creatures* emerged from the darkness, their *eyes glowing red*.
The *battle erupted* in the depths of the darkness, where *there was no room for error*.
---
The fight between *Shao and his companions* and the *shadow creatures* intensified.
The creatures *moved swiftly and unpredictably*, making the battle *more difficult and complex*.
Shao *used his fire cautiously*, knowing that *draining his energy here could be disastrous*.
Him *shouted* as he *struck one of the creatures with his heavy weapon*:
_"We can't let them get any closer!"_
At that moment, *Astir noticed something strange* in the *wall inscriptions*, her breath quickening.
_"Look! There's a hidden message behind the shadows."_
Shao and Astir *approached to read the message*, which *slowly began to reveal itself*:
_"'The Fire of the Ancestors is both weapon and shield… but whoever wields it must be prepared for the ultimate sacrifice.'"_
Shao *sighed* and said:
_"This is what I've been feeling… The path I've chosen is not an easy one."_
The *battle raged on*, *fiery light clashing against the darkness*, a *dance of life and death*.
---
As the fight continued, *Shao felt a powerful pulse emanating from his chest*, as if the *fire was speaking to him in an ancient language*.
He *paused for a moment*, focusing on this *inner call*.
He *spoke softly but firmly*:
_"Fire is not just power… It is life and soul."_
He *turned to Astir and Him*:
_"We need to understand this fire more… It is the key to saving our realms."_
Astir *responded*:
_"Perhaps there is a way to channel this energy instead of just fighting."_
Him *smiled*:
_"Let's find it—before the shadows consume us."_
Then, the *battle resumed*, but this time *with a new resolve burning in their hearts*.
After *Shao stood still for a moment*, listening to the *call of fire within him*, his body *began to radiate a glowing fiery energy*.
He *felt power surging through his veins* like a *raging river*, but he also *felt the weight of responsibility*.
Shao *raised his sword* and declared:
_"Fire is not just a gift—it is a responsibility, and I will protect it until my last breath."_
Astir and Him *stood beside him*, their *eyes gleaming with faith and determination*.
Suddenly, they *charged forward* toward the *shadow creatures*, which had *begun their attack once more*.
Shao *unleashed a series of fiery strikes*, illuminating the *cavern as if it were daylight*.
At that moment, a *gap opened in the wall*, revealing a *hidden chamber*.
Astir *shouted*:
_"Look over there! A secret room!"_
The *three rushed toward the opening*, realizing that *this might hold the key to Shao's blood and the power of fire*.
---
Shao, Astir, and Him *cautiously stepped into the hidden chamber*, its *walls covered in ancient inscriptions*, glowing *red stones emitting a faint light*.
Inside the room, they *found a stone statue* of the *ancient fire gods*, its *gaze seemingly watching them in silence*.
Astir *touched the inscriptions carefully* and said:
_"These are ancient enchantments… They tell the story of the Fire of the Ancestors and their sacrifice."_
Shao *took a deep breath* and said:
_"Perhaps here, we will find the key to its truth… and its power."_
Suddenly, the *statue began to glow intensely*, and *deep whispers* echoed from the *corners of the room*.
Him *gripped his weapon*, ready for any attack, while *Astir felt a shiver run through her body*.
The *room lit up completely*, as if *something was about to be revealed*.
---
As the *room illuminated fully*, the *whispers transformed into clear voices*, narrating the *story of the Fire of the Ancestors and the Blood of the Chosen*.
A *fiery glow* emerged from the *statue*, forming a *shadowy figure*, appearing as a *massive being of flame*, speaking in a *deep voice*:
_"Shao, bearer of the Fire Blood, you are the chosen one among the Nine Realms. But your power is not just a weapon—it is a test of your heart and soul."_
Shao *stepped forward with unwavering determination* and said:
_"I am ready to bear this burden, no matter the cost."_
The *fiery shadow continued*:
_"You must choose—sacrifice your family or save the realms… The decision is yours."_
The *ground trembled once more*, and the *three felt an immense pressure on their chests*.
Him *spoke cautiously*:
_"This is more than we expected… We must be careful."_
Shao *tightened his grip on his sword*, *determined to face his fate with courage*.
The words spoken by the *fiery shadow* echoed in *S