After three days of crossing the dense forest, the mountains appeared before Eren and Leylin, towering, covered in a white mist that wrapped around their rocky peaks. A cold wind smelt of ancient ash on their faces.
Their steps were weary, and Eren's feet ached, but he pushed himself to endure, remembering his promise to protect Leylin and their goal of reaching the Temple of the First Flame to untie the knot that bound their souls.
When they reached the narrow, rocky path, a small mountain village appeared before them, with stone houses in earthy colors stacked together, and smoke rising from chimneys, disappearing into the mist.
At the entrance to the village stood a large stone statue of an eagle with outstretched wings. On the base of the statue were ancient inscriptions in a language Eren didn't know, but which Leylin felt familiar with.
"These... are ancient fire inscriptions."
"Lylin," she said, touching the stone with her fingers. A small part of the inscription glowed a faint red for a moment, before fading.
As they entered the village, Eren noticed the strange looks of the people: men with gray beards and women with red scarves, their faces impassive, watching them silently as they passed.
A tall old man wearing a red cloak embroidered with flames, his eyes sharp gray, approached them.
"Who are you... and why do your souls smell of fire?"
Lylin took a step forward and bowed slightly respectfully.
"We're searching for the first Flame Temple in these mountains... we need it."
The old man gave a short, joyless laugh.
"For a hundred years, no one has asked to enter the Fire Temple... it's a place from which people never return."
Eren felt a shiver run through his body, but he clenched his fist and said, "We'll go, no matter the cost."
The sheikh spoke in a low voice, watching Eren through his gray eyes.
"Before you reach the temple, you must know the truth... This village was created to guard the path to Hell."
The sheikh led them to a small stone building in the center of the village, where a stone circle was engraved in the middle of the ground, with the remains of ancient black ash on it.
"One hundred years ago, a heavenly flame of fire descended from the sky... She was a fire princess like the one you have, and she wanted to break her pact with the Wind Heir... But she failed, and burned the village to the ground."
Lylin's eyes widened, and she gasped.
"What... did you say?"
The sheikh nodded slowly.
"She was called Liara... the princess who betrayed the laws of the Heavenly Realm."
Eren felt the air thicken, as if the room were filled with the scent of ancient ash.
"What happened to her?"
The sheikh replied,
"Her soul merged with the Heir of the Winds... and became an eternal flame guarding the temple, so that no one could enter unless the flame acknowledged them."
Lylin placed a hand on her chest, her lips trembling.
"Lyra... she was my sister."
Silence fell as Eren watched Lilin's face as she tried to hold back the tears that filled her golden eyes.
"Eren... I don't want to end up like her."
She said in a trembling voice, and Eren gripped her hand tightly.
"That won't happen... This time, we will succeed."
The sheikh raised his head and said,
"If you are to pass to the temple, there is a test awaiting you tonight... the Winds Flame."
"A test?"
"A sacred flame that accepts only pure spirits and fires devoid of hatred... If you fail, their souls will burn here before they reach the temple."
Eren and Lilin emerged from the stone building as the sun set behind the mountains, and torchlight illuminated the stone village streets.
Eren's eyes were fixed on the mountain disappearing behind the mist.
He knew...
that tonight would decide whether he would continue on his path to undoing the knot... or be buried in this village by the edge of fire.
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