The ruins of the old mage guild were silent, but silence was deceptive. Dust swirled in the morning light, broken pillars casting long shadows across the cracked stone floor. Ren stood in the center of the hall, fire dancing in his palms, still tingling from his encounter with the Shadow King.
Liora's silver eyes glinted with determination. "Ren, surviving is one thing… mastering the flame is another. If you can't control it, the Shadow King will destroy you the moment he returns."
Kael, his staff crackling faintly, added, "Control comes from understanding. Let the flame become part of you, don't fight it like a stranger."
Ren clenched his fists, feeling the residual heat of the Phoenix Flame flicker like a wild creature. "I… I don't even know where to start," he admitted, the weight of responsibility pressing on his young shoulders.
Liora stepped forward. "Then we start from the beginning. You will learn the ancient runes, the meditative techniques, and the core truth about the Last Flame: it feeds on courage, willpower, and heart. Not anger… not fear."
For the next hours, Ren's training was grueling. He memorized fire runes etched into broken walls, ancient symbols that hummed faintly when his flames touched them. With each rune activated, he could shape fire in new ways—whips, shields, projectiles—but only if his mind and heart were steady.
At first, the flame reacted violently, scorching the stone floor, filling the hall with smoke. Ren fell to his knees, coughing. "I can't… it's too much," he groaned.
Liora knelt beside him. "No. The flame is not too much—you are. Calm yourself. Close your eyes, feel it. Don't command it, let it answer you."
Ren shut his eyes, breath steadying. He imagined the flame as an extension of his own spirit, not just a weapon. Slowly, the chaos of fire around him condensed, forming a perfect orb that hovered above his palms. Sparks floated around it like tiny stars.
"Yes…" Ren whispered. "I can feel it…"
Kael clapped his hands. "Good. Now, let's test it."
They ventured outside the ruins. Shadows had begun to stir nearby, drawn by the Phoenix Flame's presence. Ren faced them, flames coiling around his arms. He took a deep breath, focusing, and sent a controlled firewave sweeping through the approaching shadows. One, two, three… all disintegrated.
But then came a larger group—shadows twice the size, with clawed hands that reached like iron chains. Ren hesitated. His flame surged, responding to his fear. The fire roared uncontrollably, almost consuming him, but Liora stepped forward.
"Trust yourself!" she shouted, sending a silver beam to guide him.
Ren's mind cleared. He focused not on the fear but on the shapes of the shadows, their movements. Slowly, the flames formed sharp, controlled pillars, cutting through the enemies with precision. The shadows screamed as they dissolved into smoke, and for the first time, Ren felt the power of mastery.
After the battle, the three friends returned to the ruins, panting and bruised. Ren looked at his scorched hands. "This… this is only the beginning," he said. "I can't fail. If I do, the Shadow King—he'll…" His voice trailed off, fear returning.
Liora placed a hand on his shoulder. "You won't fail. But mastery is a journey, not a single fight. And courage… courage is what will carry you forward."
Kael added, "Tonight, we rest. Tomorrow, we push further. The Shadow King is not waiting, and neither can we."
As the sun set behind the mountains, Ren sat alone for a moment, watching the flame flicker in the twilight. He remembered his parents' words from long ago: Strength isn't just power, it's choice.
And now, he had to choose—to become a hero, or let the shadows consume everything he loved.
The trials had only begun.