1. After the Gate: The Weight of Forbidden Knowledge
The path back from the Forgotten Gate is marked by silence. Rayyan walks ahead, eyes fixed on the horizon, while Nael drifts behind, lost in his thoughts. Lunir holds onto her cloak tightly, and Zafir leads them carefully, his expression unreadable.
The memory of Barjak, the celestial divide, lingers in their minds — not just what they saw, but what they felt: voices too ancient to be understood, a pressure that made even time pause.
Zafir finally speaks. "What we saw was never meant for our eyes. The Heavenless Restriction... it is divine. A law that even the righteous cannot bend unless the Creator Himself commands."
Rayyan clenches his fists. "Then why show it to us at all?"
"Because knowing you can't touch it," Zafir replies, "makes you decide why you're walking."
Lunir remains distant, her eyes flickering with quiet sorrow. A whisper, heard only by her, still echoes in her ears.
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2. The Flame Spirit's Warning
That night, while the group camps beneath a fractured moon, Rayyan is stirred by a dream unlike any before.
A white flame, formless but alive, dances before him in the void. From within it, a voice — neither male nor female — speaks:
"You seek your father's light, but flames are awakening elsewhere. You have seen the barrier, but your mission lies with the living, not the dead."
"Who are you?" Rayyan whispers.
"I am the Wraith of Reflection, born from the blood of Barak — your forefather, the white sun of flame. Remember this: Tahrim al-Kadhab... the Forbidden Flame of the Liar. It must not rise."
The flame vanishes. Rayyan wakes with sweat on his brow and frost on his lashes.
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3. Nael's Hidden Vision
Nael says nothing of what he saw.
While the others rest, he stares into the embers of their fire and remembers the vision forced upon him:
A ruined battlefield, broken pillars, skies darkened by smoke. Red fire consumes everything. Amidst it, a woman stands — veiled, yet familiar. Beside her, a towering figure of flame and shadow. Eblis?
The figure turns, speaking in a voice that chills Nael's soul: "You are the key, not him. The liar's flame burns in your blood."
Nael wakes up with a sharp breath. He says nothing to Rayyan.
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4. A New Path Emerges
The group decides to head toward Qalb al-Dhurwa — the Heart of the Peak. It's a forgotten ruin once used by ancient flame prophets to receive divine signs. Zafir believes the place may still hold remnants of divine messages.
"The path to Barjak is sealed," Zafir says. "But the flames may still speak elsewhere. Perhaps the truth about this 'Forbidden Flame' lies there."
Lunir agrees. "The Tournament of Fire begins soon. If we are to act, we must first understand our role in what's to come."
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5. Building Tension Between Brothers
Rayyan grows more intense, even obsessed, as he begins praying longer, seeking any sign of his father. The white flame wraith's message gnaws at him.
Nael, meanwhile, finds himself questioning. The fire within him feels different — neither holy nor cursed. Could there be a hidden truth the others refuse to see?
"Why do you chase ghosts?" Nael asks one night.
Rayyan replies coldly, "Because without light, we are nothing."
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6. The Chapter Ends With a Choice
The ruins of Qalb al-Dhurwa rise like a spine from the earth, cracked and scarred by time. Inside, two sealed chambers await. One etched with a blue flame. The other marked in crimson gold.
Spirits appear — not hostile, but judging.
"You may not choose together. Each heart knows its fire."
Rayyan steps toward the blue door, eyes steady.
Nael hesitates, then looks to the crimson gold. Something calls to him — not evil, but unanswered.
He enters the chamber, silently.