Chapter 61 - Chapter Sixty-One: The Gate of Flame

POV: Ariya 🔥🪨🗺️

The canyon stretched before them like a wound in the earth — jagged, glowing, and whispering heat.

Emberfall.

The name alone stirred something deep in Ariya's chest. Not memory, exactly… more like instinct. As if her blood had always known this place was real.

They stood at the edge of the great cleft, where the ground split and spilled faint red light upward. Black rock walls curved inward like jaws. The air shimmered with residual power — old magic, older than kingdoms.

"This place is alive," Lyra murmured.

"Creepy alive," Jax added. "Like if a volcano and a haunted temple had a baby."

Ariya stepped forward, the wind brushing her cloak. Her mark pulsed.

The canyon welcomed her.

The path down was steep and silent, save for the low hum of flame beneath stone. Ariya led the way, Kael right beside her — as always.

They reached a massive arch of obsidian carved into the canyon wall. On it were four ancient runes: Fear. Rage. Doubt. Loyalty.

Beneath them, a sealed door shimmered, glowing faintly. At its center burned a small flame suspended in the stone — not hot, but waiting.

Jax poked it gently with a stick. Nothing happened.

"Looks dead," he muttered. "Cursed, but dead."

"It's not dead," Ariya said softly. "It's listening."

She reached out and placed her palm on the flame.

It flared — but didn't open.

"Try together," Kael said quietly.

They looked at one another… and slowly, all four stepped forward and pressed their palms against the flame.

For a moment — nothing.

Then the canyon breathed.

The stone rumbled. The arch cracked open down the middle, light spilling out in golden streams. The runes on the arch ignited one by one, casting flickering shadows across their faces.

The flame in the wall lifted and floated before them, pulsing like a heartbeat.

A voice echoed — not from the air, but from the flame itself:

"Four threads. One flame. The Trial begins."

Then the flame split — four orbs of fire, drifting into the air.

Each orb flew to one of them and hovered just above their heads.

A path behind the gate began to form — not stairs, not stone, but bridges of living flame, extending deep into the glowing abyss beyond.

"...Why do I feel like this is going to be the opposite of fun?" Lyra whispered.

"Because you're smart," Kael muttered, watching his flame with narrowed eyes.

Jax, however, was grinning. "Ooh, look! Mine has a swirl! I call him Bernard."

Ariya didn't speak. Her flame floated in perfect stillness, almost… respectfully.

The gate pulsed again.

"You will walk alone to see what binds you. Only when the flame accepts your shadow may you walk forward as one."

Kael's eyes met hers. "Separate trials," he said.

Ariya nodded. "No turning back now."

They stepped onto their respective paths.

Each bridge curled into a tunnel of light, separating them, wrapping them in heat and silence.

Ariya's tunnel led downward — the flame guiding her with soft pulses.

She walked.

And walked.

Until the path opened into a small chamber of fireglass, mirrors lining every wall.

Inside stood… herself.

But not as she was now.

She was younger. Scared. Alone. Wearing the same chains from the Ember project table.

The younger version looked at her, tears in her eyes.

"Why didn't you come sooner?" the girl whispered.

Ariya froze.

The chamber pulsed.

The Trial had begun.