The glittering lights lingered in the air for a moment before dissolving into silence.
Noona's chest rose and fell rapidly, her heart pounding as if the flame still burned inside her veins.
"This bond…" she murmured. "It feels as if the world itself is alive within me."
Irin stepped closer, his voice low.
"Do not be deceived by its beauty. The Phoenix flame is both creation and destruction. If you lose control, it will consume you as it has consumed others in the past."
His words pierced through her awe, filling her with unease.
Yet deep within, Noona sensed the truth: the fire was not only hers—it belonged to every soul before her, a thread unbroken through centuries.
The faint cry of a bird echoed again, this time clearer, almost urging her to follow.
The mask upon the table shimmered once more, and the shadows in the room shifted, forming a doorway of light and flame.
Irin's eyes widened.
"The ancestral realm…" he whispered. "The Phoenix bloodline is calling you. Noona—you must step inside. Only there will you learn whether you are worthy to carry its spirit."
Noona's breath trembled.
Her hand curled into a fist around the lingering warmth in her palm. She glanced at Irin, then at the blazing doorway that seemed to pulse with both danger and destiny.
And with steady steps, she moved forward—toward the unknown that awaited.