The night after the arrival of the Abyss Lord felt heavier than ever before. Darkness still covered most of the sky, as if the world itself had been scarred by his presence. The wind moved slowly through the trees, carrying the smell of ash and distant danger.
Aria stood near the edge of a quiet valley, staring at the horizon. Her mind replayed the moment when the Abyss Lord appeared. The overwhelming power, the crushing darkness, the way the sky itself had trembled.
She clenched her fists.
"If I can't control the Flame power… we don't stand a chance."
Behind her, Rowan leaned against a broken stone pillar."You're already strong," he said. "But what we saw yesterday… that monster is something else."
Aria lowered her gaze.
"I know."
Suddenly, a deep rumbling sound echoed across the valley.
The ground vibrated slightly.
A massive shadow moved across the sky.
A huge dragon slowly descended from the clouds, its enormous wings cutting through the cold air. The wind rushed outward as it landed on the rocky ground nearby.The Dragon Guardian had arrived.
Its scales glowed faintly under the moonlight, and its ancient golden eyes looked directly at Aria.
The dragon spoke in a deep, calm voice that echoed through the valley.
"You felt his power."
Aria nodded slowly.
"Yes."
The dragon studied her carefully.
"And now you understand why you must grow stronger."
Rowan stepped forward."That thing… the Abyss Lord. Is he really stronger than the Shadow King?"
The dragon's eyes darkened.
"Yes."
The word echoed heavily.
"Shadow King is dangerous, but Abyss Lord is something far worse. His power was once strong enough to destroy entire kingdoms in a single night."
Rowan swallowed nervously.
"That's… insane."
The dragon turned its attention back to Aria.
"You carry the First Flame within you."
Aria looked at her hands.The same power she had barely managed to use before.
"But I can't control it yet," she admitted.
"Exactly," the dragon replied.
"That is why your training begins now."
The wind suddenly picked up as the dragon spread its wings slightly.
"This power is not just fire. The First Flame is the oldest energy in this world. It represents life, light, and the force that pushes back the darkness."
Aria listened carefully.
"If you master it… you will become the true Dragon Guardian."
"But if you fail… the Flame will destroy youfrom within."
Aria looked up, determination burning in her eyes.
"I won't fail."
The dragon nodded slowly.
"Then we begin."
It raised one of its massive claws and pointed toward the center of the valley.
"Stand there."
Aria walked forward until she reached the open ground.
The dragon continued.
"Close your eyes."
She obeyed."Feel the energy inside your body. Do not force it. The First Flame responds to will… but also to balance."
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Aria tried to focus.
At first she felt only silence.
Then…
Warmth.
A small spark of heat appeared deep within her chest.
The dragon's voice echoed again.
"Good. Now let the Flame rise."
The warmth slowly grew stronger.
Aria's heartbeat accelerated.Suddenly, orange light began to glow around her hands.
Rowan's eyes widened.
"It's working."
But then the light suddenly flared out of control.
A burst of flames exploded from Aria's hands, blasting across the ground and leaving burning marks in the stone.
Aria stumbled backward.
"I can't control it!"
The dragon slammed its tail against the ground.
"Focus!"
"Your fear is breaking the balanceAria took a deep breath.
The flames around her hands flickered wildly.
"Calm your mind," the dragon commanded.
"The Flame is not your enemy."
Aria closed her eyes again.
She tried to slow her breathing.
Slowly… the fire stopped raging.
The flames shrank into a small, steady glow in her palm.
Rowan stared in amazement.
"Whoa…"
The dragon watched carefully."Better."
Aria opened her eyes.
A small flame floated above her hand, glowing softly like a living star.
For the first time, she wasn't afraid of it.
She felt connected to it.
The dragon spoke again.
"This is only the beginning."
Suddenly, it opened its mouth and released a powerful stream of dragon fire into the sky.
The entire valley lit up in orange light.
"Now your real training begins."
Aria looked up.The dragon's eyes glowed.
"You must learn to fight with the Flame."
It pointed toward a group of massive stone pillars scattered across the valley.
"Destroy them."
Aria took a deep breath and stepped forward.
The flame in her hand grew brighter.
She focused her energy and thrust her hand forward.
A wave of fire shot across the valley and smashed into the first pillar.
BOOM.
The stone exploded into pieces.Rowan jumped back.
"Okay… that was awesome."
But the dragon remained serious.
"That was power. Not control."
Aria frowned.
"What's the difference?"
The dragon lifted one claw.
With a precise movement, it released a thin line of flame that sliced cleanly through a pillar.
The stone split perfectly in half.
"No wasted energy."
"Perfect balance."Aria nodded slowly.
"I understand."
She turned back toward the pillars.
Again and again she practiced.
Sometimes the flames exploded wildly.
Sometimes they faded too quickly.
Hours passed.
The moon slowly moved across the sky.
Sweat covered Aria's face, but she refused to stop.
Finally, after one last attempt, a sharp beam of fire shot from her hand and cut through a pillar cleanly.The stone cracked and fell apart.
Rowan cheered.
"You did it!"
The dragon nodded with quiet approval.
"For your first training… this is impressive."
Aria breathed heavily but smiled.
However, the dragon's expression suddenly became serious again.
"Do not celebrate yet."
Aria looked confused.
"Why?"
The dragon lifted its head and stared toward the distant mountains.A dark energy pulse could be felt in the air again.
The Abyss Lord's power.
"He is growing stronger," the dragon said quietly.
Aria clenched her fists as the flame returned to her palm.
"Then I'll become stronger too."
Because deep in her heart, she knew something important.
The war had already begun.
And this training…
was only the first step toward the battle that would decide the fate of the world.