"Arin… wait for me. I'm coming."
Len's vow still echoed in the cold forest night, his blue flames burning brighter, hotter, angrier. His breath shook with fury, grief, desperation—all tangled into a single firestorm inside him.
He clenched his fist.
The ground beneath him cracked.
His aura was no longer flickering.
It was roaring.
But power alone wasn't enough.
Not yet.
"Where did that thing take her…" Len whispered, voice trembling.
His vision blurred for a moment—not from weakness, but from pure rage.
He slammed his fist on the ground—
BOOOOM!
A crater formed beneath him, dust spiraling into the air.
The system spoke:
[Warning: Emotional surge exceeding safe limits]
[Stabilization required to prevent core damage]
Len growled,
"Shut up. I don't care about limits."
Yet his flame flickered again.
Something was off.
Not weak—
but incomplete.
The Fire Bearer power inside him felt… locked.
Restrained.
Like it needed something he didn't yet understand.
He took a deep breath and forced himself to stand.
Arin's scream still echoed through his skull.
He replayed it again and again, jaw clenching until it hurt.
"I won't lose you… I won't let the Abyss touch you."
He pushed forward through the forest, not caring where the path led.
But the forest answered him faster than expected.
The trees around him whispered—shifting, bending toward him.
Leaves rustled without wind.
From behind the thick darkness, a faint blue glow emerged.
A figure…
No.
A person.
A woman wearing torn robes embroidered with ancient runes.
Her presence felt celestial, old, powerful.
Her steps didn't make a sound.
She appeared like a ghost but felt very much real.
Len stepped back defensively.
"Who are you?"
The woman lowered her hood.
A glowing mark shone on her forehead—the same symbol that appeared during Len and Arin's awakening.
Her voice was soft, almost melodic.
"I am Lyselle… Keeper of the Celestial Flame."
Len's fire dimmed slightly.
He narrowed his eyes.
"Did you bring me here? Did you take Arin?"
She shook her head gently.
"No. But I sensed the awakening… and the corruption that followed."
Len's jaw tightened.
"The Abyss Lord took Arin. Tell me where it went."
Lyselle studied him carefully.
"You are burning too fast. Rage alone cannot guide you. If you chase the Abyss now, you will die before reaching her."
Len snapped,
"I don't care."
She frowned.
"You will care when you realize the Abyss feeds on reckless emotion."
Len froze.
"What?"
Lyselle stepped closer, placing a glowing hand near his chest—
not touching, but close enough for him to feel warmth replacing the cold void inside.
"The fire inside you isn't meant to be fueled by destruction… but by purpose."
Len clenched his fist.
"My purpose is Arin."
Lyselle's expression softened—almost sad.
"Then you must learn to control your fire before it consumes you."
Before he could argue—
She raised her palm.
"Close your eyes."
Len hesitated.
"Why?"
"Because I'm about to show you… the truth of what you carry."
The air thickened.
The forest lights dimmed.
Len slowly shut his eyes.
Instantly—
A wave of energy pulled him inward.
He saw visions.
Blurry at first, then sharp.
A battlefield.
Flames reaching the sky.
Two figures standing back-to-back—
One holding blue fire.
The other white starlight.
Both united.
Both inseparable.
Twin Bearers.
Arin and Len.
Together.
But then—
The sky cracked open.
Black chains descended.
The shadows swallowed everything.
The two Bearers screamed—
their hands slipping apart—
Just like Len and Arin now.
Len gasped, opening his eyes suddenly.
His breathing was ragged.
Lyselle looked at him knowingly.
"You understand now, don't you?"
Len whispered,
"This… happened before."
She nodded slowly.
"History repeats itself… when fate is defied."
He felt his rage cooling, replaced by a deep, heavy determination.
"What do I need to do?"
Lyselle walked past him, the forest parting in her presence.
"You must reclaim the First Flame. Only then can you breach the Abyss."
Len followed her.
"Where is it?"
She pointed toward a distant mountain range glowing faintly blue.
"At the heart of the Celestial Forge."
Len took a step forward.
But she added—
"And you must not do this alone."
Len's heartbeat stopped.
He turned sharply.
"What do you mean?"
From the shadows behind a massive tree—
Footsteps.
Someone emerged.
Len froze.
"No… way…"
Ryn.
His clothes torn, face bruised, but alive—
and smiling weakly.
"You didn't think I'd let you run off without me, right?"
Len blinked in disbelief.
"Ryn… I thought you—"
Ryn raised a hand.
"Later. First we save Arin."
Lyselle nodded.
"The path ahead will test your spirit, your resolve… and the bond you share."
Len's fire flared.
"My bond with Arin is unbreakable."
Lyselle watched him with a sad smile.
"We will see."
Suddenly—
The ground trembled.
A distant roar shook the mountains.
The sky pulsed with a dark ripple.
Lyselle's eyes widened.
"No… no… this is too soon—!"
Ryn shouted,
"What's happening?!"
Len looked at the sky—
A massive shadow serpent slithered across the clouds.
A messenger of the Abyss.
"Hunting the Bearer…" Lyselle whispered.
"It has found you."
Ryn cursed,
"Well that's just perfect."
Len's fire surged.
He stepped forward, facing the descending darkness.
"Good."
His eyes burned like blue suns.
"Let it come."
The serpent roared, descending at terrifying speed.
The forest shook.
The sky cracked.
The ground split.
Len raised his fist, blue flames spiraling.
"Because I need something to burn."
And the beast struck.
CHAPTER 14 end.
Chapter 15 coming soon.
Chapter Fifteen coming soon!
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