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The storm had begun.
Thunder rolled across the sky, and lightning flashed like angry cracks in the clouds. The world felt heavier, as if holding its breath. Chirag, Siya, and Kael stood at the edge of the northern ruins, facing the enormous door that had just opened.
What they saw behind it was not what they expected.
Inside, the air shimmered with powerful energy. A huge stone chamber stretched before them, carved with strange symbols that glowed faintly. In the center stood a figure, slowly waking from a deep slumber. Their body was wrapped in ancient chains of light, but those chains were breaking—one by one.
Chirag stepped forward, his hand glowing with the Eternal Flame. "Is that… one of the Originals?"
Kael nodded, eyes narrowed. "The First. The one called Nareth."
Siya whispered, "Nareth… the God of Nothingness."
As the last chain shattered, the figure's eyes opened—deep, black voids that seemed to swallow light. A heavy pressure swept across the chamber, making everyone stagger.
The being rose slowly, its tall, slender form radiating cold energy. It looked at them not with hatred, but with calm curiosity. Then, it spoke. Its voice was soft, yet it echoed like thunder.
> "So… the gods are gone. And mortals now carry their fire."
Chirag held his ground. "We're not here to bow to you. We're here to protect the world."
Nareth tilted its head. "Protect it… or claim it?"
Kael raised his spear. "Don't test us."
The Original gave a soft laugh. "You think you're ready to fight me? You don't even understand what I am."
Chirag's heart pounded, but he didn't look away. "We've defeated gods before. We won't let you destroy what we've built."
Suddenly, Nareth raised a hand—and the ground split beneath their feet. Energy burst out like a wave, throwing everyone back. Chirag crashed into a wall, coughing as dust filled the air. Siya and Kael stood quickly, protecting him.
But Chirag stood again, flames sparking in his eyes.
"Enough," he said, stepping forward. "I don't care how old you are or how powerful you were. This is our world now. We won't kneel. We'll fight."
The Eternal Flame lit up around him, brighter than ever. The heat forced Nareth to take a step back, and for the first time, there was a flicker of something like surprise on the Original's face.
"You… carry the true flame," Nareth said.
Chirag didn't respond. Instead, he called forth his full power, and fire erupted around him like a storm. Kael followed, his spear glowing with lightning. Siya summoned her dark magic, weaving protective spells around them all.
Together, they struck.
---
The battle shook the mountains. Fire, light, and shadow clashed with ancient energy. Chirag moved faster than ever, his flame blazing through the air as he struck again and again. Kael's attacks were sharp and timed perfectly, each hit pushing Nareth back. Siya's dark chains tried to hold the Original in place, giving Chirag moments to breathe.
But Nareth was strong—too strong.
With one wave of its hand, it erased an entire hill in the distance. The air around them bent, and gravity twisted unnaturally. Time seemed to blur.
Chirag gritted his teeth. "He's warping the world!"
"We can't keep this up forever!" Kael shouted.
Siya, breathing hard, whispered, "There must be a way…"
Then suddenly—Chirag felt something.
A pulse inside him. Not pain. Not fear. A memory.
A whisper from the Eternal Flame.
> "You must awaken the second flame."
His eyes widened. "Another flame?"
He reached inward, deeper into his power, and something answered. A second light burst inside him—a silvery-blue flame, calm and pure.
The Eternal Flame… had a twin.
As the new flame lit up within him, Nareth stopped. "No… it cannot be…"
Chirag's body glowed with two lights—one red-gold, one silver-blue. He raised his hand, and both flames joined together.
The energy that burst forth was like the birth of a star.
Nareth screamed—not in pain, but in shock—and was thrown back, crashing into the stone pillars behind him.
Kael stared in awe. "What… is that power?"
Siya smiled, though her eyes were wide. "It's hope."
---
Nareth struggled to rise, their body now flickering like smoke. "You are not mortal… not fully."
Chirag stepped forward. "I am what this world needs me to be. And I won't let you destroy it."
Nareth looked at him long and hard. "You've awakened a force that even the gods feared. The Second Flame… it was never meant to rise."
Chirag's voice was firm. "Then they shouldn't have left it to me."
For a moment, there was silence. Then, Nareth faded into shadow, vanishing into the wind.
Siya looked around. "He escaped."
Chirag nodded. "But he's weakened."
Kael lowered his spear. "And now he knows we're ready."
Chirag turned toward the horizon, where the sky still trembled.
"One Original down," he said, "and more to go. But now, we have something they don't expect."
Siya stepped beside him. "You."
Chirag held her hand. "No. Us."
And so, the storm moved on—but now, so did hope.
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