The cavern trembled, the River of Embers casting wild, flickering shadows across the obsidian walls. Elias Woodmere's heart pounded, the spark in his chest pulsing with a frantic rhythm that matched the guttural roar echoing through the sanctuary. Serina stood beside him, her dagger gleaming in the firelight, her green eyes darting between the glowing runes and the molten river. Zoryk gripped his curved sword, its runes flaring brighter than his tattooed arm, his face a mask of grim resolve.
"What *is* that?" Elias asked, his voice barely audible over the roar. The sound wasn't just loud—it was alive, a primal force that shook the stone and set his nerves on edge.
Zoryk's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on the river's far end, where the flames churned with unnatural violence. "Something old," he said, his voice low and tight. "Something the sanctuary was meant to keep buried."
Serina snorted, but her smirk was strained. "Great. Another death trap. You really know how to pick 'em, mercenary."
"Save the sass, little thief," Zoryk shot back, his sword raised. "Whatever's coming, it's not here to talk."
Elias's spark flared, its heat a mix of fear and defiance. The emberwraiths had tested him, deemed him worthy, but this new threat felt different—darker, hungrier. He flexed his fingers, willing the flame to steady, but his body was still drained from the wraith fight, his spark flickering like a candle in a storm. "Can we outrun it?" he asked, hating how small his voice sounded.
Zoryk shook his head. "Not in here. The sanctuary's paths are sealed until the flame's satisfied. We fight, or we die."
Serina's eyes met Elias's, a flicker of worry breaking through her bravado. "You got any juice left, spark-boy?" she asked, her tone lighter than the situation warranted. "Because we're gonna need more than a campfire."
Elias managed a weak smile, despite the dread coiling in his gut. "I'll try," he said, summoning the spark. A small flame flickered in his palm, unsteady but warm, its glow a faint defiance against the cavern's growing darkness.
The roar surged, closer now, and the river erupted in a geyser of molten fire. From the flames emerged a creature unlike anything Elias had seen—a massive, serpentine beast, its body a writhing mass of blackened scales and glowing red veins, like the bloodwarg but far larger, far deadlier. Its head was a nightmare of jagged horns and burning eyes, its maw wide enough to swallow a man whole. The air around it shimmered with heat, the runes on the walls dimming as its presence drained their light.
"Voidserpent," Zoryk said, his voice grim. "A spawn of the Oblivion. The sanctuary's final guardian—or its executioner."
Elias's knees buckled, the spark in his hand wavering. The voidserpent's eyes locked onto him, their crimson glow boring into his soul. It didn't just see him—it *knew* him, its hunger drawn to the spark like a moth to a flame. "It's after me," he whispered, the realization hitting like a blow.
"Then make it regret it," Serina said, shoving him forward. Her dagger flashed as she darted toward the serpent, her movements a blur of reckless courage. "Come on, spark-boy! Time to shine!"
Zoryk charged, his sword slashing in a glowing arc. The voidserpent roared, its tail whipping through the air, shattering an obsidian bridge with a single blow. Elias stumbled back, his flame sputtering. He wasn't ready for this—not for a monster, not for the Oblivion, not for the weight of Kaylin's legacy. But Serina's shout, Zoryk's blade, the spark's insistent heat—they pulled him forward.
He raised his hands, channeling the spark. The flame grew, not wild but focused, its glow matching the river's fire. "I'm not afraid," he lied, his voice trembling. The voidserpent lunged, its jaws snapping, and Elias unleashed the flame, a blazing torrent that slammed into the creature's face. It screeched, rearing back, its scales smoldering but unbroken.
"Nice one!" Serina called, leaping onto the serpent's back. Her dagger stabbed repeatedly, sparks flying as the blade bit into its hide. The voidserpent thrashed, throwing her off, but she rolled to her feet, grinning like she was enjoying herself. "Keep it up, spark-boy!"
Zoryk's sword carved a glowing rune in the air, its light flaring as it struck the serpent's side. The creature roared, its tail sweeping toward him. Zoryk dove, narrowly avoiding the blow, but the impact shook the cavern, sending chunks of stone crashing into the river. "The runes!" Zoryk shouted, pointing to the walls. "They're its anchor! Destroy them, boy!"
Elias's eyes darted to the glowing carvings, their light pulsing in sync with the voidserpent's veins. He didn't know how to destroy them, but the spark urged him on, its heat a command. He ran toward the nearest wall, dodging the serpent's thrashing tail, and pressed his flaming hands against the runes. The stone burned, the carvings cracking under the heat, and the voidserpent's roar turned to a scream.
"It's working!" Serina yelled, her dagger slicing across the creature's flank. "Keep going!"
Elias moved to the next rune, his flames growing stronger with each step. The voidserpent's movements slowed, its glow dimming as the runes shattered. But the effort was draining him, his vision blurring, his spark flickering. He stumbled, catching himself against the wall, his chest heaving.
"Elias!" Serina's voice was sharp, urgent. She was pinned beneath the serpent's claw, her dagger lodged in its scales, her face strained with effort. Zoryk was on the other side of the cavern, fighting to reach her, but the serpent's tail blocked his path.
Elias's heart stopped. He didn't think—he acted. The spark roared, fueled by fear and desperation, and he unleashed a wave of fire, not at the runes but at the voidserpent's claw. The flames burned hotter than ever, white-hot and blinding, forcing the creature to release Serina. She scrambled free, her eyes wide with shock. "Gods, spark-boy," she gasped. "Where'd that come from?"
He didn't answer, his legs giving out as the spark faded, leaving him hollow. Serina caught him, her arm around his waist, her breath warm against his cheek. "Stay with me," she said, her voice fierce. "We're not done yet."
Zoryk reached the final rune, his sword slicing through it with a burst of light. The voidserpent screamed, its body collapsing into a cloud of ash and embers, its red veins extinguished. The cavern stilled, the river's glow steadying, the runes dark and silent.
Elias sank to his knees, Serina still holding him. His body felt like it was made of lead, the spark a faint whisper. "Is it… over?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
"For now," Zoryk said, sheathing his sword. His cloak was torn, his face streaked with soot, but his eyes were sharp, studying Elias with a mix of respect and suspicion. "You've got more fire than I thought, boy. But that was no ordinary voidserpent. The Oblivion's growing bolder."
Serina helped Elias to his feet, her touch lingering a moment longer than necessary. "Yeah, well, we're still here," she said, her smirk returning. "So screw the Oblivion."
Elias managed a weak laugh, but his mind was elsewhere. The voidserpent's eyes, its hunger for his spark—it wasn't just a monster. It was a message, a warning of what was coming. And Kaylin's memories, Lysa's tears, Malik's betrayal—they were all tied to it.
---
They rested by the River of Embers, the cavern's warmth a fragile shield against the cold reality outside. Zoryk stood watch at the bridge, his sword across his knees, his tattoo glowing faintly. Serina sat beside Elias, her knees drawn up, her dagger idle for once. The fight had shaken her, though she'd never admit it, and the silence between them was heavy with unspoken words.
"You okay?" Elias asked, his voice soft. He didn't look at her, his eyes fixed on the river's glow, but he felt her presence, steady and warm.
She shrugged, her smirk half-hearted. "Been through worse. You, on the other hand, look like you got run over by a bloodwarg."
He chuckled, the sound easing the tension in his chest. "Feels like it." He hesitated, then added, "Thanks. For… you know, not letting me die back there."
She turned to him, her green eyes catching the firelight. "Don't get sappy on me, spark-boy. I just didn't want to drag your corpse all the way to Emberfall."
He smiled, but her words didn't hide the truth. She'd risked her life for him, again and again, and he didn't know why. "Serina," he said, his voice quieter now. "What you said before, about owing someone… who was it?"
Her smirk faded, her gaze dropping to the river. For a moment, he thought she wouldn't answer. Then she sighed, her voice barely above a whisper. "My brother. Cassian. He was a Flameborn, one of the best. He believed in the Eternal Flame, thought it could fix the world. But the Brotherhood… they used him, twisted his fire until there was nothing left. He died fighting their wars, and I couldn't save him."
Elias's chest ached, the weight of her words sinking in. "I'm sorry," he said, knowing it wasn't enough.
She shook her head, her jaw tight. "Don't be. Just… don't let your spark turn you into them, okay? Promise me that."
He met her eyes, the vulnerability in them cutting deeper than any blade. "I promise," he said, and meant it.
She nodded, looking away, her smirk returning like a mask. "Good. Now rest up, spark-boy. We've got a long way to go."
Elias leaned back against the stone, the river's warmth seeping into his bones. But as he closed his eyes, another memory stirred, sharper and more painful than the others.
---
He was Kaylin, standing on a cliff overlooking a burning city. The sky was choked with ash, the Eternal Flame's light barely visible through the smoke. Lysa stood beside him, her golden hair matted with blood, her armor cracked. "It's over, Kaylin," she said, her voice hollow. "Malik's won. The flame's corrupted."
Kaylin's hand tightened on his sword, his fire flickering. "Not yet," he said, his voice raw. "There's still a chance. The River of Embers—it can cleanse the flame, restore the balance."
Lysa's eyes filled with tears. "At what cost? Your life? Mine? You can't keep sacrificing everything for this."
He turned to her, his heart breaking. "I have to, Lysa. The Oblivion's coming. If the flame dies, so does everything we love."
She stepped closer, her hand on his cheek. "Then let me fight with you. One last time."
He shook his head, pulling away. "I won't lose you. Not again."
The memory shattered, replaced by a battlefield. Kaylin fought alone, his flames blazing against Malik's dark fire. Lysa's scream echoed, distant but piercing, as the Oblivion's shadows rose. Kaylin fell, his spark fading, his last thought of her.
---
Elias jolted awake, his breath ragged, his spark flaring unbidden. Serina was at his side in an instant, her hand on his shoulder. "Another vision?" she asked, her voice gentle.
He nodded, his throat tight. "Lysa… she wanted to fight with Kaylin, but he wouldn't let her. He thought he could save the flame alone. He was wrong."
Serina's eyes softened, but before she could speak, Zoryk's voice cut through the cavern. "We've got company," he said, standing, his sword drawn. "Brotherhood scouts, closing in fast."
Elias scrambled to his feet, his spark still weak but stirring. The cavern's entrance glowed with orange flames, not the river's gold but the harsh light of Flameborn soldiers. Their shouts echoed, sharp and commanding. "Find the boy! The spark is ours!"
Serina cursed, her dagger ready. "So much for a break."
Zoryk's smirk was grim. "Ready for round two, boy?"
Elias's spark flared, its heat a defiance against the fear. He didn't know if he could fight, didn't know if he could carry Kaylin's war. But as he looked at Serina, her fierce grin, and Zoryk, his blade glowing, he knew he wasn't alone. Not yet.
The Brotherhood scouts stormed the cavern, their flames blazing, and Elias raised his hands, the spark igniting into a fire that lit the darkness. Whatever came next, he'd face it—not as Kaylin, but as himself.
---
Author's Note:
Flemborn, you're so cool for sticking with this! 🔥 Chapter 6 is a roller coaster - the Void Snakes, Lisa's heartbreaking scene, and now the Brotherhood is closing in! 😱 How do you feel - can Elias trust Zoric, or is he falling into a trap? And what did you think of Elias and Serena's moment? Share your theories in the comments - I'm *obsessed* with your opinions! Next chapter, so hit the star button and add *Ashes* to your library to keep the flames burning. 💥
PS: Team Elias, Team Serena, or Team Zoric? And which is scarier - the Void Snake or the Brotherhood hunt? Let's enjoy together! 👀
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