The moment Hana and Taemin stepped into the Spirit Plane, the air shifted—thick with emotion, memory, and power.
The ground beneath them shimmered like glass reflecting thousands of versions of themselves. Sky and earth bent around them in vibrant colors that pulsed with the rhythm of their hearts.
"This place…" Hana whispered, "it feels like a dream."
"It's not," Taemin said. "It's truth. Raw and unfiltered. Every step here reflects who you are—or who you've been."
He didn't mention the danger. He didn't have to.
As they moved forward, spirits emerged—not all human. Some were glowing foxes with multiple tails; others were misty silhouettes of past Flamebearers.
One bowed low to Hana, its voice echoing:
> "Welcome, Aran's shadow. The flame has found its shape again."
"I'm not her," Hana said, uneasy.
"But you are," the spirit replied gently. "And also something new."
They passed through a grove of floating willows, each one whispering memories. Hana touched a leaf—and gasped.
She saw her younger self in a past life. Running. Laughing. Holding Taemin's hand under a full moon. A moment before betrayal.
She pulled back, heart pounding. "Why do these trees show my past?"
"They're called Soulbloom Trees," Taemin said. "They reflect pieces of who we were. Be careful—some memories sting."
Suddenly, the world tilted. A rift split through the plane—a black wound edged in crimson.
From it crawled a creature stitched from shadows, its mouth too wide, its eyes hollow.
"A Riftborn," Taemin growled. "A spirit corrupted by the Crimson Fang's influence."
Hana instinctively summoned her foxfire.
The beast lunged.
Taemin moved in front of her—but this time, Hana didn't let him shield her. She threw her hand forward, the fire forming a sigil midair.
The flames twisted—gold and white—and slammed into the Riftborn, turning its body to ash.
Taemin stared, stunned. "That… that wasn't just foxfire. That was blessed."
"I don't know how I did it," she said, panting. "It felt like something inside me just… knew."
The spirit trees swayed in approval.
A golden fox spirit approached them and bowed. "She has awakened the Echoflame—the fire that remembers. The fire born of love and sacrifice."
Taemin's expression changed—fear and hope mixing. "That power hasn't been seen since…"
He didn't finish. He didn't need to.
The Spirit Plane had not only welcomed Hana—it had answered her.
But far in the distance, another Rift cracked open.
And this time, something ancient, massive, and chained stirred again.
> "Flamebearer… do you truly wish to remember everything?"
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