The spirit fox that spoke of the Echoflame now circled Hana and Taemin with glowing tails like ribbons of starlight. Its voice echoed like an old hymn.
> "To wield the Echoflame is to awaken the forgotten and face the unforgiven. You have stirred something long buried, Flamebearer. The plane must test you."
A soft pulse resonated through the Spirit Plane. The sky cracked in thin golden veins, and the ground rippled beneath their feet. Hana gripped Taemin's hand.
"What kind of test?" she asked, wary.
The fox turned toward a rising stone archway ahead.
> "You must pass through the Mirrorgate. There, your fire will be shown its true form. Succeed, and the Echoflame is yours. Fail…"
It didn't finish the sentence.
---
They approached the Mirrorgate—a towering arch of spiritstone, filled not with light, but shadow. The gate pulsed with memories not yet remembered, and emotions too heavy to carry.
Taemin frowned. "These tests are rare… and cruel. It might make you relive pain you never knew you had."
Hana glanced at the mirror-like surface. Her own face stared back—but not her current self.
It was Aran.
She stepped through.
---
Within the Mirrorgate
Hana stood in a dark field under a moonless sky. Alone.
Figures emerged around her—memories, all distorted and cold.
The Shaman—crying over her broken vow.
Taemin—kneeling, stabbed in the back, blaming her.
The Crimson Fang—laughing, wearing her father's face.
She backed away, trembling.
> "You left us."
> "You were too weak."
> "You can't protect him again."
> "You'll lose him… again."
Her fire flickered.
"No," she whispered. "I'm not her shadow anymore."
The voices pressed in. The field turned to fire. The memories grabbed her wrists.
"I'm more than the past. More than guilt."
Her pendant glowed—hotter, brighter. And from her heart, the Echoflame erupted.
Golden fire spiraled around her, burning through illusions. Her fears melted. The voices were silenced.
And at the heart of the flames, she saw her true self—neither Aran nor just Hana.
She was both.
Whole. Reclaimed.
---
Outside the Gate
Taemin shielded his eyes as the gate burst into light.
Hana stepped out.
Hair tousled. Gaze steady. Flames in her hands—and wings of foxfire rippling behind her.
"She passed," the fox spirit said in awe.
"She became the Echoflame."
Taemin walked toward her, voice hoarse. "You… look like a goddess."
Hana smiled, fire curling gently around her like mist. "No. Just someone who remembers what matters."
They didn't know it yet, but their bond had crossed a threshold that few ever reached.
And far away, the Crimson Fang's mirror cracked violently.
"She's awakened too soon," he growled. "Then we'll burn the plane to ashes."
---