The Star Dragon crossed the night sky like a living storm.
Its wings were made of darkness, and every beat sent broken stars falling across Elyndor. Villages below watched in fear as the ancient creature flew toward the capital.
Aren, Lyria, and Kael stood beside the Star Queen.
"You said the Seventh Flame can rewrite the ancient law," Aren said. "Where can we find it?"
The Star Queen lifted her broken crown and pointed toward the western horizon.
"Beyond the Sea of Shadows lies the Edge of the World. There, inside the Temple of the First Dawn, the Seventh Flame still burns."
Kael frowned.
"Then why has no one taken it?"
"Because the temple has a guardian," the Star Queen answered. "It does not fear swords or magic. It judges the truth inside a person's heart."
Without wasting another moment, the four companions began their journey.
After days of travel, they reached the Sea of Shadows. The water was perfectly still, reflecting a sky without a moon.
An old boat waited at the shore.
There was no sailor.
Only a message carved into the wood:
"The sea carries only those who have nothing left to hide."
As the boat drifted across the dark water, strange visions surrounded them.
Kael saw the battles he had lost.
Lyria saw the family she could not save.
Aren saw the night the first star fell.
In the vision, he was not alone.
A hooded figure had been standing beside him, watching the sky.
Before Aren could see the stranger's face, the vision disappeared.
The boat reached a lonely island where the Temple of the First Dawn stood beneath a sky filled with silent clouds.
Inside the temple, a giant statue guarded a single blue flame floating in the air.
The stone guardian opened its glowing eyes.
"Who seeks the Seventh Flame?"
Aren stepped forward.
"I do."
The guardian's voice echoed through the temple.
"Then answer one question."
"If you could save the kingdom by erasing your own name from history... so that no one would ever remember you... would you accept that fate?"
Aren looked at his friends.
Kael gave a silent nod.
Lyria smiled sadly.
Aren turned back to the guardian.
"A hero does not need to be remembered. If the kingdom lives, that is enough."
For a long moment, the temple was silent.
Then the blue flame rose into the air and floated toward Aren.
The guardian lowered its head.
"You have chosen with courage."
But just as Aren reached for the Seventh Flame, a black arrow flew from the darkness and struck the altar.
A familiar voice laughed.
"You always were too willing to sacrifice everything."
The hooded stranger stepped into the light.
Slowly, he removed his mask.
Aren's heart stopped.
The face staring back at him...
was his own.
To be continued in Part 24...