The vault door closed behind them with a heavy thud.
Leon and Astha stood in silence.
Even though the Book of Ashes was shut, its magic lingered in the air like smoke. Something ancient had stirred.
Then… the floor beneath them shifted.
Rrrrk—
A section of stone slid away, revealing a spiral staircase descending into the dark.
Astha stepped forward, torch in hand.
Leon stared into the blackness. "Another secret?"
Astha nodded. "I think it's more than that. This… feels like a memory the academy buried."
Leon glanced at the glowing mark on his palm. "Then maybe it's time I remember it."
🕯 The Descent
The stairs wound down deeper than either of them expected.
Below, they entered a vast chamber—round, silent, and burning with blue flame torches.
Symbols of the old five houses circled the walls—except one had been blackened out.
In the center of the room stood an altar of stone.
On it, a glowing ember hovered in the air—floating, warm, and alive.
Leon stepped closer.
A voice echoed all around them—not spoken, but heard inside their minds.
"Crimson blood. You have awakened the forgotten."
"Before you take the flame's truth… you must face your own."
🔥 The Trial Begins
The ember pulsed—and the ground beneath Leon vanished.
He fell—not in body, but in spirit—into fire.
💤 Inside the Trial
Leon opened his eyes.
He stood in a burning city.
Flameblood warriors fought each other in the streets. Screams echoed. Sky turned red.
And there—at the heart of the battle—stood a man with Leon's face.
Older. Colder.
Wearing red armor. Holding the same mark on his hand.
"This is what you are," a voice said."Born of fire. Forged in betrayal."
Leon stared in horror as his ancestor raised his hand—and unleashed a wave of flame that burned both enemies and allies alike.
"I'm not him!" Leon shouted.
"Aren't you?" the voice whispered.
Then a girl appeared in the vision—wearing white robes, eyes filled with tears.
She reached toward Leon's ancestor.
"You promised you'd protect us," she said.
And then the vision vanished.
🔓 The Choice
Back in the chamber, Leon dropped to his knees.
Astha rushed forward. "What happened?!"
Leon's voice shook. "I saw what he did. My blood. He betrayed the others. He burned everything—even the one person he loved."
Astha touched his arm. "And what did you do?"
Leon looked up.
"I refused."
The ember pulsed—and turned white.
It floated into Leon's chest, gently disappearing into his body.
His flame mark shifted—now glowing both red and silver.
🔥 A New Power
The chamber lit up.
A door on the far side opened—revealing a crystal pedestal.
On it rested a glowing scroll with the symbol of the first Flameblood code.
Astha whispered, "That's… the original oath."
Leon stepped forward and picked it up.
A voice spoke again—fainter this time.
"You have chosen who you are—not who you were born to be."
"Then go. Carry the flame forward."
🌌 Outside the Temple…
As they left the hidden temple, Leon's fire burned brighter—but it was no longer wild.
It was controlled. Alive. Loyal.
Astha smiled. "Whatever comes next... we'll face it together."
Leon looked toward the mountains.
"Then we need to find the rest of the houses.If any survived… they deserve to know the flame still burns."