Location: Outer Ridge of Mount Vashera — Day 9 in Atheria
The sun had barely begun to rise when the caravan reached the edge of a cliff. Jiwoo stepped forward, eyes scanning the vast, glowing basin beyond.
A sprawling city sat atop black volcanic stone. Glistening spires rose from the crater like obsidian teeth. Rivers of light flowed between buildings carved from cooled lava and embedded with glowing crystal veins.
The air was warm—not burning, but pulsing with a deep, ancient heat.
Mistress Lura stepped beside Jiwoo, resting on her staff.
> "This is Tivaros, the City of the Sleeping Flame."
> "It was built atop a dead volcano. Or… so people think."
Jiwoo's brow furrowed. "You think it's not dead?"
Lura chuckled. "In Atheria, nothing powerful ever truly sleeps."
---
Arrival at Tivaros
As the caravan entered the outer gates, they were greeted by a procession of local officials wearing half-masks of bone and flameglass. Each person was scanned by a hovering rune-disc for weapons, curses, or spiritual instability.
When Jiwoo stepped forward, the rune froze.
Then overloaded—cracking with sparks.
The guard's eyes narrowed.
"Faulty device," Jiwoo said calmly, placing a hand over it.
With a touch, the rune disc simply disintegrated into harmless dust.
The guard blinked. "…Right. Welcome, traveler."
The group passed without issue—but Jihae whispered, "We're drawing attention."
Jiwoo nodded. "We'll stay low."
---
Inside Tivaros
The streets were paved with obsidian bricks and lined with glowing runes that changed color with the time of day. Heat vents along the sides released gentle warmth, filling the air with spicy steam and hints of cinnamon, ashfruit, and fire-salt.
Market stalls buzzed with exotic trade:
Fire pearls that could boil water when dropped in a cup.
Molten silk, worn only by flame dancers.
Spirit-mirrors, which showed your "true nature" if stared into too long.
And most interesting of all—Relic Vaults, guarded by masked monks in red robes.
Eunsol whispered, "This is the richest place we've seen yet."
Sena looked around. "Also the most paranoid."
---
The Vault of Ash and Echo
Curious, the group followed a side street to a stone building embedded in a cliff wall. A sign above read:
> Vault of Ash and Echo
"Relics of flame, forgotten gods, and voices that still whisper."
Inside, the walls were lined with glowing glass coffins. Each held an object suspended in magical energy—some broken, some whole, all vibrating with strange energy.
One relic, in particular, caught Jiwoo's eye.
A sword hilt, with no blade, hovering in a field of flickering blue fire. The plaque read:
> Remains of the First Flame Sovereign's Blade
It was said he could cut storms with it, though no blade was ever seen.
As Jiwoo stared, the fire around the hilt pulsed—as if recognizing something.
Jiwoo stepped back. "Let's not touch anything."
Noeun smirked. "Tempted?"
"Always," Jiwoo replied. "But not today."
---
Mirae's Song Draws Attention
Outside the vault, Mirae hummed softly to herself as they walked.
The melody—gentle, wordless—drifted into the air like a river of silver.
Suddenly, a merchant collapsed mid-step.
His eyes wide. Hands shaking.
"I… I saw a vision…" he gasped. "A golden city… floating on fire… nine lights… and a voice that said… 'they've arrived.'"
Other citizens around him stopped. Some knelt. Others whispered.
Sena whispered to Jiwoo, "We're not staying invisible much longer."
---
The Whispering Priest
That evening, as the group rested in a tavern carved from black stone, a visitor entered quietly.
He wore a mantle of crimson feathers and had eyes like obsidian coals.
"I bring no threats," he said, bowing.
"I am Vaelth, Whispering Priest of the Deep Flame."
Jiwoo gestured to a seat. "What do you want from us?"
Vaelth's smile was sad. "Not want. Just… knowledge."
He looked at each of them carefully.
> "The fires below this city have not stirred in a thousand years. But yesterday… they breathed."
> "Today, they called your names."
No one spoke.
Vaelth continued, gently, "There is an ancient prophecy in the Deep Flame Church. About the arrival of Nine Invincibles. One of Light. One of Calm. One of Sound. One of Thunder. One of Wind. One of Fire. One of Law. One of Bloom…"
He paused, looking at Jiwoo.
"…And the One Without Limit."
Jiwoo leaned back, gaze steady. "And what does your church say we do?"
Vaelth smiled faintly.
> "They say you bring the age that follows kings."
> "An age where rule is by soul, not sword."
> "An age not yet ready to arrive."
Then he stood.
"I will not tell the others. But Tivaros has many eyes. Not all as peaceful as mine."
He bowed once more. "Should you ever need a friend in fire, I will burn for you."
And with that, he left.
---
Final Scene – Balcony of the Black Flame Inn
That night, Jiwoo stood on the balcony overlooking the glowing crater city, soft lights flickering like molten gold.
Jihae joined him.
"We can't stay here," she said.
"No," Jiwoo replied.
"But we'll remember this place," Mirae said, appearing beside them. "It remembers us."
"Everything here remembers," Yoori whispered. "Even the stone."
Baek stretched behind them. "So where next?"
Jiwoo watched the sky.
> "East. Toward the desert. The mark on the scroll still calls."
> "And maybe… the world itself wants us to follow."
No kingdom. No throne.
Just nine invincibles.
And an endless world still waiting to be walked.
---