As morning dawned, the fog lifted from the mountaintops, revealing before Eren and Leylin the imposing black stone gate, engraved with intertwined flames and winds, while small flames danced in its recesses.
"This... is the First Flame Temple?" Eren whispered as the wind whipped around his coat, beads of cold sweat trickling down his back despite the chill of the morning.
Leylin slowly advanced, placing her hand on the inscriptions. They glowed red. The two heard the sounds of breaking rocks, as the heavy stone door slowly opened, emitting a hot exhalation from within, as if the temple were breathing.
They entered together, finding themselves in a vast hall, from which blue torches flickered on black pillars, and a stone floor engraved with ancient fire signs.
"We've passed the gate... what next?"
Eren asked, watching the spiral staircase spiral into the darkness.
"The Guardians' Test..."
Lylin answered in a low voice, her hand trembling slightly, "It is said that the spirits of the Guardians of Fire inhabit this place, allowing only those worthy of untying the knot to pass through."
As Eren took a step forward, the ground shook, and tall humanoid figures emerged from the shadows, covered in blue flames, their eyes glowing like embers.
There were three Guardians of Fire, each holding a fiery sword whose glow flickered with every movement. A single voice echoed in the hall, but it seemed to come from all of them:
"Whoever challenges the Guardian Flame, must prove that their heart harbors no fear of fire."
Eren clenched his hand, glowing blue with the wind, and took a step forward. His voice firm, he said, "I am here to free fire from its shackles, to break the knot that has bound our souls!"
The three Guardians pounced simultaneously, their fire swords screaming in the air. Eren ignited his flame, and the wind swirled around him to protect him. He felt the blazing heat, but the wind no longer extinguished the fire; it only intensified it.
At that moment, Leylin grabbed his other hand, and her red fire fused with his blue fire, creating a violet flame that danced in the air.
"Together!"
Leylin shouted, and Eren leaped upwards, wings of fire appearing behind his back, propelling himself toward the Guardians.
He collided with the first fire sword, but the combined flame of wind and fire shattered the sword like glass. The Guardian retreated, fading into blue ash.
The other two Guardians advanced, but Eren closed his eyes. He felt the wind pass through his body, the fire melting into his soul, exploding from his palm as a fiery arrow that struck the second Guardian in the chest, turning him to ash.
The last Guardian stood, his eyes shining, then raised his sword, unleashing a giant wave of fire that hurtled toward Eren and Leylin. Eren opened his wings of fire, splitting the wave in half, and lunged forward, striking the Guardian's chest with his flaming palm.
In a moment of silence, the last Guardian exploded in a blue glow, then turned to ash, flying into the air as the hall returned to its former calm.
Eren gasped, his hand still ablaze with violet flames. He looked at Leylin, who smiled despite the tears in her eyes.
"We... did it."
Eren smiled, his face glinting in the light of the dancing flames.
"Come on... find the First Book of Flame."
He advanced toward the stone stairway that led them into the depths of the temple, where the secret would break the contract forever... or burn them inside if they failed.
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