Eren and Leylin slowly descended the dark stone staircase, blue flames flaring on the walls as they approached, as if the temple were awakening from a long slumber.
Dampness and heat mingled in the air, and the scent of ancient ash filled the space. In the background, they heard distant whispers, as if spirits were calling their names.
Eren stopped in front of a massive stone door engraved with a fiery circle, with a curved wind symbol in the center. Within the circle were four small holes shaped like open palms.
"This... the seal of guardianship."
Leylin said in a trembling voice, placing her hand over the inscriptions. The momentary glow of red blazed before fading.
"What must we do?"
Eren asked, watching the door.
Leylin answered in a low voice, "We must offer a portion of our fire and spirit... or the door won't open."
She hesitated for a moment, then reached out, lit a small flame in her palm, and placed it on one of the four inscriptions. The stone absorbed the flame and disappeared in a red flash.
Eren looked at her, lit a blue flame on his hand, and placed it on the second inscription. He felt a strange heat drawing something other than fire from within him, as if it were taking a part of his will.
But Eren didn't back down.
As the flames in the inscriptions were complete, the door shook and began to open slowly, releasing a puff of hot ash. It revealed a wide, circular room with a stone platform in the center. Above it stood a thick, black book, surrounded by a faint red glow.
"The First Book of Flames..."
Lilyn whispered, soft tears glistening in her eyes.
Eren slowly approached the book, feeling a tremendous heat radiating from it, as if invisible flames were swirling around it. The closer he got, the more he felt the flames within it blazing brightly, the wind swirling around it, never extinguishing.
He reached for the book, and as his fingers touched it, a sudden vision overwhelmed him:
He saw a great city burning, red flames engulfing the sky, and screams echoing through the air. In the midst of the flames stood a woman resembling Leylin, her eyes glowing golden, and a dark red seal pulsating on her chest.
A black shadow appeared behind her, laughing, and in his hand was a black-red inscription pulsating in a circle. A deep voice uttered:
"The Seal of Death... You shall not escape my curse."
Eren quickly opened his eyes, panting, his hand still on the book, which began to open of its own accord, its pages moving rapidly until it stopped on a page containing a large circle, inside of which were letters in the ancient language of fire.
Leylin quickly advanced, her eyes wide with fear.
"This... This is the Seal of Death. It is bound to the contract between us, Eren."
Eren looked at her, panting.
"What does this mean?"
Leylin answered in a trembling voice, "If we try to force the knot apart... our bodies will be consumed by the fire of the knot, and we will become fuel for this temple, just as Liara did."
Silence fell as the flame on the book grew brighter, and the red seal in Leylin's chest appeared, pulsing slowly, a faint red glow emitting from it.
"Eren... I fear we will fail."
She whispered, her voice broken.
Eren gripped her hand tightly, raising his eyes to hers as the wind swirled around him and the fire burned in his hand.
"No... this time, we will not be afraid. I will not allow the fire to burn you."
Eren took the book from the platform, feeling the flames enter his body, mingling with his soul, as the winds surrounded him, stabilizing the flames.
At that moment, the book slowly opened its pages, revealing a circular inscription before Eren and Leylin. Below it was written:
"For those who wish to break the contract, they must face the spirit that guards the flame, and choose... fire, or wind."
Leylin raised her head toward him and said in a calm voice:
"Eren... are you ready for the confrontation?"
He smiled despite the fear in his chest.
"Together... until the end."
At that moment, the temple doors slowly closed behind them, and flames enveloped the hall, marking the first true test of breaking the contract between fire and wind.