The temple doors closed behind Eren and Leylin, and red torches lit up the walls, illuminating the circular hall with a warm, eerie light.
In the center of the hall, a fiery circle danced across the floor, centered by the intertwined symbol of fire and wind. Above it, a great flame formed the figure of a woman with long fiery hair, golden eyes, and a face that held both sadness and serenity.
"This... is her."
Leylin whispered, tears glistening on her cheeks, "Spirit of the Flame... my sister Liara."
Liara stared at them, her voice soft as the flames swayed over her body.
"Little Fire... Heir of the Wind... have you come to break the bond that binds your souls?"
Eren answered, steadfast despite his fear.
"We come to free the Fire... and to free the Wind."
Liara closed her eyes for a moment, before opening them again, the flames blazing around her even more, her golden eyes glowing even brighter.
"Then, face my fire... prove that your hearts are not afraid of flame."
Suddenly, flames erupted from Liara's body, transforming into small fire dragons that soared into the air, swiftly attacking Eren and Leylin, filling the hall with a suffocating heat.
Eren leaped, unfurling his wings of fire and wind behind him, fending off a fire dragon with a slash of his violet-flamed hand, as the wind swirled around his body to protect him.
Leylin fired a powerful red fireball at another dragon, but it was quickly absorbed by the larger flame, transforming into an even stronger flame that surged toward her. She fell to her knees, gasping.
"No... they're absorbing our fire!"
Leylin cried out in fear as the fire dragons closed in on her.
Eren quickly ran towards her, opening his fire wings to protect her. The flames brushed against his wings and burned his skin, but he gritted his teeth and endured.
"Leylin! Fire needs wind... Merge your flame with mine!"
Leylin looked at him with tearful eyes, but nodded, lighting a small fire in her hand. She reached out towards Eren, and her red flame merged with his wind. The violet flame flared up again, this time with a more steady swirl.
Eren screamed, raising his hand upwards. A violet vortex of fire formed, consuming the fire dragons one by one, turning them into tiny sparks that vanished into thin air.
The flames around Liara receded as she stared at them silently, her eyes glistening with tears. Her voice trembled, "The wind... didn't extinguish the fire."
Liara took a step forward, and the flames around her faded, revealing her translucent body, her heart a speck of pure red flame.
"They... everyone forgot that the winds could be the wings of fire, not its enemy."
Leylin trembled and reached out for her sister.
"My sister... I finally understand."
Leara smiled and reached out for Liara, but her fiery hand slipped past her sister's without touching her.
"Leylin... beware the Death Seal... the contract that binds you to Eren will eventually demand a sacrifice, even if you break them."
She then looked at Eren and said,
"If you choose to save the fire... you may lose the winds."
Liara's body slowly began to burn, turning into ash that flew into the air. She smiled peacefully, leaving behind a circle of fire on the ground that turned into a small red light that rose to the ceiling, revealing a stone door leading into the depths of the temple.
Eren knelt down, catching his breath as his burning hand slowly died down. He looked at Lilyn, who was silently weeping.
"Lilyn... whatever the cost... we will continue on our path."
Lilyn raised her head, her eyes shining in the final glow of the fire Liara had left behind. "Together... even if it means facing death."
They rose together and headed toward the stone door, which slowly opened, leading them into the deepest secrets of the temple, where the most difficult decision that would change everything awaited them.