Night had fallen, and fog enveloped the edges of the Black Forest, where giant trees touched the sky in dark shadows, and the calls of night birds mingled with the whispers of the cold wind.
Eren and Leylin stood on a hill overlooking the forest, watching the faint lights of the hunters' camp that occupied the heart of the forest, their black flames piercing the mist.
"It's time."
Eren said, opening his wings of wind behind him, allowing the night breeze to swirl around him, carrying with it the scent of defiance.
Leylin nodded, the golden flame burning quietly in her palm, her face illuminating with clear determination.
"This won't end until we free the fire... and break the chains of the wind."
The two of them descended the hill toward the forest. The darkness was thick, but the wind opened a path for them, while Leylin's flame glowed dimly, barely noticeable, but revealing the way.
At the edge of the camp stood guards in black, their weapons dripping with dark energy, and the mark of a claw wrapped around a black flame adorning their chests.
Eren closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the wind pulse around the camp. He heard the guards' voices, their heartbeats, even the movement of air between their breaths.
He opened his eyes and said, "Come on."
He waved his hand, creating a blade of wind that cut through the lights strung between the trees, plunging the edges of the camp into sudden darkness.
At the same moment, Leylin lunged forward, firing a small ball of golden flame at one of the guards. It exploded silently, knocking him down before he could scream.
The two of them crept into the camp, passing between the black tents that smelled of ash and iron, where weapons imbued with the black energy of fire were stacked.
Leylin saw iron cages at the side of the camp, inside of which were children and women, their eyes wide with fear, some bearing burn wounds.
A little girl cried inside the cage:
"Golden fire..."
Lylin stopped, looked into the child's eyes, and saw her flame reflected in them.
"Eren, we must save them."
He shook his head.
"I'll cover you."
Eren raised his hand, and a whirl of wind formed around the camp, raising the dust and obscuring their vision from the guards, who ran in confusion.
At that moment, Lilin burned the locks on the cages with her golden fire, opened the doors, and the children ran out into the trees, while the women helped each other escape.
"To the hill! There you will find safety!"
Lylin shouted, shielding them with her fire.
But before the escape could be completed, a loud whistle rang out in the camp, and the hunters, wielding dark weapons blazing with black flames, gathered around Eren and Lilin.
A deep, quiet voice pierced the darkness:
"Finally... you've come yourselves."
Nazar, the leader of the hunters, appeared, wearing his black cloak and red stripes, his silver mask gleaming in the shadows of the black flames.
He extended his hand and pulled out a black flame shaped like a slowly beating heart.
"Do you know what this is?"
Lylin felt a searing pain in her chest, her flame suddenly trembling.
"This... this is my flame!"
Nazar chuckled softly.
"This is part of your fire, Lilin. You took it years ago when your sister tried to break the contract... and you kept searching for it without knowing it."
Lylin gasped, tears welling in her eyes.
"Lyra... you're the one who...!"
He slowly shook his head.
"It was just a tool, just like you."
Eren advanced, the wind roaring around him, his wings flinging furiously behind him.
"Give her her fire now!"
Nazar raised the black flame, black flames rising in the camp, while the hunters raised their weapons, black arrows shooting towards Eren and Leylin.
But in an instant, Eren slammed his hand to the ground, creating a wave of wind that deflected the arrows, while Leylin unleashed her golden flames, engulfing the small black flames.
Nazar advanced, raising his hand holding the black flame, and it transformed into a massive black fire dragon, coiling around his body and making the shadows tremble.
"Come, Heir of the Winds... Show me your power."
Eren and Leylin exchanged glances, reaching out to grasp each other's hands, a golden-purple aura forming around their bodies, the wind swirling within it, and the flames blazing within.
"This time... we will fight together."
"Erin whispered," he said.
"And we will free our fire... and our wind."
"Leylin" replied.
At that moment, the two of them rushed toward Nazar, the winds screaming around Erin, the golden fire blazing in Leylin's hand, as the dark night was illuminated by a light the camp had never known before.