The sun had dipped low, casting an orange hue over the horizon. Deep inside the canyon, where the final glow of light could not reach, the flicker of magma reflected faintly off the darkened stone walls. The air was heavy with the lingering energy of the trial they had just passed. Little Fire sat cross-legged near a jagged pillar of obsidian, watching the soft flame petals of the Fire Lotus sway faintly in the breeze of spiritual qi.
He slowly raised a hand and placed it over his heart. His brows furrowed.
Strange… it's warm… no—hot.
A flame was burning deep in his chest—not scorching, not harmful, but steady and alive. He felt it dance, swirl, and breathe with him. It wasn't like his usual fire cultivation techniques, nor was it part of his innate flame qi. This was… something else. Something that stirred his soul and pulsed in rhythm with his emotions.
Why does it feel like it's part of me now…?
He became lost in thought, eyes glazed, body still. Spirit Fairy was nearby, standing beside the Fire Lotus, observing its final shimmer. She turned her head slowly and noticed his distant gaze.
"Little Fire?" she called gently.
He didn't respond at first. His hand remained over his chest, fingers lightly trembling.
She stepped closer and tilted her head. "What's wrong?"
He finally blinked and looked up. "My heart… it's burning."
Spirit Fairy raised an eyebrow and half-smiled, unsure if he was being poetic or literal. "You're always surrounded by flames. Isn't that normal?"
He shook his head slowly. "No. This is different. It's not my cultivation. It's not pain either. It's like a warm fire… that's living inside me."
She looked at him more seriously now. "Are you sure?"
He nodded. "You should check too. Just in case. Maybe the Fire Lotus left something in both of us."
Spirit Fairy hesitated. Her elegant hand moved gracefully toward her chest. Her fingers hovered briefly, then touched gently above her heart. She closed her eyes and sent her qi inward.
And then—
A strange chill met her senses.
It was subtle, like the silence of falling snow, but unmistakable. Near the center of her core, a frosty aura was spreading. It wasn't harming her—yet—but it was freezing. Slowly, silently, forming an icy lotus opposite of what Little Fire had just described.
Her eyes snapped open, but her expression didn't change.
"No… nothing," she lied, gently withdrawing her hand. "Maybe the flame in you is just a reaction to your affinity."
Little Fire didn't suspect anything. He laughed lightly and scratched his head. "Maybe. It doesn't feel bad… just strange."
She smiled. "Then let's focus on what's ahead. If the lotus was just the beginning, maybe deeper within this place there are more treasures or secrets."
He nodded. "You're right. Let's move."
They walked deeper into the cave.
The tunnel they entered curved and narrowed, winding like a serpent through the volcano's core. Red crystals lined the walls, pulsing dimly as if they breathed. The further they went, the quieter it became, until even the sound of dripping water and flickering flame faded.
After what felt like half an hour, the passage widened into a massive subterranean hall.
Three majestic doors stood before them, towering more than twenty feet high, embedded into the volcanic rock. Each door radiated power, carved with ancient runes and mystical designs that seemed to move faintly in the dim light.
In front of the doors, a smooth black stone jutted from the ground like an altar. Etched in bold, glowing script was a single message:
"Choose One."
Little Fire and Spirit Fairy approached the stone and stood in silence. A faint breeze, though no wind was possible here, brushed past them.
They looked up.
The first door, to the left, was jagged and harsh, forged from dark red metal that looked scorched and battle-worn. It bore a symbol of a broken sword dripping with blood. Thunder rumbled faintly behind it.
"Door of Doom."
The second door, in the center, was made of pale stone that glowed softly. Gentle light leaked through the cracks. A peaceful lake and a soaring bird were engraved upon it.
"Door of Peace."
The third door, to the right, was different.
It shimmered with illusion, its frame shifting between stone, water, fire, and air. Colors swirled across it like a mirage. A single, unblinking eye was engraved at its center, and countless unknown runes twisted slowly in motion across its surface.
"Door of Mystery."
The two of them stood silently, observing each door.
Little Fire tilted his head. "Only one door seems active… Do you feel that?"
Spirit Fairy closed her eyes. "Yes. Only the Door of Mystery is pulsing with spiritual qi. The other two are sealed, for now."
They exchanged a glance.
"No turning back?" he asked.
She smirked. "You're the one with the burning heart. Shouldn't you lead the way?"
He chuckled. "Fine, but if something jumps out, I'm blaming you."
They approached the Door of Mystery together.
As they stepped closer, the runes began to glow more brightly, rotating around the eye. The eye blinked once, as if recognizing them, and the door slowly began to open with a soft, resonant hum.
Beyond it, a corridor of ever-changing elements awaited—walls of mist turning to flame, then stone, then wind, and back again. The floor shimmered with illusions, and every step felt both real and dreamlike.
Spirit Fairy narrowed her eyes. "This isn't just a place… It's a trial of the unknown."
Little Fire's flame sparked around him in preparation. "Then let's face it together."
They stepped into the corridor, the Door of Mystery slowly closing behind them. Whatever lay ahead, it would test not just their strength—but their very natures.
And deep within their hearts, the flame and the frost pulsed in quiet contrast…
Each growing stronger.
Each hiding a fate yet to be revealed.
---[To Be Continued]---