The chamber's eerie glow faded as Kaen and his companions stepped out of the Ember Vault. The gauntlet's new warmth hummed softly against Kaen's skin, a constant reminder of the power now at his command.
Outside, the world felt different—charged, as if the very air was thick with anticipation. The map the flames had formed in the Vault lingered in Kaen's mind like a burning brand, guiding them forward.
"We need to head northeast," Kaen said, tracing the fiery path etched into his memory. "There's a place called Ashen Reach—a forgotten city said to be scorched long ago."
Tane raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like a perfect place for trouble."
Mira nodded. "And perfect for answers."
Their journey began with a steady march through dense forests, the sunlight filtering weakly through thick canopies. The deeper they went, the more the land bore scars—burnt trees, cracked earth, and the faint smell of smoke hanging in the air.
As dusk settled, the group camped near a small clearing. Around the campfire, tension was thick, each lost in their own thoughts. Kaen's gaze kept returning to the gauntlet, now glowing faintly with a pulsating red light.
Suddenly, the warmth shifted into a sharp sting.
Kaen jerked his arm back, clutching the gauntlet. "It's... reacting."
Mira leaned closer, eyes narrowing. "What is it trying to tell you?"
Kaen closed his eyes, focusing on the sensation. Memories flooded his mind—not his own—but images of fire spreading, of cities burning, and a shadowed figure watching from the flames.
"It's a warning," he said quietly. "Something... or someone is behind the destruction in Ashen Reach."
Tane stood abruptly, hands on his hips. "Then we better move fast."
Before dawn, they pressed on, the path marked by remnants of old battles and whispered legends. Every step took them closer to the truth—and deeper into the mystery of the fire's echoes.
But Kaen couldn't shake a growing unease. The gauntlet's flames sometimes flickered wildly, as if reacting to an unseen threat drawing near.
And somewhere in the distance, a silent watcher stirred in the shadows.