The snowstorm on the northern plains showed no sign of abating. On the seventh day after the battle, an anomaly appeared above the Ash Valley of the Broken Tower—remaining bones lingered, transforming into spirit shadows that wandered at night. Though the fire array had died out, ghostly echoes emanated from underground.
"The Cinder Wraiths are not yet dead." Illya stood on the snow-covered ridge, her expression unusually grave.
Aveline stared at the ashen-gray mist-shrouded plain, her gaze sharp as an ice blade. "Their souls still hide beneath the bones… it seems we did not truly exterminate them all."
Lucian rode up, snow dusting his armor, and fixed his eyes on the central bone of the Broken Tower, speaking ly: "Then we'll venture deep into the tower's depths and burn the bone souls to ashes."
Aveline nodded. She understood that a single battle could not lay to rest the corpse of faith—and this journey would not only incinerate the enemy's bones but also reckon with the deepest shadows within herself.
Beneath Flame and Bone
As night fell, Aveline and Lucian descended into the Broken Tower's underground palace personally. Thirty levels below the earth's veins, the flame light dimmed, and ancient flame rune seals and undead incantations were carved into the walls.
"These are forbidden pacts from before the church's exile…" Lucian reached out to brush the stone surface, his eyes cold, "They sealed their faith into bones, to be used as a soul-calling sacrifice for future generations."
Aveline stared at the remains pierced by chains: "Faith is the most terrifying weapon, for it can kill even after death."
Suddenly, the flame scepter in her hand trembled, and a crimson shadow emerged from a crack in the ground—it was the spirit of the church's high priest, once burned to ashes!
It chanted in a soul-curse: "Daughter of royal blood… you burned my temple. Today, I offer my soul in an undead curse, to make you lose your mind and your flame…"
Thick fog surged, and soul-curses coiled like spiderwebs. Aveline faltered, her body swaying. Lucian immediately pulled her into his arms, pressing her tightly against his chest, using his own flame aura to shield her from the curse's invasion.
Aveline clung to his chest, her voice trembling: "This curse… it's entered my bones."
"Then I'll burn your bones clean." He gritted his teeth.
Driving Souls with Flame
They retreated to a stone chamber deep in the underground palace, sealing the array as flame energy gathered.
Aveline endured the curse's invasion, her face pale, fine sweat beading on her forehead, faint dark patterns flickering beneath her skin.
Lucian carried her to the center of the flame array, his gaze steady: "Let it rise to the surface. I'll burn it away for you."
She nodded, sitting cross-legged, stripping off her outer robe to bare her snow-white back, where curse marks began spreading along her spine. She trembled in pain, sweat sliding down her chest.
Lucian knelt behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders: "Bite me. Don't bite your tongue."
With that, he gathered flame power in his palms and slowly pressed them to her lower back.
The curse marks writhed like venomous snakes at the touch of flame. She couldn't help but cry out, sinking her teeth into his shoulder as tears spilled.
He ,driving his full palm of flame power into her, the searing pain shooting through her body. She trembled in agony, her body twisting instinctively, yet never escaping his embrace.
"Deeper…" she murmured.
"You're mad." He cursed, but pressed harder.
She leaned forward, collapsing onto his thighs, her gasps growing ragged and hot.
"Burn me with your fire, Lucian… the deeper you burn, the clearer I become."
He looked at her, fury and desire intertwined, flipping her over to meet her tearful, blazing eyes.
"You want clarity?" He bent to bite her nipple, whispering, "I'll make you ."
In the next instant, he thrust into her. The flame array heated, dual rhythms intertwining as the curse power shredded, pain and pleasure crashing like waves of flame.
She sobbed and moaned, her nails clawing his shoulder as light erupted in the array, and the soul-curse exploded!
In the throes of climax, her soul seemed to lift from the ground, twisting in his scorching embrace, sweat and tears merging.
He held her tightly, kissing her brow fiercely: "You are mine. No scraps of faith shall defile you."
She trembled, smiling through her tears: "You are my last faith."
Silence of the Flame Tower
By the time they emerged from the underground palace, dawn had broken, and the Ash Valley lay utterly silent. The Royal Flame Army sealed all cracks where soul-bones lingered, and the entire Broken Tower burned to ashes by sunset.
Aveline stood on the snowfield, her royal robe fluttering, gaze ablaze.
"The priest is dead, bone and soul incinerated," she declared, "Flame runes shall be re-carved across the northern plains. From this day, no soul shall find rest here."
The army roared in unison: "Flame !"
She turned to Lucian, a smile in her eyes.
He stepped close, whispering in her ear: "Tonight, I'll carve the flame seal into you once more."