Dawn broke, and the flames died out.
The Moon-Shattering Altar lay in ruins. The valley, which had burned all night, now fell silent. Scorch marks left by the flames stretched across the mountain ridges, like fateful scars carved by destiny itself.
Deep within the charred rock layers, a faint light flickered softly.
It was the shard of Evelynn's flame core, pulsing amid the ashes.
Lucian carried her scorched body, crawling from the shattered center of the altar. His own form was covered in burns, yet he dared not pause for a moment. Elea followed close behind, stripping off her military robe to wrap Evelynn's exposed body, dabbing away the residual blood at her lips.
"She's still alive," Elea murmured, her fingers trembling as they brushed the flame on Evelynn's chest.
Lucian lowered his head, his voice hoarse: "I can feel her flame core beating. She's still here."
Together, they carried her to a cave where a hot spring bubbled forth. They lit embers and laid her in the warm waters infused with spirit flame.The Flame Queen's BreathWhen Evelynn woke, she was in Lucian's arms, the spring's ripples lapping at her body, and spirit flame flowers blooming quietly around them.
She opened her eyes, first seeing the unshed ash-streaked tears at the corner of Lucian's eyes.
"Were you crying?" she asked, her voice weak but laced with a faint smile.
Lucian bent to kiss her lips, fiery yet gentle.
"I thought I'd lost you once. If it happened again… I would burn down the world."
She kissed him back softly, then turned to look at Elea, who leaned against the cave wall nearby.
Elea met her gaze unflinchingly, walking over to kneel beside the spring. Her fingers traced the flame scars on Evelynn's palm.
"You are no longer a queen."
"You are a god."
Evelynn took her hand, whispering: "No. I am just the one who survived—between you both."
Elea pressed her face to Evelynn's palm, her lips brushing the flame as she replied softly: "Even so, I would burn to ashes for you again."Spirit Flame HealingLucian slowly removed his armor, leaving only a robe of blazing flames clinging to his body, and stepped into the spring. Old wounds still marked his back, yet he feared not the burn of fire.
He stood behind Evelynn, lifting her gently into his arms.
Elea, too, shed her outer robes and slipped into the water, drawing close to Evelynn as if to cradle her fragility and pain with her own body.
Their forms tangled in the spring, no words needed—only the breath of flame, the brush of fingertips, and whispered kisses to soothe each other's fractures.
Lucian kissed her neck, his voice rough: "Let me bear the lingering pain for you."
Elea pressed her forehead to Evelynn's chest: "Let me guard your heartbeat."
Evelynn closed her eyes, placing her hands over the flame on both their hearts.
She murmured: "As long as you are here… I am not dead."
The three sank into the spring's fiery embrace, their intimacy slow and tender. Fire and water merged, desire flickering like a soul's flame—not the fierce collision of old, but a deep, healing warmth.The Flame Queen's OathWhen night fell again, Evelynn could walk on her own.
She stood at the peak of the Moon-Shattering Mountains, gazing at the world cleansed by flame.
Lucian stood to her right, his left hand resting on his sword hilt, his right hand never leaving hers.
Elea stood to her left, her silver robe billowing in the wind, her gaze as unwavering as ever.
Evelynn spoke:
"The Moon-Shattering King's avatar is destroyed, but the true body of the Bone King still hides in the rifts of the Flame Realm."
"Our enemy is the old god who sought rebirth through my body."
She turned to them:
"Will you still walk this path with me—to the end?"
Lucian stared at her for a long moment, a faint smile tugging at his lips:
"If it means walking into hell with you, I will be the bone in your flame."
Elea knelt slowly, performing the oath of fealty:
"Let my body be your shield, my sword your vow, my flame your soul. I shall never fail you, even unto death."
Evelynn held out her hands, taking theirs, and merged their three flame into a triple seal that burned against the sky.
"Then let us swear."
"The Bone King will awaken. First we slay the god, then we burn the heavens."