I was still processing what had happened in the valley when we returned to the outpost. The walk felt far too long, even though it was short. Maybe it was the weight of what we had discovered, or maybe it was the voice that had echoed inside the flame, as if something within it had awakened.
Rai'kanna stayed at the front the entire way, silent. It was rare to see her like this. Lyannis walked close to me, restless and trying not to show fear, while Elara watched the rear and Vespera complained about the cold that insisted on clinging to her. Liriel kept her grimoire open, analyzing every detail of the fragment we had collected.
When we reached the fort, the commander was waiting at the entrance with a tense expression.
"You took too long," he said. "And the cold wind has increased. That's not a good sign."
Rai'kanna handed over the fragment we recovered. "The ice spirit wasn't alone. We found a larger construct, connected to the corruption."
He frowned when he saw the pulsating fragment. "This… looks like an unstable core."
"Not just unstable," Liriel commented. "It reacts to Takumi's flame."
The commander looked at me. "Then he is the focus."
"Not by my choice," I replied.
Vespera gave my shoulder a light elbow. "This time it wasn't his fault… at least not directly."
The commander sighed. "The king has requested that you return to the palace immediately. He wants you to bring this to the Chamber of the Ancient Heart."
Rai'kanna widened her eyes. "The chamber? It's that serious?"
"It's more serious than we thought," he said. "And the king wants Takumi there as soon as possible."
The trip back to the castle was silent. Not even Lyannis tried to start a conversation — and that said a lot about the gravity of the situation. With each step we took, the fragment seemed to pulse more strongly inside Liriel's backpack, as if it were alive.
When we entered the palace, we were immediately led to a door I had never seen before. It was gigantic, made of dark metal and decorated with symbols of intertwined flames. Two guards escorted us to the entrance but stayed behind.
Rai'kanna placed her hand on the door. "Only the royal family or those they allow may enter."
Elara looked at me. "So we're trusting her."
"We've been doing that for quite a while," I replied.
The door opened with a deep crack, revealing a circular corridor lit by red crystals. We went down an endless staircase until we reached a huge chamber with a central pedestal. The floor had ancient marks that resembled enormous claws, and the air was heavy like hot smoke.
In the center of the room, King Drathen was waiting for us.
"Takumi," he said, without hesitation. "I need to see the fragment."
Liriel handed him the core. The pale blue glow lit the king's face, and he frowned immediately.
"This confirms my suspicions."
"And what are they?" I asked.
"Someone is trying to awaken the Ancient Heart."
The words echoed through the chamber like muffled thunder.
"What is the Ancient Heart?" Vespera asked.
Drathen took a deep breath. "The source of the dragons' life. The first flame. The energy that shaped this land. It should remain dormant… but someone is trying to force it awake, and they are using these fragments to test the limits of the balance."
"And why does this affect spirits?" Elara asked.
"Because the Ancient Heart regulates elemental flow. If it is corrupted, all spirits will lose stability."
Liriel closed her grimoire. "That would explain the ice spirit's behavior… and the construct."
And it would explain something else too.
"And the voice?" I asked. "The one I heard."
Drathen looked at me as if he had been expecting that question.
"The Ancient Heart has consciousness. Not like ours, but it has instincts and memory. The flame inside you… may have created a bond."
A chill crawled up my spine.
"So it's calling to me?"
"Yes. But not only that." The king pressed the fragment between his fingers. "It is being corrupted, and it may be trying to warn you before it's too late."
Lyannis stepped closer, gripping my sleeve. "Takumi… this is too dangerous."
"I agree," Rai'kanna said. "If the Ancient Heart is truly awakening, we need to seal it again."
"And how do we do that?" I asked.
Drathen pointed to a passage behind the pedestal. "The Core Chamber. The original seal lies there. We must reinforce it. And for that, Takumi… we will need your flame."
My stomach dropped. "Use it how?"
"As a stabilizer. Your flame is different. It's not just human nor entirely magical. It can balance the flow."
Liriel placed a hand on my shoulder. "But this might be too dangerous for you. If the core's energy is too strong—"
"He might lose control," Elara finished.
Vespera pushed my shoulder lightly. "And if you get possessed by some ancient flame, I swear I'm smacking you."
"Comforting as always," I muttered.
Drathen continued:
"We won't force you to do anything. But without your flame, we won't be able to slow the corruption's advance. And if the Ancient Heart awakens fully… the entire territory may collapse."
I looked at the fragment.
It pulsed.
And for a moment, I felt the same voice — soft, distant — calling to me.
"I'll do it," I replied.
The girls reacted in different ways:
Liriel gripped her book tightly.
Elara looked away, worried.
Vespera sighed loudly, frustrated.
Lyannis widened her eyes, almost indignant.
And Rai'kanna… simply nodded, as if she already knew what my answer would be.
"Then come," said the king. "Time is running out."
We went down a narrow corridor that led to the depths of the mountain. The heat increased with each step, and the red glow of the crystals mixed with a golden mist that seemed to breathe.
The final chamber was gigantic.
The Ancient Heart pulsed at the center — a colossal sphere of red and golden energy, held by magical chains that shimmered like living scales.
The ground vibrated softly.
And the flame inside me… responded.
"Takumi," Drathen said. "When I break the first barrier, you will feel the pressure. Do not fight it. Just let your flame stabilize the current."
"Got it."
"Don't do this alone," Rai'kanna said firmly. "We'll stay with you."
I smiled. "I never thought you'd be far."
Liriel raised runes, Elara prepared spiritual arrows, and Vespera created currents of wind around the area. Lyannis positioned herself behind me, determined despite her obvious fear.
The king lifted his hands.
The magical chains holding the Ancient Heart began to tremble.
The ground grew hot. The air felt like it was burning. And then—
The first barrier broke.
A wave of energy swept across the room. I felt the flame inside me surge, like a wild animal pulled by something greater.
I dropped to my knees, struggling to breathe.
Rai'kanna grabbed my arm. "Elara, stabilize the second flow!"
"I'll try!"
"Vespera, protect Takumi!"
"I'm already doing it!"
The Ancient Heart glowed brighter.
And the voice inside the flame became clear for the first time.
"Takumi… do not let it awaken."
My heart raced.
Liriel shouted: "Takumi! Channel the flame now!"
I took a deep breath. Reached out my hand.
The flame responded as if it were alive.
The energy of the Ancient Heart touched mine.
And everything around us exploded in red light.