Aeron's skin wasn't burning — but it looked like it should be. Thin streams of molten light pulsed under it, like fire had replaced his blood.
Lyria touched his arm carefully. "Does it hurt?"
Aeron shook his head. "No. It feels like… warmth. Like I swallowed the sun and it's trying to escape."
"I hate that description," Riko whispered.
Soryn paced, eyes sharp. "If Aeron carries a Heartstone, then the Sovereign's interest in him is even worse than we thought."
Garron frowned. "Why? What does it mean?"
"It means," Soryn said, "that Aeron is no longer just 'marked.' He is becoming something tied directly to the Sovereign's revival."
"Fantastic," Maera muttered. "We have a half-baked fire prodigy in our team."
Aeron glared weakly. "I'm standing right here."
"Good," Maera said. "Then you heard me."
Halik approached Aeron and lifted his chin gently. "Your eyes…"
Everyone leaned in.
Aeron's once-silver irises now had faint glowing rings around them — orange and gold, like tiny suns.
"New eye abilities?" Riko asked nervously.
"No," Halik said. "Only gods and dimensional beings wield true eye abilities. But Aeron may be showing something close. A reflection of the Heartstone."
Lyria helped Aeron stand. "We should—"
A loud cracking sound cut her off.
The floor split open beneath the broken throne.
A dark tunnel appeared — pitch black, leading deeper underground.
Aeron shivered. "We're supposed to go down there."
Riko shook his head violently. "Nope. No. Absolutely not. If I can't see the bottom, it's evil."
Garron crossed his arms. "Everything down here is evil."
"That doesn't help!"
Maera peered into the darkness. "This feels like a trap."
Soryn nodded. "It is. But it's the only path."
Halik looked at Aeron. "The fire wants you to descend."
Aeron took a breath.
"Then I will."
And they stepped into the darkness.