"In the lake of burning petals, fire meets water, and so too do fates collide."
— The Lost Scrolls of the Phoenix Sect
The path to the Lake of Burning Petals was not an easy one. The land between the Whispering Cliffs and the lake was jagged, filled with thorns and wild, untamed magic. It was said that only the bravest, or most foolish, ventured this far. Yet for Moria, Jiang Yan, and Li Yuan, the journey had only just begun.
The air grew warmer as they approached the lake. The waters, though calm on the surface, seemed to pulse with a hidden, violent power beneath. It was no wonder that the lake held such a mystique—its beauty was only matched by the danger it exuded.
Moria walked at the forefront, her eyes scanning the land with an unsettling calm. Behind her, Jiang Yan moved like a shadow, his presence barely noticeable, yet lethal as ever. Li Yuan, on the other hand, was a bundle of nerves, his hand clutching the small talisman that Moria had given him for protection. It wasn't that he didn't trust her—it was the strange, unsettling feeling that the land itself was alive, watching them.
"Why is it called the Lake of Burning Petals?" Li Yuan asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Moria glanced over her shoulder, her golden eyes glinting in the fading sunlight. "Because, dear boy, the petals of the sacred flower grow only in the heart of this lake. And when they bloom, they burn."
"Burn?" Li Yuan frowned. "Flowers don't burn."
"That's because you've never seen a Flame Lotus," Jiang Yan muttered, the amusement in his voice barely hidden.
Moria's lips curled into a smile. "The Flame Lotus is the key to the greatest artifact here. It blooms only once every ten years. But, like all things in this world, it comes with a price."
Li Yuan looked confused. "A price?"
"The price of immortality," Moria replied softly. "A price that many are willing to pay—if only they knew what it truly cost."
The trio continued their journey, the land around them growing darker, the skies dimming as if the sun itself feared to look upon the lake. The distant sound of rushing water echoed, and with it, the faint scent of fire and ash. It was as if the land itself was alive, breathing in sync with their footsteps.
As they reached the edge of the lake, Moria stopped, her gaze fixed on the waters. The surface was still, a dark mirror reflecting the orange glow of the setting sun. But in the center, a single petal floated, its fiery red hue like a beacon in the night.
"There it is," Jiang Yan whispered. "The Flame Lotus."
Moria nodded, her expression unreadable. "But it is not the only thing we must worry about here."
Li Yuan followed her gaze, his heart racing. From the shadows, figures emerged—silhouettes of creatures too monstrous to be anything other than guardians. The lake was protected, and these were its keepers.
One by one, the guardians stepped forward, their forms materializing in the dying light. They were creatures of legend—beasts with the heads of lions, serpents winding around their limbs, and eyes that gleamed with the fire of a thousand souls.
Li Yuan's breath caught in his throat. "We have to fight them?"
Jiang Yan raised an eyebrow, drawing his blades. "Or we could try to talk. I have a feeling Moria's idea of 'talking' involves a lot of fire and blood."
Moria didn't react. Her attention was solely on the Flame Lotus. Her golden eyes narrowed, and for the briefest moment, the world seemed to still. The guardians paused, sensing something ancient and powerful in her presence.
"You will not pass," one of the guardians boomed, its voice like thunder. "The Lotus blooms only for those who are worthy."
"Worthy?" Moria mused, her voice like silk. "And who, exactly, decides who is worthy?"
The guardian's massive head turned slightly, its eyes locking with hers. "The one who commands the flames."
Moria chuckled softly. "Then it seems you've mistaken me for someone else."
With a flick of her wrist, the ground beneath them erupted in flames. The fire spread like a living creature, dancing around Moria's feet as she stepped forward. The guardians recoiled, but they did not retreat. They were bound to protect the Lotus, and they would not yield.
The battle began in an instant.
Jiang Yan moved first, his blades flashing in the dying light as he took down one of the smaller guardians with a swift strike. The creatures roared in fury, but their movements were slow—too slow to match his speed. He darted between them, a shadow, a predator.
Moria, meanwhile, was a storm. Flames leaped from her fingertips, swirling around her as she wove through the battlefield. Each step she took left a trail of fire, her power growing with every guardian she destroyed.
Li Yuan stood back, watching in awe and fear. He had seen her fight before, but never like this. The raw power, the control—it was like watching a god fight. And for the first time, he wondered what exactly Moria was.
As the last guardian fell, Moria's eyes flickered back to the Flame Lotus. The petals were glowing brighter now, as if reacting to the power that had been unleashed around them.
Jiang Yan approached the center of the lake, where the Lotus floated. "It's almost too easy."
Moria's voice cut through the air. "It's never easy. But it's always fun."
Li Yuan watched as Jiang Yan reached out to touch the Flame Lotus, and for a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. The flower pulsed, glowing brighter with each second, its petals like tongues of fire.
And then, in a flash of light, everything went still.
The Flame Lotus opened fully, its fiery petals glowing with a violent intensity. But before anyone could move, a deep, ominous voice echoed through the air.
"You have come for the Flame Lotus, but you are not the first."
Moria turned sharply, her golden eyes flashing with a hint of recognition.
"And you won't be the last," the voice continued.
From the shadows, a figure emerged—a man cloaked in black, his eyes glowing like embers. He was tall, imposing, and his presence seemed to crush the very air around him.
"I am here for what belongs to me," the man said, his voice low and dangerous.
Moria's lips curled into a smile. "And who, pray tell, are you?"
The man's gaze never wavered. "I am the one who will take everything from you."
---