"The flame that burns brightest is the one most dangerous to wield. Even the strongest can falter when it flickers out of control."
---
The cave was a modest shelter, but it was a respite from the cold winds outside. Moria sat near the entrance, staring out into the darkness, the flickering of the fire casting long shadows on the walls. The flames danced, their light reflecting in her eyes, and for a moment, she thought she could feel their pull—the same pull she had felt when the Heart of the Sleeping Flame first awakened within her.
The fox demon, still standing near the entrance, didn't say anything. He simply watched her, his gaze intense, his presence both comforting and unsettling.
Finally, she broke the silence.
"You didn't come for the Heart of the Sleeping Flame," she said, her voice low and careful. "So why are you here?"
The fox demon chuckled, a soft, knowing sound that sent a shiver down her spine.
"Do you think I have no interest in such power?" he asked, his golden eyes gleaming. "I'm not foolish, Moria. I've seen the consequences of such a flame. But you... you're different. You're more than just a mortal with a dream. You're a force."
His words lingered in the air like smoke, thick and mysterious. Moria didn't respond immediately, her mind racing.
"Tell me what you see, then," she said after a moment, her tone more pointed. "What do you think I am?"
The fox demon took a step closer, his voice soft but heavy with meaning.
"You are someone who will change everything. The question is, what will you change? The world... or yourself?"
Moria didn't answer. She turned her gaze to the fire, the heat from it curling around her like a lover's embrace. She could feel it—feel the power within her, growing stronger with every passing moment. But it wasn't just power that filled her. It was a need, a thirst that was becoming impossible to ignore.
And that scared her.
---
The next morning, Moria woke early, before the others. The fox demon was already gone, but she could feel his presence lingering in the air. His words from the night before echoed in her mind.
What will you change? The world... or yourself?
She didn't know the answer. Not yet.
The sun had barely risen when Li Yuan and Jiang woke, their faces still shadowed with exhaustion. They had been traveling for days, and though Moria knew they had no choice but to press on, a part of her wished for the comfort of rest.
"Are we close?" Li Yuan asked, his tone weary but focused. He was always the pragmatic one, always calculating the next move.
Moria nodded. "We should reach the valley of the Flames by nightfall. From there, it's a short journey to the Temple of the Dragon, where the Heart of the Sleeping Flame is said to be hidden."
Jiang gave a low whistle. "We're really going to that place? The legends say it's cursed."
"Then we'd better be careful," Moria replied, though her heart was beating faster than she wanted to admit. The Temple of the Dragon was said to hold not only the Heart of the Sleeping Flame but also the greatest secrets of the world—secrets that could change everything.
And yet, Moria couldn't shake the feeling that something was waiting for them there. Something far more dangerous than they could imagine.
---
The journey was long and silent, with the weight of the looming temple heavy on their minds. The land around them grew more treacherous, the once fertile earth now barren and cracked. The air grew colder as they neared the valley of the Flames, and the skies above them darkened, casting an ominous shadow over the land.
By the time they reached the valley, night had fallen, and the full moon hung high in the sky. The valley was a vast expanse of dry earth and jagged rocks, the air thick with the scent of sulfur and ash.
At the center of the valley stood the Temple of the Dragon—a colossal structure made of blackened stone, its towers reaching high into the night sky. The temple seemed to pulse with an ancient, forgotten power, its presence both awe-inspiring and terrifying.
Moria stood at the entrance, her hand hovering just above the stone door. She could feel it—the power of the temple, of the Heart of the Sleeping Flame—calling to her, urging her forward.
But she hesitated.
"This is it," Li Yuan said softly, standing beside her. "We're here."
Jiang gave a low whistle, his eyes scanning the temple warily. "This place is… unsettling."
Moria glanced at him, then at the darkened sky above. The winds had picked up, howling through the valley like a chorus of ghosts. Something was wrong.
"We need to go inside," she said, her voice steady despite the unease creeping up her spine. "The Heart of the Sleeping Flame is here."
Li Yuan nodded, and they made their way toward the entrance, their footsteps echoing in the silence. But as they neared the massive stone door, it began to move on its own—slowly, as if the temple itself was awakening.
Moria stepped forward, her heart pounding in her chest.
And then, a voice echoed in the darkness.
"You've come for the Heart, haven't you?"
The voice was smooth, soft, and yet filled with an undeniable power. Moria froze.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her hand instinctively reaching for the weapon at her side.
But before she could draw it, a figure stepped out of the shadows—tall, imposing, with eyes that glowed like molten gold. His body was draped in dark robes, and his presence radiated an aura of danger.
"I am the guardian of the Heart," the figure said, his voice low and rumbling. "And you will never claim it."
---
End of Chapter 27