Chapter 5 Flame and Frost

Thalen guided Kaela through the Emberwind Pass, where the winds howled like wolves and snow fell even in summer. He told her of the Guardians-seven in all, each sworn to protect a shard of the Eldaran Crystal. Some had vanished. Some had turned.

"The Guardian of Flame was once my brother," Thalen said. "He fell to the darkness. If we are to awaken the Crystal's full power, we must find the others first."

They crossed frozen rivers, hunted by shadowbeasts that bled mist and shattered light. At one point, Kaela used the crystal to shield them both, but it drained her so deeply she collapsed.

"You must pace your power," Thalen warned gently. "The crystal is ancient. It feeds on will."

They reached the Frostfire Temple, buried beneath centuries of ice. Thalen knelt before the stone door and whispered a prayer in the tongue of the old gods. The ground rumbled, and the temple opened to reveal a chamber glowing with sapphire flame.

Inside waited another Guardian-Sira of the Frost Flame, cloaked in fire and snow.

"I felt her coming," Sira said, eyes locking with Kaela's. "She carries the mark."

Sira touched Kaela's forearm, and her runes blazed white-hot.

"Then it is true," Sira whispered. "The Queen returns."

Behind them, the air cracked.

From the shadows emerged a cloaked man-eyes burning like coal.

"You've gathered two," he sneered. "Let's see how many die."

His blade drew fire. The chamber erupted in battle.

And the fate of Eldara blazed anew.

                         

COPYRIGHT(©) 2022