4. The Path of Flames

Chapter 4: The Path of Flames

The Whispering Woods were eerily quiet as dawn broke, the golden light filtering through the canopy of trees. Elena adjusted the strap of her satchel, her mind heavy with Ardyn’s words from the night before. The Heart of Ash sounded like something out of a legend, yet here she was, about to embark on a journey to find it.

“Stay close,” Ardyn said as he led the way through the dense forest. He moved with the ease of someone who had spent a lifetime navigating such terrain.

Elena trailed behind, her boots crunching softly against the underbrush. “You talk about this place like it’s the answer to everything,” she said, her voice cutting through the silence. “What happens if we get there and it’s just… nothing?”

Ardyn glanced over his shoulder, his expression unreadable. “It won’t be nothing. The Heart of Ash is real, Elena. I’ve seen it before.”

Her brows furrowed. “You’ve been there?”

He hesitated, then nodded. “A long time ago. I was searching for answers after the last phoenix fell. But without you, the place was… dormant. Just a husk of what it’s supposed to be.”

“And you think it’ll come to life because of me?” she asked, doubt lacing her tone.

“It’s not about what I think,” Ardyn said firmly. “It’s about what I know. The Heart of Ash is tied to the phoenix. If we can get you there, you’ll have a chance to break the curse.”

Elena’s gaze dropped to the ground. She wasn’t sure what scared her more—the idea that he might be right, or the possibility that he wasn’t.

As the hours passed, the forest grew darker and more oppressive. The trees were gnarled and ancient, their twisted branches casting long, claw-like shadows over the path.

Elena shivered, pulling her cloak tighter around her shoulders. “Is it just me, or does it feel colder here?”

“It’s not just you,” Ardyn said, his voice tense. “We’re entering the Blackwood. The king’s magic has tainted this place.”

She swallowed hard, her eyes darting to the shadows. “Are we safe?”

“Not entirely,” he admitted. “Stay alert.”

The warning sent a fresh wave of unease through her, but she kept moving. She refused to let fear paralyze her—not when so much was at stake.

They hadn’t gone far when a sudden rustling sound made her freeze.

“Did you hear that?” she whispered.

Ardyn nodded, his hand already on the hilt of his blade. “Stay behind me.”

The rustling grew louder, closer. Elena’s heart pounded as she scanned the darkness, her breath catching when a pair of glowing red eyes appeared in the shadows.

A low growl echoed through the air, followed by another, and another. More eyes emerged, each pair accompanied by the sound of claws scraping against the earth.

“Wraith wolves,” Ardyn muttered, drawing his blade. “Stay back.”

Elena’s pulse quickened as the creatures stepped into the light. They were massive, their black fur shimmering with an unnatural sheen. Their eyes burned like coals, and their mouths dripped with saliva that hissed and steamed as it hit the ground.

“What do we do?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Ardyn didn’t answer. He lunged at the nearest wolf, his blade flashing as it struck the creature’s side. The wolf let out a guttural snarl, its body dissipating into smoke before reforming a few feet away.

“They’re magic!” Ardyn shouted. “You can’t fight them with steel!”

Elena’s breath caught. “Then how—”

Before she could finish, one of the wolves charged at her. She stumbled back, her hand instinctively reaching for the orb in her satchel. The moment her fingers touched it, a surge of heat coursed through her, and the air around her seemed to ignite.

Flames erupted from her hand, forming a barrier between her and the wolf. The creature howled, recoiling from the fire, and the others hesitated, their glowing eyes fixed on her.

“Elena!” Ardyn called. “Keep it up!”

She stared at the flames in disbelief. They felt natural, as though they had always been a part of her. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward, her hand still ablaze.

The wolves snarled but didn’t advance. Instead, they began to back away, their bodies dissolving into smoke until the forest was silent once more.

Elena dropped her hand, the flames flickering out. Her legs trembled, and she sank to the ground, gasping for air.

“You did it,” Ardyn said, sheathing his blade and crouching beside her.

“I don’t even know what I did,” she admitted, her voice shaking.

“You used the phoenix’s power,” he said simply. “It’s inside you, whether you believe it or not.”

She looked at him, her expression a mix of fear and awe. “But I don’t know how to control it. What if I lose control?”

“That’s why we’re going to the Heart of Ash,” he said, his tone gentle but firm. “To help you master it. Until then, you just have to trust yourself.”

Elena nodded slowly, though doubt still lingered in her heart. For now, she had no choice but to keep moving forward.

As they pressed on, the forest began to thin, and the air grew warmer. The oppressive darkness of the Blackwood gave way to a soft, golden glow that seemed to radiate from the earth itself.

“We’re getting close,” Ardyn said, his voice filled with quiet determination.

Elena glanced at him, her chest tightening with a mix of anticipation and dread. She didn’t know what awaited her at the Heart of Ash, but one thing was certain: her journey was far from over.

To Be Continued...

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