Ashes Of Aetheria

pulsing behind him like the last heartbeat of a sleeping god. Fire licked

ugh

The statues-no, guardians-had voices like iron bells an

ises. The line endures

sil

oked at

tues, her face unreadable-equal parts a

dais. His foot met the gr

kneeling?" he

"Because they are bound to the Fla

't ask

aid. "Not truly. But

et with slow, graceful movements. "This hasn't happen

ned. "Wha

on't speak o

you w

"Later. After we

d-its fire now barely visible, like a candle deep in its final brea

ve. Its armor was smooth obsidian etched with the runes of old Aet

seen. Flameborn, rise. T

his hand b

gear. "Come. We don't want to

l without argument, though a doz

gent than this:

for what fe

ll drafts and twisting shadows. Kael's torch barely kept them lit, but the shard

one grinding like teeth-and the passage they'd ta

ows when to le

tered, "

ameborn built these paths.

asn't ready to think of

t

sharp-angled stone columns and open slits carved into the rock.

pped br

t undergrou

f clouds. Far to the west, half-hidden by the mist, was the black ruin of Eldri

i

zon like a wound. Seris joine

ded Flame,

already

"Faster than

hen what are we doing here?

said. "But not

the surface t

ng droplets - not fire, but tainted by it. The trees were blackened husk

loak tighter. "Wh

his was one of the Skyborn Circles. They were w

to her. "F

mberthrone and tried to siphon the Aetherflame for their own b

rth. The cloth was burned through the center. Only the edge r

rry," K

a strange expression. "Don't b

pa

t expected