There is a place beneath the Flame That Was — older than the world, sealed by gods, forgotten by men.
It doesn't exist on a map.
Because it remembers you instead.
---
Aedric stood at its entrance.
A gate of obsidian.
No lock.
No door.
Only a whisper:
> "Do you remember who you were… before the pain?"
He stepped through.
And the world vanished in fire.
---
🔥 Welcome to the Labyrinth
There was no floor.
No ceiling.
Only shifting corridors made of flame-memory — living embers that flickered with his own past lives.
Each wall showed visions.
Some familiar.
Some… not yet lived.
One showed him as a boy, crying in chains.
Another as a flame-eyed assassin.
Another… on a throne made of corpses.
---
Each turn drew him deeper.
And the voices began.
Not whispers.
But versions of him.
Shouting.
Pleading.
Warning.
> "You were not meant to survive."
> "You were supposed to die pure."
> "You stole our death!"
---
🧱 The First Trial: The Lost Heir
A corridor twisted into shape.
And from the fire stepped a man with Aedric's face — younger, regal, eyes like storm glass.
> "I was the first," he said. "The one who chose mercy."
> "And you… undid me."
He drew a sword of frozen light.
> "Let's see which of us was right."
---
The battle was fast — too fast.
Aedric barely dodged. The Lost Heir struck with righteousness.
Every blow whispered guilt.
"You let Selene fall!"
"You burned Lyara's vision!"
"You chose fire over forgiveness!"
Aedric faltered.
The blade struck his shoulder.
Flame flickered.
Then… he laughed.
---
He dropped Vyrmath.
And stepped forward.
Arms wide.
> "Then strike again."
> "But know this — I carry you."
> "I remember you."
> "And that's why I fight."
The Lost Heir stopped.
And smiled.
Then vanished in golden ash.
---
🔥 The Center
The maze parted.
Revealing a chamber made of dark fire.
In its center stood a throne — cracked, cursed.
And on it sat the First Flameborn.
Aedric recognized him at once.
It wasn't his face.
It was his pain.
Eyes hollow.
Skin covered in glyphs.
Chains wrapped around arms that had once held suns.
---
> "So… you're the one who lived."
> "The one they couldn't break."
> "Tell me, flamechild — what will you burn for?"
Aedric didn't answer.
Instead, he asked:
> "What did you burn for?"
---
The First Flameborn stood.
Walked forward.
And whispered:
> "Revenge."
> "And I lost everything."
> "If you walk my path, you will too."
---
He raised his hand.
A sword of pure regret formed in it.
And Aedric raised Vyrmath — glowing now with his name.
They clashed.
And fire roared.
---
🩸 Final Strike
The First Flameborn struck with the weight of eternity.
But Aedric struck with choice.
Not anger.
Not hate.
Understanding.
He disarmed the ancient soul.
And knelt.
"I don't want to replace you," Aedric said. "I want to remember you."
The First Flameborn wept fire.
And touched his forehead.
---
> "Then you are ready."
> "Take what I could not control."
A burst of red flame surged into Aedric.
A new glyph burned on his chest:
> Emberborne
A title only one soul could bear.
The true successor.
---
🌓 Outside the Labyrinth
The Ashborn felt it first.
The sky split — not in war, but revelation.
A comet of red light descended.
Aedric emerged.
Alive.
Changed.
Burning with controlled chaos.
Lyara gasped.
"Your fire… feels older than you."
He nodded.
> "Because I remember now."
---