Chapter 101 The Flamebinding Rite

Smoke curled through the shattered gates of the Temple of Embers. The once-golden stone now glowed red with heat, battle scars etched deep into its walls. Every inch of the sacred mountain was a battleground, and the defenders were being pushed to their limits. Aria stood at the center of the sanctum, her breathing labored, skin slick with sweat. Around her, the Seers formed a perfect circle, each holding a relic of the Flame—crystal shards drawn from the Cradle’s edge. The altar in the middle pulsed with a deep orange light, responding to the power flowing from Aria’s womb.