The stone door slowly opened, the light filtering in from outside flooding the dark stone corridor that Eren and Leylin had crossed together.
Their breaths were heavy, but their faces shone with a glimmer of hope they hadn't known since they began their journey.
Eren extended his hand to Leylin, who held it tightly as they crossed the threshold. The cool air caressed their faces, while the scent of wet earth after rain permeated the air.
Eren raised his head to the sky, feeling the wind swirling freely around him, but it didn't extinguish Leylin's fire burning quietly in her palm.
"We did it..."
Leylin whispered, her gaze fixed on the still flame in her hand.
"Yes... we broke the contract."
Eren smiled back, feeling the wind in his chest blend with the violet flame that had been born within him, without pain or tearing.
At that moment, a vortex of wind rose around his body, merging with Leylin's fire, forming a delicate yet powerful violet aura around them. They both felt a new, unbreakable bond, one built not on pain, but on faith in each other.
But before they could celebrate this victory, a sharp voice cut through the air:
"We found them!"
A metal arrow swooped down at Eren, but he quickly raised his hand, creating a sharp gust of wind that swept the arrow away. Leylin's fire suddenly flared, a spark of anger appearing in her eyes.
Men in black robes emerged from the trees surrounding the temple, carrying strange weapons radiating a dark energy. On their chests was the Hunters' emblem: a black claw wrapped around a flame.
"Oh my... they're the Soul Hunters!"
Leylin gasped, taking a step back.
"It's okay, this time... we're not weak."
"I'm not going to give up," Eren said, standing before her, his wings of fire and wind stretching behind him, the ground trembling beneath his feet.
One of the hunters shouted, "It's time to end this farce! Surrender the fire, or we'll take it by force!"
The first hunter charged quickly, but Eren swung his hand, sending out a blast of wind like knives that sliced the arrows he'd fired into the air.
Another charged from behind, but Leylin unleashed a ball of red flame that exploded in the air, knocking him away.
The hunters gathered in a circle around them, and their leader raised his hand. A black circle formed in the sky, sucking air and energy from the area, while a ball of darkness glowed in its center.
"If you don't surrender the fire now... I'll wipe you both out!"
Eren tugged on Leylin's hand and looked into her eyes firmly.
"Are you ready?"
She smiled, flames dancing in her eyes.
"With you... to the end."
Eren raised his hand, the wind wrapping around his arm, as Leylin's hand ignited with pure red fire. She placed her own hand over his.
At that moment, a column of violet flame, mixed with the wind, shot into the sky, piercing the black circle formed by the hunters. It tore through in an instant, and light exploded in the forest, illuminating the entire darkness.
The hunters retreated, screaming in fear, as the ground beneath their feet burned with unquenchable fire, the wind driving them away.
When the light died down, Eren and Leylin found themselves standing together in the scorched earth, the wind carrying the ashes of the hunters who had fled screaming.
There was a moment of silence, before Leylin smiled and laughed softly, the fire in her hand fading into a small, quiet flame.
"We... did it."
Eren smiled and held her hand, the wind caressing her hair.
"We are free now... fire and wind together."
They both looked toward the horizon, where a new dawn was breaking the sky.
"Let us begin our true journey, Lilin... a journey to find our future, a place where we can live... both of us, without fear."
Together, they walked toward the muddy path after the rain, the fire burning gently between their fingers, the wind accompanying their steps, announcing to the world that fire and wind were no longer enemies... but rather one soul.
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