The sun was rising over the wide valley, where dewdrops fell from the leaves of the trees, touching the ground, carrying a gentle breeze that heralded the beginning of a new day.
Eren and Leylin stood on top of a small hill, in front of a massive gray rock in the middle of a high plateau. The winds whirled around it constantly, hissing as if whispering ancient secrets.
"This is the Rock of the Winds."
Zerath said, standing behind them, watching the winds swirling around the rock and touching the edges of his clothing.
"In this place, the oldest winds in the world gather, capable of testing the will of those who seek their power."
Eren slowly advanced toward the rock, feeling the winds clash with his body, as if trying to push him away, yet simultaneously welcoming him with a subtle warmth.
"Eren... I feel the fire inside me trembling."
Leylin said, clasping her hand, the flames dancing gently between her fingers.
Zerath smiled.
"Here, too, fire can be freed, to learn how to burn without pain, how to become warmth, not destruction."
Eren placed his hand on the rock, feeling a cool breeze pass through his body. Then the wind began to swirl rapidly around him, lifting his hair and clothes, before he heard an inner voice:
"You are the heir of the winds... Will you fear what is within you?"
Eren closed his eyes and imagined himself as a small child standing in the storm, crying, as the wind mercilessly battered him. He remembered his fear of the winds that had taken his family that stormy night.
He opened his eyes, clenched his fist, and said loudly:
"I am no longer afraid!"
Suddenly, a whirl of wind exploded around his body, lifted into the sky, and formed into two transparent wings of wind behind his back, pulsing with the beat of his heart.
Zerath smiled as he watched.
"The winds have finally accepted you."
As for Lilin, she sat on the ground in front of the rock, closed her eyes, and lit a small fire in her hands. The fire was red, but it was shaking, as if unsteady.
She heard a voice inside her, similar to Liara's whispers:
"Fire isn't born only for destruction... but for warmth, for life."
Lilin's tears streamed down her cheeks, but she didn't open her eyes. Instead of fanning the flames, she took a deep breath and exhaled long, simmering breaths. The fire in her hand was calm, moving slowly but carrying a deep, steady heat.
At that moment, the fire suddenly flickered, transforming from red to a faint golden hue, illuminating Lilin's face with a pure smile.
"This fire... it's different."
Lilin opened her eyes and looked at the golden flame in her hand.
Zerath replied with a proud smile, "You have freed your fire from the curse. Now your fire will not consume those you love, but will protect them."
Lylin rose and approached Eren, whose wind wings fluttered lightly behind him. She looked into his eyes and extended her hand to him.
He took her hand, and at that moment, the wind wings behind Eren joined with Lelin's golden flame, forming a violet-gold aura around their bodies, illuminating the space and swirling the wind around it with love, not violence.
"This... is our new power."
Eren whispered, smiling.
"The power of the wind that fears no fire, and the fire that fears no wind."
Lylin replied, her eyes shining with determination.
At that moment, the wind rose even higher, carrying distant sounds from down the hill: heavy footsteps and the faint echo of drumming in the distant forest.
Zerath appeared behind them, his voice a mixture of seriousness and calm:
"Get ready... the hunters have sensed your release. They'll be coming soon."
Eren looked toward the horizon, the wind whipping behind him, and Leylin stood beside him, a golden flame illuminating her hand.
"Let them come... this time we won't run away."
Letlin stood beside him, raised her flaming hand, and said in a calm voice:
"We will face them... together."