Morning arrived in the Windy Stronghold with its usual chill, but the ground still bore the marks of the black ash that had engulfed them that night. Black burn marks pulsed with a faint red glow as the wind passed over them cautiously, as if silently observing what the earth concealed.
Eren sat on a rock near the ancient stone temple in the center of the valley, closing his eyes as the wind swirled around his body. Leylin stood before him, her hands extended, golden flames pulsing softly.
"When the full assault comes, we won't have time to hesitate," Leylin said, her voice mingling with the sound of the fire.
Eren slowly opened his eyes and said, "That's why we're training now... so we won't be afraid when the storm arrives."
🍃🔥 Union Training:
Leylin raised her hand, producing a small golden flame and firing it at Eren, who turned his wind to embrace the flame, maintaining its glow without extinguishing it.
The wind and fire swirled together, forming a violet-gold aura that slowly expanded around their bodies until it touched the edges of the stone courtyard.
"I feel your heat within my wind."
Eren said, closing his eyes again.
Leylin smiled. "And I feel your cool breeze within my fire."
At that moment, a light wave of aura erupted, sweeping away the black ash near the edges of the courtyard, causing it to burn and vanish.
Zerath watched silently from afar, standing beside the entrance to the ancient stone temple.
"Eren, Leylin... come."
The two entered the temple with him, where stone pillars were covered in ancient wind inscriptions, and the smooth ground glistened with the countless footprints of previous heirs.
In the center of the temple stood a stone statue of the First Wind Inheritor, reaching toward the sky, while a gentle wind constantly swirled around the statue.
Zerath pointed to the statue's base, where an ancient inscription, once indistinct, now glowed with a faint green light.
"This inscription hasn't been lit for a hundred years."
Eren approached and touched the inscription. A gentle wave of wind traveled through his body, causing him to close his eyes for a moment, only to see a brief vision:
A sky ablaze with gold and red, angry winds swirling with fire, black ash falling like rain to engulf the earth, while a figure stood with golden fire in his hand and wind wings, fighting in the storm.
Eren quickly opened his eyes, panting, as Leylin held his hand anxiously.
"What did you see?"
Eren said, his voice cracking.
"I saw a battle... fire and wind fighting the black ash... in a place that resembled heaven and earth together."
Zerath and Leylin exchanged glances, before Zereth said in a low voice, "This is the ancient prophecy of the Wind Heirs... that fire and wind would unite in a final battle against the Shadows, written from eternity."
Leylin placed her hand on the inscription, and the golden flame ignited for a moment, blending with the green light, forming a circle of light around the statue, from which emerged small wings of wind and fire.
"We will fight... until the end."
Leylin said, her eyes shining.
Eren nodded and took her hand.
"Together."
Outside the temple, fighters were organizing their defenses, erecting air barriers and digging trenches around the stronghold, their voices and prayers carried by the wind.
The sky on the horizon was gradually turning gray, mixed with black smoke slowly rising in the distance.
Eren and Leylin stood in front of the temple door, watching the horizon as the black ash slowly approached.
"The storm is coming."
Eren said calmly.
"But we're ready."
Leylin replied, the flame burning fearlessly in her hand.
At that moment, a gentle breeze blew, and the flame stirred peacefully within her, as if the wind and fire had promised each other protection... no matter the cost.