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The corridor beyond the rest chamber narrowed into jagged stone walls, torchlight flickering without a source. Shadows twisted unnaturally, like hands trying to grasp the party as they passed.
Seiris took the lead this time, her steps utterly silent.
"They're watching," she muttered.
"Who?" Aeiris whispered beside her, fingers curled near her dagger's hilt.
Seiris didn't answer immediately. Her crimson eyes swept the walls, the floor, the ceiling.
"Something not alive," she finally said. "But it remembers being."
Yuki followed with the others. Sylvaeria hovered at his shoulder, her wind aura gently pulsing. "This place reeks of old curses."
"Like bad leftovers left in a demon's fridge," Lumi quipped, drawing a short laugh from Aeiris.
Even Elira cracked a smile. "Terrifying imagery. But accurate."
They reached a fork in the path—one side lined with ornate carvings of draconic kings and warriors. The other? A tunnel choked by roots and bones.
"Guess which one the boss is in," Lumi said, eyeing the dark tunnel.
"Too easy," Yuki replied, stepping toward the bones.
Suddenly—*clang!*
A blade struck from the wall, barely missing Seiris, who dodged like smoke. "Traps," she hissed.
"Nice of them to finally say hello," Lumi muttered, slicing a vine that slithered toward her ankle.
The group moved with care, each girl slipping into practiced roles:
* **Sylvaeria's** wind barriers swept away hidden darts and gas.
* **Elira's** moonfire illuminated sigils and symbols, disrupting enchantments.
* **Seiris** disarmed traps like she'd built them herself, eerily focused.
* **Aeiris**, though less experienced, followed closely, using spirit-sense to detect lurking magic.
* **Lumi**, as always, charged through with reckless finesse—clearing the way like a laughing storm.
At last, they reached a final archway—stone inscribed in ancient draconic: **"All who seek the broken crown must face what they abandoned."**
Beyond it, silence.
Yuki stepped through first.
The chamber was massive—lit with pale fire that clung to the ceiling. Chains of light and darkness coiled above, and in the center stood a throne made of roots and crystal.
Upon it sat a figure.
Or rather… what was *left* of one.
The corrupted spirit of a once-noble guardian. Its face twisted and cracked, wearing a mask of pain and command.
But next to him, chained and glowing faintly, was a familiar girl—her long white hair tangled, eyes glazed.
"Aeiris?" Lumi whispered in shock.
"No," Seiris said. Her voice broke. "That's…"
She stepped forward. "…My sister."
Yuki's eyes narrowed. "He's using her like a vessel."
The throne-creature opened its maw.
"YOU BRING THE FIRE… BUT FORGOT THE SHADOW. YOUR BOND WILL BE YOUR END."
Chains erupted from the floor.
"MOVE!" Yuki shouted.
Everyone leapt into action.
* **Sylvaeria** summoned a gale that shattered the first wave of chains.
* **Elira's** **Arcane Moonfire** seared the shadows back, revealing runes behind the throne.
* **Lumi's** **Stellar Slash** carved through tendrils of dark mana trying to seize Aeiris.
* **Seiris**, emotion taut on her face, moved like death given form, slicing the bonds from her sister with twin daggers glowing red.
Yuki roared and surged forward, wings flaring. His claws struck the throne, and the entity shrieked.
"I've *seen* enough of you!" he shouted.
The throne cracked—light surged—and the corrupted guardian let out a final scream before dissolving into dust.
The chamber grew silent.
Aeiris collapsed forward into Seiris's arms.
"Sis…?"
Tears rolled down Seiris's cheeks. "You're safe now."
Yuki approached, quietly. "The last trial… was a mirror of our fears. This one? A test of what we're willing to *save.*"
Elira touched his side gently. "We passed."
Lumi grinned. "Kinda want a trophy, though. Or a cookie."
Sylvaeria chuckled. "You'll get both. Eventually."
As the chamber calmed, golden light filled the air.
Five girls stood by the dragon.
And the bond between them all had never been stronger.
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