Part I: Elion's Memory
That night, Elion stood alone beneath the crimson moon, the wind whispering like a ghost through the ruins.
> "Yui," he said quietly. "I didn't just recover my voice in the Dream Realm. I saw... her."
He touched the fragment of the Empress's soul still lodged in his flame.
> "Before she was a tyrant, before the Crown—she was like you."
He closed his eyes—and let the memory unfold.
> A girl with white hair and ember eyes stood before a council of terrified nobles.
"We can't keep sacrificing innocents," she had said. "There must be another way."
They laughed. Mocked her. One even slapped her across the face.
But she never broke.
She had once been the first Flameborn queen to oppose the Echo King's cult. Not a monster—but a martyr.
Until the day she was betrayed by her own generals—and chose the Infernal Crown to protect her people.
> "If I must be the devil to stop the devils…" she whispered as she put it on, "then burn me first."
Elion's voice shook.
> "She wasn't evil, Yui. Not at first. She was made into this."
Yui stared into the firelight, her hands clenched.
> "Then maybe she can be unmade."
Azazel's face darkened. "Or she'll drag you with her into the void."
Part II: The First Flame
That night, Yui laid down in silence.
And slipped into the flame dream.
This time, she found herself in a forest of glowing embers—trees made of crystalized heat and ash, floating in darkness.
A soft voice called to her:
> "You're late."
Yui turned—and gasped.
There stood herself. Older. Scarred. Tired.
Clad in armor forged of flame and regret. A crown of ash rested on her brow.
And in her arms—
> Azazel. Dead.
"No—NO!"
The older Yui said nothing, only gazed at her younger self with cold acceptance.
> "You think you can save everyone. I thought so too."
The younger Yui shook her head. "Who are you?"
The older one replied:
> "I'm the Yui who failed. Who loved him too late. Who tried to forgive the Empress—and paid the price."
The forest quaked. Ash rained from the branches.
> "You're strong," older Yui whispered. "But strength without sacrifice is nothing."
She extended a hand.
> "Choose, Yui. Save him. Or save them all."
And then—
> [System Alert: First Flame Detected]
Do you accept the Flame Trial?
Reward: ???
Consequence: "You may forget who you are."
Yui's hand hovered in the dreamlight.
---
System Update
> Flame Resonance: 92%
Memory Synchronicity: Elion 100%
First Flame Trial Status: Awaiting Acceptance
New Trait Gained: Echo of the Empress – Increased persuasion vs. corrupted entities.