They say no mortal can touch godfire and live.
But Aedric is no longer mortal.
And the flame inside him?
It was once divine.
---
🔥 The Sanctum's Heart
The Sanctum of the Unwritten trembled.
Aedric stood before a massive brazier of black-gold flame.
This was Vael'Tor's Core — the divine fire he abandoned when he became mortal.
Now, it waited for Aedric to reclaim it.
---
Elarion stepped back.
> "If you touch it, you will face your godself."
> "Not a memory. Not an echo."
> "The version of you that never chose mortality."
Aedric didn't hesitate.
> "Then it's time I met the one I refused to be."
He stepped into the flame.
And vanished.
---
⚔️ The Trial Begins
Aedric opened his eyes in a realm made of fire and memory.
And there, standing in god-armor made of light and ash, was…
Vael'Tor.
Tall, emotionless.
Eyes like galaxies collapsing.
He spoke with a voice that burned the ground.
> "You gave up power… for pain."
> "You chose humanity. Weakness. Death."
> "Prove to me you are worthy of remembering."
---
A sword of fire appeared in Aedric's hand — Vyrmath, reforged.
Vael'Tor raised his hand.
A storm of fire erupted.
The duel began.
---
🌪️ Flame vs Flame
Aedric fought not just with strength — but with anger, sorrow, and the weight of every name the gods erased.
He wasn't trying to defeat his past.
He was trying to surpass it.
Every blow screamed:
> "I burned not to destroy — but to choose!"
> "You had power, but no freedom!"
> "I'd rather bleed in truth than rule in silence!"
---
The godform wavered.
Then… smiled.
> "That is what I could never understand."
> "That is why you were always stronger."
---
🔥 Acceptance
The flames around Aedric surged inward.
The trial was over.
The fire did not consume him.
It chose him.
His body lit with new glyphs — glowing red-gold across his chest and back.
The Flame Core reawakened.
And with it, memories returned:
His first rebellion
The day he tore off his godhood
The moment he whispered to the First Flame: "Let me burn as a man."
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🎖️ Title & Ability Gained
> ✅ New Title: Flame of Duality
"You carry the soul of a god and the heart of a mortal. Your choices are now your weapon."
> ✅ New Ability: Ashwake
Once per day, rise from death with your full flame intact — but lose a memory each time you do.
---
🕯️ Return to the Sanctum
Aedric emerged from the flame.
Elarion watched silently.
> "You've changed."
Aedric nodded.
> "No. I just remembered who I chose to be."
---
He looked up at the ceiling of the Sanctum.
> "The gods wanted me erased."
> "Now I'll burn a hole in their sky."
---
👁 Final Scene – Caelen's New Weapon
Far away, Caelen stood before a divine forge.
Black flame coiled around him.
> "He remembers now."
> "Good."
A voice echoed from the forge — deep and ancient.
> "You're sure this is what you want?"
Caelen smiled.
> "If my brother becomes a god again…"
He placed his hand on the flame.
> "Then I'll become something worse."
---