Morel responded calmly to the other four knights.
“I don’t think this discussion should continue without Lady Elaine. She’s the one who has the right to make these decisions.”
Another knight quickly retorted, “Isn’t it our duty to protect this tribe and Lady Elaine? Shouldn’t we be thinking about the impact our decisions will have on everyone’s safety? If that man forms a bond with Lady Elaine and then fails in his task, we’ll all be wiped out! That’s not something to take lightly. How will you answer that, Sir Morel?”
“Lady Elaine can only form a bond once, just once,” another knight added, their voice tense. “If this fails, we’re all doomed. This isn’t just a difficult choice, it’s the fate of our entire existence.”
“We’ve survived for hundreds of years, waiting for this moment,” a different knight chimed in. “And now, when it finally seems to be here, we find a fool who’s just recently claimed the title of Divine Champion. His power level is disturbingly low. This is pure madness.”
Morel, holding his ground, replied, “But that man, Broken, fits every requirement laid out in the prophecy.”
Despite this, one of the knights remained adamant. “I don’t doubt that we believe in the prophecy, but reality is something else entirely. He’s still too weak. Even if he is the one, I don’t think he can accomplish this any time soon. He might need another hundred years to grow strong enough, and I doubt he’ll survive that long. It’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard.”
Another knight, arms crossed in defiance, declared, “I reject this decision.”
Morel fell silent for a moment, deep in thought. Then he spoke, “So, what exactly are you planning to do?”
One of the knights stepped forward. “I will put him through another test-one that he’ll regret ever facing. He’ll wish he never set foot in this place.”
Morel’s gaze sharpened. “You understand the consequences of defying Lady Elaine’s orders, don’t you?”
The knight stood firm. “I am ready to give my life for Lady Elaine and the tribe.”
The second knight nodded in agreement. “I support this. We need to act quickly before he forms a bond with Lady Elaine. If we wait too long, it’ll be too late for us to intervene.”
Another knight added with grim determination, “I’ll do my best to kill him. If he somehow survives and kills us instead, then at least I can die knowing the right person is here to save our tribe.”
“I’m sure it won’t be easy for him,” a fourth knight said. “If we join forces, we all know he won’t stand a chance against us.”
With that, all four knights voiced their agreement, united in their decision-except for Morel.
Morel met their eyes calmly. “Go ahead, then, if you’re willing to take full responsibility for the consequences.”
***
Polly flew steadily toward the mouth of the volcano, expertly dodging the violent bursts of flame that shot into the sky.
The roaring sound of the fire exploding and the deep cries of the beasts inside blended into a thunderous symphony that echoed across the landscape, as if the volcano itself were alive and screaming in unending rage.
As they neared the interior, the sight below grew clearer. The dark, jagged terrain stretched out, riddled with sharp rocks that jutted from the ground like cruel, twisted teeth.
Scattered across the volcanic floor were dozens of massive iron cages, their thick metal bars gleaming under the glow of molten lava. These cages stood precariously close to pools of bubbling lava. It was a nightmarish scene, made worse by the fact that these cages weren’t empty!
Inside each cage, fearsome creatures thrashed violently. They slammed against the bars, their roars reverberating through the volcano, shaking the very ground. Their eyes glowed, their claws ripping at the metal, desperate to break free.
Broken’s breath caught in his throat as the realization sank in. These weren’t just ordinary monsters-they were Faebeasts.
The Eternal Flames!
Every single one of them was imprisoned here within the heart of the volcano. But what struck him deepest, what tore at his heart, was the grim truth that these beasts were once faeries. These were the lost friends of the Moonlight Fae-perhaps even their siblings, parents, or children-now transformed and enslaved by the curse, locked away in this prison.
Broken muttered softly, “Those are the Eternal Flames?”
“That is correct,” Cedric replied.
Ivana, sitting just behind Broken, gripped his arm tightly. It was clear the sight of these imprisoned creatures was hard for her to witness.
“They’re suffering…” she whispered. “Trapped there, alone… who knows how long it’s been? They’re screaming for help… they want to be freed.”
Broken turned to look at her, suddenly reminded of the time Ivana had so easily communicated with Blaze and Flare. Could she actually understand the cries of these beasts? Did she know what they were saying?
“Can we go down there, Cedric?”
“We can, Mr. Broken,” Cedric replied calmly. “The Faebeasts are securely contained, so we have nothing to fear from them. But we must prepare ourselves for the intense heat- especially from the magma pool at the volcano’s center.”
“Polly, can you handle this?”
“Yes, Master,” Polly responded. “I can manage the heat.”
Polly nodded slowly, her wings stirring the air as she flew toward the heart of the volcano.
The heat hit them immediately, a wave of scorching air brushing against their faces. Below, the molten magma pool churned violently, its surface bubbling and occasionally exploding upward in fiery bursts that shot pillars of lava into the sky.
Polly skillfully maneuvered through the intense heat, avoiding the blasts of magma as they flew deeper inside. Still, stray sparks hit them, adding to the tension that was already
building.
The interior of the volcano echoed with the deafening roars of the Faebeasts, just as Ivana had said—they were screaming, thrashing against their cages, desperate to break free.
Polly soon glided toward a dry, blackened plain at the base of the volcano, a place that looked like it had been scorched. The land was covered in ash and charred rocks, with thin trails of smoke rising lazily into the heated air. It was a stark contrast to the fiery chaos around it.
From this vantage point, they could clearly see the Faebeasts locked in their scattered cages. And what struck them most was how different each one was. These weren’t just identical creatures, bound by the same curse-they were unique, each with their own terrifying form. Some of the Faebeasts still held onto traces of their faery origins, their bodies humanoid but with skin that had turned a deep, fiery red, as though seared by flames. Others had transformed into monstrous creatures that lumbered on four legs.
And yet, despite their differences, they were all bound by the same fate. These were the Eternal Flame—cursed faeries, twisted into something unrecognizable, imprisoned by the
very fire that consumed them.
[Eternal Flame Monica Lv. 210]
[Eternal Flame Berry Lv. 217]
[Eternal Flame Serene Lv. 199]
Broken approached one of the towering iron bars.
Before him stood a massive wolf. The creature was easily twice as tall as they were, its skin blackened as if scorched by eternal fire.
[Eternal Flame Fang Lv. 237]
“This one’s level is incredibly high,” Broken muttered. “Even higher than Elaine’s… Who is
he?”
He turned around, hoping for an answer, but what he saw made him freeze. Cecilia was standing there, tears brimming in her eyes. She was trying to hold it together, but the soft
sobs slipping through betrayed her.
“Why?”