The path led them deeper into the Veilwood, where the trees grew impossibly tall and the air shimmered with unseen magic.
Elowen moved with confidence, guiding Kaelen through narrow trails few remembered. She said little, her expression serious.
After hours of travel, they came to a cliffside where a waterfall cascaded into a crystal-blue pool. Behind the curtain of water, hidden from sight, lay a cavern mouth carved with ancient symbols.
Kaelen stared in awe.
"This place..." he whispered.
"The Sanctuary of Embers," Elowen said. "One of the last places untouched by the Ashen Court."
They passed through the waterfall, stepping into the cave beyond.
Inside, the walls glowed faintly with veins of luminous crystal, casting soft golden light. Ancient murals depicted Wardens of old — mighty warriors cloaked in fire and light, battling shadows.
A heavy silence filled the air — the kind of silence that spoke of lost legends and waiting gods.
"This will be your crucible," Elowen said, facing him. "Your first real test."
Kaelen nodded, heart hammering with anticipation.
Elowen drew a small vial from her cloak — a clear liquid swirling with silver motes.
"This is Emberwater. Drink it," she said. "It will open the pathways of your Flame — and awaken what lies dormant inside you."
Kaelen hesitated only a moment before taking the vial.
The liquid burned like fire and ice as it slid down his throat.
Almost immediately, the world shifted.
Kaelen gasped as visions assaulted him — flashes of battlefields wreathed in flame, titanic beasts roaring against the sky, a thousand voices whispering forgotten truths.
He collapsed to his knees, clutching his chest.
Inside, the Warden Flame roared to life — no longer a flickering ember, but a true blaze, demanding to be mastered.
"Control it... Shape it..." a voice echoed through him.
Kaelen gritted his teeth and focused.
The visions sharpened.
He stood within a vast, empty void — and before him stood a great spirit, the silhouette of a mighty stag wreathed in blue fire.
The spirit spoke, not with words, but with feeling — strength, guardianship, endurance.
Kaelen instinctively knelt, bowing his head.
A thread of connection formed between them — not complete, not yet, but enough.
When Kaelen opened his eyes, he found Elowen kneeling beside him, watching intently.
"You touched your first spirit," she said, a rare note of awe in her voice.
Kaelen breathed heavily, feeling new energy thrumming beneath his skin.
"What was it?" he asked.
Elowen smiled faintly.
"The Spirit of the Ember Stag," she said. "A guardian of old Wardens. It chose to answer you."
[Passive Skill Unlocked: Spirit Bind (Lesser)]
You can sense the presence of nearby corrupted entities and summon temporary spirit echoes for protection.
Kaelen stood, swaying slightly.
He felt... different.
Stronger. Sharper. More connected to the world around him.
"This is only the beginning," Elowen said. "Your bond with the Flame — and with the spirits — will define what kind of Warden you become."
Kaelen stared at his hands, feeling the invisible threads of power weaving through his soul.
The last Warden.
The weight of it settled on him, heavy and undeniable.
But for the first time, he didn't feel crushed by it.
He felt ready.
Far above them, the Veilwood shuddered — a warning carried on the wind.
Darkness was still moving.
And Kaelen was finally ready to meet it.