Astra's pov

The cavern walls glowed a faint, ominous orange, the heat radiating from the depths ahead. Each step forward made the air thicker, heavier, until it felt like I was breathing through a veil of fire. Sweat trickled down my temple as I clutched the staff tightly, its dormant hum a constant reminder of what was at stake.

“You sure about this?” Carlos asked, walking beside me. His voice was steady, but his fingers twitched nervously at the hem of his jacket.

“Not even a little,” I admitted, glancing at him. His presence was both a comfort and a weight. He had insisted on coming with me, saying something about teamwork and trust, but I couldn’t shake the guilt of dragging him into this.

“Well, that makes two of us,” he said with a crooked grin. “But hey, we’ve faced worse, right?”

I didn’t respond. I wasn’t sure we had.

The legend of the Phoenix’s Flame was one of those Isle stories whispered in half-jest, the kind you used to scare little kids. It was said to burn endlessly, trapped in the heart of a labyrinth that no one had ever escaped. If the staff could be deactivated by anything, it was this flame.

The only problem? Surviving long enough to get to it.

Carlos stopped suddenly, holding out an arm to block my path. “Do you hear that?”

I strained my ears. At first, there was nothing but the distant crackle of fire. Then I heard it—a low, guttural growl that sent a shiver down my spine.

“Tell me that’s not what I think it is,” I whispered.

Carlos sighed, pulling a gadget from his pocket—a small flashlight he had rigged to double as a mini-stun device. “Depends. Do you think it’s a fire-breathing monster?”

The growl came again, louder this time.

“Fantastic,” I muttered, gripping the staff like a lifeline.

A shadow moved ahead of us, massive and unmistakable. The beast stepped into view, its fiery mane illuminating the cavern. Its body was sleek and cat-like, but its eyes glowed with an unnatural red light. Flames flickered around its paws, leaving scorch marks on the ground with every step.

“A manticore,” Carlos said under his breath.

“What do we do?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Carlos glanced at me. “We don’t have to fight it. Just distract it long enough to get past.”

I nodded, though my legs felt like jelly. “Okay. I’ll distract it. You go.”

Carlos shook his head. “Not a chance. We’re doing this together.”

Before I could argue, the manticore roared, the sound echoing through the cavern like an explosion. Its eyes locked onto us, and it crouched, ready to pounce.

“Run!” Carlos shouted, shoving me to the side just as the beast lunged.

I scrambled to my feet, heart pounding as I watched Carlos dart to the left, waving his flashlight to draw the manticore’s attention. The beast turned, its flaming tail whipping through the air as it chased him.

“Hey, over here!” I yelled, trying to pull its focus back to me. I raised the staff, letting a spark of lightning crackle at its tip.

The manticore hesitated, its head snapping toward me. For a moment, I thought it would attack, but then it let out a low growl and turned back to Carlos, who was now scaling a rocky ledge.

“Carlos, look out!” I shouted.

He leapt just as the manticore’s tail slammed into the ledge, sending chunks of rock flying. Carlos landed awkwardly, stumbling but managing to stay on his feet.

“This isn’t working!” he yelled. “We need a new plan!”

I glanced around, my mind racing. The cavern was vast, its walls lined with jagged rocks and glowing veins of molten lava. There was a narrow passageway on the far side—our only chance of getting closer to the flame.

“Get to the passage!” I called to Carlos. “I’ll cover you!”

He hesitated, but the manticore was already closing in again. With a reluctant nod, he sprinted toward the passage, zigzagging to avoid the beast’s swipes.

I raised the staff again, summoning a bolt of lightning that struck the ground in front of the manticore. It reared back, snarling in frustration, and I used the moment to dash after Carlos.

We reached the passage together, panting and covered in soot. The manticore roared behind us, its massive form too large to squeeze through the narrow opening.

“Nice work,” Carlos said between gasps, giving me a shaky thumbs-up.

“Yeah,” I said, though my legs felt like they might give out. “We’re not out of this yet.”

The passage sloped downward, the heat intensifying with every step. The air shimmered, and I could see the faint glow of the Phoenix’s Flame ahead.

But the trial wasn’t over.

The ground beneath us began to shift, the rocks cracking and splitting apart. Fire erupted from the fissures, forming a barrier between us and the flame.

Carlos stared at the wall of fire, his face pale. “So, uh… any ideas?”

I swallowed hard, gripping the staff tighter. “I think this part’s on me.”

He frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“The flame reacts to strength of will,” I said, the memory of the legend surfacing in my mind. “I have to face it alone.”

“No way,” Carlos said, stepping in front of me. “We’re a team. I’m not letting you go in there by yourself.”

His determination caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn’t know how to respond.

“I’m scared,” I admitted finally, my voice barely audible.

Carlos placed a hand on my shoulder, his gaze steady. “So am I. But you’ve got this, Astra. You’re stronger than you think.”

His words bolstered me, and I nodded, stepping toward the flames.

The heat was unbearable, and I could feel the storm within me stirring, ready to lash out. But I forced myself to stay calm, to focus.

The flames seemed to part as I moved forward, revealing a pedestal in the center of the chamber. Atop it burned the Phoenix’s Flame, its golden light radiating warmth and power.

I reached out, my hand trembling, and the flame flared brighter. Images flashed through my mind—memories of my failures, my fears, my deepest insecurities.

“You’re not enough,” a voice whispered, cold and cruel.

“Yes, she is,” another voice countered. Carlos’s voice.

I closed my eyes, blocking out the doubt. “I am enough,” I said, my voice firm. “And I won’t let fear control me.”

The flame dimmed, its light softening as I grasped it. The heat subsided, replaced by a comforting warmth.

I turned back to Carlos, holding the flame aloft. His face lit up with relief and pride.

“You did it,” he said, grinning.

“We did it,” I corrected, stepping back into the passage.

As we made our way out of the cavern, I felt lighter, as though a weight had been lifted. For the first time, I believed in myself—and in the friends who believed in me.