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I could practically feel it filling my lungs like smoke and it made me want to cough the same way, but I knew that coughing wouldn't help. A bead of sweat rolled down my temple. When had it become so hot?

I could feel the temperature rising as we ventured deeper into the ruins, an uncomfortable heat radiating from Niri. Her magic flickered like flames just beneath her skin, and I caught glimpses of it dancing in her eyes, fiery embers that reflected her inner strength and determination. Each step she took sent a ripple of warmth through the air, an intense force that enveloped us like a heavy blanket.

I glanced at Thorn, his expression taut as he walked beside me. Sweat glistened on his brow, but he kept his jaw set tight, focused on our path. Wyn followed closely, occasionally stealing nervous glances at Niri. I wondered if she felt the same unease that gripped my stomach.

"Is it supposed to be this hot?" Wyn asked, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand. "I thought ancient ruins were cold and damp."

Niri turned her head slightly, a knowing smile ghosting her lips. "The magic here has been awakened," she said, her voice smooth, yet carrying an undercurrent of heat that mirrored the rising temperature around us. "The fire within me reacts to this place, its history is entwined with flames and shadows."

As we pressed forward, I felt the air thickening even more, swirling with an almost tangible energy that was both exhilarating and suffocating. Niri's presence burned bright against the oppressive darkness, illuminating our path but also drawing out whispers from the hidden corners of the ruins.

I shivered as I caught fleeting shadows flit across stone walls, skimming past us like whispers of forgotten souls trapped within these crumbling structures. The flicker of Niri's magic kept those phantoms at bay for now; I could feel their chill battling against her warmth.

"This place feels alive," I muttered to Thorn as we navigated around a jagged pillar that jutted from the ground like a tooth.

"It's not just alive; it's aware," he replied quietly, his gaze fixed ahead. "And if we're not careful…"

"Stop." Niri held up a hand abruptly, causing us all to freeze in place. The warmth radiating from her intensified momentarily before settling back into a steady pulse.

"What is it?" I whispered, sensing the shift in the atmosphere around us.

"Something waits ahead," she whispered. The flames within her seemed to dance with urgency now, wrapping around her limbs like living tendrils eager for release.

My heart raced as I exchanged glances with Thorn and Wyn. We stood on the precipice of something ancient and powerful, the heat and tension thrumming in the air made it clear that whatever lay ahead wouldn't be easily tamed or understood.

"Continue down that corridor, and it will take you where you need to go," Niri instructed, pointing toward a hallway that veered off to the left, its darkness seeming to swallow the light. "I cannot go any further, not without risking my magic interfering."

I nodded, sharing an understanding glance with Wyn and Volker, as if we were all in agreement that this was the most sensible course of action. In that moment, we were bound by a shared purpose, our resolve strengthening against the unknown that lay ahead.

Niri stepped back, her gaze steady. "I'll wait for you at your camp. Stay safe." Her voice carried an authority that brooked no argument, but I could sense the unease simmering beneath her calm exterior.

We exchanged nods, a silent agreement that we would return. The air shifted as we turned into the darker corridor, the oppressive warmth clinging to my skin like a shroud, even though the distance between us and Niri was increasing with each step. The silence deepened around us, broken only by the echo of our footfalls against ancient stone.

As we ventured further, the atmosphere thickened with an unnameable tension. The faint glow from Wyn's magic illuminated jagged walls covered in unfamiliar symbols that seemed to pulse with life. Shadows danced at the edges of our vision, always just out of reach.

"Do you feel that?" Wyn whispered, glancing nervously at me and then at Thorn.

"I do," I replied, my heart racing. The sensation was electric, a prickling awareness crawling up my spine.

Two steps later, and the hallway opened up into a massive chamber. A raised platform was at the center of the room where an ornate mirror stood, framed in shimmering silver and gold.

My heart raced faster. This had to be it, the Starforged Mirror. I could feel its pull resonating within me, calling out as if it recognized my presence. Without thinking, I took another step forward, and suddenly the ground trembled beneath us, sending vibrations through my bones.

A low growl rumbled from all around us, reverberating off the walls and stealing my breath. I barely had time to react before a massive spectral guardian emerged from the darkness, a swirling mass of void magic coalescing into a towering figure cloaked in shadows.

"Step back!" Thorn shouted as he instinctively positioned himself in front of me. His muscles tensed as he faced this new threat, his eyes narrowed with fierce determination.

The guardian lunged forward with a speed that belied its size, launching an attack aimed straight for Thorn. He sidestepped just in time, but the impact sent shockwaves through the chamber, forcing me to stumble back against Volker for support.

"Keep moving!" Volker urged as he called on his magic to help Thorn fight against the guardian. "We have to find a way past it!"

But as we struck back, Wyn weaving spells and Thorn countering with powerful blows, the guardian's strength overwhelmed us. Its shadowy form pulsed with energy that drained our resolve; every attack felt like fighting against an endless tide.

"Thorn!" I called out as I watched him push himself harder and harder, sweat pouring down his brow as he deflected another blow meant for me.

"I can handle this!" he grunted through clenched teeth, but I could see it taking its toll on him, his movements growing sluggish under the weight of our bond's strain.

Before I could react, he faltered under an immense blow from the guardian and collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. My heart lurched at the sight of him, weakened and vulnerable in front of such overwhelming darkness.