Muskan_umata

When amateur archaeologist Lila unearths an ancient amulet in the scorching desert, she thinks she’s found the key to saving her people from ruin. But the moment she touches it, the ground collapses beneath her, and she wakes up in a world she doesn’t recognize—with a face that isn’t hers. 

Now, trapped in the body of Queen Aurora a legendary ruler whose downfall cursed an entire kingdom, Lila is thrust into a world of political intrigue, ancient magic, and a prophecy she doesn’t understand. According to a fiery phoenix that emerges from the amulet, she must **restore the seven flames—a task that will unite the warring Phoenix and Dragon Kingdoms and heal a rift that has plagued the land for centuries.

But Lila is no queen. She’s a reluctant adventurer with a sharp tongue and a knack for getting into trouble. As she navigates courtly schemes, battles with shadowy enemies, and the growing power of the amulet, she begins to uncover the truth about Queen Aurora’s past—and the dark forces that led to her downfall. 

With time running out and the amulet’s power growing stronger, Lila must decide: will she embrace her new identity as the Phoenix Queen and fulfill the prophecy, or will she fight to return to her old life—even if it means dooming the kingdoms to eternal strife?

Crown of the seven flames

When I opened my eyes, I was no longer in the temple. The air was cool and damp, the ground beneath me rough and uneven. I sat up, my head throbbing, and looked around. I was in a cave, its walls glistening with moisture and faintly glowing moss. The map lay beside me, its runes still faintly pulsing with light.

"Arl?" I called, my voice echoing in the cavern. There was no response.

I stood, brushing dirt from my clothes, and picked up the map. The runes had shifted again, forming a new pattern—a path leading deeper into the cave. I hesitated, my mind racing. Where was Arl? Where was Kaela? And how had I ended up here?

As I moved deeper into the cave, the air grew warmer, and the faint sound of crackling fire reached my ears. The walls began to shimmer with a golden light, and the ground beneath my feet felt unnaturally warm. I rounded a corner and stopped in my tracks.

Before me was a massive chamber, its walls lined with glowing crystals. At the center of the room was a pedestal, and on it burned a single flame—brilliant and golden, its light casting long shadows across the chamber. The Flame of Eternal Pkif.

I approached cautiously, my heart pounding. The flame seemed to pulse in time with my heartbeat, its light growing brighter as I drew closer. I reached out, my fingers trembling, but before I could touch it, a voice stopped me.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

I turned to see Sey leaning against the wall, his arms crossed and a smirk on his lips. "That flame is more dangerous than you realize."

"What are you doing here?" I demanded, my hand instinctively going to the dagger at my side.

"I could ask you the same question," he replied, pushing off the wall and stepping closer. "But I suppose we're both here for the same reason."

"And what reason is that?" I asked, my voice tense.

"Power," he said simply. "The kind of power that can change the world."

I shook my head. "I'm not here for power. I'm here to save my parents—and my kingdom."

Sey's smirk faded, replaced by something almost like respect. "You're more like your parents than I thought."

Before I could respond, the ground beneath us began to tremble. The crystals on the walls flickered, their light dimming as the flame on the pedestal grew brighter. The air grew hotter, and the sound of crackling fire grew louder.

"We need to go," Sey said, his voice urgent. "Now."

But it was too late. The chamber was collapsing around us, the walls crumbling as the floor split open. I stumbled, the map slipping from my grasp as I fell.

"Aurora!" Sey's voice was distant, muffled by the roar of collapsing stone.

I reached for the map, my fingers brushing its surface as the ground gave way beneath me. The last thing I saw was Sey's face, his expression a mix of fear and determination, before everything went dark.

The first flame