CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Chapter 13: The Circle Awakens

The wind howled around the ancient amphitheater, carrying with it whispers from another time. Lila stood among the five, the members of the Circle, her flame dancing quietly at her fingertips. This place, long abandoned and forgotten by the modern world, thrummed with ancient magic. She felt it in her bones. In her blood.

Kael of Water crossed her arms, staring at Lila like a soldier sizing up a new recruit. "You're not what I expected," she said. "Too soft in the eyes."

Lila met her gaze. "And you're exactly what I expected from someone who thinks silence is strength."

Theo burst out laughing. "I like her already."

Saira, ever still, spoke with a voice that floated like mist. "We don't have time for introductions. If the Revenant moves fast, we must be faster."

Lucien remained apart from the others, his eyes hidden beneath his hood. Lila could feel the pull of his aura—cold, dangerous, and powerful. She knew better than to provoke him.

Adrien stood beside her, more guardian than ally in that moment. "You need to learn to work as one," he said. "The Circle only works when its bearers are in sync. The last time the prophecy activated, the lack of unity led to the fall of kingdoms."

"And death," Lucien said, his voice low, grave. "Don't forget the blood."

Lila's fists tightened. "Then we won't make the same mistake. We can start training. Now."

Kael rolled her eyes. "You sure your fire won't fizzle out in the cold?"

Lila raised a hand. Flame erupted in her palm, crackling with controlled fury. "Try me."

Theo stepped between them, his Earth energy stabilizing the moment. The moss beneath their feet pulsed faintly. "Enough. We're all chosen for a reason. Let's stop wasting time proving who's the biggest threat and actually become one."

They broke off into individual corners of the amphitheater, each preparing in their own way. Adrien guided Lila toward an old stone arch etched with sigils. "This is where your training begins. But it's not just about power. It's about memory. The past holds the key to mastering the flame."

He pressed his hand to the arch. A pulse of energy surged through the stone, and suddenly Lila's vision darkened. She gasped as images flooded her mind—not visions from the mirror, but pieces of battlefields, old castles, and herself, standing with the Circle in different bodies, different times.

She stumbled back. "What was that?"

"A glimpse," Adrien said. "The temple unlocked your fire. This place unlocks your legacy. You are not just Lila. You are the Flame Reborn."

Night deepened as they trained. Kael summoned walls of water from thin air. Theo cracked the earth with his fists. Saira leapt high, controlling currents of wind like silk. Even Lucien, when he moved, left ripples of dark mist in his wake. Lila practiced harnessing her fire—not just throwing it, but shaping it, calling it without burning everything around her.

They trained until the moon reached its peak.

And then, something changed.

A low hum trembled through the amphitheater.

Lucien stiffened. "He's watching."

Kael conjured a defensive barrier. Theo grounded his feet, ready to strike. Lila turned toward the cliff's edge, where the shadows seemed too thick.

And there he was.

The Revenant.

Or at least, a fragment of him—a silhouette wrapped in darkness, eyes glowing red. He didn't speak. He didn't move.

But his presence spoke volumes.

Lila stepped forward, flame spiraling around her wrist. "You want me? Then come and get me."

The silhouette tilted its head, as if amused. And then it vanished.

Silence followed.

Adrien exhaled sharply. "That was a warning. He knows you're gathering strength. Next time, he won't just watch."

Saira broke the silence. "Then we need to be ready."

Lila looked at the Circle, their eyes locked on hers.

She knew what came next. No more fear. No more hesitation.

"Tomorrow," she said. "We fight like one."

The Circle nodded. And the stars above seemed to blaze a little brighter.