Shrine of the Self, Flame of the Forgotten

The Wandering Shrine of Scorched Light wasn't marked on any map.

It didn't exist in any permanent place.

It appeared only to those at the edge of identity—those haunted by their past, confused about their future, or cursed by someone else's flame.

So, of course, it found me.

---

It appeared as a mountain that wasn't there yesterday.

One moment: hills, trees, fog.

Next moment: a black peak, crowned with flame, steps leading up into sky-choked silence.

Zhao Feng coughed. "Alright. Either this is a divine trial... or I'm really bad at directions."

Lan Ruo squinted at the flames. "They're not fire. That's memory."

Qing'er pressed a hand to my chest, where the soul-burned symbol still throbbed. "This place wants something from you."

"Yeah," I muttered. "My sanity."

---

We ascended.

The stairs burned under our feet—not heat, but pressure. With each step, I felt heavier. Like every doubt I'd buried was clawing upward again.

When we reached the shrine doors—massive, stone, carved with swirling flame—I paused.

Words were etched across the surface.

> Only the self may enter the self.

Zhao raised a hand. "I'd like to not enter myself, thank you."

"You're staying out here," I said.

"Gladly."

Qing'er squeezed my hand. "Be careful."

Lan Ruo crossed her arms. "Don't get absorbed by your own ego."

Then she added, quietly: "Come back."

---

The doors opened by themselves.

Inside: light.

Then—nothing.

---

The trial wasn't a battle.

It was worse.

It was me.

Dozens of me. Standing in a ring. Some wore royal robes. Others bled from the eyes. One had chains around his neck. One laughed like a god.

> "You don't belong here," they said in one voice.

> "You're a thief. A fragment."

> "You wear a name you don't understand."

> "Do you deserve this power?"

> "Do you even know who you are?"

I shouted, "I'm Li Xian!"

The ring of selves laughed.

One stepped forward—Ashen Fang, flames swirling around his shoulders.

> "No," he said. "You're the echo I left behind."

> "Let's see if you can burn me out."

He attacked.

---

Fighting yourself is strange.

You know every move. Every weakness.

But he wasn't just me.

He was more me than me.

He fought like he had nothing left to lose. Because he already lost everything.

Each blow we exchanged seared through space. My Void Flame reacted—black and gold pulses crashing with his white-hot fire.

He didn't speak.

Not until I faltered.

Then—

> "You love them, don't you? The girl with the sword. The one with the fox."

> "You think they'll love you back... once they see what you really are?"

> "They'll run."

I struck him with everything I had.

And he grinned as we both collapsed.

---

I woke up lying on molten stone.

The shrine was empty.

But on the ground in front of me:

A cracked mask

A lock of crimson hair

And a single line burned into the stone:

> You are still you. But for how long?

---

Outside, the others waited.

Lan Ruo stepped forward first. Her eyes scanned me. "Name?"

"Li Xian."

"Still a snarky flame idiot?"

"Yes."

She nodded. "Welcome back."

Qing'er wrapped her arms around me before I could say more. Her voice trembled.

"I thought the shrine took you."

"It tried."

Zhao Feng blinked. "Wait, it could've taken him?! That wasn't in the brochure!"

---

That night, we camped at the mountain's base. The shrine had already vanished behind us—like it had never been there.

Lan Ruo and Qing'er sat on opposite sides of the fire.

The tension had grown obvious.

Not just jealousy.

Uncertainty. Fear. The creeping realization that they were falling for a man still fighting not to become someone else.

---

Later, I went to check on the girls.

Zhao Feng followed me with a serious face—which was rare.

He placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Look," he said. "I know I joke a lot. But… whatever happens, I'm with you. Even if you turn into a flaming tyrant who tries to seduce all of us."

"Even you?"

"Well... I'm flattered, but no."

We laughed. A little.

And I was grateful.

---

Before dawn, Qing'er approached me.

She held the pendant I'd taken from the Archive.

"I meditated with it," she said.

"And?"

"It called me Ashen's spark."

I froze.

"What does that mean?"

She shook her head. "I don't know. But the more I remember... the more it scares me."

I held her hand.

"You're not him. And neither am I."

---

Lan Ruo saw us.

Didn't say a word.

But her knuckles whitened around her sword hilt.

---

[SYSTEM UPDATE]

> Trial of Self: Complete

Soul Stability: 89%

Void Flame: Harmonized

Companion Emotions Detected:

– Lan Ruo: Protective, Conflicted

– Qing'er: Trusting, Afraid

– Zhao Feng: Hungry

New Mission Unlocked: Investigate the Sparkblood Temple

Hidden Status: Qing'er – ????

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To be continued...

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✍️ Author's Note – by [Your Pen Name from Shadows of the Last Light]

🔥 Chapter 21 burned t

hrough:

The Wandering Shrine Trial

The MC fighting literal versions of himself

A big leap in soul stability (yay!)

Rising tension between Lan Ruo and Qing'er (👀🔥)

Hints that Qing'er might be more than just a former disciple

Zhao Feng being emotionally available… for once