Chapter 154: The Home of Embers
As Alex and Nyxara stood at the lofty summit, their gazes wandered across the enchanting sight of an unanticipated sanctuary nestled atop the majestic Mount Blanc. It was not merely the structure that captivated them; the very peak appeared to have been meticulously sculpted, its apex flattened with an eerily exact precision, as if the mountain itself had been tenderly shaped and molded like soft clay to give birth to this extraordinary place. The edges of the summit were smoothed to perfection, their contours devoid of any jaggedness, while the surface boasted an unparalleled levelness that defied the explanations of natural erosion. In the center, dramatically framed by cascading flowering vines that danced with the gentle mountain breeze, stood the building—a testament to ingenuity and artistry. Beneath its glass-like obsidian façade lay the pulsating veins of molten rock, glowing softly, adding an ethereal illumination that breathed life into the extraordinary landscape around them. It was beautiful, and the cloud covering the peak gave it a majestic view. Quietly regal, it felt less like a fortress or beast’s lair and more like a palace for something older, wiser, and infinitely more dangerous. The Firebird hadn’t stopped walking, and so, with a final glance exchanged between them, Alex and Nyxara followed her across the stone path toward the structure.
Then, just a few meters from the building, they passed through something invisible but unmistakable.
Alex felt it first. Like walking through a ripple in space, a tingling static crawled across his skin. Nyxara’s fur bristled faintly on his shoulder.
And then, as they fully stepped through the unseen wall, the heat vanished.
Not just lessened—vanished.
The air inside the boundary was cool, temperate. A calm breeze stirred the petals of the vines, and Alex blinked in confusion, glancing around. For the last hour since they got here, the very air had felt alive with burning intensity—like breathing in the exhalation of a volcano—but now it was... serene.
Which made no sense.
Alex had assumed the oppressive heat had radiated from the Firebird herself, her sheer power igniting the very atmosphere. But it seemed like another theory was in place here...
But Alex was sure that her presence was also why.
Alex gazed ahead at the building while carrying Nyxara on his shoulders. As they approached, both of them were taken aback by an unexpected sight: the presence of human mana emanating from the buildings, and there were far more than just a few.
But what alarmed Alex even more was that they hadn’t detected these individuals until they were just a few meters from the door. This was particularly surprising, considering their detection range extended over a hundred meters.