I stood before a ten-foot-tall obsidian monolith with a small flame glowing from the top just beyond the palace. The structure was carved with symbols and carvings. I stood beside my mother waiting. The Guardian and his guards stood a few feet away. One of the Guardian's guards stepped forward and knelt on one knee with a hand pressed to the column. I noticed a circle carved into the ground around the monolith that began to glow. The guard's hand began to create a glowing outline of his hand on the stone. A hot wind began to swirl around us and then in a rush of wind and a flash of light, we were transported to the citadel. As the swirling flames and wind died down I noticed we were in a completely different place. We were now in a large cavern-like space. The ceiling was so high the top was lost in darkness, and held up by obsidian pillars trimmed in gold with golden runes set into the pillars. We stood at the base of a set of stairs that led to a high flat peak.on each side of the stairs ran a river of molten rock. The stairs were made of dark basalt each inset with a red stone carved with runes of fire, heat, earth, and stone. We began to climb the steps. Each foot moved to a steady beat which I realized wasn’t just in my head, you could hear it, like the heartbeat of some great sleeping beast. Those around us stopped as we neared the top and I stopped alongside my mother until I noticed the guardian motioning for me to continue. I followed him up the last few steps and found myself on a large red granite platform a double-lined circle of rose gold encircled most of the space. Set between the lines were symbols and stones of all colors. A blue-purple flame and a small square of black pumice were set in the center. The Guardian motioned for me to step onto the pumice stone and the fire rose to encompass me up to my waist. I watched the Guardian reach into one of the pools of lava and pull out a black metal helmet with gold and platinum embellishments on it. He reaches back into the pool and pulls out a broad sword made of dark meteoric iron. The cross-guard has a golden flame embellishment set into the handle with images of fire carved into the blade itself on either side of the fuller. He walks towards me and places the sword in my hand, the hilt fits perfectly into my hand as if made for me. He then placed the cool metal of the helmet on my head, which had a noticeable weight to it but not enough to make wearing it a bother. I hold the sword with both hands centered on my stomach. The circle around me begins to glow as does the sword. Tendrils of fire begin to weave in a circle around me, weaving in and out of tendrils of earth. The red capstone above me begins to glow casting a warm light onto me. The Guardian steps back and Raises his hands chanting,

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  "O mighty earth, the cradle of creation,

  And fiery forge of the cosmos,

  Bestow upon me your strength and vitality,

  That I may be the vessel of your boundless power."

  As the words echo through the chamber, the helm grows a plume made of fire, and the sword begins to glow with an intense radiance, the circle of fire and earth around me begins to spin faster until it whips inside of me. When it does I feel power like never before. I can sense the earth in all directions and the flames feel as if they would obey just my thoughts. An intense light begins to shine all around me. The circle turns to a patch of molten rock. I step forward as the light dies and see the guards looking at me in awe. My mother smiles at me. The Guardian steps toward me and goes down on his knee bowing. All around me, everyone begins to bow. I stand there awkwardly until they rise. The Guardian smiles at me. “Feels good doesn’t it?” He says. “Come” He motions to me as we begin to descend a different staircase. The staircase stops halfway through with a landing. I frown as I look at the stairs behind me. “What's behind these?” I ask I feel a space behind the stone but can't sense what’s inside it. “Your first challenge.” the Guardian says. Motioning to the stairs. I push a flat hand forward and the stairs flatten into a wall I walk forward and place my hand on to wall. When I do I suddenly feel much more control over the stone. I concentrate and the stone crumbles into dust. I walk in and the Guardian follows me. We enter a room with a stone circle in the center filled with lava. In the center of the pool is a large dark red stone, with yellow and white veins shot through it. “What is it?” I ask. “A phoenix egg.” He says. The egg begins to glow softly, becoming brighter and brighter until it's a blinding white light. There is a cracking noise and the egg shatters, and in the center lies a large red bird the size of a hawk.