After Ervyn and Eira had reluctantly bid us farewell, we found ourselves venturing deeper and deeper into the forbidden Rhenan woods, following Aron and Rory. It seemed like we were simply wandering through the nearly identical trees, but I trusted the two Flames. They looked like they knew what they were doing.

"You're extremely lucky you landed so close to our base," Aron smiled. "We didn't even have to send a hovercraft in!"

"How did you know where we were?"

"I have no idea," Rory shrugged. "We simply followed the coordinates Lady Myers sent us. She must have used an advanced AuraMap of some sort. Anyway, prepare to be amazed!"

She stopped in what seemed to be a random location, squatting and placing her hands down in the tall grass. "Spicy cheese," she said slowly, carefully enunciating each syllable. The ground immediately began to shake and pull apart on a hidden seam, exposing a dark pit.

"Spicy cheese?" Justin snickered.

"My stupid brother reset the password a year ago," Aron rolled his eyes. "Don't even ask why."

"So the famous, impossible-to-find Flame base is...a hole in the ground?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yup," Aron grinned. "But the interesting stuff is inside the hole. Why don't you go inside, Princess? You can't see the stairs, but they're there."

As I approached the edge of the pit, I couldn't help but notice how cute Aron's long hair was when it fell over his right eye.

What am I thinking? I don't even know this guy!

I sighed to myself as I descended the stone steps into the next chapter of my life.