Novels by graceiheagwaram

The rain turned silver under the dawn. Kael stood on the cliff’s edge, wind whipping his cloak as the lightning within him flickered gold and blue. Behind him, a voice he thought he’d silenced forever rose through the mist. “Did you really think death would free you from me, Kael Thorn?”Alaric’s tone was soft, almost kind, and that made it worse. Kael turned slowly. The High Inquisitor emerged from the shadows, his once-silver armor now scorched black and cracked with light. His eyes burned brighter than fire. “Still breathing?” Kael said, voice low. “I should’ve struck harder.”Alaric smiled faintly. “You did. I simply refused to die.”Mira and Corvin appeared behind Kael, exhausted, soaked, but ready. Mira’s hand trembled on her dagger. “He survived that?”Corvin muttered, “He’s like a cockroach blessed by gods.”Alaric ignored them, gaze locked on Kael. “You’ve awakened the First Judge’s soul. Do you even understand what that means?”Kael’s jaw tightened. “It means she wanted ou

The night after the Baron’s fall was too quiet. Kael sat alone by the window of an abandoned watchtower, lightning flickering faintly across his fingertips. Outside, the city smoldered under distant rain. Mira paced behind him, restless. Corvin cleaned his dagger by the fire, his gold mask lying beside him. “You’ve been staring at nothing for an hour,” Mira said finally.“Not nothing,” Kael murmured. “I can still hear her.”“The voice from the System?”“Yes.”His eyes were distant, almost haunted. “She keeps whispering the same word, ‘remember.’ But every time I try, it hurts.”Corvin’s tone was dry. “Maybe don’t take advice from the ghost living in your skull.”Kael’s glare cut to him. “You think I asked for this?”Corvin lifted his hands. “Relax. Just saying, half the city already calls you the storm of Rhaegor. Maybe don’t add ‘mad prophet’ to the list.”Mira shot Corvin a warning look. “He’s trying to focus. You could try not being a rat for once.”Corvin smirked. “A charming hea

The city stank of smoke and rot; banners of the Church burned on every street corner. “He’s close,” Kael said quietly.“You can feel him?” Corvin asked.“The System can,” Kael replied. “It’s like the air grows heavier the nearer I get.”Mira kept pace beside him, cloak soaked through. “The Baron’s estate is built on the ashes of the old mines. If the System guided you here, it’s not coincidence.”Kael’s eyes flickered with blue light. “It’s retribution.”They turned a corner, and froze. Ahead, the road to Ashreach was blocked by rows of armored soldiers. Their captain shouted above the rain. “By order of the Baron, all entrances to the district are sealed. Trespassers will be executed.”Corvin exhaled. “Of course. A polite welcome.”Kael’s chain slid from his sleeve, glinting faintly in the lightning. “Then we make our own entrance.”Mira caught his arm. “Wait. Look.”Through the sheets of rain, a cart approached the barricade, driven by ragged workers, miners, their faces hollow. A

The chain sparked alive. The cathedral filled with stormlight as Kael charged, straight into Alaric’s fire.Lightning coiled around Kael’s arms as he faced Alaric in the center of the ruined nave. “You destroyed everything that stood for faith,” Alaric said, his voice echoing through the smoke.“Faith?” Kael spat. “You used faith to bury people alive.”Alaric’s expression was calm, almost tender. “I buried sin. The weak exist to feed the strong. That is divine order.”Kael’s chain lit up in fury. “Then I’ll break your order!”They collided, lightning met holy fire with a scream that split the ceiling. The shockwave threw Mira and Corvin behind shattered pews.Sparks seared the air. Every strike rattled the walls, every blow lighting Kael’s scars until he glowed like a storm given flesh.Alaric deflected a blow and shoved him back. “You’re a child playing god.”Kael’s breath came hard. “And you’re a god who forgot he was human.”Their weapons clashed again. Alaric’s blade carved throug

Kael’s vision blurred in the smoke as heat slammed into him like a hammer. Mira’s voice cut through the chaos. “Kael! This way, move!”He turned, Corvin was already pulling her toward a side passage half-collapsed with rubble. Behind them, Alaric’s soldiers surged through the fire, their armor gleaming with divine light. “Don’t let them escape!” Alaric’s command echoed, cold and precise.Kael’s grip tightened on his chain. “Go. I’ll hold them.”Mira’s eyes flared. “Don’t be stupid! You can’t fight all of them!”Kael gave a ghost of a smile. “Then I’ll make them remember trying.”Before she could argue, he stepped into the flames. The heat licked his skin, but the lightning inside him answered, flaring wild and white.[Judgment Mode Activated.]The air screamed. Kael’s chain burned blue, cutting arcs of light through the fire. The first wave of soldiers fell before they even reached him. Sparks danced across the stone, blood mixing with steam, but for every one he struck down, three

Kael stumbled through the alleys with Mira dragging him by the arm. His back burned where the brand still pulsed, every heartbeat whispering pain.Behind them, the city screamed, bells, fire, soldiers shouting his name. “Stop pulling,” Kael hissed.“Then run faster,” Mira shot back. “You light up like a beacon every time you breathe.”They turned a corner and nearly collided with two patrolling guards. Mira didn’t hesitate, she threw a handful of powder into the air. The spark flared green, blinding. The men cried out, clutching their eyes. Kael blinked through the smoke. “What was that?”“Sleeping ash,” she said, catching her breath. “Hurts like hell if you inhale it. Works every time.”He stared at her, trying to catch up. “Who are you?” “A healer,” she replied, voice tight. “And apparently your babysitter now.”Kael’s temper flared. “I don’t need saving.”“You almost died in there.”“I’ve died before,” he snapped.She stopped, turned on him. “Then stop acting like it’s a badge of

Liam’s eyes fluttered open to the pale glow of the infirmary ceiling. His body felt like it had been forged from stone and shattered again. Mira leaned over him, hands glowing faint green. “He’s awake!”Dax nearly jumped out of his chair. “You legend! You beat the golden prince himself!”Liam groaned softly, sitting up with effort. “Don’t call me that.”“Oh, come on!” Dax grinned. “You broke Kane’s Light Burst! The guy’s practically royalty, and you, ”“Almost destroyed the arena,” Mira cut in sharply. Her healing light dimmed as she pulled her hands away. “Half the students are still too scared to speak your name.”Dax’s grin faded. “He didn’t mean to.”Liam’s gaze dropped to his hands, faint trails of black shimmered under the skin. Shadows pulsed with his heartbeat.He whispered, “Maybe they should be scared.”Mira and Dax exchanged a worried glance. The silence was broken by a soft, mechanical chime.[Warning: Shadow Core awakening caused Rift disturbance.][Sealed Entity, 12% Awa

The cheers had stopped hours ago. The arena still smelled of burnt stone and blood.Inside the infirmary, Liam woke to the scent of herbs and the faint glow of moonlight through the window.Every breath hurt. Every muscle screamed, but it wasn’t the pain that made him tremble, it was the voice. “You hesitated. You could’ve ended him. Yet you stopped.”Liam gritted his teeth. “Get out of my head.”“You can’t silence what you are, heir of shadow.”He sat up abruptly. “I’m no one’s heir!”The door burst open. “Liam!”Rhea rushed in, worry written across her face. She stopped at his bedside, eyes scanning the bandages on his chest. “You’re supposed to be resting.”“I’ve rested enough.”Her tone hardened. “You almost died in that ring. Whatever power you unleashed nearly destroyed half the arena.”He looked away. “I didn’t mean to.”“You lost control,” she interrupted. “And next time, you might not come back from it.”The silence between them stretched, heavy, sharp. Finally, Liam said qui

The Tournament of Blades, Ravenhold’s grandest event, had arrived. The courtyard buzzed with noise, banners fluttering in the cold morning wind. But Liam Cross didn’t feel ready. Not after the whisper. Not after the voice that called him heir.He stood at the edge of the training field, gripping his pendant so tightly that the edges dug into his skin.[Warning: Host emotional instability at 46%.][Recommendation: Maintain composure to prevent Shadow Core leakage.]“Composure…” he muttered. “Right.”A familiar voice cut through the crowd. “Still talking to yourself, Cross?”He turned. Kane Drayden stood a few feet away, gold uniform immaculate, smirk sharp as ever.“Try not to vanish in front of the nobles today,” Kane said. “Wouldn’t want your little ‘tricks’ exposed too soon.”Liam met his gaze evenly. “You sound nervous.”Kane’s smile faltered for half a heartbeat. “I don’t get nervous. Especially not over someone like you.”“Then prove it in the arena,” Liam said, voice low.Rhea

The nightmare returned. Always the same, a dark hall filled with cold fire and whispering chains.Liam stood at its center, the floor beneath him carved with unfamiliar runes. From the shadows, a deep voice murmured, “Free me… and I will make you limitless.”He tried to move but his feet were rooted to the ground. The pendant around his neck glowed violently. “You carry my mark, Liam Cross. The world has forgotten me… but I remember you.”He screamed, and woke with a start. Rain tapped softly against his window. His sheets were soaked with sweat. The System flickered before his eyes:[Dream anomaly detected. Traces of external energy: 8%][Recommendation: Avoid deep sleep cycles.]He wiped his face. “Great. Even my dreams are cursed.”He got up, threw on his jacket, and walked outside into the cold dawn. The academy courtyard was empty except for the lingering fog.For a long moment, he just stood there, trying to breathe, but the voice in his head wouldn’t stop. “Free me…I will make

Inside the combat hall, the students sparred under the cold eye of Instructor Varis. Steel clanged. Sparks flew.Kane Drayden wasn’t sparring. He was staring. At Liam Cross. From across the room, Kane watched as Liam moved with uncanny precision. His steps flowed, his dodges were almost pre-planned, as if he knew where every strike would land before it happened. It didn’t make sense. “He’s faster than last week,” Kane muttered.Rhea glanced up from her corner seat. “Maybe he’s just training harder.”Kane’s voice sharpened. “No. He’s different. Something changed after the Rift Beast attack.”Rhea sighed. “You’re seeing ghosts.”“Maybe,” he said quietly, “but I don’t like ghosts I can’t control.”He rose and walked toward Liam’s sparring ring. Every head turned. “Let me have a round with him,” Kane said.The instructor hesitated. “We’re not scheduled, ”“I insist.” His tone brooked no refusal.Liam wiped sweat from his brow. “What’s this, Drayden? Looking for another easy win?”Kane’s

Wind howled through the academy towers. The bells rang, not the morning bell, not the curfew bell, but the alarm. Ravenhold was under attack.Students poured into the halls in chaos. “Rift breach! The outer barrier’s broken!”“The monsters are inside the west courtyard!”Liam jolted upright from his bed. His heart pounded. The voice of the System whispered sharply in his head: [Warning. Rift Beasts detected nearby. Survival priority activated.]He threw on his jacket and ran, joining the flood of terrified students.Outside, the rain came down in silver sheets. The ground trembled. Through the storm, he saw it, a monstrous wolf-shaped beast, its skin cracked with molten light, eyes burning red.Its roar split the night. Screams followed. Kane Drayden stood at the front line, golden aura blazing.He raised his hand and unleashed a spear of light that struck the beast’s shoulder. It howled but didn’t fall. Kane shouted, “Form the barrier!”Four students joined hands, magic circles glowi