Novels by Skylin

CHAPTER 7 THE KINGDOM OF THE ETERNAL FLAMEI stepped forward into the heart of Astraeth, my kingdom, and for the first time in my life, the weight of destiny didn’t feel heavy, it felt alive Every step I took pulsed with energy, as though the stones beneath my feet recognized the blood flowing in my veins.Thousands of my people knelt. Not out of fear, but with reverence, awe, and hope. Their eyes glimmered with fire, light, and a strange magic I couldn’t yet fully name.I inhaled sharply. My voice felt alien, yet natural as it left my lips:“I am Lyra, heir of Astraeth, king of this land. Rise.”Slowly, as if waking from a long slumber, they did. A roar of unity, power, and devotion rose through the air. I swallowed. My chest throbbed, my hands tingled. Every fiber of my being screamed, this is where you belong.Lythera hovered beside me. “Your people have waited centuries. They will fight for you, die for you, and follow you without question—but first, they must learn *how* to wie

CHAPTER 6 THE FIVE KINGDOMS OF RUINThe darkness didn’t just whisper, it pulled me in.A cold wave slammed into my chest, dragging my breath out of me. For a moment, I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. The world around me spun like a broken wheel. The ground beneath my feet vanished, and a violent wind whipped through my hair.ThenA hand grabbed my wrist.Warm. Firm. Alive.“Kael, stay with me!” the goddess’ voice snapped through the chaos.I blinked. Light tore through the darkness, and suddenly I was standing in a place that didn’t look real at all. The sky above me looked like it had been split between fire and storm. Half burned in red flames, half churned with black clouds and lightning.The goddess, Lythera, hovered beside me. Her silver eyes glowed with sadness and something sharper—fear.“Where… where are we?” I whispered.“This,” she said softly, “is the world your enemies want to create.”Before I could ask more, the ground rumbled. The sky cracked open.And then I saw the

CHAPTER 5 THE SPIRITS OF BLOOD AND VENGEANCEThe Crimson Empire spread before me like a wound in the world—red clouds swirling, towers smoldering, dragons circling like predators above the city. The Heart Ground beneath my feet pulsed with raw energy, reacting to my bloodline’s power. I could feel it thrumming through my veins, coiling like a serpent, ready to strike.Lyra hovered at my side, calm as ever. “Kael… focus. You are not just walking into battle. You are walking into history. Every move you make here will echo through the five kingdoms.” “I understand. But I need to see them. I need to know them.”Lyra’s silver eyes narrowed. “You will. But be careful. There is something you haven’t faced yet.”I tilted my head. “What?”Her gaze darkened. “The spirits that destroyed your bloodline. The ones who killed your parents, your grandfather. They linger in this empire. You must face them, or you will never be whole.”I froze. My chest tightened. My stomach turned over.All my life

CHAPTER 4 TRAINING OF FIRE, BLOOD, AND MAGICThe words still echoed in my chest like a drum. My heart hammered, but this time not from fear. From something stronger. Something alive in me that hadn’t existed before. Power. Raw, untamed, undeniable power. The Goddess had unlocked it—but it wasn’t enough. I could feel it simmering, itching to explode, to consume, to dominate.Lyra stepped closer, her hand brushing my arm. “Kael… calm down. You can’t let it overwhelm you. You need control.”Control? I snorted, though there was no humor in it. “Control? Lyra , I’ve just seen five kingdoms in chaos! I’ve just been told I have the blood of a demon, a dragon, and a sorcerer! I can’t control this—I barely survived controlling my own arms an hour ago!”She shook her head, but her eyes were steady. “You can. You’ve always had it. I just helped you see it. But raw power is useless if you can’t wield it. Come. You must train.”“Train where?” I asked. The throne room wasn’t built for this. The w

CHAPTER 3 THE GODDESS WHO OWNS MY FATEOne moment I was in the throne room, surrounded by the council and the elders who had just recognized me as heir. The next moment—everything exploded into a blinding white void. No floor. No sky. No sound. Just pure light ripping through my senses like fire.I staggered forward, clutching my chest.“What—what’s happening to me?” I shouted, my voice echoing like it was bouncing through ten different worlds.A voice answered from everywhere and nowhere at once.“Kael.”My name. Spoken with power so ancient it felt like the earth itself had whispered it.I spun around. “Who’s there? Show yourself!”The blinding light folded in on itself, compressing into the shape of a woman—tall, glowing, almost painfully beautiful. Her silver hair floated as if underwater. Her eyes were galaxies. Her skin shined like moonlight reflected on still water.She didn’t walk toward me.She glided.The Goddess.I knew instantly. My blood recognized her before my mind di

CHAPTER 2 THE WOMAN WHO KNEW MY POWEROne second I was staring at the glowing veins under my skin, the next a powerful shockwave burst from my chest like a bomb. The alley around me cracked, debris shot into the air, and the world bent as if space itself warped.I stumbled back, breath burning.“What—what’s happening to me?!”The woman stepped forward slowly, not scared at all. Her hood fell back a little, revealing sharp eyes—silver, bright, unreadable. “Adrian, listen to me. You need to calm your breath. Your magic is reacting to fear.”“Magic?” I shouted. “What magic? I don’t—”“Stop talking,” she commanded.Her voice hit me like a hand to the chest. Not physical—more like it touched something inside me.Even worse: I obeyed.She stepped close, raising one hand toward my shoulder. I jerked away instinctively.“Don’t touch me!”“If I don’t touch you,” she said calmly, “your power will rip this entire street apart. Probably half the city block too.”My heartbeat shook my ribs.She

Chapter 7 Strategy and Plans The Vale family, Vincent Korr, and the Heir wouldn’t wait. They were already planning their next move. I could feel it.I led us to a small abandoned warehouse on the edge of the district. Safe for now, but not for long. The Crimson energy hummed through me, a steady pulse reminding me that I wasn’t just any man. I was the Crimson General, and Ravenport would remember that today.We entered the warehouse, and I set down the rod. “We need a plan,” I said. “We can’t just charge in blindly. The Heir is powerful, and Korr is clever. Both will have traps, guards, and surprises.”Seraphine nodded, sitting on a crate. “So… what do we do?”I crouched next to her, letting the Crimson power settle in, sharpening my mind. “We gather information first. I need every detail about the Vale mansion—guards, entry points, hidden rooms. Anything Korr and the Heir use to manipulate the city.”She bit her lip. “I can do that. I’ve watched them for months. I know some route

Chapter 6 Crimson VengeanceThe first light of dawn was barely touching the rooftops of Ravenport, but the city already felt alive with danger. The streets were silent for now, but I knew that would change. The Vale family and Vincent Korr were planning something. They had power, wealth, and deception on their side—but I had something they couldn’t measure.Crimson.I felt it surging in my veins, a fire that matched the rage in my heart. Every betrayal, every death, every secret Seraphine had revealed fueled me. Today, the Crimson General would make his mark.Seraphine stood beside me, watching the streets below from the broken window of our safehouse. Her eyes were sharp now, no longer just fearful. The events of last night had changed her. She had seen what I could do, and I could see the resolve in her.“Leon…” she whispered. “Are you sure about this? There’s no turning back now.”I turned to her, letting my eyes glow faint red in the dim morning light. “I’m sure. They killed my p

Chapter 5Let's BeginSeraphine and I returned to the temporary apartment. My body ached from the fights, but my mind refused rest. Every movement, every sound tonight had brought one truth closer to me—I was hunting my past as much as I was surviving the present.She sat on the edge of the small bed, her fingers intertwined, her eyes distant. I knew what she was thinking. She had held back more than she should. Tonight, I was going to pull the truth out of her, one word at a time.“Seraphine,” I said, my voice low, careful. “I need you to tell me everything. Now. About my parents… about who killed them.”She flinched slightly. “Leon… it’s not easy. You might not like what you hear.”“Try me,” I said. “I’ve survived worse than truth.”She took a deep breath and looked me directly in the eyes. “Two years ago… when your parents were killed… it wasn’t random.”I clenched my fists, my knuckles white. “Go on.”“They were betrayed,” she whispered. “By people they trusted. People who smiled

Chapter 4 The ValeThe streets of Ravenport had quieted after the first wave of attackers. But I knew better. Silence didn’t mean safety. Not here. Not tonight.I led Seraphine down a narrow street, our footsteps light but deliberate. Her hand was still in mine, trembling a little, but she didn’t let go.“Leon… do you think they’ll come again?” she asked, voice barely above a whisper.“They will,” I said. “And not just tonight. The Vale family knows we’re here. And they won’t wait long to act.”Her eyes widened. “They know you’re the Crimson General…”“Yes,” I replied. “And that’s exactly why we need a plan.”We ducked into a small café that had long been closed. Its glass windows were cracked, the door hanging loosely on its hinges. Perfect hiding spot, for now. I set Seraphine behind the counter and took a quick look outside. Shadows moved across the street, but I couldn’t see anything clearly.“Leon…” Seraphine’s voice shook slightly. “I don’t know how you do it. I’ve never seen a

Chapter 3 The Crimson CallThe explosion rocked the building like a hammer against iron. Dust fell from the ceiling, and small cracks appeared along the walls. I grabbed Seraphine, pulling her close, shielding her with my body.“We need to move!” I shouted over the ringing in my ears. The metal rod I had leaned on earlier now felt useless. Not against them. Not tonight.Seraphine’s eyes were wide, fear shining in them like lamps in the dark. “Leon… they’re too strong. We can’t—”“Yes, we can,” I said firmly. “We have to. Follow me.”I pulled my hood down tight and scanned the hallway. The sound of running footsteps echoed. Whoever they were, they weren’t waiting to knock. They were coming to take everything.I didn’t need to guess who. Ravenport’s elite had finally sent someone to deal with me. The group that had haunted my past two years was real—and now, I was standing in their path again.I touched my pocket and pulled out my phone. The red cover felt heavy in my hand. I tapped a

Chapter 2 The Knock in the DarkSeraphine stood beside me, her fingers gripping my sleeve tightly. I could feel her hand shaking, even though she tried to hold herself steady.“We shouldn’t be here,” she whispered.“I know,” I answered quietly.The deep voice came again, muffled by the door but still sharp enough to slice through the silence.“Crimson General. Open the door. We only want to talk.”Talk.That word meant nothing good in Ravenport.I stepped forward slowly and pressed a finger to my lips, telling Seraphine not to speak. She nodded, though her breathing was uneven.The man outside waited. Not moving. Not leaving.His patience worried me more than anger ever could.Then he knocked again—three times, slower than before.“Leon Hawke,” the voice said, “we know you’ve returned. The city shifts when you move. So please… open the door.”The way he said my full name sent a cold wave down my spine.He wasn’t guessing.He knew.Seraphine leaned closer to me and whispered, “They t