Kael’s fingers trembled as he adjusted the straps of the burlap sack slung over his shoulder. The early morning mist hung heavy in the air, curling around the rugged peaks like a serpent guarding its treasure. Every step he took on the narrow mountain trail felt like a betrayal to the home he was leaving behind. He glanced back once, his village hidden beneath the fog, its comforting warmth already feeling like a distant memory.The village of Myrefall was nestled deep in the cradle of the Frostpeak Mountains. To outsiders, it was a quaint, peaceful place—a haven for weary travelers and merchants seeking rest before braving the treacherous paths further north. But for Kael, it had become a prison. A gilded cage where his dreams and questions had no room to grow.He’d tried to ignore the restlessness, dismissing it as a phase. But then the dreams began—vivid, haunting visions of flames consuming the sky, wings spanning entire horizons, and a voice. A voice calling his name with a mixtu

The sun was rising when Kael and Ryn finally stopped running. They had put as much distance as possible between themselves and the site of the battle. The path had led them to a small clearing by a stream, where the soft trickling of water provided a brief moment of solace.Kael sat on a fallen log, his head in his hands. His body ached from the strain of channeling the fire, and his thoughts were a tangled mess of fear, confusion, and exhaustion.Ryn crouched by the stream, washing the soot and dirt from her face. Her bow lay broken at her side, a silent reminder of how close they had come to death."You need to talk," she said without looking at him.Kael didn’t respond immediately. The words stuck in his throat, refusing to come out. What could he say? That he was as lost as she was? That he had no idea what was happening to him?"You summoned fire," Ryn continued, her voice calm but firm. "Twice. And that thing—" she gestured to the trail behind them "—it came after you. Why, Kael

Kael awoke to the sound of birdsong and the faint rustling of leaves overhead. For a moment, he forgot everything—the drakos, the burning power inside him, and the shadowy figure in his dreams. The warmth of sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting golden patterns on the forest floor."You're awake," Ryn's voice broke through his daze.Kael turned to see her crouched by a small fire, a pot of something steaming over the flames. Her red hair glowed like embers in the sunlight, and her emerald eyes were sharp and watchful."Where are we?" he asked, his voice hoarse."Deep in the Whispering Woods," she replied, not looking up from the pot. "Far enough from the village. They won’t follow us here."Kael sat up, wincing as his muscles protested. The memories of the previous day came rushing back—the drakos, the fire that had erupted from his hands, the destruction he had unleashed. He stared down at his palms, half-expecting to see flames still licking at his skin."You should eat," Ry

The crackling wall of fire flickered and danced, casting Kael and Ryn in its warm glow. The shadows that had pressed in on them now recoiled, as if afraid of the flame’s touch. For a brief moment, there was silence—no growls, no snarls, only the faint whispers of the woods.Kael lowered his hands, and the fire receded, leaving behind smoldering embers in the damp soil. He turned to Ryn, his chest rising and falling with each heavy breath."I didn’t know I could do that," he admitted, his voice a mixture of awe and disbelief.Ryn sheathed her dagger, her sharp eyes scanning the perimeter. "Neither did I," she said. "But it saved our lives."Kael looked at his hands, the faint warmth of the Phoenix’s flame still lingering in his palms. "I didn’t lose control this time. It felt… different. Like it wanted to protect us."Ryn nodded. "The Phoenix’s flame is more than just power, Kael. It’s a part of you. But don’t get too comfortable. That was impressive, but the Nightfangs will be back, a

Kael and Ryn traveled deeper into the forest, the towering trees casting long shadows over their path. The aftermath of the battle lingered in their hearts, but the silence between them wasn’t heavy—it was purposeful. Each step felt like another move forward, another chance to defy the Shadow King.The villagers’ survival gave Kael hope, but it also left questions burning in his mind. What was this power coursing through him? Why did the Revenant call him "the Phoenix's vessel"? And, most pressing of all, how much stronger would he need to become to protect those who relied on him?"Where are we heading?" Kael asked, breaking the silence as he sidestepped a twisted root.Ryn glanced over her shoulder, her sharp eyes scanning their surroundings. "To the Elder's Sanctum. If anyone can help us understand your power, it’s them."Kael frowned. "The Elder's Sanctum? I’ve heard stories about it. Isn’t it just a myth?"Ryn smirked. "A lot of things people think are myths turn out to be real,