Heir Of The Fallen Flame

Chapter 26: The Hunt

Rain hammered softly against the towering windows of Astra academy, covering the entire place in thick dark clouds.

It might as well reflect Ronan’s foul mood that morning Inside the upper halls, Ronan sat alone at the long oak table in his workspace, shoulders stiff beneath dark ceremonial robes as stacks of decrees surrounded him.

Not only is he the head of the Astra academy, he was the supreme mage of the realm; the ultimate power in the realm.

Ronan signed another parchment without reading half of it, the quill moved sharply across paper.

His eyes burned from exhaustion; he had not slept properly in days. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw blood on stone.

His father collapsing and Kael standing there like he'd done nothing wrong.

The room smelled faintly of old parchment and candle smoke. Only one lantern remained lit now, casting long shadows across the walls lined with ancient books and relics.

A knock sounded at the door but Ronan did not look up.

“Enter.”

The heavy doors creaked open and two familiar figures stepped inside.

Darius entered first still wearing combat leathers from training below. Behind him came Selene, Silas's distant cousin, in dark blue robes and finally Silas, whose expression already suggested he regretted coming here.

Ronan continued signing papers.

“You are avoiding sleep again,” Selene observed quietly.

Ronan dipped the quill into ink. “I am working.”

“You have been working for sixteen hours,” Darius muttered.

Ronan ignored him. Silas crossed the room slowly before stopping near the desk.

“You missed evening assembly.”

“I know.”

“And the funeral rites.”

The quill stopped moving for only for a second. Then Ronan resumed writing.

“I said what needed to be said already.”

None of them truly knew how to speak to him anymore. He'll, he used to be their friend and they went off doing the dumbest known to mankind and now, he was the supreme mage, the ruler of the freaking realm.

Selene’s eyes drifted across the endless papers. Since she got back to Astra, Ronan hasn't seemed to admit her presence even once.

“You cannot bury yourself beneath council work forever.”

Ronan finally looked up. His face looked sharper now somehow, exhaustion carving shadows beneath his eyes.

“It is what i am to do.” he stated clearly, “That much should be clear.”

Silas sighed softly. By the light, he looked terrible. A sudden knock interrupted them again.

Ronan frowned. Why is he receiving visitors on a busy day like this one anyway?!

“Enter.”

A young messenger hurried into the chamber wearing council grey. Rainwater dripped from his cloak as he bowed quickly.

“My lord.”

Ronan straightened slightly. “What is it?”

The messenger stepped forward nervously and held out a sealed scroll bearing a strange green wax symbol.

“The eastern scouts sent this less than an hour ago.”

Ronan snatched the scroll off his hands, eyes widening as he pulled the paper off its wax to read.

Selene stares at Ronan in silence, not certain how to ask her questions. “What happened?”

Ronan unfolded the letter, his eyes scanned the content in silence. The more he read the more his grip on the paper seemed to tighten.

Darius stepped closer. “Ronan?”

Still no answer. Finally, Ronan handed Silas the parchment. His friend frowned as he read aloud quietly.

“A huge fire eruption reported within the Nymph Forest…” His voice slowed. “…sacred trees destroyed… the nymphs speak of golden flames…”

The room fell silent. Darius stepped forward, eyes wide as he glanced from Silas to Roana. “What?”

Silas continued reading, his expression tightening further with every line.

“Tree king confirms a man turned into golden light… immense heat… eyes of gold…” He stopped completely now.

Selene took the parchment from him. Her face drained slowly of color.

“Wait.” she muttered. “The boy you were telling me about?”

Silas nodded. He had filled his cousin in on all the drama and now she seems even more terrified of Kael after learning he'd kill Pelson.

Ronan stood abruptly from his chair, the movement startled even the messenger.

“He still roams free.” Ronan said quietly.

Thunder rumbled outside the tower as though putting a stamp on his words.

Darius looked unsettled now. “Do we need to double the reward? Why is he still roaming free?!” He snapped, hands trembling.

Silas remained quiet, eyes fixed on Ronan.

Darius rubbed one hand across his face uneasily. “The cliff…” he muttered. “By the light. I still remember that…boy.”

Ronan said nothing, husbeyes seemed to darken even more as they spoke.

“If he killed Uncle Pelson..” Selene said as though stating the oblivious, “He needs to be apprehended at once.”

“You think I need reminding?” Ronan snapped, making the young woman jerk backwards.

He grabbed the letter from her hand and slammed it onto the desk.

“Pathetic bastards!” He snapped.

Ronan looked toward the windows where rain poured endlessly beyond the glass.

“If no man can find him,” he said coldly, “that I will hunt him myself.”

Ronan turned toward the messenger before any of them could say a word. “Summon the council.”

The boy bowed quickly and rushed from the chamber. Thunder rolled again overhead.

“Ronan..”

“I have work to do.” He said simply. He didn't need them telling him what he was doing was wrong or unreasonable.

He was the supreme mage and they either followed his orders or got out of his room.

***

The council chamber stood deep within Astra’s highest tower. Massive stone pillars lined the circular room while glowing blue runes drifted faintly across the domed ceiling overhead. Rain tapped against the high windows as council mages gathered around the central platform one by one.

Amongst the twenty council mages, six figures apart from the others. The eldest among them wore layered black and silver robes embroidered with ancient symbols. His long white hair rested neatly behind his shoulders while a scar crossed one blind eye.

Council Mage Vaelorin; one of the strongest mages in Astra.

Beside him stood five others; Seraphine, tall and sharp-eyed beneath crimson robes, Edrik, short with heavy rings covering both hands, Malthor, thin as a corpse and twice as unsettling, Lady Nysera, whose calm expression rarely changed. And finally Cassian Vey, youngest among them but feared nearly as much as Vaelorin himself.

Together, they watched the chamber doors open and Ronan entered first. Darius and Silas followed right after and the rest of the council settled slowly into uneasy silence.

Vaelorin studied Ronan in silence; the boy looked too much like Pelson tonight.

He'd been out of Astra when the mysterious boy attacked them twice. And seeing Pelson’s boy, he could see he had his father's anger and rage.

The corner of his lips lifted. Good.

“The hunters have failed,” Ronan declared immediately. “Again.”

Murmurs spread lightly through the chamber. Ronan stepped toward the center.

“Kael has transformed once more. Entire sections of the Nymph Forest now burn because of him.”

Some council members exchanged uneasy glances. Others already knew. Well, Vaelorin and his group already knew.

“I request permission to lead a direct pursuit myself.”

Immediate protests rose across the chamber.

“That is unwise! ”

“Too dangerous!”

“You are not prepared!”

Ronan slammed one hand against the stone table. “He killed the Supreme Mage!”

Silence followed instantly.

“We have a bounty on his head and he still walks free after killing my father!” He reminded them. “Do you expect me to hold still after this?

Vaelorin finally spoke. “You believe yourself ready to face him?”

“Yes.” Roanan said and faced the rest of the court. “You will grant me permission.”

The old mage studied him quietly. Poor foolish boy. He still did not understand what hunted them all now. None of them had spoken the truth aloud yet. Not even Pelson before his death.

Vaelorin glanced briefly toward the other five council mages. Every one of them looked grim.

Seraphine leaned slightly closer to him and whispered carefully beneath the rising chamber noise.

“The fire grows faster than expected.”

Malthor’s expression darkened. “He should have remained hidden longer.”

Nysera folded her hands tightly. “If the boy fully awakens before we secure him…”

She did not finish. By the light, she did not need to.

Vaelorin’s blind eye twitched, he knew that. The more reason why he needs Pelson’s boy to stay calm and not ruin everything by acting irrationally.

Cassian spoke quietly now. “Drecon will sense it soon if he has not already.”

That name alone chilled the air between them. Edrik cursed softly beneath his breath. Vaelorin silenced them with one sharp look before turning back toward the chamber.

Ronan still waited impatiently at the center. Vaelorin stepped forward slowly.

“The hunters will bring results soon.”

Ronan’s jaw tightened. “They already failed.”

“And yet,” Vaelorin replied calmly, “they remain preferable to sending Astra’s heir blindly toward something he does not understand.”

Ronan frowned slightly. “What does that mean?”

Vaelorin answered carefully. “It means power such as his is unstable.” he said simply. “We do not know the extent of his power and sending you off is foolishness.”

Ronan stared at him. “You speak as though you know what he is.”

Several council mages stiffened subtly.

Vaelorin did not. “I do not. The more reason why your request can not be granted.”

Even Ronan looked surprised by the blunt refusal.

“You would deny my request?” he asked coldly.

“I would deny you foolishness,” Vaelorin replied.

The tension between them sharpened instantly. For one dangerous moment, it felt as though Ronan might actually challenge a council elder directly.

Silas stepped forward carefully. “Ronan.”

But Ronan did not look away from Vaelorin.

The old mage’s voice lowered. “We shall discuss this matter further when proper information arrives.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “Until then, you will remain here.”

Ronan’s fists clenched tightly enough for his knuckles to pale. “I grow weary of waiting.”

Vaelorin’s face darkened faintly. “And I grow weary,” he said quietly, “of burying arrogant boys who mistake rage for strength.”

The chamber went deathly silent. Ronan stared at him for several long seconds.

“It is for your safety, Supreme mage. Until we learn what the boy is.” Lady Nysera offered.

Ronan shuts his eyes, fist clenched. “Fine.”

But nothing about his voice sounded obedient. Vaelorin watched him leave the chamber with his companions following behind. Only after the doors shut completely did the old mage exhale slowly.

Malthor frowned deeply. “The dragon fire has awakened sooner than prophecy claimed.”

Nysera looked toward the storm beyond the windows. “And Drecon?” she asked. “He is a snake and I know he can feel it already.”

Vaelorin’s expression became colder than stone. “I will have my men search for him. Every bounty hunter in the realm will be fast at his heels.”

Edrik ran his hands over his rings. “That boy must be silenced. By all means.”

Vaelorin said nothing. Because that was the only solution.