Heir Of The Fallen Flame

Chapter 9: The Escape #2

Lyra tried to stand.

Her knees trembled before they obeyed her, boots scraping against cracked stone as she forced herself upright. Her sword felt heavier than it should have, her breath uneven, every muscle in her body screaming from Pelson’s pressure.

Across the courtyard, the Tyrant roared again. The sound tore through the academy like a physical force.

Lyra’s vision blurred for a second.

“Kael…” she muttered.

Where is he?

A pulse of light answered from behind her. Lyra turned just in time to see it.

Golden light erupted across the courtyard. The wind moved violently, bending inward as if the realm itself had noticed something waking up.

Kael stood but he was not the same. His body was wrapped in that burning gold again, but this time it didn’t flicker or struggle, it flowed. Dark veins of energy traced beneath it like something ancient had opened its eyes inside him.

His gaze lifted slowly and the entire battlefield came to a stop. Even the Tyrant stopped, eyes narrowed on his initial target.

Lyra’s breath caught. “He’s awake…”

Kael didn’t speak. He glanced at her once and then away like he knew exactly who to attack. His gaze shifted to Pelson as he floated in the air, wind arriving around him like a shield.

Ronan watched in silence, eyes staring up at him in awe. He's never seen anything like it but hell was it enough to make him stand for a very brief moment.

Silas raised his hands. “He’s….what is that thing?!"

Darius swallowed. “He’s not human…”

Pelson's eyes narrowed in anger, “Kill him.”

Magic erupted from every angle. Fire, lightning, ice, all launched at Kael.

Kael didn’t dodge, he simply raised his hand and all the runes stopped mid-air. He flicked his fingers and everything vanished into dust.

Silence hit the courtyard for half a heartbeat .

Lyra barely saw it. A blur of gold and shadow and bodies were thrown back as Kael crossed the courtyard in an instant. Ronan barely blocked the first strike, his wind barrier shattering immediately, forcing him to skid backward.

“Hold him!” Pelson barked.

Kael's eyes finally locked with the Tyrant in the chaos. The Tyrant's glowing eyes narrowed on Kael as it snarled in rage.

The Tyrant didn’t attack the mages, it ignored them completely and charged Kael. The ground exploded beneath its steps.bKael turned just in time.

The impact hit like a meteor. Gold met red flames, coating the courtyard in ice shards The shockwave flattened the nearest structures, sending mages flying in every direction.

Lyra raised her arm just to stay standing.

Kael and the Tyrant collided again. The courtyard became a battlefield of pure force, golden energy against primal rage. Every strike shattered the stone structures.

Lyra’s eyes widened. Kael and this monster are… equal.

No. It was even worse.

The Tyrant was adapting: it was learning Kael's moves.

Pelson saw his chance.

“This is because of you,” he said coldly, eyes locking on Kael through the chaos. “You brought this into Astra.”

His staff ignited, a massive surge of power built in his hands.

“Die.” He fired.

The attack shot through the battlefield but Kael turned. At the same moment, the Tyrant swung, neither aimed at Pelson but the strike hit him.

A collision of Kael’s redirected force and the Tyrant’s blow. Pelson didn’t even have time to scream. His body was thrown backward like it was made of glass. The impact shattered the ground beneath him and his body went limp.

Ronan froze, his breath caught. “…Father?”

The Tyrant roared again, but Kael didn’t look at it. He stared at Pelson’s still body and he looked away.

“FATHER!!” Ronan snapped. “No…”

His voice dropped low as he hurried toward his father. Pelson was still, his eyes closed and his body cold.

“No… no… NO!”

Ronan turned and charged at Kael.

“YOU DID THIS!”

His magic exploded outward. Silas shouted his name, but Ronan didn’t hear him. His strike hits Kael right in the chest, causing a cut across his chest.

The Tyrant struck again and Kael met it head-on. For the first time, the golden light cracked and Kael slid backward. The Tyrant roared louder, saliva hanging off its long set of teeth.

Lyra gasped, the Tyrant was here for Kael.

Ronan’s attack came from behind but Kael turned too late. The ice runes hit him and Kael staggered.

Ronan raised his hand again but Kael turned slowly and looked at him.

Ronan froze as his eyes narrowed on the injury on Kael’s chest as it closed.

Kael swung his hand and the wind blew Ronan backward violently, crashing into broken stone.

Roanan groaned and stood on his feet mere seconds later, his gaze dark with something Lyra had never seen before.

Meanwhile, the Tyrant attacked again and Kael met it mid-air. The collision shook the entire courtyard and this time, neither won. They both broke the ground beneath them and they both staggered backwards.

Pelson’s body lay still nearby and Ronan’s eyes caught his body in the corner again. His jaw clenched and his hands trembled.

“…you killed him.” His voice cracked. “You killed him!”

He turned back to Kael, eyes burning with grief and rage.

“I’ll end you.”

Kael couldn't answer, the Tyrant roared again and lunged. Kael and the creature collided once more. The explosion of force sent everyone back; Lyra was thrown to her knees and that was when she realized Kael was losing control again.

“Kael!” she shouted.

He didn’t hear her, not anymore. The gold was spreading too fast and the black was overpowering the gold wind around him.

The Tyrant was pushing him and Ronan was about to attack Kael again.

Lyra wiped blood from her lip and made a run towards Kael.

She reached him at the exact moment Ronan’s next attack launched. She grabbed Kael from behind, hands on his shoulders as she shook him violently.

“Enough!”

A burst of wind erupted and a smoke veil exploded across the courtyard clouding everyone's vision.

When it cleared, Lyra and Kael were gone. Ronan… stood trembling in the ruins of his father’s last battlefield.

“…KAEL!!!” He screamed, his hands clenched.