2025-12-15 20:36:49The floating bench swayed gently under them like a boat on quiet water. Old Man Kael sat with one elbow on the table, scarred hand rubbing his chin, staring at the torn-out page as if it had personally insulted his entire bloodline.
“Who might have done this…?”
He muttered, his voice rough as gravel.
Asta couldn’t sit still. He leaned forward, elbows on knees, fingers laced so tight his knuckles went white.
“There has to be another way.”
He said, the words tumbling out fast.
“Anything. I don’t care how dangerous. I need to know what’s inside me.”
Kael lifted his palm. A perfect sphere of golden-white flame bloomed above it, spinning slowly, soft and warm like sunrise.
“There is one way.”
He said quietly.
“I send this Dawn Lotus Flame straight into your heart. It’ll act like a mirror,let you look inside yourself and see the dragon face-to-face.”
Asta’s eyes lit up.
“Do it!”
Kael’s grin turned wicked.
“Of course, the second my flame touches the seal, the dragon wakes up furious. You’ll be cooked from the inside in three seconds flat. Eyeballs boiled, blood turned to steam and we’ll be scraping you off the ceiling with a spoon.”
Asta went pale.
“Okay, bad plan, really bad plan”
“Got a better one, genius?”
Asta rubbed his temples.
“Yeah. All the sealed dragons have black flames, right? Like the smoke on the pickaxe. Just list them. Describe what they look like. I’ll know when you say the right one.”
Kael raised an eyebrow.
“You sure? There are nine. And most of them make nightmares look friendly.”
“I’m sure. Go.”
Kael leaned back, folded his arms, and started counting on his fingers.
“First: Nyxara the Star-Eater. Void dragon. Scales like liquid night, eyes like dying galaxies. Her fire erases whatever it touches,people, memories, even time. Sealed inside the old Shadow Empire’s royal line. Funny thing,the empire vanished overnight.”
Asta shook his head fast.
“Not her. Mine’s hot. Angry-hot.”
“Second: Glacira the Eternal Winter. Ice dragon. Scales white as moonlight on snow. Froze three cities solid when her seal cracked a little.”
“Nope. Definitely fire.”
“Third: Terravox the Earth-Singer. Emerald and bronze, mountain-sized. His roar causes earthquakes that redraw maps.”
“Cool, but no.”
“Fourth: Tempestus. Storm dragon. Wings like thunderclouds, his eyes electric blue. Fire made of pure lightning.”
“Still no.”
“Fifth: Hemoria the Blood Moon. Crimson scales that drip liquid ruby. Drinks blood, spreads plague.”
Asta wrinkled his nose.
“Gross. Pass.”
“Sixth: Somnus the Dream-Weaver. Scales shift colour every heartbeat. One look and you sleep forever in whatever dream,or nightmare,he chooses.”
“Terrifying, but not it.”
“Seventh: Oblivion. No fixed colour. Some say pure white, some pure black, some say it has no colour at all. Its fire erases names from history. You stop existing in every story ever told.”
Asta swallowed.
“Close… but still not right.”
“Eighth: Aurion the Golden Dawn. Father of light dragons. Scales like molten gold, wings that blind armies. His fire is pure creation,life, healing, resurrection.”
Asta frowned.
“That one sounds… nice?”
Kael gave a short, humourless laugh.
“Nice doesn’t begin to cover it. Not your dragon.”
He went very still.
Then he spoke so quietly Asta had to lean in.
“Ninth…”
The air in the library suddenly felt thick, like the whole place was holding its breath.
“The one they tore out of every book. The Ash-Bringer. The End-Flame. Scales black glass shot through with rivers of molten red. Six wings, not four. Horns curved forward like a crown of knives. Eyes like dying suns. Its fire is black at the edges, crimson at the core. When it wakes, the sky turns to ash and the ground forgets how to grow life.”
Asta’s heart slammed against his ribs. His mouth went dry.
“That…”
He could barely speak.
“That’s it. That’s exactly what I felt.”
Before Kael could answer, a massive bronze bell high above them boomed,once, twice, three times. The sound rolled through the library like a tidal wave.
A calm, amplified voice followed from floating crystals everywhere.
“Attention all higher-class labourers and senior students. This is Headmaster Veyron speaking. One month from today, the annual Inter-Academy Flame Tournament will commence against White Crimson Academy. The winning academy claims the Eternal Flame Cup for the year. Labourers who place in the top sixteen will be granted full student status and immediate release from labour duties. Prepare yourselves. Glory to the Empire.”
The message ended. The library exploded,cheers, gasps and students high-fiving mid-air.
Asta’s eyes went wide.
“The tournament… I used to watch it every year with my father on the big crystal screen. The battles, the flames, the crowds…”
Kael was already on his feet, slinging the dragon ledger under one arm like it weighed nothing.
“Well, this year you’re not watching.”
Asta blinked.
“What?”
“You’re fighting.”
Asta laughed, loud and nervous.
“Me? I don’t have flames! I’m not even a real student anymore,I’m just a labourer!”
Kael started walking toward the massive doors, boots clacking on the invisible floor.
“That’s why I’m here, boy. Starting tonight, I’m your master. I’ll teach you how to hold the dragon’s leash without letting it drag you into hell. You’ll learn to wield fire that makes the sun look like a candle.”
Asta scrambled after him, heart racing for a brand-new reason.
“You’re serious? You’ll really train me?”
Kael glanced back, and for the first time Asta saw a real, fierce smile,no sarcasm, no bitterness, just pure fire.
“As serious as the end of the world, kid. Because if you step into that arena without control, the dragon won’t just win the cup.”
He pushed the huge doors open. Cold tunnel air rushed in.
“It’ll burn the whole damn empire down with it.”
The doors began to swing shut behind them.
Asta shoulders curled in, his hands shoved deep in his pockets.
“I’m not ready. I am not even strong, you said it yourself old man.”
Kael turned slowly, the golden light from the library spilling across his scarred face. For once, there was no sarcasm, no eye-roll. Just quiet and steady fire in his eyes.
“Listen to me, boy.”
He said, his voice low but firm.
“I’ve seen cowards with perfect flames burn out in the first round. And I’ve seen terrified kids with nothing but guts in their belly go further than anyone thought possible. Strength isn’t the fire you’re born with. It’s the fire you decide to carry when everything says you should drop it and run.”
He stepped closer, placing one rough hand on Asta’s shoulder, the same way he had when he stopped the dragon from killing those two idiots.
“You think I wasn’t scared when I faced my first lava titan? I pissed myself so bad my squad called me ‘Waterfall Kael’ for a year. But I kept swinging the hammer anyway, I didn't let their words get to me, my mind was as heard as a rock.And you know what I learned? The dragon inside you isn’t waiting for you to feel ready. It’s waiting for you to decide you’re done letting other people write your story.”
Asta stared at the floor, his throat tight.Kael’s grip tightened.
“They laughed at you, humiliated you, they now call you “Asta the Flameless Xavier.” They threw you away, your girlfriend broke up with you and also at the spot disdanied and humiliated you, let her go, let them all go, Let the whole damn empire laugh. And then step into that arena and show them what happens when the trash they tossed aside decides to burn brighter than their flames.”
long silence. Just the distant hum of floating fire-rivers behind them.
Asta lifted his head. His eyes were wet, but something hard and bright had kindled inside them.
“…Okay.”
He whispered. Then louder.
“Okay. I’m
in.”
Kael’s smile was slow and proud.
“Good. Because the dragon’s already chosen you, boy. Now it’s time you chose it back.”
He turned and started walking down the dark tunnel, boots echoing.
“So get ready, Asta Xavier… because training starts in section.”
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Chapter 45
Flora reached out and squeezed Asta's shoulder, then did the same to Jabber. "...whoever gets called first, remember we've got your back. You're not alone out there. You're representing Ember Watch, and we believe in you.""Hell yeah." Mira added with a fierce grin. "Go out there and kick ass."With that, they split up. Flora and Mira heading down one corridor, Asta and Jabber heading down another. The walk back to their room was quiet, both of them lost in their own thoughts, the earlier excitement giving way to a more contemplative mood.When they reached their door, Asta pushed it open and stepped inside. The room looked exactly as they'd left it this morning,unmade bunks, his practice sword leaning against the wall, the small window letting in weak afternoon light. Nothing special, nothing fancy, but it was theirs.He'd barely had time to sit down on the edge of Jabber's lower bunk when there was a sharp knock at the door."Come in." Asta called.The door opened and a higher o
Chapter 44
Old Man Kael stood on the platform, his weathered hands still resting on his walking stick, waiting for the excited chatter to die down enough that he could continue. The crowd was buzzing with energy, a tournament meant action, meant proving themselves, meant finally having something concrete to strive for instead of endless days of repetitive labor and training.When the noise level dropped to something manageable, Kael spoke again, his voice cutting through the remaining murmurs with that authoritative calm that demanded attention."Now, let me explain how this tournament will work." He said, his cloudy eyes sweeping across the assembled laborers. "You all will have the chance to see how strong your squad members truly are. How well you work together when pressure is applied. How you adapt when plans fall apart. And perhaps most importantly, you'll see how strong your opponents are,what strategies they use, what flames they wield, what weaknesses they possess."He paused, letting
Chapter 43
The gathering quarters continued to fill. More and more laborers streaming in, the noise level rising as hundreds of conversations overlapped. Asta recognized some faces from training sessions or work details. Others were complete strangers,the labor section was large enough that you couldn't possibly know everyone.Finally, when the space was packed nearly to capacity, Old Man Kael raised one hand. The gesture was small, but somehow it cut through the noise like a blade. Conversations died down in ripples, starting near the front and spreading backward until the entire room had fallen into expectant silence.Kael let the silence hold for a moment longer, his cloudy eyes seeming to see through and past the assembled laborers to something beyond. Then he spoke, his voice carrying clearly despite not being particularly loud. There was something about his tone,the weight of experience, the authority of someone who'd earned respect rather than demanded it,that made people want to listen
Chapter 42
Flora asked once the laughter had died down a bit. "You said you got letters from your butler? That's nice that they wrote.""Yeah." Asta said, touching the pocket where he'd stored the letters, feeling their slight weight against his chest. "Gregor was my family's butler for decades," he wrote about what's happening at the mansion. My half-brother Cassian officially became clan leader a few nights ago. There was this whole ceremony with all the major clans."He tried to keep his voice neutral, but some bitterness must have leaked through because Flora's expression softened with sympathy."They also wrote about how they're doing." Asta continued quickly, not wanting to dwell on Cassian. "They got dismissed from the mansion after I was sent here,Cassian didn't want anyone loyal to me staying around, I guess. So now they're working as day laborers. Gregor , Helena, and Marcus,they're all doing hard physical work despite being older, despite having given decades of service to my fam
Chapter 41
“P.P.S. Marcus, I'm holding you to that promise about the sword techniques. Start preparing your best teaching voice.”“P.P.P.S. Gregor , please tell me honestly how bad your back is. If you need money for a healer, I'll find a way to send some. The labor section pays a pittance, but I've been saving every copper.”He read through what he'd written one more time, checking for anything he'd forgotten or wanted to add. Then he carefully folded the letter, sealed it with the basic wax provided at the portal station, and addressed it with their names and the return address they'd included in their letters.Asta placed his reply into the outgoing section of his portal,a separate small compartment meant for letters to be sent out,then locked everything back up. His hands were steadier now, the act of writing having helped him process some of the overwhelming emotions.He gathered Gregor 's, Helena's, and Marcus's letters carefully, tucking them into the inner pocket of his tunic where they
Chapter 40
“Also, I'm enclosing a recipe in case you ever get access to cooking facilities. It's your favorite,the honey cakes I used to make for your birthday. The ingredients are simple enough that you might be able to acquire them, and the process isn't too complicated. Something sweet to remind you of better days.”Asta looked at the bottom of the letter where Helena had indeed written out the recipe in careful detail, each step numbered and explained as if she were standing beside him in a kitchen, guiding his hands. His vision blurred again.“Write back to us, dear boy. Even a short note would mean the world.”“With love,Helena”“P.S Marcus says to tell you he's been practicing some new knife techniques and when you visit “notice I said 'when,' not 'if',I'm an optimist”, he'll teach them to you. They're quite impressive, if I do say so myself.”The third letter was from Marcus, and it was much shorter.Marcus had never been much for writing, preferring to express himself through his cookin
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