Wielder Of The Dragon Flame

Chapter 25

Meanwhile at the Xavier Mansion…

The grand hall of the Xavier mansion was a monument to centuries of flame-wielding glory. 

Massive pillars carved from volcanic stone rose toward a vaulted ceiling painted with murals depicting legendary battles,dragons made of fire devouring armies, phoenixes rising from battlefields, and at the very center, a towering figure wreathed in crimson flames that could only be the first Xavier clan founder.

Crystal chandeliers hung from iron chains, each one burning with eternal flames that cast dancing shadows across the polished marble floor. The air itself seemed to shimmer with residual heat, a testament to the power that had walked these halls for generations.

Today, that hall was filled with the most powerful people in the empire.

Arranged in a wide semicircle were ornate chairs, each one occupied by a clan leader dressed in their formal attire. The leader of the Sunset Clan wore robes of deep orange that seemed to glow from within, embroidered with golden thread forming patterns of descending suns. 

Beside him sat the leader of the Crimson Blaze Clan, his blood-red coat buttoned to the throat, a living flame dancing in a glass orb atop his walking stick.

The leader of the Hell Flame Clan,a broad-shouldered man with a scarred face and eyes like burning coals,wore armor plates over black leather, each plate etched with runes that pulsed with inner fire.

 The Obsidian Flame representative, a woman with silver-streaked hair, was draped in midnight blue silk that rippled like liquid shadow, tiny stars of white fire scattered across the fabric like a night sky.

There were others too,the Azure Flame Clan in their sea-blue ceremonial robes, the Ivory Flame delegation in pristine white trimmed with gold, the Storm Flame Clan whose leader's grey attire crackled with barely contained energy. 

Nearly twenty clan leaders in total, representing every major flame-wielding house in the empire, each one a power unto themselves.

At the head of this gathering, on a slightly raised platform, sat the Council of Elders,five ancient men and women who served as advisors and mediators between the clans. 

They wore simple grey robes marked only with a single flame symbol over the heart, but their presence commanded respect that no amount of finery could purchase.

The eldest among them,a man who appeared to be pushing ninety, his face a landscape of wrinkles and his remaining hair white as fresh snow,slowly rose from his seat. His movements were careful and deliberate, each one measured as if his bones might shatter from careless haste. But when he stood fully upright, there was a dignity to his bearing that made him seem taller than his actual height.

He placed both hands on the ornate staff he carried,dark wood capped with a crystal that held a flame frozen in time and let his gaze sweep across the assembled leaders. His eyes, though clouded with age, still held a sharpness that missed nothing.

"Esteemed clan leaders." 

He began, his voice surprisingly strong despite his age, carrying easily to every corner of the hall. 

"Representatives of the great flame houses. Honored guests." 

He inclined his head in a small bow of respect. 

"I thank you all for answering our summons and gathering here today on such short notice. I know many of you traveled great distances, left important duties, rearranged schedules. Your presence here speaks to the bonds between our clans and the respect you hold for the Xavier legacy."

He paused, allowing murmurs of acknowledgment to ripple through the assembly. Several clan leaders nodded, a few raised their hands in gestures of agreement.

"The Xavier clan has stood as a pillar of this empire for three hundred years."

The elder continued, his tone taking on a more solemn quality.

 "Through wars, through peace, through prosperity and hardship, the Xavier flame has burned bright and strong. It is not just a clan,it is a symbol. A reminder of what flame wielders can achieve when power is tempered with wisdom, when strength serves a greater purpose than mere personal glory."

More nods, more murmurs of approval. The Xavier name, despite its recent troubles, still carried weight.

Before the elder could continue, a hand shot up from the assembled leaders,a firm, decisive gesture that demanded attention. The elder's eyes shifted to identify the person.

"Yes." 

The elder said, his tone warming slightly with curiosity. 

"Clan leader of the Hell Flame. Do you wish to say anything?"

The scarred man rose to his feet with the fluid grace of a trained warrior, his armor plates clicking softly against each other. He was tall,easily six and a half feet and his presence filled the space around him like heat from a forge. 

His voice, when he spoke, was rough, gravelly, like rocks grinding together.

"Elder Morvain, with all due respect." 

He said, his burning coal eyes fixed on the old man, 

"I think I speak for everyone here when I ask this question."

 He gestured broadly at the other assembled leaders. 

"Why was this gathering called? You summon the heads of twenty major clans to the Xavier mansion with cryptic messages about 'matters of succession' and 'the future of the flame legacy.' That's all well and good, but we're busy people, Elder. We have territories to manage, disputes to settle, training regimes to oversee. So before we go any further with speeches about history and legacy,with all due respect,perhaps you could tell us plainly: what are we doing here?"

He sat back down with a heavy thud, his armor clanking, and crossed his arms across his broad chest. Around him, other clan leaders shifted in their seats, some nodding in agreement, others leaning forward with increased interest. The question had clearly been on everyone's mind.

Elder Morvain's weathered face creased into what might have been a slight smile or perhaps just a deepening of his existing wrinkles, it was hard to tell. 

He tapped his staff once against the floor, the sound echoing like a gavel.

"A fair question, Clan Leader Torven." 

Morvain acknowledged, inclining his head. 

"And you are quite right,I apologize for the mystery. It was not my intention to waste anyone's time or to play games with cryptic summons. The truth is, the matter we needed to discuss required..." 

He paused, choosing his words carefully. 

"...discretion until all parties were assembled. But you are here now, so let us speak plainly."

He turned slightly, his gaze moving to his left where shadows pooled near one of the great pillars. His hand rose, fingers extending in a clear gesture as he gave a signal.

"This gathering was called." 

Morvain said, his voice carrying a note of formality now.

"For the official presentation and recognition of the new Xavier clan leader."

The shadows stirred.

A figure stepped forward into the light and every eye in the hall locked onto him immediately.

He wore robes of deep crimson, so dark they were almost black, the fabric expensive and finely tailored. 

The material seemed to drink in the light rather than reflect it, and intricate patterns were embroidered along the sleeves and hem in thread that might have been gold or copper,designs of dragons in flight, flames spreading across battlefields, the Xavier clan crest prominent over the heart.

But it was the mask that commanded attention.

Shaped like a dragon's face, it covered his entire head. The craftsmanship was extraordinary,scales rendered in such detail they looked real, eyes that were empty holes but somehow seemed to watch everything, a slightly open mouth revealing the suggestion of fangs. 

The mask was painted in shades of red and black with hints of gold, and small flames seemed to dance along its edges, though whether they were real or merely the play of light was impossible to tell.

The figure moved with confidence, his steps measured and purposeful as he crossed the floor toward where Elder Morvain stood. He was tall,perhaps

six feet or slightly more and moved with the bearing of someone accustomed to authority, to being obeyed.

The hall erupted into murmurs.

"Is that Asta Xavier?"