Chapter 2: The Flames Beneath the Surface
The clashing of wooden swords echoed through the trees behind Edrin's cottage. The clearing served as their personal training ground—rough, uneven earth and a few targets nailed to old stumps. It wasn't the pristine stone-floored training halls the nobles had, but it was all Kael knew.
"Again!" Edrin barked.
Kael's chest heaved. Sweat soaked through his shirt, his arms numb from repetition. He raised his wooden blade once more, bringing it down with a practiced strike. Edrin blocked effortlessly.
"You're overthinking," the old knight growled. "Your feet are too stiff. You're not flowing with your body."
"I am flowing," Kael snapped, frustration slipping into his tone.
In a flash, Edrin moved. The wooden sword in his hand swung with blinding speed, knocking Kael's blade away. Before Kael could react, the edge of Edrin's practice sword was at his throat.
"Flowing?" Edrin said flatly. "That wasn't flowing. That was flailing."
Kael grit his teeth. "Then teach me magic. Let me learn both."
Edrin's expression darkened, and he lowered his sword. He turned his back to Kael and walked toward the edge of the clearing.
"We've been over this," he muttered. "Magic is forbidden for commoners. You'd be branded a heretic. They'd kill you before you ever cast a spell."
"But why?" Kael's voice cracked with emotion. "Why can't I even try? Why can't I even know who I am—who my parents were?"
Silence.
Then, softly, Edrin spoke. "Because the truth… will destroy you."
Kael froze.
Edrin never talked about Kael's parents. Ever. And now, the mention of truth—a real answer—filled Kael's chest with a pressure he couldn't contain.
"What do you mean?" Kael asked, stepping closer. "What are you hiding from me?"
Edrin turned. His eyes weren't filled with anger now, but pain. "They were good people. Too good. And because of that, powerful people wanted them dead."
"The nobles?" Kael asked, heart pounding.
Edrin shook his head slowly. "No. Something older. Something darker. Something even the nobles fear."
Kael's thoughts spiraled. What could be older than noble blood? What did his parents do to provoke something so dangerous?
Before he could speak again, a horn blared in the distance—sharp, urgent, echoing from the east side of the village.
Edrin's head snapped toward the sound. "That's the east watchtower. They only sound that horn if—"
A blast of flame roared into the sky, painting the morning blue with fire and smoke.
"Attack!" came a scream from the village.
Kael dropped his sword.
Edrin's instincts kicked in immediately. He snatched his real blade from the training stump and tossed a smaller steel one to Kael.
"Take it. You've trained for this. Stay close."
Without waiting, Edrin sprinted toward the village, Kael just behind him.
They arrived to chaos.
Homes burned. Smoke choked the air. People screamed and ran as monstrous figures tore through the streets—mutated beasts with glowing red veins and blackened hides. Their eyes glowed like coals, and their claws left gashes in stone and wood alike.
Kael's stomach twisted. He had never seen creatures like this—not even in the books his uncle let him read in secret.
"What are they?" Kael gasped.
"Demonic warbeasts," Edrin said grimly. "Someone summoned them. Someone powerful."
They rushed forward as one of the creatures pinned a villager. Edrin lunged, slicing into the beast's side. It screeched, retreating with unnatural speed.
Kael hesitated… then followed, steel blade gripped tightly.
He locked eyes with another beast—smaller, but just as twisted. It lunged. Kael moved on instinct, ducking under its slash and stabbing upward. The blade pierced the underside of its jaw.
The beast convulsed and collapsed.
Kael stood panting, blood splattered on his tunic.
He had killed something. For the first time in his life.
But there was no time to dwell.
More creatures emerged from the burning fog, surrounding them.
Then—a burst of radiant light split the air. Fire surged forward, engulfing two of the beasts. They wailed and vanished into ash.
From the smoke stepped a figure in ornate white and gold robes, long auburn hair braided behind her, her hand outstretched with flames dancing around her fingers.
A noble girl.
Kael recognized her from distant memories—Lady Alina Virelle, daughter of the Duke of the Flame Court. She'd visited the village once years ago, flanked by guards. She looked different now—older, commanding, dangerous.
She looked at him. Their eyes met.
"You're a peasant," she said, voice calm but puzzled. "And yet… you killed that beast?"
Kael didn't respond.
"You have potential," she continued, stepping closer. "Strange magic stirs in you."
Edrin stepped between them. "He's not joining your court. Stay away."
Alina frowned. "I saved your life, knight. Perhaps don't lecture me."
Kael felt tension rising between them. But more than that—he felt something stir within him. A strange warmth in his chest. A tingle in his fingertips.
Like something… awakening.
Kael stood panting, blade trembling in his hand. His heart thundered in his chest, and for a moment, the world narrowed to the sound of fire crackling and steel clashing around him.
He'd killed something.
Not a dummy. Not a training target.
A real, living monster.
Edrin noticed, rushing over. He placed a steadying hand on Kael's shoulder. "Breathe. You did good."
Kael met his uncle's eyes, and for the first time, he saw fear there—not fear of the monsters, but fear for him. As if Edrin had just realized Kael was no longer a boy swinging wooden swords.
From behind them, another shout rang out.
"Protect Lady Arienne! She's trapped inside the manor!"
Edrin's head snapped toward the voice. "The mayor's daughter," he muttered. "If she's taken—"
He didn't finish. They both broke into a run.
The manor sat atop a hill at the edge of the village. Flames crawled along its roof, and monsters clawed at the wooden doors, trying to break in. Kael could see silhouettes through the windows—figures barricading the inside.
As they approached, Edrin yelled, "Cover me!"
Kael nodded, gripping his sword tighter as Edrin sprinted up the stairs and sliced through the monsters with practiced grace. Kael followed, striking at one as it lunged from the side.
Steel met flesh. The beast howled and collapsed.
Together, they pushed into the manor.
Inside, smoke filled the air. Furniture had been overturned to create a makeshift barricade. A few guards remained—bloodied, exhausted, barely able to stand.
Among them was a girl, no older than Kael, her face streaked with ash and tears. She wore a tattered noble dress and held a short sword in her trembling hands.
Lady Arienne.
Her gaze locked with Kael's, and for a moment, time stopped.
Then Edrin's voice barked, "We're getting you out!"
Arienne nodded, and Kael helped her climb over the broken furniture. She stumbled once, and Kael caught her.
"Thanks," she whispered.
Kael looked at her for a second too long, then turned back toward the exit.
They escaped just before the roof collapsed behind them.
That night, after the fires were extinguished and the wounded tended to, the village was quiet again—broken, but alive.
Kael sat alone at the edge of the training field, staring at the stars. His body ached, but his mind was louder than the pain.
He had fought. He had killed. He had saved someone.
A noble, no less.
"Why now?" he whispered. "Why attack this village?"
Behind him, Edrin approached and sat down slowly. "They weren't after the village."
Kael turned. "What do you mean?"
"They were after you."
Kael's blood ran cold.
"I saw the way they moved. They were tracking something—someone. The moment they sensed your magic, even the little spark you don't know you have… they shifted."
"But I haven't used magic—"
Edrin shook his head. "You don't need to use it. It's inside you. You're your father's son."
Kael was silent.
"I lied to protect you," Edrin continued. "Your parents were hunted not just because of who they were—but because of what they had. A book. Ancient, forbidden. Said to contain spells from the gods themselves. Divine Magic."
Kael's heart pounded.
"I don't know where it is. I don't even know if it still exists," Edrin said. "But someone out there does. And they'll kill anyone in their way."
Kael clenched his fists.
"So it's true. They were murdered. My parents were murdered."
"Yes."
Kael looked toward the glowing embers of the village. Toward the people who survived. Toward the girl he helped save.
"I'll find the truth. I'll uncover everything they buried. I'll find the one who gave the order."
"And when you do?"
"I'll make them pay."