The morning sun rose over Valdorium, its golden light spilling across the marble towers. For most of the capital, this day was a celebration — the Titan's fall was a victory worth songs. But inside the castle walls, the mood was heavier.
Rihan stood in the palace's training courtyard, sword in hand, sweat dripping from his brow. Across from him stood General Kael, his stance calm and commanding.
"Again," Kael ordered, his deep voice echoing.
Rihan tightened his grip on his blade, focusing his breath. The Eclipse Flame flickered faintly at the edge of his sword — dark blue with a streak of black. He lunged forward, striking.
Kael parried easily. Sparks flew.
"Your flame is unstable," Kael said. "It reacts to your emotions. Control them, or the fire will consume you."
Rihan gritted his teeth. "I'm trying!"
He swung again, harder. The Eclipse Flame burst to life — but instead of following his will, it flared outward wildly, scorching the stone walls around them. Soldiers watching from the sidelines stepped back in fear.
Rihan froze, horror in his eyes.
"I-I didn't mean to—"
Kael raised a hand, calming the guards. "That's enough for today."
But the whispers had already started.
"He can't control it…"
"Too dangerous…"
"What if he turns on us?"
Each word cut deeper than any blade.
---
👑 Court Shadows
Later that day, Rihan walked through the palace halls with Elira by his side. She kept her head high, ignoring the glances of the nobles that passed them.
"They don't trust me," Rihan muttered, his voice low.
"They don't trust anyone they cannot control," Elira replied sharply. "Ignore them."
But the problem was, Rihan couldn't ignore them. He could feel their stares, hear their whispers. Even now, two nobles in the corner muttered quietly:
"The boy is cursed. That flame… it's the same as the prophecies."
"If the king continues to protect him, he'll doom us all."
Elira turned, her glare enough to silence them, but the damage was done. Rihan clenched his fists.
Am I really cursed?
---
🌑 The Nightmare
That night, sleep offered no peace.
Rihan found himself in a void — endless black, with only the sound of crackling fire. His sword appeared before him, wreathed in the Eclipse Flame.
From the darkness, a voice whispered. Deep, ancient, suffocating.
"Do you feel it, vessel? The fire that burns within you is not your own. It is mine… waiting to be unleashed."
Rihan's chest tightened. "Who are you?"
The shadows twisted, forming the vague shape of a figure cloaked in flame and darkness. Eyes like burning coals stared at him.
"You call it the Eclipse Flame. But it is older than names, older than gods. You were chosen because you are weak enough to bend… and strong enough to survive. But soon, you will surrender to me."
The voice thundered, shaking the void.
Rihan shouted back, his voice trembling but defiant: "I'm not your pawn!"
The flame surged around him, threatening to swallow him whole. He woke up drenched in sweat, gasping for air, his hand clutching the sword at his side.
Elira rushed in, eyes wide. "Rihan! What happened?"
He hesitated, then whispered, "The flame… it spoke to me."
---
⚔️ The Hidden Test
The next morning, Chancellor Varus summoned Rihan to a secluded hall. The old man's sharp eyes gleamed with cunning.
"I hear you've been… struggling with control," Varus said smoothly. "A dangerous thing, for someone with so much power."
Rihan stiffened. "What do you want from me?"
Varus smiled thinly. "To test you."
He clapped his hands. Two armored knights stepped forward, dragging a prisoner — a trembling man accused of conspiring with Draemir's spies.
"Kill him," Varus said coldly.
Rihan's eyes widened. "What?"
"You claim to be a hero. Then prove your loyalty. Kill this traitor. Or…" Varus leaned closer, his whisper venomous, "…perhaps you'd rather admit that you're no different than the demons you fight."
Rihan's hands shook. The prisoner's eyes begged for mercy. His sword pulsed faintly with the Eclipse Flame.
If I do this… I'll become a monster. But if I don't… they'll never trust me.
Before Rihan could decide, Elira stormed in, her voice sharp as steel.
"Enough, Varus! You dare use such tricks?"
Varus smirked, unbothered. "Merely a demonstration. If the boy cannot make choices, how can he protect a kingdom?"
Rihan lowered his blade, his chest heaving.
"I'm not your weapon," he said firmly. "I'll fight demons, not innocents."
For the first time, Varus's smile faltered. His eyes narrowed, dark and calculating. "We shall see."
---
🌑 A Shadow in the Capital
That night, while the palace settled into uneasy silence, a shadow crept through Valdorium's streets. Cloaked figures gathered in an alley, whispering in a tongue older than man.
From the darkness, a monstrous hand clawed its way free, cracking the stone beneath.
The cult of Draemir had entered the capital.
And Rihan's trials were about to grow far more deadly.5