The days passed with restless unease. Within the golden halls of Valdorium, Rihan trained from sunrise to sunset, but no matter how many times he struck, no matter how hard he focused, the Eclipse Flame slipped from his grasp like a wild beast refusing its leash.
His blade struck against the training dummy. For a moment, the flame burned steady — dark blue, sharp, controlled. But then, a single thought of fear crossed his mind and the fire lashed outward, exploding the dummy into ash.
Rihan staggered back, chest heaving.
"Damn it… why can't I control it?"
From the side of the courtyard, Lyra leaned against the stone pillar, arms crossed. Her silver eyes glimmered with both amusement and worry.
"You're too tense. You think of fire as something you use. But fire doesn't like being used, Rihan. It wants to consume."
Rihan frowned. "Then how do I fight with it?"
Lyra stepped closer, her voice lowering.
"You don't fight fire. You… dance with it. Yield enough to let it breathe, but not enough to let it burn you alive."
He met her gaze, uncertain, but nodded. For once, her cryptic words made sense.
---
⚔️ A Different Training
Elira arrived with two wooden practice swords. "If your flame resists you, then let's see how well you fight without it."
Rihan blinked. "Without the flame? But—"
She tossed him a sword. "No excuses."
The clash began. Elira's strikes were fast and merciless, forcing Rihan to defend with all his strength. His arms burned, his footing faltered, but with each parry he began to understand. Fighting without the flame forced him to rely on instinct, on control, on balance.
By the end, both of them were breathless, wooden blades splintered.
"You're not weak, Rihan," Elira said, brushing sweat from her brow. "But the flame feeds on your doubt. Master yourself, and you'll master it."
For the first time in days, Rihan felt a spark of hope.
---
🌑 Whispers Return
That night, however, the hope was tested again.
Rihan sat alone in his chamber, staring at the faint glow of the Eclipse Flame flickering at the tip of his blade. He whispered to himself, steadying his breath.
But then — the voice returned.
"Do you really believe they will accept you?"
Rihan froze.
"They whisper of curses. They fear you. Even your precious Elira doubts you. Only I… only the Flame… truly belongs to you."
The shadows in the room thickened. For a moment, Rihan swore he saw the figure again — the cloaked silhouette of fire and ash. His reflection in the blade twisted, showing not his own face, but burning eyes like Draemir's.
He shouted, slamming the sword into the floor. The vision shattered. Sweat dripped down his face.
What… what am I becoming?
---
👑 Court Intrigues
The next day in the throne hall, King Aldros met with his council. Rihan stood silently at Elira's side, his head lowered as Chancellor Varus once again spread doubt.
"Your Majesty, I must insist — this boy is a danger. Even his training sessions destroy our walls. If the Flame truly is tied to the old prophecies, then we may be harboring the very doom we seek to avoid."
The king's eyes hardened. "Enough, Varus. Without Rihan, Valdorium would already be ashes under the Titan. His place here is not to be questioned."
Varus bowed, his smile thin but venomous. "As you command, my king. But one day, even you will see the truth."
Rihan clenched his fists, feeling the nobles' stares burning into him.
---
🌒 An Ominous Discovery
Later that evening, Lyra wandered the outskirts of the capital, her senses sharp. Unlike the nobles, she trusted Rihan — but she also knew power like his never appeared without reason.
Her steps led her to an abandoned chapel at the city's edge. Dust hung in the air, yet faint symbols were carved fresh into the stone — runes of shadow, glowing faintly red.
Lyra's eyes widened.
"This… this is Draemir's mark."
Before she could retreat, a whisper drifted from the darkness.
"The vessel is ripening. Soon… we shall claim him."
Shadows shifted, forming clawed hands that reached toward her. Lyra drew her dagger, eyes blazing.
The cult had already wormed its way into Valdorium.